Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-05-01
lOwn, and as briefly as possible express


covered treasure on the following even
ing and certainly a more favorabl,
= specimen of the vigorous, active. bolC
= featured, frank spoken British seaman
never met with. To his comparatively
excellent education-for which under
stood he was indebted to his mother.
, superior woman, who, having fallen from
one Of the little heights Of society. ha(
: kept school at Plymouth-in addition
to his correct and temperate habits, b,
was indebted for the rapid advance--h,
was but few months older than Esther
he had obtained in the merchant sery
ice. The happiness which beamed upor
Esther's face did not appear to be of the
exuberant, buoyant character that kind
led the ruddy cheek and ran over at the
bright, honest eyes of the hardy sailor
there seemed to mingle with It hall
doubling, trembling apprehensiveness
albeit it was not difficult to perceive that
sorrowfully as had passed her noon Of
prime, an Indian summer" of the soul
was rising upon her bright ened exist
ence, and already with its first faint
fushes lighting up be meek, doubling
eyes, and pale, changing countenance.-
Willy, her feeble minded child, frisked
and gambolled by their side; and al
together, a happier group than they
would, | fancy, have been difficult to find
in all broad England.
The next week they were married !;
and one Of the partners in the firm BY
which Mason was employed happening
TO dine with US on the day of the we'd
ding, the conversation turned for a few
minutes on the bridegroom's character
and prospects.
Gle has the ring of true metal in
him." remarked and is, should
suppose, capital seaman ?"
"a frstrate one," replied Mr.. Roberts.
Indeed so high is my fathers opinion
Of him, that he intends to confer upon
him the command Of fine brig now
building for us in the Thames, and in
for the West India trade. He possesses
also singular courage and daring. Twice,
under very hazardous circumstances, he
has successfully risked bis life to save
men who had fallen overheard. He is |
altogether a skilful, gallant seaman"
Such a man." observed another Of
the company, "might surely have aspir-
ed higher than to the hand Of Esther
Woodford, dove eyed and interesting as
she may be ?"
Perhaps So" returned Mr.. Roberts
a little curtly though he, it seems,
could not have thought so. Indeed it is
chiefly Of simple hearted, chivalrous
minded men like Mason that it can be
with general truth Observed
We always come back to our first love.
The subject then dropped, and it was
a considerable time afterwards, and an
d n altogether altered circumstances,
when the newly married couple once
more crossed my path in life.
II was about eight months after his
marriage-though he had been proftably
enough employed in the interim-that
Henry Mason, in consequence of the
welcome announcement that the new
brig was at last ready for her captain
and cargo, arrived in London to enter
upon his new appointment.
"These lodgings, Esther" said he, as
be was preparing to go out, soon after
breakfast, on the morning after his ar
rival, are scarcely the thing and as
|, like you, am a stranger in Cockney
and, / had better consult some of the
irm upon the subject, before we decide
lpon permanent ones. In the mean
lime, you and Willy must mind and keep ,
n doors when | am not with you, or | I
hall have one or other of you lost in 8
his great wilderness of city. shall
eturn in two or three hours. | will Or {
Ter something for dinner as 90 along: :
have your purse. Good-by: God /
'less you BOTH" d
Inquiring bis way every two or three a
minutes, Mason presently found himself b
n the vicinity of Tower Stairs. A scuf. o
e in front of public house attracted t.
is attention +; and his ready sympathies
7ere in an instant enlisted in behalf of b
young sailor, vainly struggling in the n
rasp of several athletic men, and cry a
lg Justify on the gaping bystanders for I
elp. Mason sprang forward, caught tt
ne of the assailants by the collar, and Fl
urled him with some violence against h
ne wall. A fierce outcry greeted this p
udacious interference with gentlemen le
ho, in those good old times, were but pl
xecuting the law in a remarkably oood q,