The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1872-10-23
a SWING T0RllE


in the realms Of the Arctic, with
bows shected in crystal, with
icicles hanging pendent from the
yards. with frozen Ills and
shrouds, went ripping on he,
course through vast fields Of ice
and among stupeudous bvrgs that
lowered above our very maStS.
Sublimity, brightness and gloom
alternated in this wild cline.
At times VIC saw the red Aurora
Borca!is flaming the cold sky, as
if in mockery, with its lurid light;
at times the ice dazzled with lis
hrilllancy; bat often it scenes
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
iii our midst, which checrcd Us
more than words can express.
1t was CIarihci-the captain :
daughtcr-a child Of ten, gentle
and lovely, while full Of lite 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 rot yet shown any sign
OF ili-hcalth, was light and fr;sil.
with her fair hair and blue eyes.
the complexion Of her sweet mo-
ther, who had died Of consump-
ton.
The captain was a stern, quick
tempered man, but he almost idol
lied his child. So cid ali the sail
ors. Chipping like 4 bird, wrapped
in her pretty fur coat, she would
run and skip about the decks:
smiling kindly upon all.
Sometimes she would mount the
icy shroudS, and, pcrched away
up on the topgalIaat yards, look
down, laughing, at her parent. as
he anxiouS!y beckoned her back
TO the deck.
She was q great climber. and
conid run along the rails and 80
up the rigging almost as fast as a
sailor. Meanwhile her laughing
voice would seem to ripple AID
tinklc all over the vessel, falling
like Silvcry music upon the ears
Of the listeners.
Every morning our little girl
must come on deck and feed the
chickens, doves. and other fowl, Of
hich there was quite 4 stock in
the bin aft, whi;:h was warmed by
pipe running through 1t from
the after cabin.
One day . dove. eager to get the
crumbs she held out, rushed ut her
hand with al i!npetuosity which
sent the sharp bill! into the flesh
Of the cl.i!d's !alm.
Ill say nothin 10 papa about
it," she mut,ered, as she tightly
cla<ped the injured hand "hc will
be angry, and. m afraid. vii! hurt
the little dove.'
Pa 2a, however, overheard and
saw what had happened.
The purser was passing at the
time. This Wa \ young Swiss Of
twenty, who mad once been i p"or
chamoiS-hantcr, but who. having
Il taste for the navy. had entered
I, naval school, and, by his supe-
rior abilities, finally won his pres
ent position.
Here, purser," ordered the cap
tain, i want you to have that
doves head cut off,
Beg pardon, sir said the pur-
Ser, who had an affection for doves,
and had taken great pains to pro-
cure those in the vessel, at our
last port, "hut-hu.-I thonght
VIC we were not to Kill! them
"What! not if they hart my
child? Obey my orders at once,
sir"
The purser turned pale.
No. STRIP he answered, firmly.
Il could never obey such an order.
My mother. just before she died,
made me q present OF 4 dove,
which | have now ii hHme. This
sort Of Il bird has ever been sacred
to ne since
Bat il HIS hurt my chiId!"
cried the captain, his eyes fairly
blazing. "Come, sir. obey! :!
The purser, who was fair.halr-
ed. gertle-IookiuS young fellow,
shook his head, sadly.
no, Sir!" he answered.
The captains rage was unbound.
cl. He picked up q hand.splkc,
and rushed ut the Switzer, who
mus, the uext moment have been
knocke!! TO the deck. bat for an in
tcrpositiDn. This was CIar!Ael,
vino was 4 great t;svorite with the
parser.
No. Oh, no. cried the child,
c!insiag to her parents arm do
no; do not strike aim The bird
did not hurt me mach, papa. 1t
was moro my fault than the
birds !"
50 wild, so eager, 50 excited was
tac little girl, HOW trembling all
over. that she At once had he ct-