Middletown transcript., 1877-07-07

I
8 our departure, on condition that we
: would not fail to return in time for the
e banquet, which we most faithfully
: promised. While the sledges were pre-
2 pairing, ] requested the princess to OBJ
tain several TASKS of golden water,
that l might present them as curiosi-
t ties to all the learned societies in Eu-
, rope. This she accomplished, and
[ slowing them in her own sledge, with
several articles of wearing apparel, not
only took them from the palace unper-
ceived, but they were carried on board
without the knowledge Of my compan-
ions. l Immediately cut my cables
and made all sail out of the bay with
out any molestation, as the natives did
not suspect my intentions; I never felt
more happy than when found myself
once more floating on the wave, in
company with my beautiful princess,
whose afectionate manners endeared
me to her more and more every day.
Unfortunately, in our hurry to es-
cape, we quite overlooked the circum-
stance of our water casks being nearly
'empty, and we were soon reduced to
half pint per diem. To render our
situation more disastrous, the weather
became intensely hot, and the people,
in spite Of all my remonstranees, con
trived every night to steal part Of the
water which was not yet expended, SO
that at last we found ourselves becalm-
ed, without drop Of water on board. |
But all my apprehensions were now
swallowed up by one of greater inter
est. A fever seized my dear princess,
who, accustomed to every luxury and
beautiful climate, could not bear up
against the close confinement of a YES
sci under a tropical sun. Notwith-
standing all my care and attention, in
three days after she was attacked
she expired in my arms, blessing me
for my attachment and my love, and
regretting that she was summoned from
the world so soon after she had discov-
cred that there was an object in it worth
living for. threw myself upon her
body, where / Remained for many hours.
At last | rose in frenzy, quite indif-
erent as to life or death. I went ON
deck, where | found my crew much in
the same condition from their agoniz-
ing thirst but I Knocked them, and
laughed at the smooth expanse of
water, which, as far as the eye could
reach, was not rippled by the slightest
breeze, and turned my eyes up in de
rision to the sun, who poured down his
vertical streams of light and heat, as if
he would consume us with his powerful
rays. thought but of one subject, 1
had but one desire, which was to reioin
the object Of my alteration. On sud /
den l called to mind the TASKS of gold i
en- water, which till then I had quite I
and rushing down into the t
cabin | determined to intoxicate my i
sell, and quit this world of disappoint- L
ment and unrealized fruition. As if L
fearful that the spirit of my loved prin- L
cess should have already so far jour v
neyed to the realms of bliss, that might il
not be able to discern her when I had |,
shaken off the encumbrance of an n
earthly body, and was at liberty to c
pursue, seized flask, and pouring il
put the water with a hand trembling r,
with anxiety, drank off glass. l was Il
hastily reflling it when the gurgling r,
sound struck upon the ears Of my com al
oanions, who, rushing down like the Il
ainting animals who hear the music of a;
he fountain in the desert, poured tu- st
nultously into the cabin, and in spite FL
# all my remonstrances to leave me pl
for the completion of my de- pt
Tres, seized upon the flask in my hand, hi
IS well as upon all those thatremained, to
implied them in a few seconds with NJ
heir copious draughts, and returned E
and shouting to the deck bl
,bove. fir
The water which l had already
runk produced one good effect; it n
my heart for the time and l =
I'll into a stoical indifference which "a
asted many hours. Ithen repaired on q, n
eek where | found all my companions :
hanged into blue chalcedony-not one ~ ~
live. The heavens, too, had changed = -
louds obscured the sun, the wind was ~
sing, and ever and anon mournful ~
ust blew through the shrouds; the
irds were screaming on the wing, and -
le water-line Of the black horizon was lD'
'inged with narrow ridge Of foam. -
he thunder rolled at distance, and -
perceived that convulsion of the II,
ements was at hand. The sails were ~
i set, and without assistance l could =.
st reduce them; but l was Indifferent ~
my fate. The lightning now darted =. =;
every direction, and large drops of I
in pattered on the deck. With the y
cans of existence the desire of life re- VI "
rned; l spread out the spare sails, - -
ID as the torrents descended and the %"