Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-03-07


"Who gave me this twine to mend my
net with 2" said he.
"I, Father Sassa," replied Julie.
"Who gave me this good knife to cut
twine, make me wooden needles, cover
my cabin with reeds, carve my canoe ?"
"I, Father Sassa, replied Francis.
"And for that, continued the cscique.
"Sassagari follows you wherever you
go. Sassagari would let the sharks eat
him before hair of your heads should
be injured. Sassagari saw the little
master and mistress yesterday struggling
against the sea; he went under the
water; he saved their SHE'LL"
"But what is this shell, Father Sas-
sa ?" 1 inquired; "and what was the
meaning of all the sorceries of Zombi "a
fetich), which you .cs5 us yesterday
evening under the cocoa trees?"
"See |" said the Caris, pointing with
his finger to the fragments of shells
heaped up around his hut, "see what
remains of Ssssagari, my father, who
was the first in these lands to walk
securely beneath the deeps."
We observed that the shells were of
the same kind as-purs, .E
"The white strangers chased our
fathers from, their home. To escape
from slavery the old Sasssgari embark
ed his family in his canoe; but he would
not leave behind him these shells,
which bring luck to the fisherman and
keep afar the witchcraft of the water.
The whites suspected some mystery.
They broke the shells against the rocks.
Furious at finding nothing but the
white CLEAN of the shells, they pursued
us; we rowed in vain They shot all
except me, who saved myself by swim
ming under the water. I was alone;
the sea did not require my bones.
have caught since then far more than
they snapped up, the bloodsuckers.
The rock only, besides Sassagari, knows
the nest where they slumber. But keep
the shell of yesterday, little whites;
when it speaks, Sassagari will reply.
He who sings in the shells the plants
of the sea, and who paints the sunrise
on their faces, will make the stars of
heaven sink into their heart"
So the Carih spoke. he was motion
less; he glanced, sweeping afar to the
verge of the horizon.
We silently left him, and gained our
cool hall before the burning noon made
it intolerable without.
But these early happy days were
coming to an end. We were about to
quit this pleasant paradise for new
scenes.
"We grew up. Our parents spoke of
sending Francis and me to France.
When Julie heard this she sighed--was
agitated.
One evening my father came home
from the town and said that passage had
been taken for us on board q vessel
which would sail in two weeks.
My poor sister, the news was terrible
to her. I Think San see her now dur
ing those days. She would sit for hours
under a great palm tree, looking at the
deep blue sea.
Once, when Francis stole up to her,
taking her hand, he said in the tender
est tones:
"My lily, what is it you see there at
the bottom of the scar"
81 see," she replied, the white sail
of ship which bears you far away
away |"
The count consoled them both, and
passing mis- hand over the golden curls
of his boy, he said:
"You love Julie very much, then ?"
eyes, papa; and if were never to
see her again I would drown myself"
The day of departure came. We bade
adieu. Julie, pale as sheet, came to
us with her shells.
She gave the finest to Francis, and
taking me by the hand. said:
"Jules, I give you this horrible old
shell; don't forget that I found it that
evening when Francis saved my life.
Keep it in memory of your sister and
her love for Francis"
Six years later, during the winter of
1747-8, young man completed high
Unsuccessful course of studies at the
university of Paris, and entered aristo-
cratic life. 1t was the Vicompte de st.
Croix.
We made our preparations to return
to Martinique. Between our departure
and the wedding there came an obsta-
Gle. This obstacle was revolution
The freedom of the blacks was pro-
claimed. The Count de st. Croix was
ruined. He hoped to save his crop by
borrowing. The money was obtained
and wasted in vain efforts.
Francis rose in dignity and energy
during this trial. "I will overcome
this disaster" he said. "I will not be
crushed; 1 will go to America; few
years of labor, and we shall be reunited,
and Julie will be mine"
He left soon for Havre and for New
York. Not long after his departure his
father, the old count, arrived in Paris.
He hoped to obtain from government
some indemnity for his lost estates.
Every effort was in vain. One morning
the poor old count tottered into my
room, and, casting himself on the sofa,
exclaimed
"All is lost |"
In sudden alarm I started up to re-
Iieve him, and that SO suddenly as tC
overthrow heavy table. Owing to iti
concussion, the portrait Of Julie, which
hung on the wall, fell to the ground, ant
with it the shell, which rested upon tn,
upper portion of the frame. As tn,
shell fell it separated into two portions
from which rolled three white balls.
They were the three stars of night
three extremely large, immensely-valua
BILE pearls
That very day the first ieweler o
Paris gave us 100000 for the thre
pearls.
We met again in Martinique. TIL
marriage was solemnized We sough
the old Indian, and cast ourselves
shedding tears of gratitude, into hi
arms.
Z" Father Sassa," said Francis, "yo1
told us the truth. We found the star