The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1871-09-13
A Swing for Life.


Plovor, which, day after day, in the
realms Of the Arctic, with bows sheet
ed in crystal, with ioicles hanging pen.
dent from the yards, with frozen sails
and shrouds, went rippling on her
course Through vast fields Of ice, and
among stupondous bcrgs that lowered
above our very masts.
Sublimity, brightness and gloom al
ternated in this wild cline.
At times we saw the red Aurora
Borealis tanning the cold sky. as if
in mockery, with its lurid light at
times the ice dazzled with brilliancy;
but often it seem covered with black
shadows, while the eternal thunder of
the tides, washing the bases of frozen
cliffs, doomed on our ears.
But there was little sunbeam in
our midst, which !cheercd, US more
than words eau express.
1t was Claribel-thc captains
daughter---a child of ten, geutle aud
lovely, while full of life and spirit.
Captain James had taken his little
one with him on the voyage, hoping
thereby to strengthen and improve
the child, who, although she had not
yet shown any sign of ill-health, was
light and frail, with her fair hair and
blue eyes, the complexion of her
sweet mother, who had died Of con"
sumption.
The captain was stearn quick tenn
pered mau, but he almost idolizcd his
child. So did all the, sailors. Chirp.
ing like bird, wrapped in her pref
ty fur coat, she would run and skip
about the decks, smiling kindly upon
all. 't .'r''
Sometimes she would Mount the icy
shrouds, and perohed away,up on the
topgallant yards, look down laughing,
at her parents, as he anxiously beck
oned her back to the deck.
She was great climber, and could
run along the rails and 60 up the
rigging almost as fast as sailor.
Meanwhile her laughing voice would
seem to ripple and tingle all over the
vessel. failing silvery music upon the
ears of tho listeners. .9l, .,.......s
Every morning our little girl must
come on deok and feed the chickens,
doves, and other fowl, Of which there
was, quite o i stock, in, the, bin aft,
which,was warmed by a,pipe running
through it from the after cabin. {. q,
One day dove, eager to get the
crumbs she held out, rushed at her her
hand with an impetuosity which sent
the sharp bill into tho flesh Of tho
ohild's palm. ..r ... ,.,a4, ,.r,.,. .,..
o"I'll say nothing to papa about it,
she muttered, as she tightly clasped
tkeinjured hand ;,,"he will be angry,
and, Pm afraid, will hurt the little
dove." ~ ta..,,.r H..
Papa, however, overheard md saw
what had happened ....., ..,.j.
The purser was passing at the time.
This was young Swiss Of twenty,
who had once been a poor chamois-
hunter, but who having taste for
tho navy, bad entered a naval school,
and, by his superior abilities, finally
won his present position.
"Here, purser,"' ordered the captain
~ wapt you to have that doyo's head
cut off" ...,
oJ@Iscg ,p;aarrdou, sir,' said tho purscr
who bad On affection" for, doves, and
had taken great pains to procure
those in the vessel, at our last port,
"but,-but-1 thought We wore not to
kill thom.'' - '.... we
~c"What ! now If they hurt my child7
Obey my orders at onoe, SIR"
T. The purser turned pale.
oa"No, sir P' he answered, firmly.
- could never. obey such an order, !,
N.Y., moths',; just 3 bsfoFe she died. e :
have now at home. This sort Of q
bird has ever been sacred to me
sinoe." ....'.,....i. =:
"But it has hurt my child W cried
the captain, his eyes fairly blazing.
"Come, sir obey ~ t,4a .jsr,1n 4,he,
The purser, who, was fair.haired,
gentlo"lookins young follow, shook his
head sadly.