The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-07-05

hands were turned up, and orders sung
out to shorten sail 1t was no end Of a
hurry, In less than no time the royals and
top-gallant sails were furled, and reef
taken in the topsails; every man at his
best along the yards, Little Gelrge-al-
ways ready to help-jumped into the fore.
rigging to get alott and stow the forc,royal.
Bruce was after him like shot. Too
late Whether the child missed his foot
ing or got giddy, none could know; down
he fell, on to the deck, There wasn't stir
or sound-his neck was broken r
Here the old man paused and took off
his hat. Extracting from it cotton
handkerchief rolled in wisp inside, he
pass ID it across his brows before he re-
sumed his story.
"Im an aged man, your honors, and
I've seen, | daresay, as much trouble an
grief an heartscald as any one else in this
sorrowful world, but never, before or since,
did 1 meet the equal of Bruce's despair
when he seen the "little brother" lying
dead forencnt him. He flung himself
down on the deck, convulsed like with ag-
ony; and when he come to, he wound his
arms about the corpse, and keeping every
one off, and not letting man or mortal
touch it but himself, lifted it up and stag
gered off like one tlat was drunk.
"And then it all came out. Little
George was Bruee's wife. They had
known each other from childhood and had
been promised to one another and hand
tasted from since they were boy and girl
Both belonged to the best of families; and
the parents aud friends on all sides were
agreeable to the marriage; but the young
mans father got into money troubles by
reason Of bank that broke; and her peo.
pie seeing he had no means Of supporting
her, wouldn't hear Of their marrying All
was forbid betune them, and they were
parted from one another. But they could Mt
live assunder, SO, like pair Of young fools,
as they were-God help 'em they ran
away and got spliced unknown. Bruce,
as call him still--though that wasn't his
right name-thought if they could only
get to Van Dieman's Land, hed easy make
out living there for the both of them,
and she too with such good hands for pict,
er-drawing and the like. So they came in
the manner I've told you aboard Of the
Nancy; for there was no other way they
could sail together, not having penny ia
the world The young man had their mar
riage lines, which he showed the captain
and her weddin ring, that she wore round
her neck, the cr'ature tied with blue
ribbon. And he had papers and letters
and docyments proving the birth and sta
tion Of him and herself, and the grand folk.
they come Of lie was twentythree year.
of age, he said; and shO coming up foi
eighteen; though you'd never think but
what she was much younger than that, by
reason of being so fair and innocent.look.
ing, and seeming small and slender in boys
clothes.
1T was a sorrowful sight when, the day
after tho accident, the remains of the poor
young thing were brought on deck sewed
up in hammock, and We we're all gath,
cred round to hear the fnreral service read
over them. There wasn't ono of the crew
that wasn't grieved to the heart for our liz.
tlo comrade that had made the voyage
with us, and frightened up the old ship
with purity ways-blithsome as q robin
aud sperrity. Even the big lubberly boy,
that no one thought Ind soft spot about
him, was crying like rain, skulked behind
the rest; and there was moisture in the
eyes of many . rough old salt, aud brown
hands brushed across thnm,
"But never tear, good or bad, did
Bruce shed. lie stood beside the corpse,
the living image Of despair, with gray bag
gard face and parched lips; his eyes wild
and bloodshot, with kind Of stony glare
in them that wasn't natural. We none
Of US liked his looks. The captain took
hold of him by the sleeve aud spoke some
pitiful words, trying to rouse him a bit;
but you might as well talk to the dead in
their graves He didn't hear or notice
anything.
"At last tn, part of the service was
como to when the remains are slipped off
into the sea; and at that he gave great
start; and setting his teeth with one leap
he was over the side, reaching the water
Almost as soon as the corpse Down to
tho bottom they sank both together-the
living and the dead--aud disappeared
God pardon him, poor fellow he didn't
know what he was doing
"Yes, your honors, twas sad occur
renee; but there's an old saying, that no
good comes of going agin the will of them
that reared us IL brings. sure enonoh