The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-05-12
MAY l2, 1865.

tho bride and bridegroom come"
Pretty soon there was buzz. anda "There
they comet" from the by ISLANDERS; and a
gentleman handed lady out of o carriage-
lady all lace and satin and aowers--a lady
with blush on the check and u smile on
the lip.
'"Thats the bride" says Captain Brown
"My!" cried Susan; shut where's the
bridegroom? had sight rather see him"
"There there he is-that one that's just
helping out the lady in gray; do you see,
Chriatie? Wait he'll turn rjund soon.
There"
"0h!" cried Susan.
"Lst us co." said tho Captain. touching
me gently. But I just stood still, with my
oycs as IL they had been glued upon Donald $
face and he gave glance round the crowd,
and tate would have 1t that his eyes met
mine, and the blood AIRED up his check that
was like death before, and his eyes said,
plain az tongue could have spoken,
az loved you; see, this is your work !"
And looking so, ho passed on and disap-
peared.
ashanti we go now?" said I. taking the
Captains arm, as cool as IL nothing had hap
pened.
"She's not bit pretty" said Susan.
"IIandsome men seldom marry pretty wo.
men" said l.
"No," said Captain Brown, who would
have agreed with mo if had said black was
whitc "it's your homcy men who do that
they get so pcsky tired Of seeing only their
own ugly phz aboard"
And we stood of for Cadiz ut last; and. I
can tell you my first night at sea was lit
tie too grand to be comfortable; but law
sakes I've been to sea with Captain Brown
fifteen years and odd, on and of, and got sort
of acclimated, 80 that didn't think any
more of going across the Atlantic than step.
ping across my chamber door Of II cold morn.
ing. ..,...t.... ..
Many aro the nights I've been out when
the ship didn't seem like anything SO much
as shaving, which the wind shook and torc
and the waves hungcred for; when tho dark
nessw'apped you like u cloak, save where far
of the breakers beckoned with ghostly fin
gcrs, or gnashed their white teeth threaten.
ingly; when above tho lonesome shrick OF
tho tempest tho creak Of cordage, the slip and
slap and tumble Of yclping catarc.s, the Or
ders trumpeted abroad-aboye them all would
break the woeful voice Of a minute-gun, that
carried in its breath dreadful tidings Of ship
wreck and death; of men and women cling.
ing to straws; of ghastly faces ono instant
upturned, now whirled down, down by the
whirling waters; of horrors that another
hour might make our own.
And then the sun. rising over fair fields of
sliding gems. and never weary OF working
its miracles far and near, while bearing us
company tho live.long day. till. like some
shp.wrccked world, splintered and ravelcd
into thousand atoms Of glory, 1t sank sadly
to its grave.
Then It was odds. but now and again we
fell in with an iceberg. bound down for the
Gull Stream; towers and spiree and ircttcd
frost-work, all a.glitter in the sunlight, ns
fine as any cathedral I've ever gazed at in the
Old World.
And land the foreign countries that l've
seen! Why. if any body had told me when
I was n girl should drive from posi- to Pill.
lar like that, I should have thought them
mad. ... nIi
Early or late, every ono has their turn
and 30 It fell out, that one night, after the
storm had ragged like any wild creature for
two days. we shipped our masts; and direct
ly Captain Brown called to lower the boats,
MS thar was our only chance, for the ship had
sprung leak and the sea rushed in with
will. and the pumps were of no more use
than cup. Now that Is tho time for man
to show the cut Of his jib; II he has got a
drop OF meanncss or cowardice in him, he
won't stand face to facs 80 with death with
out giving hint Of 1t. But it would have
done your heart good to see Captain Browns
men, even the roughe,t and unseemlicst,
stand back and say to their mess.matcs. "You
next 2" ''.
We stuck to tho boat for two days, and by
that time our water was quite gone; and 1t
strikes one strangely. I can tell sou. to sec
ones self surrounded by that delicious liquid
and one dying Of thirst! But just us We had
put tho last crumb Of biscuitinto our mouths
u French brig, bound for Algicrs, took US
or!
can tell you. too. that hadnsver expect.
cd to see green fields, nor waving corn, nor
blossoming way. sides again; neither to hear
the sweet morning auting Of birds just awake
iu their nests in the old tangled garden at
home, or the sweeter voices Of friends or foes
no, had givcnbp all that, and looked calm.
y US might olt upon the gray gloomy wa
.srs and up to the heavens as cheerless, IL 30
DO might End some grain Of comfort to last
me through. 81 |
Well, mono Of us could spoak q word Of
French but Captain Brown-ho had picked