The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1873-02-01
A SWING FOR LIFE.

'''N', ""Nh ~ ""J "i''l u'g, III Tue
realms of the Arctic, with bows shectcd
in crystal, with icicles haning pendent
from the yards, with frozen, sails, aud
shrouds, went ripping on her course
through vast fields of ice, aud among
stupcndous bergs that lowered above ou r
yer, masts.
Sublimity, brightness and gloom
aiterDatcd in this wild cline.
at times We saw the red Aurora
Borcalis tanning tho cold sky, as if in
mockcry, with its lrrid light at times
the Ice dazzicd with its brillianoy but
often it seemed covered with black
shadows, while the eternal thunder OF
the tides, washing the bases of frozen
ellis, doomed on our ears
But there was a little sunbeam in cur
midst, which chcercd us more than
worts can express.
1t was Claribcl-the captains dauyht
er-a child Of ten, gentle and lovely
"''tiS iuii Va ne anu SNlTlb.
Captain james had taken his little
one with him OH the voyage, hopiug
thereby to strengthen and improve the
child, who, although she had not ye;
shown any sign OF il-hca!,h, was light
aud fraii, with her fair hair and blu.
eyes, the complexion of her sweet no.
tlrr, who had died Of consumption.
The captain WAS stern. quicktcmper-
cd man, but he almos, oized his sweet
darling child. SO did all the sailors
Chlrpin3 like Il bird, wrapped in her
pretty iur coat, she would run aud * IN
about the decks, smiling kindly upon
all.
Sometimes she would mount the lev
shroclS, anl, pcrched away up on the
topgallant yarls, look down lu.hia-
at her parent, as he unxiously Leckon, d
her back to the deck
She was great climber, and could
rn" alons the rails and go w tile risg
ing almost az ias, as sailor Mean.
while her luushing voice wvuld seem to
ripple snd ,inklc all over the vessel.
falling like silvory music npon the ears
Of The listeners.
Every morning our little girl mu
come on drck aud feed the chickens.
doves, aud other fowl, oi which there
Was quite Il stock in the b;n att. w.ic!.
WAS warned by pipe runuins through
/, Ifon, the after cabin.
One day dove, eager t. yet the
crumbs she held cut, rushed at her
hand with an inpeluosiry which sent
the sharp bill iuto the .lcsh orthc
child's palm.
I'll say nothing to papa nlout it, ;
she muttercd, us she ghth clarpcd the
injured hand; 'he will be angry, ond
/ IN afraid, will hurt the li.lle dove.
P"pn, 4wcvcr, overheard aud saw
what had happc cd
The purser was passin. at the time
his was youns Swiss of twenty, who
had once been a poor chamois hunter.
but WHO, having II taste for the navy
had cntcr' d Il naval school, and, by his
superior abilities finaIly won his present
po'itinn.
Here, pur.er,' ordered the cnptain
i want you to have that dove head
cut off
beg pardon, sir sid the pnrscr
who had an affection for dawes. and had
t"k"n great pains to procure those in
the vessel, at our last port, 'but-but-
| thought we we were not to Kill them
What! not if they hurt my darling
child Obey my orders at once, sir
he purser turned pllc.
No, sir ! he answered, firmly. Il
could never obey such an order. Ny
mother, just before she died, made me
present Of dove, which ] have now
at home. This sort of bird has ever
teen sacred to me since
But it has hurt nv dear clild y c.ied
the cartain, his eyes fairly blazing.
Come, sir, obeyp
he purscr, who was n air-haired.
'ie-i"tEi"e young fellow, shook his
head, sadly.
No, sir he answered
The captains rage was unboundeI.
He picked up a hand spike, aud rus he'd
at the Switzer, who must the next mo
ment have been knocked to the deck