American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-08-16

turned up, and orders sung out to short
en- sail. 1t was no end of hurry. In
less than no time the royals and top
gallant sails were furled, and a reef TAX
en- in the topsails; every man at his best
along the yards. Little George-al-
ways ready to help-jumped into the
fore-rigging to get aloft and stow the
fore-royal. Bruce was after him like a
shot. Too late! Whether the
child missed bis footing or got
giddy, none could know; down he fell,
on to the deck. There wasn't stir or
sound-his neck was broken!"
Here the old man paused and took
off his hat. Extracting from it cotton
handkerchief rolled in wisp inside, he
passed it across his brows before he
resumed his story.
81 am an aged man, your honors,
and I've seen, daresay, as much trou-
BILE an grief, am heart -scald as any one
else in this sorrowful world; but never,
before or since, did l meet the equal of
Bruce's despair when he seen the little
brother lying dead forenent him. He
flung himself down ON the deck, con-
vulsed-like with agony; 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, he lifted it up and staggered off
like one that was drunk.
"And then it ali came out. Little
(rnnrno La1
known each other from childhood, and
had been promised to one another
and handfasted from since they were
boy and girl. Both belonged to
the best of families; and the parents
and 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 people
seeing that he had no means of support
ing her, wouldn't hear of their marry
ing. uAll was forbid betune them, and
they were parted from one another.
But they couldn't live asunder; so, like
a pair of young fools, as they were
God help em!-they ran away and got
spiiced unknown. Bruce, rs call him
still-though that WASH It his right name
thought if they could only get to Van
Diemen's Land, he'd easy make out. .
living there for the both of them; and
she too with such good hands for picter-
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
in the world. The young man had their
marriage lines. which he showed the
Captain; and her weddin' ring, that
she wore round her neck, the cr'aturer
tied with q blue ribbon. And he had
papers and letters and DOCUMENTS prov
ing the birth and station of him and
herself, and the grand folks they come
of. He was 20 years of age, he said;
and she coming up for Is; though you'd
never think but what she was much
younger than that, by reason of being
SO fair and inpocent- looking, and SEEM
ing small and slender in boys clothes.
sit was sorrowful sight when, the
day after the accident, the remains of
the poor young thing were brought on
deck, sewed up in q hammock; and we
were all gathered round to hear the fu-
neral service read oyer them. There
wasnt ons-of the crew that wasn't
grieved to the heart for our little COM
rade, that had made thevoyage with Us,
and frightened up the old ship with
purity ways-blithesome as a robin and
sperrity. Even the big lubberly boy,
that no one thought had soft spot
about him, was crying like rain, skulk-
ed behind the rest; and there was moist
ure in the eyes of many a rough old
salt, and brown hands brushed across
them.
"But never tear, good or bad, did
Bruce shed. He stood beside the corpse,
the living image of despair, with gray,
haggard 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
and spoke some pitiful words, trying to
rouse him bit; but lord! you might
as we'll talk to the dead in their graves
He didn't hear or notice any thing.
cat last the part of the service was
come to where 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
he water Almost as soon as the corpse.
Down to the bottom they sank both to-
yether-the living and the dead-and
disappeared! God pardon him, poor
fellow! He had to go with her. i'
Yes, your honors. twas sad oc-
but there's an old saying, that
no good comes Of going agin' the will
Of them that reared us. It brings, sure
enough, neither luck nor grace. Dem
,rest's Monthly.
The Melon and Its WOrshipers.
As a dog watches a rat hole, SO do
he crowd of colored men lounging
about the wharves watch with excited
expectation the highly priced water
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