The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-06-18
NUMBER II
The Story Of Thompson Dunbar.
'DY MAX ADELER.


eye Of Thompson Dunbar beamed with
ioy.and he gazed with joy into her love. II
" young faces with bright anticipations
,Gf future happiness in the company of <
every one Of her. In few moments
the ceremony was over, and these thirty
three were made one flesh, ''and Thomp..
son Dunbar and his wife retreated
down the aisle in sinefs file and went to
their humble home III nine carriages-
But unalloyed bliss. was not to be the
portion of Thompson and his numerous
bride. He was a sailor, and after lin
gering few days he kissed Mrs, Dun;
bar goodbye, and weeping upon her
necks, he tore himself away and went to
rove on the pillows of the Pacific Ocean.
Que night there was a fearful tempest
and the gallant bark, after a prolonged
contest with the elements, sank to rise
no more All on board were lost but
Thompson Dunbar. This intrepid tar
lashed himself securely to the ,binnacle,
and so sustained himself in the seething
foam for two days. At the end of that
time he was cast ashore upon a desert
island, which was only nine feet long by
six feet wide. Upon landing Mr.. Dun
bar surveyed the rock, and, after, draft
ing map of it, he took possession of.it--
in the name of the United States, and
manufactured a flag from his pockets
handkerchief and red flannel shirt,
which he 'hoisted on the island. Here
he lived for fifteen years on whateversfat
could be found in the land. He held
elections twice every year, and celebra-
ted the Fourth of 5aly and Washing,
tons birthday regularly when they came
around by reading the Declaration Of In.
dependence and singing the Star Span.
gled Banner Thus did he pass his years
in luxurious ease, doing all he could to-
be comfortable. But he never ceased tos,
mourn his separation from his wife, aad;
10 long to clasp her one after another, ,t0
his bosom. 9ti @ 5.sat tie,. ;
Meantime. how did she heartthe afflieI !
ton which had befallen her z . For the !
first two or three years Mrs. Dunbaf +
would go mp at evening and stand all at q
once at each Of the thirty two windows
and gaze out towards the ocean, strain
ing all sixty-three of her eyes) one of
Mrs. Dunbar had a cataract) to catch D 6
glimpse of her Thompson. But Thompr
son did not come; and as feeling of.
sadness stole over her soul, Mrs. Dunr,F
bar would bow her heads oyer.the in,
fants in her arms and weep, while she :
sang thirty-twe lullabys, and accuse
some other one of her of singing fiat,
or not keeping time. But At last she
gave up all hope of Thompson 8 return,
and agreed that he must be dead. So, as
soon as it was known she had made. up
her mind on the subject. Mr.. Arbutus
Jones had revelation that he must mara
ry Dunbar's widow Arbutus Jones had 4
loved her--the whole Of her--when she
was maidens, but she had refused him.
unanimously. But now he began to
press his suit again. Often he would
take her by as many Of her little hands
as he could conveniently hold, and would
stroll with her into some grassy del, and
she would arrange herself around in 4
circle by the side of some babbling
brook, while he sat in the center, and.
whispered soft words Of love to her, and
walked around and pressed each OF her
hands, and let the love light Of his eyes
shine on her faces and warm the flicker
ing flames in her hearts. je.t tis,ii
At last, having given up all hope Of
ever seeing her dear Thompson, Mrs.
Dunbar, by vote Of q to 1.-The yo-'
man with the cataract not voting-c0n-
Scented to become the wife of Arbutns
Jones. gea sas t 3pu liili
< *a e*s9 7E* ,sa,
An interval Of ten years elapsed be;
tween this part Of the story and that,
which is to come. ''''l'
Thompson Dhnbar, at the end of his ?
fifteenth year on the island, was rescued Il
bysa boat club which was passing by on. !,
its way to regatta. He went, home to
Utah, and marched up the hill to his
house, in the evening. wondering which
of Mrs. Dunbar he would kiss first, SO
as not to make the others jealous and
sacrifice his hair There was light in /.
the window. and Thompson thought he
would peep in before he presented him,
self. What a horrible spectacle met his ,
eyes There he saw his wife sitting UP;
against the wall on all four sides of, the
room, and a few Of her gather ed around
the center-table knitting. And Arbutps
Jones, his old rival, occupied tie arm
chair and held six infants on each knees
while he tried to amuse one hundred
and thirty eight other children who were
playing ON the floor, and to rock seven
cradles with his toes and coupling ma
chine of his own invention. s,i
Truly, it was lovely domestic scene
t-the alfectionate little family collected
about its peaceful hearthstone! But
when Thompson Dunbar saw it, he UNI
understood its meaning at a. glance, aud
wildly shrieking, "False! False" he fell
to the ground and groaned and wepf, ana
wished that he had been born ShoJ
shune Indian rather than that he should =
have seen that day. .ss.t,
But Thompson Dunbar bravely deter,
mined not to disturb the serenity OF that
happy household; SO he walked back to
his hotel and went to bed, and told the
IIandlady that after he was dead she must
send for Mrs. Jones 70 come and look At
him. =,
(Which Of her 2" asked the landlady.
"All of her." said Dunbar And then,
finding that. the vital spark had fed,
Thompson Dunbar closed his eyes, and
his sunny spirit winged lis way into en-
pyrran. e s.5f.ss ..,s a
The funeral took place next day; and
at the head Of the procession might have
been seen Mrs; Arbutus Jones'. walking
sadly in row, each carrying under ler
arm grave stone, containing triaate
to the memory of Thomson Dunbatt
He was buried with impressive ceremo-
nies, and When the services were over,
Mrs. Jones planted thirty-tw9 tomb
stones on his grave and watered them
With their tears; and the undersaker said
ItEat he had never seen SO much mourn