The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-03-13

OF paying your oeDts' however.
"No, uo-.doctor--none of that"
'But 1 tell you I shall pay your
debts, but beyond that I can help you
to assist yourself. What do you say to
going to sea?"
A faint smile fell over the youths
pale features at this remark.
"I should make smart hand at saa,
doctor. I can hardly keep my legs on
shore. No, pol must"
"Must what, Arthur
"Alas, know not. shall die-that
is all?"
Nonsense, Arthur. I say go to sea.
Nn couldn't 60 into shop, and you
Would not if you could. You do not
wish to remain here, amid the scenes of
your happier days. Think of it-at
sea you would be free from all sneers of
the heartless, aud from all contact with
things you loath. Think of it..
Arthur started to his feet and paced
the floor for some minutes. When he
stopped q new life seemed already at
work within him.
eff went to sea what could [ do?"
"You understand all the laws Of for
eign trader"
Eyes. You know I had thorough
training at that in my fathers counting
house."
"Then you can obtain the hearth OF
super cargo"
care you sure 1 can get one?'
eyes"
"Dr. Weston, I will CO."
Arthur walked home one evening to
the house of a wealthy merchant, John
Melburne. 1t was palatiaI dwelling
and many hopeful, happy hour had
be spent beneath its roof. He a 'g
the door bell and was admitted to the
parlor. In few minutes Grace Mel>
bourne entered. She was only twenty.
She had been waiting until that age to
become Arthur's wife.
Some words were spoken. many min
utes of painful silence ehsued.
"Grace, you know all. am going
away from my native land a beggar. I
cannot stay longer now. Grace, did l
know you less than I door, knowing
you we'll, did I know you as I do many
Il should give back your VOWS, and
free you from all bondage. But be-
lisve 1 should trample upon your heart
did do that thing now. know your
love is too pure and deep to he torn
from your bosom of will. SO I say
wait! There are other feelings i'll the
heart besides love. That love is poor,
proftless passion which puts aside all
other considerations. We must love
for eternity, and SO our love must be
free. Wait. am going to work-aye,
upon the sea to work
"But why upon the sea? Why away
where my poor heart must ever in an
guish, fear and doubt as it follows you?"
"Bscause I cannot remain here.
Hundreds of poor fools have imagined
that I stunned them because I was rich.
They know not that it was the tainted
atmosphere of their moral life that 1
shunned. They gloat over lAy mis-.
fortune. Men may call me foolish, but
it would kill me to ptay here"
"Alas! must it be?"
"It mnst. You will waltz"
II will wait even to the gates of the
tomb"
"Then Heayen bless and preserve
you'll"
The ruined youth was upon the
ocean-his voyage commenced, his du-
ties as lsborer for his own daily bread
all fairly assumed. Ah! it was strange
life for him to enter upon. From the
ownership of immense wealth to the
tradebook of merchant ship was a
transition indeed. But, ele he went on
deck again, he had fully resolved that
he would do his duty, come what would,
short of death. He would forget that
he ever did else but work for his liveli :
hood. With these resolves clearly de-
termined in his mind, he already felt
better.
At first our super- cargo was too weak
to do much. He was very sick and it
lasted nearly two weeks, but when that
passed off, and he could pace the vibrat-
ing deck with a stout stomach, his ap-
petite grew sharp and his muscles be-
gan to grow strong.
At first he craved some of the many
delicacies he had long been used to,
but there we're not to be had, and he
very soon learned to do without them.
The result was that his appetite bs-
came natural in it's wants, and his sys-
TEN began to find if nourlshed by sim
pie food taken in proper quantities.
For years he had looked upon breaks
fast as meal which must be set out
and partaken of from mere fashion. A
cup of coffee and perhaps a piece of
dry toast, or seasoned and highly
spiced titbit had constituted the morn
ing meal. But now, when the break
fast hour came, he approached it with
appetite and felt as strong afterward as
at any other times of the day.
By degree the hollow cheeks became
full, the dark eyes assumed new lustre,
the color, rich and healthful, came to
the face, the breast swelled with in~
creasing power, the lungs expanded
and grew strong, the muscles became
more firm and true, the nerves grew
strong. and the garments which he
came on board had to be let out some
inches in orde to make them fit. His
position became cheerful and bright.
and by the time the ship reached the
Southern coast of Africa the crew had