Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-05-17
Marrying a Convict.

nau served 1Or twenty-five year
on board an East Indiaman, and fol
the last ten years had commanded th'
Belle, one of the finest crafts that eve
foated. was an old sea-dog, wht
had dwelt so long on salt water tha
[ had almost hatred of dry land.
On the 30th of October, 1923,
received orders to put myself in readi
ness to sail for Cayenne. l was tt
transport seventy-fve soldiers and {
convict. | had orders to treat this
individual well, and the letter 1 re
ceived from the Directory enclosed
another, with huge red seal, which
was not to open until between q
and % degrees west longitude; thai
| is, just before we were about to cross
the line.
The letter was long packet, SC
well closed upon every side that il
was impossible to catch the slightest
glimpse of it's contents. / am not
naturally superstitious, but there was
something in the look of the letter tina,
did not altogether like though
could give no reason why. However
| carried it into the cabin, and stuck
it under the glass of little shabby
English clock, which was fastened
above my head.
[ was busy fixing the letter under
the clock, when, who should come in.
to my cabin but the convict and his
wife This was the first time l had
seen either of them, and I may say
that a more prepossessing couple ]
never met. The woman was scarcely
more than fifteen, and as handsome
as a picture; while the husband was
an intelligent, magnifcently Informed
man, on whose features nature had
never written 'yillainr
His crime, to be plain, was the mis-
fortune of being hundred years
ahead of his age. He and others had
attempted something which our gov.
ernment called treason, and which 1t
punished with death. 1t, therefore,
occasioned me considerable wonder
that he should be placed under my
charge. But more of this afterwards.
He had, as | said, his wife hanging
upon his arm. She was as merry as
a bird; she looked indeed, like a tur.
tie dove, cooing and nesting beneath
his great wing.
Before a month had passed over
our heads. looked npon them as my
own children. Every morning used
to call them into my cabin. The
young fellow would sit writing at my
table, that is to my chest, which was
my bed. He would often help me at
reckoning, and soon learned to dc
better than | could. | was amazed
at his ability. His young wife would
sit upon one of the round stools in
my cabin, working at her needle.
One day we were, all three, sitting
in this way when l said:
DO you know my young ones, as
it seems to me, we make very pret
ty family picture? Mind l don't mean
to ask questions, but may be you have
not much money to spare, and you are
both OF you, as I think, too handsome
to dig in the burning sun of Cayenne
like many poor wretch of convict
before you. It's a bad country
bad country, take my word for it.
who have roughed it through tempest
wind and sunshine, till I've the Skin
of a rhinoceros, might get along there
but you-I'm afraid of you. So, if
you should chance to have bit of
foolish friendship for your poor ole
captain, why, I'll tell you what I'll do
I'll get rid of this old brig; she's no
much better than an old tub after all
so I'll settle myself down there witt
you, if you like. You see | have no
living soul in the world to care for
or that cares for me. | want relations
| want a home, | want a family.
should like to make my home witt
you, my pretty young ones! Wha
say ye? ae .#a
They said nothing at all, but KEEP
looking, first at each other, and the
> at me, as if they doubted whether the
understood what | said.
! At last, the little bird threw he
: arms around my neck and cried lik
a baby. 81 fs raH
e But said she, suddenly pausins
you haven't looked at the letter wit
e that big red SEAL a. taa -e... n
> | felt queer creeping come owe
q my flesh as she said this.
Hang it, 1 exclaimed, lit had slil
;, ped my head entirely F u
With a cold, dreadful sensation,
/ went to my chest to see where W
s were. I found that we had severs
n days remaining before we should reac
o the proper longitude for opening til
7. letter. y
G We'll, there we stood, all three 0
y us, looking up at the letter as if
n could have spoken to us. AS it ha
Y pened, the sun was shining full upc
'e the glass of the clock-case, and fe
q upon the great staring red seal of Il
J. letter. ] could not help fancying
'e looked something like great big mo
d ster, an ogre's face, grinning from Il
ID middle of the fire; it looked horrid
Gould not fancy said !, to NAL
them laugh, its great big eyes we
es staring out of its head 2
,g 'Ah, my love- said the wife, 1T loo
e. like bloodr s7e
en- Pooh, pooh,' said her husband, ia
ry ing her arm under his, lit looks like
= Io+for IF invitafio to q uoddipr