The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-02-09
Az rxorrrNo SEA STORY OF THE RrvolvrIox.
S Il A w F;

The Terror OF the Coast,
q tALE or iMNAIEhINo ~ ifiG.

your nlstufy,sr tnlnk I've flghi 10
siI--a ,1phi you understand. Aud if
there is any enc thing which stick out for
more poremptorily than another, it is right
sir--r1ght That is why /, Phineas
Uringle. merchant ct.cct-s-ya; et-cet-e.1a,
am an open and avowed patriot. sir. Old
England is wrong and Young America is
right. Therefore I'm with her. You are
young man, yet you come so well re-
commended to me as a skillful seaman,
fearless man and an honest one, withal,
that | like you, though you're not so
rough in the fgurc-head as good sea-dogs
generally are. have given you COM
mand Of the 'Tyronnicido,' as good craft
as floats on salt water well manned, well
differed, well armed ct-cet-e-ra, et-cet-c-
"a ; and l know that she'll be well COM
manded. But your history, sin, your his
tory"
AT present, I have no history worth
listening to, Mr.. Cringle; hut l will try
to write one with my sword which oil the
world can read %
This conversation occurred at the COM
mencement Of that revolution which gave
freedom to the United Colonies of America
in the store Of the first speaker, Mr..
Phineas Cringle, merchant, et-cst.s-aa,"
as he always called himself
He was curious, but good old man
eccentric in his ways, but as sound at
heart as young, mistaken oak. His age
was full sixty, and his long, natural hair
was white as snow, and hung in masses
down about his neck but his cose-shaven
face was as smooth and as rosy almost as
that of Kate Cringle, his blooming daugh.
ter, who was just eighteen.
Mr.. Cringle's short thick.set figure was
dressed in claret, shad.belied coat, buff
waistcoat, knee-breeches, (cl0ret, like his
coat, white cotton long hose, with i'm
mense silver buckles in his shoes. Upon
his head he wore the tri-cornered cont.
mental hat of the day, with q red white
and blue cockade placed so conspicuously
on it, tina. all who looked might see that
be did not fear to wear the sign of pa.
triot American,
The person whom he spoke to was
young man, probably twenty-five years of
age. His eyes were large, dark blue. and
shaded by long, brown lashes his flowing
hair and soft, glossy beard was of rich,
dark brown ; his figure was slight, vet
very graceful; his entire appearance quiet
and exceedingly genteol But when his
eye looked upon you, there was a some
thing in its cold, clear depth--a something
in the expression Of his curved lip that
told you, that when manhood was needed
he was there, ia spite of the delicacy of
his appearance. His dress was a naval
frock.coat, with cpaulot straps upon the
shoulders, plain pantaloons and boots, and
blue naval cap. lie wore no weapons
there-yet he looked like one who could
wear q sword gracefully, and use it skill
fully.
"You can at least tell me where you
was born, sir" said MIR Cringle, pursuing
his object
d" 7 cannot tell where l was born, Or
even who my father or mother was" re.
piled the young captain. &C. AS my name
indicates l am literally a igait' of the sea.
Drifted ashore from Il wreck upon q little
island at the southwest corner of Nan.
tucket Shoal, was taken from q chest
into which had been laid by the hands
of a noble and good old man who had left
the world to live hermit life there. He
named me Edward Seawaif-the first
name his own; the latter. in remembrance
of the manner in which I came to him.
No living thing but myself reached the
land. That old man, Edward Zane, was
more than father or mother to me-he
hated world which had wronged him
much but he loved me all the more that
had seen nothing Of it. To him owe
everything"
You had no history, you said, sir?
No history, indeed I" cried Mr.. Cringle.
Why, sir, already you are a hero of 70.
nance. l mast find out who your father
and mother We're, ct-cei-e-ra, et-cet.e-ra
Was there nothing beside you in the chest
when the good old man found you ?"
Eyes, sir-a Bible, quantity of cloth
ing and jewels-some Of it evidently be-
longing to a lady Of rank and fashion
for it was very rich"
ANY name in the Bible, on the Jew
elry or clothing etceteya ?"
No, sir, ncne-except crest and
coat-of-arms that were on a seal ring, and
also engraved on various articles of Jew
elry which possess for when the good
old hermit died, he begged me to keep,
them-in hopes that they might lead to
the discovery Of my family"
Yes he was right-very right. What
was this crest and coat-ot.arms ?" asked
the merchant.
Two arms and hands grasping crossed
swords over a coronet, for the crest; a
shield with diamonds and J7euy de lis for
the coat.of arms"
Umph-nOble blood the Reur de lis
is French, or was once !" said the old
merchant, writing in his memorandum
hoax. i've got something to do-In
find out who your parents were or are flor
they may yet be living(, if have to hunt
over the heraldry of all the world, But
come up stairs, captain, we'll take q glass
of punch of daughter Hates brewing
and then we'll 60 aboard Of the 'Tyran.
eide and see how matters 60 there.
suppose you'll go to sea in the morning!"
Yes, SIR" said Seawaif following tho
merchant to the dwelling part of his house
,h in H.