The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-06-21

~ 'iV hl"iuVlu lniilcS, us tnc lCIultN
for saving the life of ono of the no
bility
The indignant officers OF the ship
could do nothing, and the next day
Jack Ford was chained to u lot of ne
grocs, and started for the distant dia-
mond mines of Brazil.
The way was very long, leading
through tropical country, over burn
ing plains, eptile-infested forests, and
difficult mountains. They were many
days in making the journey, and Jack
often tainted by the wayside, but his
merciless masters hurried him for
ward. What mattered it to them if
the negroes had attempted murder
and this lrishman had risked his life
to save their victim What cared
they If he was one of the most iovial-
hearted of men and his great heart
seemed to entertain M ill-will toward
those who had SO uniustly sentenced
HIM for his gallant deed 1t was
their business to get forward as fast as
possible, and that they did without
thought of the poor beings under their
charge.
The journey to the mines, MS we
have said was terrible one. At
night when Jack lay upon his back,
looking up a. the stars, and rejecting
upon his sad fate, he more than once
made the attempt to escape. But he
was SO securely bound that it was use
less. Had he been free, he would
have darted away in the mountains
and persisted before he would have al
lowed himself to be recaptured. He
knew too well what ten years of labor
In the diamond mines meant
But, like Il true philosopher, when
they came in sight of the mines, and
he saw that his doom was scaled, be
gave over, and went cheerfully to
work.
Jack had hardly got settled in the
mines, when he mastered the Portu-
guesc language, and at once became
the favorite among the keepers of the
convicts. His ready wit, his songs
and jokes, enlivened many a dreary
hour, and the governor himself came
to look upon him with such favor that
he allowed him many privileges not
accorded to other convicts. His i'm
pudent humor was no respecter of
persons.
"Why, Jack" said the governor one
day, chow is it you are always so
cheerful and in such good spirits ?"
"And what the devil is the use of
baing otherwise %
Chat is philosophy truly, but do
you not become gloomy when you con-
template the time you have to remain
here 2"
isn't the time less, your honor,
than it was ever before {? Doesn't
avery BIRTH ! draw, make it Just so
much less Begorah, it's only little
rising of nine years that | have to
shtay, and that is altogether too
shlight to look upon the pleasant
conntenance Of your honor, God bless
your soul p
The governor would laugh and tell
Jack he "blameyod" too much, while
the Irishman would wax wrathful and
take himself Oft, to all appearance in
high dudgeon.
A favorite occupation of jacks was
to climb a certain palm tree that grew
near the mines, for the purpose, as he
expressed it. of getting a mouthful of
fresh air.
"When I'm up that tree" said he,
sit seems as if | were Mt the masthead
of the Sea Witch; but she'll niver sa
the likes of Jack Ford at her foretop
again"
1t was rather curious that Jack al
ways climbed the same palm. He was
never known to ascend any of the 9TH
CT trees that grew near at hand. he
generally remained about haitian hour,
and always sat on percisely the same
limb. This, however, would have
aroused no curiosity had it been OBJ
served; but Jack Ford had an object
in doing this, which was great OBJ
ject, and which no living soul in or
about the mines ever suspected for n
moment.
Time rolled on and Jack steadily
grew in favor with those that were
placed over him; his cheerful deport-
mont, his ready acquiescence in all the
rules and regulations, the honesty that
he displayed at all times, were traits
which could not fail to command the
respect and consideration of the gov
ernor and those in authority.
At the termination of six years Jack
himself was appointed oyerseer. This
was a most important promotion, for
it elevated his condition, made him
comfortable, and commanded the re-
speot of the hundreds around him.
Shortly after this Jack was married
TO q handsome native, whose parents
were tolerably wealthy, and resided
about a dozen miles from his place of
confinement. 1t might now be sup
posed that he was happy and content
ed, and so he seemed to all; the ODE
dience and faithfulness that he had
shown from the beginning, had
brought their reward, and many man
in his position would have been willing
to remain forever IN his position.
But Jack never forgot that he was
convict, the worst kind of slaye--that
his body belonged to another for a
period of ten years. Should these
years pass and find him settled down
n, t,;. ,,l,,o lo rolt that lo oouI1 uav-