The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-11-02

JIOuSu bdNc HcdIu VI CIliAlIdi :
sleeping soundly the night before exc
cution. Afgure crouched in the door
way-a female, with one hand on her
lips, beckonins with the other. lstep
ped lightly TO the door, she moved on.
and followed, passing close By the
unconscious sentinel.
We struck into the forest and hur-
ried onward. Leah-nai never hesita
/ ted, and was obliged to put my best
foot forward to keep up with the light,
active figure before me. We emerged
upon path which led up he activity
of the mountain. We reached the top
at last, and halted to rest. Leah-nai
here gave Inc to understand that she
could go no further, and pointing to a
winding path which led down into the
valley beyond, spoke the single word
'Boitik. tried to persuade her to go
Oh with me; but all 70 10 purpose.
'Boitik fight Kitti.' she lid, by which
| understo d, for the first time, that
other. took her hand and made use
I of all the signs | knew TO express NV
| gratitude. and she seemed to under
stand me. 1 left her standing there,
and followed the path which she had
pointed out. Half way down the
mountaiu,I was challenged by scout,
who conducted me to his Nannikin. |
was well received and provided for but
was given TO understand that | must
prove my loyalty to the sovereign by
taking part in great expedition fitting
out against the tribe of Kitti.
shall not stop now to give you the
particulars Of the great expedition.
Like most of the affairs of the kind
among those people, it was more blus
ter than bloodshed: But of the few
men killed, the father of Leah nai was
one; and the girl herself was taken
prisoner aud born TO Boitik as part of
the spoil. According to usage, she
would become the slave of any one to
whom the Nanuikin might see fit to
give her As had been a valuable
assistant 10 him in his warIike fcray,
my petition was listened to, anS she be-
came mine.
Il was married to her accordin to
the native ceremonies, and have since
lived very happily with her; at least as
happily as white man of any cultiva-
tion at all can live among a people like
this"
Tom seemed to fall naturally into
his old place on board. He did his
duty cheerfully. and after the first few
days, seldom mentioned his wife crI
child. overheard Captain Marsh OBJ
serve 10 the mate, that tom Burt
was mighty smart young fellow, and
he guessed he had forgotten ell his Kan
aka nonsense, or thought better of it.
But knowing him better than the cap
tain did, | was not surprised to learn,
the night We were to leave Oahu for
home, that We were hand short. We
could not stop to hunt for him then.
His name was again recorded with
ID in the logbook; and it was ten years
ere lie and 1 met again.
was then in command of a ship and
Tom Burt came Oh board to pilot me !!
into Boitik harbor. He wore no cloth
ing above his waist, and his once fair
skin was tanned 10 nearly the same
color as that of the native Ponapians
who padded bis canoe. His arms and
legs were tatooed in rings and stripes,
after the manner of his adopted coun
try: bat his clear bite eye and strong
Anglo Sexon features were not to BE-
mistaken or forgotten by one who Low
ed him as did.
He was the highest subordinate chief
of the tribe second only to the Nanni
kin in authority. He was father of
three children, of whom any parent
might be proud, owned whole planta-
ton of yams, and a forest of bread trees
He had dropped overheard from the
Cashmere, he told me, and swan to
the Roscious lying near. He knew
t!Ia, she was bound to 1.-The Groups"
aud would lake her spring port at.
Ponapi When was introduced to
the gentle and graceful Leah mai. 1
ceased to wonder. l would certainly
ia lona Sa ,nucaIf
Yet, not withstanding his high posi-
ton, wealth and influence, his inborn
facility of adapting himself to circum
stances, and, above all, his love for bis
wife and children, / am satisfied that
Tom is not thoroughly happy. His life
is easy, luxurious, and free from care
but to a man of his intelligence there
is still something wanting; still a void
which he cannot fill.
l proposed to take him and his fami
ly away, and give them a passage to
some civilized por, but Tom, after
due consideration of the matter, firmly
declined any offer.
Not while Leah-nai lives he said. |
''She could never adapt herself to
the ways of civilized life. She would
go, if asked it; but have no desire
to try the experiment. 1t would be
the death of her"
81 have chosen my part, he contin
ued, more cheerfully, as if his mind
was fully made mp. Perfect happi-
ness is seldom, if ever, found in this
world; and perhaps come as near to
it here as | should in any other situa-
tion."
l Tempted my whole store of books
and papers for Toms benefit; for, as
he expressed it. "his mind had become
enfeebled from literary famine" II he
was not quite happy when 1 parted
from him, his pretty wife was supreme
ly so. For 10 Ponapian belle could
vie with Leah-nai in the splendor of
her trinkets, or the profusion of her
gay-colored wardrobe.
An old but vigorous-looking gentle
man. seemingly from the rural districts