Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-08-17
MARRYING a CONVICT.

i had served twenty-five years on
board an East Indiaman, and for the
last ten years had commanded the
Belle, one of the finest crafts that
ever floated. l was an old sea dog,
and had dwelt so long on salt water
that / felt almost a hatred for the
land.
On the Goth of October, 1924, 1
received orders to put myself in
readiness to sail for Cayenne. 1 was
to transport seventy-five soldiers
and a convict. Ihad orders to treat
this individual well, aud the letter /
had received from the directory en-
closed another, with a huge red seal,
which Twas not to open until be-
tween q and % deg. westlongitude;
that is, just before we were about
to cross the line.
The letter was a long packet, so
well closed on every side that it was
impossible to catch the slightest
glimpse of its contest. / am not
naturally superstitious, but there
was something in the look of the
letter that l did not altogether ike,
though / could give no reason why.
However, / carried ii into the cabin,
and stuck it uuder the glass of q
little shabby English clock, which
was fasteneded above my head.
was busy fixing the letter under the
clock, when who should come into
my cabin but the convict and his
wifel This was the first time / had
seen either of them, and / may say
that more prepOssessing couple
never met. The woman was scarce
ly more than fifteen, and as hand
some as q picture; while the hus-
band was an intelligent, magnifi.
Gently formed man, on whose fea.
lures nature had never written evil
lain"
His crime, to be plain, was the
misfortune of being a hundred years
ahead of his age. He and others
had attempted something which oul
government called treason, anC
which it punished with death. II
therefore occasioned me considera
BILE wonder that he should be placed
under my charge; but more of thii
afterward.
He had, as said, his wife hang
ing on his arm. She was as merry
as q bird; she looked like a turtle
dove cooling and nesting beneath
his great wing.
Before a month had passed ovel
our heads, looked upon them a!
my own children. Every morning
| used to called them into my cabin
The young fellow would sit writing
at my table; that is to say, at my
chest, which was my bed. He WoulC
often help me at reckoning, and soOI
learned TO do better than l could
| was amazed at his ability. Hii
young wife would sit upon one o.
the round stools in my cabin, work
ing at her needle.
One day we were all three sitting
in this way when said:
"Do you know, my young ones, a.
| 1T seems to me we make very pref
ty family pictureP Mind, l dom
you have not much money to spare
and you are, both Of you, as think
too handsome to dig in the burning
sun of Cayenne, like many q pool
wretch before you. It's a bad coun
try-a bad country, take my wore
for it. /, who have roughed i
through temptest, and sunshine, til
I've the skin OF rhinoeeros, NIGH
get along there; but you, am afraiC
for you. So if you should chancr
to have bit of foolish friendship
for your poor old captain, I'n tel
you what I'll do. I'll get rid fthi
brig; she's not much better than al
old tub, after all; so Pn settle my
self down there with you, if yol
like. You see have not livini
soul in the world to care for, or tha
cares for me. / want relations,
want a home, l want a family.
should like to make my home wit
you, my pretty young onesl Wha
say ye2n
They said nothing at all, but sa
looking, first at each other and the
at me, as If they doubted whethe
they understood what l said.
At last, the little bird threw he
arms around my neck and cried lik
baby.
"But," said she, suddenly pausing
'"you haven't looked at the lette
with the big red SEAL"
Slang i'll" l exclaimed, 'ft ha,
slipped my mind entirely"
With a cold, dreadful sensation,
went to my chest to see where w
were. 1 found that We had seYera
days remaining before we shoul,
reach the proper longitude for open
ing the letter.
Well, there we stood, all three O
us, looking up at the letter as if j
could have spoken to us. As ithap
pened the sun was shining full upoi
the face of the clock case, and fel
upon the great staring red seal Q
the letter. l could not help fancy
ing itlOoked something like a bi
monster, an ogre's face, grinnin
from the middle of the fire; it LOOK
ed horIid.