The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-03-24

| WcnJ On Ill InlS why iOi upOub BIN
months, when one dark and wintry
night, the wind blowing great guns,
and the sea running high, we saw
signals Of distress from some vessel of
the point there. There was no life
boat in the place, and our small craft
couldn't have lived minute in such
weather. In the morning we saw no
signs of the vessel, and we supposed
she had gone down, and all aboard
lost; however, we heard in the day,
that one of the poor fellows had es-
capped, and, though cut and bruised
had contrived TO crawl up the point
there, where he had been found by
Capt Meredith, who brought him
home to his own lodging and nursed
him. He was fine young fellow, an
orphan, as he said, by name William
Randall, and had been working his
way to Liverpool in hopes of obtain
ing employment. The clergyman of
the place-you may see the church on
the right as you go towards Edge
cumbe Ferry-heard of this, and be-
coming good deal interested in the
young man, offered him place as
gardner, or general servant, or some
thing or other Bill was a handy
chap, and soon made friends with
| people, and they persuaded him to
stop here, instead Of going to Liver
pool as he had intended He didn't
want much pressing, for any one
could see there was girl in the case,
and that girl was Ellen Meredith, and
it didn't want more than two eyes to
see that she liked him The folks
used to jeer Paul about his nose being
out of Joint, and Tom Trevellian the
blacksmith, as owed him grudge for
the dog, used to say, well, doctor,
how's your nose by this time 2 But
they said the doctor only used to turn
white and rub his hands; it was a
way he had, and he did the same
when he gave the dog the bread.
Well, things prospered so well with
young Randall, that at last he made
up his mind to ask the captain for
his consent, that he and Ellen should
be married, and MS the old fellow was
a jolly, easy-going customer, and
liked Bill very much besides, it WASH t
long before he gave it, Just about
this time, the folks in the village were
frightened at the report that the
press-gang were out; that they had
been as far as Plympton, four or five
miles from the town there, and had
pressed one or two men. The captain
and Ellen wanted to put the marriage
off but Bill wouldn't hear Of it, and,
strange to say, Paul, as was his worst
rival as you may say, sided with him
Well, on the very day afore the we'd
ding, a strange man as hadn't been
seen in the village afore, called at the
house to speak to Paul, and neigh
Dor as happened to be present at the
time, said afterwards, she had seen
them talking together on the road to
Plymouth. Now, mind me, in the
evening, and just as they were sitting
down to supper, and drinking healths,
Paul, who was late, ran into the room
leaving the door open behind him
and entreated William to look tc
himself, as the press-gang were al
ready in the village; and afore poor
Bill could get away the press-gane
were inside and had seized him, and
} in spite of his struggles and Ellen's
cries and Pauls entreaties, carried
him to the beach, where boat lay
ready, and took him away"
"Is that all ?" / asked.
'Not exactly, mate" said my friend
/ finishing the rum, "the strange part
) has to come"
} SO, replenishing his glass and re
5 filling his pipe, he continued:
l "Well, every one of course wal
' very much cast down at this. but
poor Ellen particularly; however, fol
many months she kept brave heart
9 always telling the captain that sh'
A knew William would return, and the,
Q shonld be happy yet; and dye see, NJ
q one liked to tell the poor thing differ
s ent, although but very few though
s they'd ever see him again. AT an.
0 rate, it was clear Dr. Paul didn't, TO
S after while he began again to pa.
Q his addresses to her, and this tim
: moro in earnest than before; but i
was no use. Ellen would have moth
ing to say to him at all Now, abou
two years after they had pressed poo
G VIII, when it was getting on toward
|. the winter time, there had been
N GOOD deal of dirty weather about, an,