The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-02-10

is no pleasure IN having to nurse a bed ridden
old woman like -
But Ruth stopped her mouth with kiss
Harkl That is James returning. Go see
what he bringst'
Ruth ran out Iof the room, and was back again
In moment a most, pale and trembling let
ter in her hand She sat down, all agitated,
and covered her face in her hands
(" Oh, mother it is from Richard, and dare
not open it."
Mrs Fleming said:
Give 1t to- me, Ruth. am certain the
news is good, and l can read it, ANYHOW
Ruth handed her the letter; she opened it
calmly, read few lines. and them dropping it.
closed her eyes and folded her hands, murmur,
ing out words of thanksgiving. Ruth had
glanced at it also, and began to weep, singing
to herself passionate words ofjoy:
"Oh, mother, the anchor 1t saved him
ever. ! knew it would. The darling, precious
anchor"
Ms. Fleming turned her eyes, all fringed as
to their 1ashes with glad tears, upon her daugh-
Ter, with beaming look of love and happiness.
She held out her arms, and, locked in close
embrace, the two tried women wept together.
letting their hearts beat against each other
:" his Is what the change meant, mother"
said Ruth, after while, wiping her eyes, and
smiling and kissing Mrs. Fleming vigorously
GU are going to get well now, right away
against Jaspers return"
"fes, darling, the expiation is complete, and
my repentance is received. i can get well now
Sit down now, Ruth, like good little GIRL with
out any nerves, and read Richards letter to me
as II 1t were newspaper. Wipe your eyes
now, and don't You look at me-"
Ruth obeyed her mother, and, in a voice full
OF breaks and quavers and falsettos, read the
following letter:
Mrs. Fleming:
HoNoRED MADAM: | have the greatest pleas
ure in being at last able to inform you positively
OF the escape of Mr.. Jasper, by miracle almost,
and OF his subsequent wanderings until a recent
date. i write you from Hong Kong, where
just have gained the information / have been
so long seeking. l have hardly doubt but
that Mr.. Jasper is in California at this present
time of writing, and / am on my way thither
tomorrow, to seek him. It's long step, but
have got used to wearing of the seycn-league
boots now, so to speak, and take little heed of
distances, so as my object shall be in sight. As
this will go by the India mail route, it will reach
your hands before arrive in San Francisco :;
and, accordingly, you will not hear from me
for at least two months after this is received,
probably not at all again until return with Mr..
Jasper -
| Oh, mother in two months You will
have to make haste and get WE'LL or he will not
think l am good muse
" ! wrote you last from the Sandwich Islands,
where saw The ,I.a.e OF the vessel. Thence
proceeded to Valparaiso, where l obtained in
formation that led me to believe he had been
rescued, and was then aboard whale ship
called the Flirt; but my information was SO
full OF dubiety that was afraid to transmit it
to you, lest l should encourage false hopes
Thence took ship for the Friendly Islands,
where L had heard the Flirt was. Il vas a
very long voyage, but did not give up, though
the ship was in was old and unseaworthy, as
they term ii. Here T heard that the Flirt had
been careened, THAT is, turned up to patch a
leak, and that one eff her hands had deserted.
! followed this man to the present place, and
from him have obtained tho glad news that
the Jasper aboard the Flirt is your son Jas
per, anu that Ire 10 .e5 ,Iesitsy. asked
the man good many questions in regard to
Mr.. Jasper. He was rescued. in company with
another sailor, off the coast of Patagonia. being
IN an open boat, which they had ceGguered from
aone saNages, after having had TO run great
risks, and Mr. Jasper killing one of them a
chieftaln, with his own hand, which was none
too good for him. and, after they 60, OF in the
boat, they were q month being sayed having
|
having eaten nothing for seven days and half,
which is long fasting, when you come TO count
ii up. He soon got well, however, and Joined
the crew OF the Fhrt, he and the other sailor
rescued The deserving sailor informs me that
Mr.. Jasper is as broad across the shoulders as
he is-whieh is about the breadth of Jeroab
Sledge, the blacksmith at the village-and so
brown, so stout, and wears such sleat beard,
Ehat you would probably not know him if YOU
were to see him. Moreover, he has become a
famous seaman, and is great fayorite with
everybody, as he always was, you know, wher.
ever he went. The sailor tells me he Mr.. Jasper)
was all the time writing in book, meaning, per.
haps, daryl so that You will he able 20 read
/ i..s adventures set down 10 MS own hand, when
| shall bring him home. He has seen even
more of the world than | have, though | never
expected to have sailed so many thousand miles,
and been among so many strange people as |
have been. | have seen several of those Fegee
Islanders, who are currently reported 10 be can
nihals, though | did not notice any peculiar
LOOK about them, except their teeth being filed
down to triangular shape, like this WV !;
and a way they have Of wearing polished nails
IN their noses, which does not improve their
personal appearance. | have seen the Chinese
also, who are very filthy people in their man
ners, although in some things, as, for instance
in their fondness for flowers, they display great
cannyness. | have taken the liberty of appro-
pristing a small sum for the purpose of pur-
ehasing from gardener here the secret of the
extraordinary way in which they are able TO
grow dwarf trees; and expect on my return
t9 add several fine specimens to the flowers on
the south terrace; Which ! mucn long 10 see,
for though have great confidence in James,
fear he does not devote the same attention to
! tba hot I do 4
varieties and / dread to find on my return that
he has suffered that fine double notified Came
liza Japonca, which | produced, to lose its
splendor. While upon this subject. ! ...ay re.
mark that ! haze lessneu considerable in re-
gard TO the cultivation Of pines, and will be
able to produce them with great facility. Please
to inform Mr.. Classic that he was wrong IN MS
idea regarding alace It IL sos the external
envelope OF the nutmeg, hnt is a proper mem
brane or cau INSIDE the husk, and wrspt about
the nut. Botanists call such things arilli, and
we have form of it in the succulent envelope
of the Eionymus Europaeus. 1t is quite feat
to have got the better of so wel-informed gen
tleman as Mr.. c. in an argument.
Ehr. aastel, as Was gong say, has seen
even more OF the world than | have, and since
the ship left the islands has probably been into
the polar seas. A Drawer nor more humane
young man does not live When the Malay
pirates, whom have seen, and ferocious set
they are,) attacked his ship as she lsy heca!wed,
the. sailor says thsl Mr. Jasper fought better
than any of them, and he was the only one of
all who had the humanity TO save a life--hav-
ing protected one of the yellow fellows who was
drognlns, ana sagea hitf also ilom the sharks;
at the risk of his own life, on which account it
is said the man follows him about like dog,
everywhere, and refuses to leave the ship un.
less Mr.. Jasper goes too"
$50 rash just like him." murmured the