The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-04-14
WASHINGTON. D. C.
Copyright secured according 10 la,c.l
For the National Era.
JASPER: A ROMANCE.
BY EDWARD SPENCER. r.
XVI.
~ Ho,c they Lored and Lired


XVI
II Hosr Hey LOred and Lired.
lcoScLuDED.l
When the bridal party returned home, they
..,o3 that Brawny Back and Abdullah were
,os The old sailor had been seized with
{, .tmegrirns. His bile had grown excessive.
n. had begun to NOPE, and loiter about He
-, last. This having nothing to do but
i.,ar about with his hands in his pockets did
NJ, .si, him. He longed for the sea, his proper
lament. The winds called him to it. At night
b. dreamed of it. By day he looked longingly
award smiling after tho salt breeze. The sea
"a. his clement, and elsewhere he was but a
,..r fish out of water" an albatross OH shore,
,,oed eagle. So he had taken advantage of
J,.pers absence to steal away and ship for the
smith seas He told Richard that he was afraid
q, await Jaspers return, as he would either
have prevented him from going, or else have
INSISTED ON giving him command of a vessel.
Tt, would not have suited him. The quarter
5.rs was not his sphere. Knives and forks, a
tide and no watch and watch were not in
r..drd in his idea of seattle. To enjoy himself,
h. must 90 before the mast, take his berth in
m. iorecastle, whet his harpoon, handle his oar,
a..tch and grub with his mess, and do his
.-,ilar trick at the helm. So he had stolen
suay. Though this vexed Jasper, it did not
.urlrise him. But he was both surprised and
rex-d at the speedy detection of Abdullah. Why
had the Malay deserted his master? Could b.
B. have persuaded him? Did he long for the
saves. too:
But when the two returned again at the ex-
-raon OF a year, Abdullah's reasons for going
..ay were made plain enough. They came
t..ether b. b. minus leg, but as hearty and
s,,ial as ever; ABdullah plus a rib, the same
straightforward, calm, quiet Malay. For he
Lal brought has wife with him. A tall lad, in
.alor garment, with mild dreamy eye, and 1.-THE,
active form. stood with him as he made his
oitisances to his master. He removed the boys
tat let down his long straight hair, and wo-
man bowed to Jasper and Ruth.
IN is NV wife, MASTER | could not do with
out YOU: but ia dreams she came to me, and
told me that she would die if did not go back
to her The boy was dead, and she was lone
some. She served me well, and so i went to
fetch her Here she il, and we are both yours"
Strange passive power that man had, and
wondrous tenacity Of purpose. With him to
form resolution was to carry 1t out. To con-
ceIve an attachment, was to hold fast to 1t du-
Hns lie. Aud so he had brought his house
bold gods, and put them at Jaspers feet.
Quietly he did it, without making any mention
q the dangers and tolls he had undergone
without telling OF the sailor he had stabbed for
striking that boy wife, nor of the risks he had
run ia getting that wife away from her home,
and from her kinsmen, who considered him rec
rraHt--guetly, but with sufficient evidence that
be- was devotng himself and her for life to the
SERVICE of Jasper; that his seafaring days were
over forever, unless his master should other
wise command.
j. BIS sealaring DAYS were over too, mani
iesily. Before the mast was no place for man
with but one peg" A furious sperm whale
had STAYED his boat, and crushed his leg with
SINGLE blow of his grand weapon. So he must
leriorcr stay at home, and solace himself with
his quid.
Abdullah, with his wife and their young child,
aud with Brawny Back for lodger, have a cot
tage towards the southern extremity of the hall
grounds, and here they live happily and in quiet.
10 Abdullah is assigned the superintendent
OF the masters stables. No one but him dare
touch Jaspers saddle horse, the imported Ara
Liah stallion, who promises to sire as famous a
progeny as the old Godolphin. And no one
but HIM ventures, under penalty.o of their ears,
10 attend and lead out Madame Ruth's sleek
white pairey. This is Abdullah's province,
aud riding after the master when he goes
70 the village, or visits among his neighbors.
Voc to the underlng that dares interfere with
nm IN this province. They do not dare, indeed,
ior they are terribly afraid of the knife he is
reported to wear, and to be so ready in the
use o.
Il. b. is lord of the lake. He has sole and
exclusive charge of that beautiful though arti-
head sheet of water, and of the willow shaded
isicl that graces its centre. 1t is his office to
Keep tn shores in order, to feed and minister
u he carp that have been put in its waters, to
>ee that the fountain Jets clear, to keep the lit
te sherry taut and ship-shape, and on occa-
Sion 10 loose the sails of the dainty little sail
boat PARKWAY, and act as MASTER steersman,
u trust themselves to his conduct. He has got
ten himself proper wooden leg manufactured,
ana ne stumps iovially about wherever he likes,
fehearlng IN merry moments, to gaping and
sympathetic listeners, the 90 dreadful sea-fght on
Lake Erie where Perry won such victory,
ana poor old Brawny Back lost half his I'M
derpinnings in the sarvice Of an ongrateful
country. A happy, honored, loved old man is
~
above all things, to take the masters bright
eyed boy in his arms, nurse him, find flowers for
h'in' make toys for him, and row him about the
lake The boy is a material born sailor,
ma am he says TO Ruth, as she watches him
paving with the three. year-old youngster (" he
Ano"s the names Of half the ropes on ship
low, and You ought Just to see him try and pull
'nf DOW oar against me. He'll be great COM
' "a some Of these days, and win more bat
GrS That ever Nelson did, ma am. Whereat
-aadalne Ruth Is wont to smile pleasantly, plan
"'iS' meanwhile, far other, and, she thinks,
s'tdler conquests for her pet
Mehard has the garden in most admirable
a'u'- lie Is most despotic sovereign in the
cO"'r realm, and no one thinks of appealing
ION ms decisions. A quaint, scholarly, old
e.''ooi gardener is he, setting his experience
~ ;" opposition to all books and learning. He
-I'u M Classic have many and hot disputes
aycut the management of floral matters, in
%ni'h Richard is very apt to come ont yictO
' '',. lie has a weekly corner in a hort
-HIral journal of repute, and prepares many
@,'i'les OF information and good sense about his
JP,",He. To his efforts the world is much in.
,r ro'gd Tor facts concerning dwarf trees, and his
siiidi variety of "miniature nectarines" is
Iclhe very popular, as well as very profitable
H'llseif' Tor he drives brisk trade in the
a'9 oil plants and cuttings. He is quite an oracle
- 'he village, and is esteemed second Ulysses
atnohg untraVelled folks. He has supreme
III npt Tor eVerg man who has not seen the
IS ~: and incontientiy broke up love affair
=. ms nephew Jamies by sending him to sea,
I'iu bidding him never return unless hs can
raw map of Polynesia from memory, and
prove that he is acquainted with the most ap.