Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-06-01
0riginal 4apers.
For the Spirit of the Age.
NANsEE E.KI,
The Little Hindoo Girl.

On the Malabar coast Of Hindoostan,
there is little village called Maize, it is a
pleasant place, situated on the side of hill,
gently sloping down to a nice harbor; but
the harbor was seldom used, for vessels
scarcely ever stopped there with the excep-
tion Of the "Sea Eagle" which was due
every nine months. Very few Europeans
lived there, indeed only two, and it is about
one of them that my story is. He was
low, base man, by the name of Howe, and
lived there for the purpose of cheating the
natives, for which, he first introduced il
quor, so that while they were under its in
fuence, he could more easily accomplish
his purpose. And Maize, where once eve
ry thing was so quiet and every one ten
ded to his particular duties, and where the
night passed without any disturbances,
now, the nights are hideous with the howls
of drunken wretches, and the streets are
filed with staggering forms, and this came
Of the liquor sold by Howe at his shop,
consisting of two rooms, in the larger of
which were packed eight or ten large hogs
heads of rum, whiskey and other spiritu-
GUS liquors, and here each day, people
came in droves for the forgetting water"
as they called it, because 'it makes us for
get all our troubles" but does it not make
them forget all the good things too?
The day that The Sea Eagle was to come,
arrived, and many of the inhabitants of the
town were gathered on the beach. some
with their boats and others with their spi-
ces, fruits and other things to exchange
with those on board. ......
Soon the ship hove in sight, and all hav-
ing sent up a shout, rushed to their boats.
Among those, was one, tall and remarka-
bly, we'll formed, by the name of Bejaapo.
He was thought great deal of by Maize,
for he had travelled a great distance, and
had the largest dwelling and the most fruit
trees of any Of the villagers, and he was
almost the first to whom was paid any at
tenton by those on hoard. Having made
lis exchanges, and waited on shore till the
unloading was finished, for it was not much,
being principally for Howe, he went to his
home with smile on his face, for he was
anticipating the pleasure of his wife and
little Nanseeki, his daughter, when he
should show them his gay purchases.
Nor was he disappointed, for Nanseeki
danced nerrily round full Of joy she was
lively girl, very easy to learn and very
observing, although she was but ten or
eleven years old. An hour or two after
wards Bejaapo started to go out, but his
little girl ran and begged him not to 60,
but he would, and saying, "l'll not be gone
long, Nanseeki," he passed out. With
tears in her eyes she went to her mother,
to share her sorrow. too we'll they knew
he had gone to Howe'S, and they kn W he
would come home to beat them and destroy
every thing he could lay hands on.
He had not been in the habit of going
there long, and at first had refused to &c
at ALL when he saw how it affected his
companions. But he was tempted in at
evil hour and he fell, the burning thirst
was aroused. which nothing but drin
could euell. "Oh Alcohol, what power
you possess over them who have once
yielded to thy temptations"
He came home, as they expected; they
had to fee from him, till the fit had passed
of. But day after day went by and still
found him at the rum store, for Howe wa
liberal after receiving his new stock
Bejaapo carried piece after piece of hi
furniture, his treasures and his possessions
till they bad hardly any thing left. Iii
fruit was all going to ruin, for what Nan
seeki and her mother would repair in on
day, he would tear down, in a rage, th
next. Many time had Nanseeki been t
the store of Howe watching her paren
and sometimes leading him home, but o
tener scolded from his sight. One day sh
went as usual to watch, when Mr. How
came out, built a fire, then brought piec
OF board and rod Of iron, this he heate
in the fire and thch burned several holes
the boardfo some purpose or othery h
then went into the house, when Nanseek
who had been watching every movemer
with the most intense anxiety, snddenl
spraug forward, seized the iron rod an
rushed. home with the greatest possib
speed and not saying word to any on
she ran and hid it.
Her mother noticed the strange condu
Of the child, but said nothing. Nansee
sat dpeamily gazing, as the long, love
twilight SLOWLY faded, and still sat till 4
stars came out one by one, and till t
moon had commenced her course, then S
drew the iron from its hiding place, a,
with hight footsteps, proceeded in the
rection Of the grogshop. Near there S
cautiously lights fire, then goes round
see il she was safe, although there was
need OF t'at, for the noise was loud, a
Howe sat with grin on his coarse featur
As If nerVing for tho task, she threw b
self on tue grass for a moment, then r