The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-02-25

worse, and the voyage seemed intermi-
nuble. The very provisions threatened
10 fall already there were whlsperings
about short allowances. But the ladys
mess was, come what might, to be kept
up
Her face had not been seen for a fort
night, when one evening, the captain
came on deck with flushed counten-
ance and disconnected air. He held a
long consultation with Macintyre, who
seemed utterly nonplussed. The stew
ard thereupon ran down the companion
stair and ran up again; and then the cap
tain darted down, and after a few min
utes reappeared. He whispered to Mac
intyre, dashed his sou'wester from him,
and seemed greatly agitated, Every man
on deck, believing the ship was sinking
ran aft, some asking ifthey should man
the pumps. But the captain groaned,
and only said, "God have mercy on on US!
the lady is dead, and child is alive| and
diving down again, disappeared.
When the captain went to the ladys
cabin, he found her almost speechless,
with fine babe wrapped up in blanket
beside her. She took his hand, and
feeblv, with broken accents and great
effort, said, II expected to he home-long
before this-and to have saved my babe"
Then she broke down and tainted. Hav.
ing recovered, she said, "Be sure and
give-and give-my desk with all in it
to Mr.. Thompson, Writer, Elgin. Write
to my husband at Valparaiso his name
is William" The tears trickled down
her calm and sweet countenance. God
forgive him-tell him-tell him do"
"His name?" eagerly inquired the cap
tain.
"Battens-"
Buttons did you say?" asked the cap
tain. "Cheer up, dear lady; God may
yet preserve you. Steward a little
brandy-quick!' and the captain, holding
her hands, lcant over her, while the
tears rolled down his honest face, like
the first drops of thunder'shower. But
there was no response save the feeble
cry of the little boy from the blanket
which his dead mother had wrapped
around him.
1t was afterwards discovered, that the
marriage of Annie Fordyce with William
Battens had not been a happy one. She
was one of those sweet creatures who
are here below called angels. Early in
life she was left an orphan, and went to
Valparaiso to keep brothers house.
The brother died, and she married Bat
tens, his partner, who turned ont very
differently from what he had appeared
to her sweet, trustful nature. He was
vain and selfish, and latterly-But the
less said about his character the better
for the reader. ! need not display the
evil which exists in society. All men
believe in that Rather let it be forgot
ten over Annie's face, calm and sweet, as
if the spirit which once animated it re-
mained awhile to illumine the palace
where it had 50 long DIV elt.
Annie had heard of small property
which was left to her, in her own right,
but which Eer husband was resolved to
lay hold fto squander on his pleasures.
She hoped to be able to reach the home
of some near friends before her con6ne-
ment, But the slow sailing of the ship
and the prolonged gales made this i'm
possible; and what her thoughts and an
guish were-with her hopes and fears
and uncertainties-delicate feeling women
alone can tell.
1t is not easy to comprehend whattha
death and birth were to the captain and
crew of the ship! They could dispose of
the dead body without difficulty. What
ever feelings of pain they experienced,
and these were very real, they had been
too familiar with death to be much
struck by it. They had heaved many
over i'll his hammock; they had
often seen a man t one moment beside
them, and in the next floating like
speck in the boiling surge, when the ter
rible cry of "a man overboardP' was vain
20 bring relief But tender babe, with.
1ut woman near, without a nurse of
my kind, and men skilled only in the
-ough usages ofthe wild sea, was some
hing very different. The captain was a
ather, and loved his children, and he
md tie steward, also father, put their
heads together and consulted about the
)abe. The two were seated in the cap
..in's cabin, the child still wrapped in the
blanket, on the captains knees.
Beautiful boy" said Wauchope.
"a Jewell" remarked Watson.
"Frail bark, said Wauchope.
"God can steer it into port" responded
Watson.
"I pray God he may do so, Watson"
"Thank ye; captain" continued the
steward. II have been long thinking and
,ontriving what to give it. l may tel
you that l have tried-beg pardon for the
iberty-biscuits soaked in weak tea
and kept, unknown to you, sir-I ak
pardon again sir-some preserved eggs
for his poor motheH and I'll beat them
up beautiful lor the blessed little ANGEL
"All right, my hearty-try-try-try,"
And somehow or other, they got it to
swallow the nourishment; and the cap
tain vowed with grin of joy that he
saw the child lick his lips as spoonful
descended his small throat. The hope,
however faint, that the boy mihtg reach
land, cheered them up.
I'VE have all been great sinners said
the captain to Watson, "but He won't, |
hope, punish the child for this, but pre-
serve him." And there and then the
captain vowed in his heart that he would
swear no more.
When the captain came on deck to ar
range with the carpenter for the lady's
burial, he observed great change for the
better in the weather.
1t was evening. All the men, not ex-
cepting the watch, petitioned the cap
tain to lay the ship to, and lash the helm
that the whole might come in their best
rig to the honor Of "the lady" They all
had reasons Of their own, for wishing to
take q part in the ceremony, and, on
comparing notes, they found that she had
on different grounds, made each her
friend.
Tenderly and lovingly she was wrap.
ped in her canvas coffin, with the ships
flags laid over it. They who bore her
paced slowly and solemnly to the bull
warks, and laid the plank on which she
lay endwards to the open port. On each
side the sailors ranged themselves, clean
and tidy, hat in hand. AS the procession
oaoad ~ n az, ,,ka;,, oo;d HuoIkUD H. AZ a,,