The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-02-14
Misfellaueons.
now HE SAVED HER.

now HE SAVED HER.
BENJAMIN Hacket knew how to read and
write. afer fashion. How he came by
these accomplishments no one was quite
sure. Il was quite a mystery even to him.
selc Besides this, he knew all about a ship,
not because ho had studied navigation in
any college whstevcr,but because. beginning
as cabin boy, he had slowly fought his
way up to tho honorable post Of captain
"Cap,ain and owner" he was proud to say,
aoi the Beisey Hacket.'
l,etsey was his wife's name, and his wife
had bccn a plump, good.na,ured sailors
daughter, who wore hoop-rings in her little
brown ears. und was rather too fond Of
scarlet ribbons and blue-bead necklaces to
be model Of gen,ility. When they were
married. she felt quite content with her lit
tic front room in riverward street. and in
deed was more than satisfied with the glo-
ries which two green pnpir mncs parrots
and bunch Of white coral. to say nothing
Of a live parrot in u pewter cage, and tea
tray. sirnight from China. with Chinese
lady in outdoor costume, lent the establish
ment. Hat that was when benjamin
Hacket was "bcforc the mast;" and she
had lea him long ago, aud Captain Hack
cts daughter had other notions. They
lived in another part Of tho city now. and IN
their parlor were ornaments which put the
parrots to blush. and Betsey's daughter
called herself Elizabeth, AMI had no notion
Of being less fashionable than her neigh.
bon; and people said Captain Hacket was
immensely rich, and would leave his
daughter an heiress Of the first magnitude
when he left the world at nll.
Pretty. and an heiress, she had plenty
who called themselves friends, Of course.
She was belle in tho circle to which her
wealth had introduced her, and, perhaps,
her head was a little turned by the hattery
she had received. A good girl at heart,
she was yet easily blindc,i by show and
glitter, and very apt to judge people by
their coats and tho houses in which they
dwelt, and, indeed, had dropped more than
one good soul who, in the humber days OF
her life, had not been held so lightly.
Moreover, she had grown to bc not quite
10 well pleased when. following in her ia
theirs wake on his return from any voyage,
she saw that sun.burnt mate Of his Tom
lladaway.
She hal known Tom almost all her life,
and once she had been very fond Of him.
She liked him still. anil knew that he was
manly and handsome and well.cducate,l.
She knew, too, tha, wherever ho went his
tirst thought was to find some dainty sin
tor her on his homecoming.
Wonderfully carved fans and ivory
bracelets, and curious earrings and mysle-
rious work.boes, and birds Of raro plu.
mage. and shells Of delicate tinis and beau.
,iial shapes had Tom lladaway bestowed
on her. Aud there had been time when
she had believed that her father $ wish might
come to pass and Tom iladaway become
her husband; In, with tho elegant house
in the fashionable square had risen other
idcas.
So, during one Of her fathers longcs,
voyages she permitted Mellon Melton,
Esq.. who had by slow degrees, become
her beau ideal Of manly perfection, to alp
an engagement ring upon her slender fin
ger, and gave him permission to ask papa
in the most approved fashion.
Consequently, when Captain llacket AZ
rived, grand news awaited him-news that
made him pucker his iucc, and wrinkled
his brows, and growl Indignantly.
"why didn't you ask me fins, ?" said the
Captain. THAT puppy! Lord love you /!
wha, do women see in fellow like that!
They ain, men. according to my reckon
ins-only gals in wrong clothes, Hea'
"ilc adores me, papa" said Elizabeth,
melting into tears, -snd should dis if you
were cruel do consent papa"
"And how abou, Tom Hadaway ?" ask.
ed the Captain.
At this Lizzie cur,ed her In.
ct was not Toms affair."" shc surmiscd.
@rom loves you bet,er than his life," saitl
the Captain. "l'vc as mnch as given him
to understand that I'll make no objections.
Why IL I was q girl, I'll have Tom hada-
wsy in preference to any fellow upon earth
Id trust daughter Of mine In that man,
hands ss would ship. A for this icl
low. tho only use you could make Of hin
In the time OF storm. Sould be to throw
him overheard to tighten the ship; and b!
the lord Harry his weight wouldn't MAKE
v,,,rk dify.rr,v,~c p,,r Tor, Think