The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-04-29
OF Female sailor.

AGtehtnEcS Oh a eAI15e SaIEOEs
Some twenty years ago fair and ar
dent girl of fourteen, residing in certain
part of New York State, became so hac>
iious under parental discipline that ac>
corded Ill with her irrepressble nature,
that her maternal undertook to bring her
to reason by the aid of that presentimeDt
of leather which little boys regard as ca
pable Of communicating rather more tenn
porary wamth to the system than an ordi-
nary cooking stove. The maiden bore
the infiction with commendable herosm,
but improved the first opportunity there,
after TO eiOpe from the scene of her suffer-
ings. Going to Boston, she there pur>
chased and donned complete outfit of
masculine attire, cut off her hair, and
sauntered to the wharves with marine
determination.
1t was rot long before she found a
captain Of China bound ship, who will
lingly agreed to take her a voyage with
him as a cabln boy, ard to the Celestial
Kingdom she went, without betraying
her sex in The ship. The voyage was
long one, lasting 10 less than five years
and when the vessel re-aPpeared in Bos-
ton harbor, it WAS as mate that our dis
iinguished heroine trod the decks. Her
conduct had won promotion for her
through all the intermediate grades
Upon receiving her appointment she could
no longer keep her secret, but with true
womanly confidence she informed the
good-loohing, next highest officer of her
womanhoud Like sensible man anl
snilor, this officer at once fell in love with
her, and the twain were privately married,
having previously determined, however.
that the disguise should still be kept up
The happy couple occupied The same
stateroom, on their next outward passage,
without exciting suspicion. The voyage
was a long one, and on the arrival of the
vessel at Marseilles, the young mate,
having been prompt in her sailor duties,
as before, received permission of the cap
tain TO go ashore for two weeks. At the
expiration Of this leave, she came aboard
again but not until size had committed
10 The care OF an honest French couple,
wee bit Of humanity i'll her own image.
The ship again sailed for America, and
q
Notions. During the absence OF the craft
;hc owners had built new and larger
vessel, the command of which thew con
ferred upon our heroine husba nd He
accepted the position gratefully, ard at
once appointed his still disguised wife as
first mate Of the vessel The new ship
made prosperous voyage around Cape
IN t,rba
was made for her to 60 out to the Sand
witch Islands for cargo and back. She
made the trip, ard then, after cruising
about from one portS 10 another started
once more for home. Half the passage
home was accomplished when the captain
died, and his wife took command, and
brought the vessel safely to Boston, when
the owners offered her half owner ship,
and tho captaincy of the ship. Wishing
TO visit her child, at MarseiIles, she was
obliged to decline this handsome offer.
and took passage Immediately in the
steamer for Europe
Arriving at Marseilles, she visited the
spot where she left her babe; but TO her
horror the house even was gone, and she
could get no intelligence Of her missing
babe. AS a last resource, she enlisted
the aid OF the police, who finally succeed
ed in discovering that, some years before,
the husband of the woman TO whom she
had entrusted the child, had died, leaving
his wife without means Of support. She
had relatives living at Pelcastre, in Ma
pies, and thiiher she had gone fo7 help,
taking her youthful charge with her, using
Tor travelling expenses the money that had
been forwarded, just previous to the death
Ut her husband, by The mother of the
child. To Pelcastre, accordingly, The
anxious mother took her way, and on her
arrival there, learned that the woman
and child had been there, but that the
relatives Of the former would give her no
aid, and that she was obliged to go else
where for employment where she had
gone and what had become of her, none
could tell
Our heroine still refused to be discour-
aged, and continued the search persevcr-
ingly and vainly for two years At last
she was repaid for her labor of love. One
day, while passing through a ward in q
hospital Mt Florence, her attention was
attracted by the groans Of poor woman
who lay dying in one of the rooms, with
handsome boy weeping over her She
approached and heard her own name mur-
INJURED by the sufferer. In another mo-
meRt she was on her knees beside the
bed, clasping the sick ones hand in her
own, and asked her the question she all
most dreaded to hear answered. The
answer was in the affirmative, and with
Eer last breath the dying woman restored
10 the mother the child she bad been SO
long looking for. Scarcely was the faith
fnl creature dead when the impatient
mother nndid the jacket of the weeping
boy, and discovered about his meek a lit
ile tEinket her own hands had placed there
years before. Mother and son iDmed-
nsely proceeded 20 Harve, from whence
'hey sailed for ihis country, and are nov