The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1867-06-19
MARRYING A CONVICT.

/ had served twenty. five years on board
an East Indiaman, and for the last ten
years had commanded the Belle, one of
the finest crafts that ever hoated. | was
an old sea dog, and had dwolt so long on
salt water that l felt almost q hatred for
the land. Il
On the 20th of October, 1924, I re.
ceived orders to put myself in readiness
to sail for Cayenne. Twas to transport
scventy,fvc soldiers and convict. | had
orders to treat this individual well, and
the letters I had received from the Di.
rectory enclosed another, with huge red
seal, which was not to open until be-
tween n aud 20 deg. west longitude
that is, just before We were about to cross
the line. .v
The letter was long packet, SO we'll
closed on every side that it was impossi.
BILE to catch the slightest glimpse Of its
comforts. | am not naturally supcrsti.
tious, but there WIS something in tho
look Of the letter that | did not altogeth
er like, though l could give no reason
why. However, carried it into the cab
in, and stuck it under the glass of a lit.
tie old shabby English clock, which was
fastened above my head. | was busy fix.
ing the letter under the clock, when who
should come into my cabin but the con.
vict and his wife! This was the first
time | had seen either Of them, and
may say that more prepossessing couple
| never met, Tho woman wee senroeiy
more than fifteen, and as handsome as q
picture while the husband was an intel
ligcnt, magniiciently formed man, OIL
whose features nature had never written
"villian."
His crime to be plain, was the misfor
tune of being hundred years ahead O.
his age. He and others had attempted
something which our government callot
treason, and which it punished with
death. 1t therefore, occasioncd me con
siderable wonder that he should be placed
under my charge; but moro of this after
wards.
He had, as l said, his wife hanging OF
his arm She was as merry as bird
she looked like turtle dove cooling and
nesting beneath his great wing.
Before a month had passed over oul
heads l looked upon them as my owr
children. Every morning 1 used to cal
them into my cabin. The young fellow
wound sit writing at my table, that 10 :,
say, at my chest, which was my bed. II,
would often help me at reckoning, ant
soon learned to do better than l could
I was amazed at his ability. His young
wife would sit upon one of the rount
stools in my cabin, working at her needle
One day VIC were all three sitting il
this way, when l said
"no you know, my young ones, as !
seems TO me we make very pretty fami
ly pictureY Mind, I don't mean to asl
questions, but may be you have net mucl
money to spare, and you are, both of you
too handsome to dig In the burning su,
Of Cayenne, like many poor wretch be
fore you. It's a bad country-a ba,
country, take my word for it. I, VIII,
have roughed it though tempest, win,
and sunshine, till I've the skin of
rhinocerOs, might get along there; bu
you'll am afraid for you. So, if 70,
should chance to have q bit Of foolis1
friendship for your poor old captain, II
tell you what I'll get rid Of this old brig
she's not much better than an old tuf
after all SO I'll settle myself down ther
with you, if you like. You SEQ l hav
not living soul in the world to care fol
or that cares for me. I want relations,
want home, want a family. shoul
like to make my home with you, my pref
ty young ones What say ye?"
They said nothing at all, but sat look
ing, first at each other and then at me
as if they doubted whether they uudel
stood what l said.
At last the little bird threw her arm
around my neck and cried like baby.
"But," said she, suddenly pausint
"you haven't looked at the letter wit
the big red sealp go 4 ~.
"Aang TIP I exclaimed, ''it had sir
ped my mind entirely" -s @ ~
With cold, dreadful sensation, l ver
to my chest to sec where we were.
found that We had several days remair
ing before we should reach the prop,
longitude for opening the letter.
Well there We stood, all three Of u
looking up at the letter rs if il ooul
have spoken to us. As il happened Ii
sun was shining full upon the 600 Of ii
clock case, and fell upon tho great starin
red seal of the letter. l could not hcl
fancying It looked something Ike q bi
monster, an orgies face, grinning frol
! tho middle Of tho fro it looked horrid.
"Could notone fancy" said |, to max
them laugh, i,i's great bic owes we,