The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-11-08

mt the same time it was crime but {
little less than mutiny to consider tha
was here or hereafter at less than ar
Iunapproachable distance from the
sixth mate. 1t was while held this
unenviable appointment that / first fell
in love. Among the passengers on
board the ship were two companions,
and several extra officers Of His Males
ty'sl2O regiment of foot. We were
conveying them to Bombay, where they
were to be stationed. The wives and
daughters ofmany of the officers were
also cabin passengers. The young la
dy who particularly attracted my at.
tention was the daughter of Major G.
a kindhearted, gentlemanly man, but
whose position was so far superior to
that of the unfortunate East India
Company's midshipman, that anything
in the shape of acquaintanceship or
even of conversation was impossible.
Maria, his daughter was an exceed
ingly pretty girl of about sixteen or sew
enteen years of age. She was evident
ly from the expression Of her counte-
nance, for 1 never but once had the
pleasure of speaking to her, exceeding
ly amiable. 1t was perfect happiness
to me to see her on deck. / used to
watch her each afternoon with her
mother and sister when the band was
playing; and / sincerely envied the the
military officers who fiuttered around
her. On these occasions my eyes us
cd to be necessarily riveted upon her;
and / was often severely rated by my
superior officers for my inattention to
orders.
At last, I felt certain that she MOTTO
ell me, but most probably from the
fact of my gazing necessarily at her.
She evidently mentioned my behavior
to her sister, for she used to regard
me with a peculiarly inquisitivc man.
ner. l hardly think she mentioned
my behavior to her mother; at least, |
never had any reason, from that lady's
conduct, to imaginethat she vas ever
aware of my existence.
NV affection increased to such an ex-
tent that at last / grow desperate, and
| determined, cost what it might, not
withstanding our fearful difference in
position, to make known to her my po-
s.tion; but how to manage it was the
difficulty. TO address her personally
on the subject was, of course, impossi-
BILE. Her mother was n cross-graned
ill-tempered woman, who when not
Frustrated by sea-sickness, which un-
fortunately rarely occurred, had her
eyes necessarily fixed on her daugh-
ters. / had too much dread Of her to
think of broaching the subject to her
even if my position would not have
made such an action presumptuous.
There was only one member OF. her
family with whom there existed the
slightest possibility cf forming an inti-
macy, and that was her young brother
boy Of about eleven years Of age. l
Immediately broke ground with him,
and succeeded admirably. / commen-
ced by giving him pressing invita-
tlon to the midshipman's berth. BY
degrees our acquaintance ripened in
to intimacy. Then, after binding him
over to eternal secrecy, ! confided to
him my unhappy, consuming passion
for his sister. Young as he was, and
inexperienced in such matters, he kind
ly sympathized3 Nv tn me. He promised
to assist me in every manner that lay
in his power, I advised him to begin
by pointing me out TO his sister and tel
ling her how vastly superior l was to
the other midshipmen. Then to hint
gently to her how necessarily was
talking and thinking of her. This
considered would be as much rs would
be prudent at the commencement.
In short time / found his sister had
remarked me favorably, and thought
me very good looking. Here was en-
couragcment to me. Of course sent
word back that she was the loveliest
girl / had had ever seen. The next
day she smiled kindly when she saw
me. We were then within fortnight's
sail of Bombay. / used bitterly to
weep in the night watches when |
thought that on her arrival there /
should see her no more. Sometimes /
thought of deserting ship and enlisting
rs private in her fathers regiment,
but then our differences in position
would be even greater than ever.
At last | summoned up sufficient
courage to tell her brother how happy
| woul be if he could obtain some little
object that | might keep as memento
other. He asked me what / would
like, and l modestly left it to his dis
cretion. He suggested lock of hair
to which rs may be easily supposed,
| gave ready consent. l assured
him that such gift wasmore than my
widest imaginations could have hoped
for; that the possession Of such treas
ure would make me happy for life.
Bad weather Get in, and did not
see the brother again for several days.
lie was exceedingly delicate, and, du-
ring the rain, his mother confined him
prisoner to the cuddy. When saw
him again he placed in my hand, with
out saying n w,rd, n small folded pa
per, about the size of n shilling. AS it
evidently contained something, imme-
diately rushed below and, with some
difficulty, contrived to open it unseen
by any one-no easy task, as solitude
is rare in q midshipman's berth. The
paper contained very thin but long
tress of bright auburn hair. / knew
it Immediately by its beautiful color
and silky texture to be his sisters
Never, l bclive was happiness ,Tnal
TO mine at that moment, / that day
made, clumsily enough, out Of one of
my shirts, a small bag, How grateful