The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-12-18
GEORGETOWN DEL FRIDAY, DECEMBER Is, 1863


breaking waves each sailor saw his open
grave. And Captain Walworth, lifting
his eyes to the clouded heavens, uttered
one petition
"Spare me to meet Hannah Turner on
her birthday"
He hal uttered that prayer so often that
with his firm belief in heavenly mercy, he
could not doubt but that it would be grant
ed.
And surely God walked upon the waters
and held that vessel in his hand. Through
that fearful storm it lived, and with the
breaking of another gorgeous tropical day
all danger had departed Yet the gallant
bark had suffered, and all were busy in
repairing her injuries as best they could.
"And God send us fair wind and wealth
er lads" said the Captain, for we must
be in harbor at New York before the tenth
of next October, if it's to be DONE"
New York 1t was the name for home
with many of those sailors, and they work
ed away with will, keeping time to one
of those chanting choruses heard nowhere
save upon the sea.
Meanwhile, Captain Walworth took his
glass and looked out upon the ocean. The
storm had drifted them out of their course,
and he did not expect to see that little
line of land lying amidst the waves. He
looked again assuredly-it was an island.
Captain Walworth called to the first mate
=" Hawkins, come here, and handed him
his glass.
''It's an island" said the mate, "and if
so be there's water on it. I've a notion
we couldn't do better than to fill our casks,
for this hot weather don't sweeten water,
and there's not too much aboard anyway"
1t was good idea, so said the Captain,
and the next day the ship lay within sight
of the green oasis in that watery desert,
and Captain Walworth, with the mate and
two hands; went in boat to explore the
island.
A beautiful place; white pebbles and
rare shells upon the shore, tangles Of glossy
shrubs and gorgeous flowers, slender trees,
crowned with feathery-like foliage; birds
scarlet and blu, and orange, fitting like
scattered rainbows around the branches ;
wild fruit and berries, which the salt-fed
sailors plucked by handsfull. There must
be spring somewhere, and looking for it
they wandered on.
Suddenly they came upon a sort of cave
hedged about with piled up sand and
branches-the den of some cunning beast
or the habitation Of savage, for nature
had never formed that barricade. They
4 were bravo -.aAs.s, bsat-thoF oF-araw hack i
little and spoke low.
"That's been done by hands lads" said
the Captain, "and freshly done, too
There are people on this island, small a;
it is"
He stopped down as he spoke, and peered
into the entrance of the cave, and at that
moment something stirred within. A form
half-naked, with bits of fur about it, and
long-tangled hair and beard, came crawl
ing from the hole, and with wild gestures
arose and stood before them.
The first mate, an impulsive fellow, gave
a cry, and drew pistol from his belt
"Stand back y he cried; "stand back, OF
I'll fire p
And at that instant Captain Walworth
pale as ghost, and shaking like an asper
leaf from head to foot, sprang between
them.
Don't fire, Hawkins Don't lift you
finger against him !" he cried. "It's Han
nah's husband-it's Eben Turner! Oh
my God my God y
One wall for his last hope. The frs
and last went up to heaven in those words
the next he grasped the hand of the MAJ
whom he had recognized despite the laps'
of years, the marks of anguish and prva
tion, and the nakedness and soiled neglec
of savage life.
"Eben Turner he cried, "don't yol
remember William Walworth Z"
And there, upon the grass, the ship
wrecked man flung himself down, and wep
and uttered wild thanksgivings.
Il thought to die here,' he cried :,
never hoped to see my felow-man again
I have not spoken for so long time tina
wonder | have not forgotten the use o
words God bless you, William Walworth
for saving me from this wrOtched livin
DEATH"
"God brought me here" said the CaI
tain; ''it's no way my doing. Thank Hin
not me"
"And you spoke of Hannah, " said Ebe
; Turner. "She is living--well?" 7"
"She was the last one l spoke to befor
left New York." said the Captain
Keep a good heart you'll see your wifi
and children soon, and Hannah Turne
will be happy woman. /" and somt
thing arose in the Captains throat an
, choked him; for after all, good as he was
, he was but man.
They took the shipwrecked sailor o.
board the Plover, and fed and clothed hin
and brought him back to the likeness G
his old self. A handsome fellow still
, some ten years younger than Captain Wa
worth, when refreshed, and washed, an
trimmed into civilized man. So gratefu
,, to the bronzed sailor who had rescued hin
! and who knew his wife. He talked of he
incessantly, breaking off sometimes with
I sort of apology-"You've never been i
love, perhaps, and don't quite understan
a what my wife is to me, or how feel whe
/ 1 think of her. Maybe it don't seei
S manly to you; but you'll forgive u"
And once the Captain answered
: "P'raps I've never been in love, lad, an
:. p'raps never having had wife, | can
a | tnory boxv . man faals who has ona h,