Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-04-19
A HEROINE.

people who happened to be on the Battery,
at New York, saw that sick person was
being carried in litter from the ship to
the Battery Hotel. Beside the litter
walked young girl, as a careless passen-
ger might have supposed; but others were
struck by the strangeness of such youth
fulness in one with so careworn face.
She was also obviously near her con6ne-
ment. She was twenty, in fact, and had
been married three years to the man in
the litter. She had been brought up in
gayety and indulgence in prosperous
home in East Boston, and had married
gallant young sea captain. In the first
days of the honeymoon, Captain Patton
was offered the command of the Neptune's
Car ship fitted out for the circumnav-
igation of the globe, and delayed by the
illness of the commander. Captain Fat
ton declined this great piece of profess
ional advancement, on the ground that he
could not leave his bride, for so long a
time, at an hours warning. He was told
she might 60 with him; she was willing
and they were established on board within
twelve hours from the first proposal being
made.
They were absent year and five
months; and from the outset she made
herself her husbands pupil, companion,
and helper, to his great delight. She
studied navigation, and learned every
thing that he could teach her, and was
soon habituated to take observations,
steer by the chart, and keep the ships
reckoning. In August 1856, they sailed
again in their beloved vessel for California,
making sure that the ship they were SO
proud Of and so familiar with, would beat
two others which started at the same time.
The race which ensued disclosed to Cap
tain Patton the evil temper and designs
of his first mate, who was evidently bent
on defeating his purpose, and, for some
unknown reason, on carrying the ship
into Valparaiso. Before Cape Horn was
reached, the captain was suffering from
anxiety and vigilance. There it was nee.
essary to depose the mate, and under the
toll of supplying his place, Captain Pat
toms health gave way entirely. A fever
was followed by congestion of the brain
but he had had time to put his wife in
full possession Of his purposes. The ship
was by no means to go to Valparaiso for
the crew would desert, and the cargo be
lost before the consignees could arrive.
His honor and conscience were concerned,
he said, in going to the right port This
settled everythingin his wite's mind. The
ship should go the destined port, and nc
other. :........l r.- ....-.r1 .... +
Her husband became hopelessly delir
ious; and the mate seized the opportunity
to assume authority. He wrote letter
, to Mrs. Patton, warning her not Oppose
him, and charging her with the response
, bility of the fate Of every man on the yes
, sel if she presumed to intefere. She re
| piled that her husband had not trustee
, him while he was well and she could no
/ trust him now that her husband was i'll
t She assembled the crew, told them th,
facts, and appealed to them. Would the,
. accept her authority in her husband
( place, disregard the first mate, and worl
: the ship under the orders of the second
Q Every man of them agreed, and she hat
{ nothing to complain Of from them. The,
: saw her at her studies, as they passed tn
| cabin windows, and regarded her will
t reverence and pity--a young wife, sool
S to be mother, alone among men, witt
9 husband to nurse and control, the crew +
e command, and their lives to preserve b.
n her learning and professional skill Their
f she sat at her desk by lamplight--no,
i studying medical books which could in