The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-05-05
SEARCHING FOR A HUSBAND.

One of the most attractive girls l
ever knew was Louisa Bellamy. And
for short time / saw good deal of
her, for she went out to Bombay in the
Bengal, East Indiaman, of which ship
1 was then chief officer. Her family
and mine were old friends, so that she
and 1 were not strangers. The Bella
mys Were well connected, but very
pOor-taking into consideration the
position to which they of right belong
ed, and their large family-two sons
and eight daughters. Louisa was the
youngest ofall.
The boys entered the East India
CompaDy's service, and had been for
tunate. Charles, the eldest, especially
so. Circumstances helped him to his
majority very early, and he had mar
ried rich girl soon after his arrival
in India. From thence forward he had
lived in first-rate style, and helped his
family. Every one of his sisters had
been sent to him successfully, and he
had cOntrived to find good pdrtt for
each. All of them had married well,
and most of them were settled in
India.
Louisa's turn was the last to come.
Like her sisters, she was shrewd and
clever, well able to take care of herself
and to make the most of opportunities.
From her earliest childhood she had
been trained to look upon good mar
riage-that is, wealthy one-as "a
young Iady's chief end and aim in life;;"
and that this end was only to be at
tanned by going out to India. Ever
since she could remember, her home
had seemed to be in a chronic state of
excitement and turmoil consequent on
the successive gettings off of her elder
sisters for the land of promise. After
each departure her mother bad suffered
under continued attack of fidgets and
anxiety until the news came to her OF
the longed for desirable engagement.
No wonder that q rich husband formed
tie main point in Louisa Bellamy's
creed. Her turn had come now. She
was going to India TO get married. And
she meant to marry well.
Mrs. Bellamy kept up her admoni-
tions to the last. "LOuisa, mind, mind"
again.: and again, she reiterated on
the eve of the departure; "yOur sisters
have all done well, but you will do
better. You are by far the best look
ing of them all, and have only to play
your cards well. / think ] need not
caution you against falling in love with
poor man; love is very well in its way,
but married poverty is awful. You
have been reared to know this. Never
never make fool of yourself in that
manner" +.
Louisaguite laughed at the charge;
i'm her case it sounded so utterly need
less. "Never fear mama," were her
parting words, spoken emphatically.
81 know. I'll take care of myself.
See if don't make position worth all
theirs put together. Trust me for that
1t shall not be far inferior to that of the
wife of the governor general"
"Heaven bless you, my dear" re-
turned the happy mother. "IOu were
always my favOrite child, Louisa, and
| have ever looked forward to your
welfare in life."
What Louisa Bellamy dreamed Of
that last night, 1 cannot tell. Before
falling asleep, she lay for some time
wrapt in visions of a palace, with hosts
of black servants in and aoOut it. Car
riages, hOrs es, company, music, dane :
ing, jewels, pOmp and state, each held
a place in panorama. And in the
midst of it all, she, herself, figured
conspicCously, the reigning queen.
On the departure of the Bengal we
tOwed down Is Gravesend, and anchO-
ed. Two days were spent there in get
ting ready for sea and receiving the
passengers with their piles of luggage.
1t was a fine morning in February
when we started finally on our voyage.
The wind was northwest, blowing a
steady breeze. We soon had all sail
set, and bowled along merrily down
past the "Nore,n and SO on.
Going down channel / saw but little
of the passengers. A ship just leaving
home, especially with a fresh crew,
give the officer, and more particularly
the chief, plenty of occupation. By
the time we reached Madeira, things
had got into good working order, and
l had little spare time. The weather
was constantly fine; none of the pas
sengers had been ill. They had had
ample time to get intimate; which, as
a rule, is what people quickly do when
going long voyage together. We
carried about thirty, of whom some
children with them. They all seemed
very nice, and we got on well.
Ofthe men passengers one i'm particu-
lar gained my liking more than the
rest. Perhaps his name, George Arm
strong, may have had something to do
with the first attraction. It was that
of an old school chum, who had died,
with whom, as a boy, 1 had been very
intimate. This George Armstrong was
a frank, gentlemanly, handsome fel-
low, six feet high, and pair of shOul-
ders TO match. His face, with its
habitual goOd-tempered expression,
was kindness itself; showing also, good
sense and ability. He had come out
about third at the examination for a
commission, and was now going out
as lieutenant in the engineers. A
smart, pushing fellow, who would in
time make a name for himself, if not
knocked over by a cannon ball. Many
have been, mark you.
George Armstrong had nothing but
his pay and small private income OF
fifty poundsa a year. After all, this is
not SO great a misfortune; perhaps the
contrary, for a clever, steady young
man i'm India. If he has it in him, the
very fact of his being obliged to work
fora position, spurs him on to exertiOn
and he often rises far beyond those
who start with money, AMI so are con-
tent to yegetate and take life easily.
Armstrong grew to be quite a favOrite
OH board the Bengal, and he and
struck up real friendship. He took
a fancy to me, just as did to him.
The days ON board passed very pleas
a.ntly. One had not time to feel c,ln,i
Every hour had its occupation oI
amusement. Bathing and coffee in the
morning; breakfast at 8 o'clock; tiffin
at noon; dinner at 4; tea at Z. 1t seems
| like one continual meal. At 8 O'Clock
the steward put grog and wine on the
| table with cakes and such like things
During the day the ladies read, sewed
placticed music, played with the chill
dren, and found various other pastimes
The men smoked, read, played quOits
and fired at bottles suspended from {
stunsslil-boOm end. Often we had {
ship in sight; sometimes a home
ward-I -IOunder There would be plenty
designating, of answering, and askin.
eager questions on both sides. In fin,
light weather we once or twice boardet
another ship, seven or eight of the pas
seDgers going in the boat. AS COR fish
we caught plenty, including severa
sharks. These also afforded mucl
amusement, and caused not a littl
trepidation to the ladies when they
came to take a near view of the shark
flounderings ON the deck There wa
rubber in the evenings for those VIII
I cared about il. sometimes a round gam