Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-10


undivided attention, and after desperate
struggle, our staunch little vessel came out
Of the gale, but few sails the worse for the
confict. The disorder occasioned on deck
was speedily righted, and, impelled by 9
stiff breeze, we resumed our eastward course.
When we neared the scene Of what we all
felt must have been terrible disaster, we
kept sharp lookout, but beheld only broken
maSts, drifting spars and other debris Of a
wreck, but no sign of human being on
| that wide expanse of water. By the aid
Of thevessel's lights the man On the lookout
discovered q white, floating object. The
command was given, and boat was speed
| lily lowered, and, drawing the floating object
! 10, it proved to be a broken spar wherein
was lashed little girl, apparently lifeless,
! and seemingly about three years of age.
! She was handed up to me over the vessels
side, and given over to the surgeons care.
After much exertion he succeeded in
arousipg the little creature from the deep
swoon Occasioned by exposure and exhaus-
ton, but 1t was some time ere she fully
recovered from her untimely sea-batb. Her
piteous cries for her lost parents brought
tears to the eyes of the rough sailors, all
unused to weeping. But happily the spirits
of youth are elastic and she gradually be-
came resigned to her fate, and became the
pet and plaything of all on board. From
the hour in which she was received, help
less waif aboard our vessel, she was regard
ed as gift direct from heaven. We never
discovered any clue as to her identity,
merely learning that a steamer called the
America, had sailed from Liverpool for New
York, and had been lost at sea with all on
board. When our vessel at last returned to
our native shores, carried our pet, to my
home, where my widowed sister bestowed
mothers care upon the little orphan. gave
her my name, and taught her to call me
uncle. Whenever our vessel sailed she In
sisted on accompanying me, meeting with
love bordering on reverence from even the
toughest tar. Like Venus Aphrodite, she
seemed to have arisen from the foam of the
sea, to prove treasure of love TO us hard
ened seamen. But at last my sister died,
and |, tired of the sea, and having amassed
a competency, bought this lovely home, and
installed my Aline in it, to be its light and
blessing, and this girl who sits before you,
is our 'Waif of the Wreck the joy of my
lonely life."
"Was there no clue whatever; nothing by
which she could be identifed?" exclaimed
Mr.. Selwyn in great agitation.
"The child's garments were marked
Aline, so we called her by that name, and
around her neck was suspended a locke',
upon tiny chain, containing the likeness
of a lady and gentleman whom suppose
were her parents. tAline and Arthur was
engraven outside"
''For heavens sake let me see that locket,
if you still have it," demanded Mr.. Selwyn.
Aline arose in extreme agitation at a
sign from Capt. Tracy, and drawing the
locket from her neck, handed it to Mr.. Sell
wyn. A single glance he gave, and with a
cry of anguish he gathered the young girl
in his arms.
''My heart told me truly, but woe is me.
Come to me child, and gladden. a home,
whence the light has departed, where my
own loved Aline will never mora greet and
forgive her heart broken brother"
He drew her to a seat, and with his arm
around her, as though fearful to let her 20,
he continued, in low, husky voice,
"Aline was my twin sister. We grew
up together, with neither a thought nor
wish that the other did not share. Little
did | then think could ever cruelty wrong
my gentle sister; but time came when
other love than mine entered her heart, and
that one love her proud old father, and still
prouder brother, would not countenance.
But she loved Arthur Manning, who was
her inferior only in point of wealth and sta
ton, to US proud Selwyns, the 'one thing
needful,' and, linking her fate with his in
spite of our protestations, we cast her of,
and have never gazed upon her living face
since the morning We parted so bitterly. She
hath fDnnd q x5bilek Ioet
to increasingly mourn her loss. But forgive |
me, child, and let your love heal the wounds
which my own sinful pride inflicted"
For answer, Aline clasped her arm around |
his neck and wept unres.rainedly. The |
mystery of her parentage was solved, and a |
new tie of kindred bound her to life.
As Capt. Tracy gazed upon then, his great |
heart swelled with emotion, for she was in !
deed the slight of his eyes''-the bright
sunbeam that dawned upon his daily exis- |
tence, and the thought that she was no lon |
ger his own was more than be could bear. |
Something of this must have passed |
through Aline's mind, for disengaging her |
self from her new found uncle's embrace. /
she sprang to Capt. Tracy's arms, which !
opened to enfold her, saying in loving tones:
"Uncle Charlie, dear Uncle Charlie. nv
AAOi IAehlA AAIl4CAg YOU Gudll uUL loss KOllE [
Aline. Yours has been the home that shell
tered the little waif, yours the great, loving
heart that bore with my childish whims. |
aud sOothed my sorrows. The truest love
of my heart is yours, and whilst | live I
shall never cease TO bless you. have two
uncles now, and as my heart is an expan-
sive one, both shall share its affection" and
drawing him to Mr.. Selwyn's side, united
III, l., IL
Sand not only us two, but think third
person comes in for the largest share of our
darling's love-" replied the Captain, striving
10 hide his emotion.
You need not look so deprecatingly at
the Captain, Aline," said Mr.. Selwyn. 81
know your secret, little one. Horace be-
-rayed himself last night, and though it was
my first thought to mete out to Horace the
fate Of my poor, wronged sister, better feel
ngs at last gained the mastery, and pride
has died natural death.
"FrOm henceforth live for the adopted
children of my heart, Horace and my Aline's
daughter"
Mr. Selwyn at last tore himself away from
4 spot which had suddenly grown so dear
% him, and went in search of Horace, to
mplOre his forgiveness for his harshness,
and inform him of the treasure he had
ound. Horace was much impressed with
MS cousins narrative, and soon fastened to
he side of her he loved so truly.
Mr.. Selwyn insisted on a speedy union,
md at last, beneath the loving smiles of the
,wO beings dearest to him on earth, the
lemon of pride was banished from the bank
,r's heart and home. Though his heart
till mOurned its lost mate, yet in her
daughters love, he found relief from sorrow.
A room was fitted up in his stately man
ion for Capt. Tracy's exclusive use when
'ver he chose to enjoy their hospitality; a
privilege of which he was not slow to avail
himself, as it brought him into the COM
of his loved "Waif of the
Nreck."