The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-03-23

such asupper as yours would indeed
have been precious tome. Atlength
my fortune changed. Alearned man
Of the name of Linneus employed me
to execute some commissions. My.
diligence pleased him, and he took
me into his service. / found that,
like myself, lie had a passion for flow
ers, and was then employed .inclass,
ing those Of our northern regions. ~
Seeing the attention with which I
observed him, he asked me some
questions, and, emboldened by his
condesrension, showed him a col.
lection Of dried plants ! had brought
with me from Norway. There were
some among them that he had not
been able TO procure, and the circnall-
stance gave him 20 much satisfaaliQa
That he interested himself in my
story. told him Of my love for
Margaret, and the hopes with which
/ had left.home, and my kind master,
forever honored be his namel from
that moment became my friend.-- -
By his advice l learned reading and
writing, and then remained fortwo
years in his house pursuing my
studies. At the end of that time he
recommended me to the captain Of a
vessel bound for the island Of Ceylon.
We arrived on the very day that the
pearl fishery commenced. II was
a beautiful morning in the month Of
February, and the waters of Con-
datchy bay sparkled in the sun as
though millions of precious stones
were floating on their surface. The
shores was covered with huts, crowd
ed with inmates of every land and of
every region. Goldsmiths, jewelers.
and merchants were driving their
bargains at the very edge Of the sea.
The wives and daughters Of the
pearlfishers greeted with songs the
return of the successful barks, which
were gayly decked out with flags,
and crowds pressed round the for.
tunate divers to barter for their
precious freight. Among the crowd
an old Indian women particularly
attracted my attention. She was
poorly clad, and / saw her weeping
as she gazed on the animated scene
around her. My Interpreter inform
ed me that few months previously
she had lost both husband and son,
who, it was supposed, had been de.
voured by some oithe monstrous fish
that are so often fatal to the divers.
Since that time the poor woman was
thought deranged, for she wandered
about, repeating continually: "Had
they but returned that day, they
would have been rich for life."
GAS my interpreter concluded his
tale, the subject of it approached us,
and addressed him.
"she.is quite mad,' he continued
'and insists that her husband had
discovered a secret by which he could
cause pearls to grow in the common
OYSTER
"My Imagination had been greatly
excited by the novelty of the scene,
and all that night l dreamed Of moth
ing else. The Indian woman's as
sertion that her husband could grow
pearls recurred to my mind as
possibility, and as l formerly studied
flowers, sol now studied pearls. For
years l labored to discover the secret;
at length succeeded; and here" he
added, taking out pocketbook, "is
what will purchase me lands, castles
and titles; but first have returned
to as my Margaret if she will accom-
pany me to the country where our
riches must be gained"
He was again silent; the storm
ragged more furiously than before.
The peasants daughter had sunk on
her knees, and with hands and arms
raised seemed lost in prayer.
"What are you doing. Margaret2"
said Eric, angrily. "Choose better
moment for your devotions. Our
guest is tired; make your bed here,
while l conduct him to the sleeping
room"
The traveller cast one look of tend,
erness at the maiden and then fol-
lowed his host into the next apart
ment.
Margaret remained sitting BY the