The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-04-06
THE GOVERNORS DAUGHTER

any mort of France. How gladly
we hailed the end OF our voyage and
our near approach 10 land! Thus
far. until to-day, nothing had ap-
peared in sight, and when the vel,
come sound of "land aheadr' fell
upon our ears with one bound, and
moved. as il were, by an electric
current, every passenger in the ship,
forgetting his occupation, stood upon
the deck TO greet mother earth
again. Only they can tell who have
looked on sea and sky until the
days became weeks and months,
how good il is to meet the land
and in the meeting leave behind the
monotony that in long sea voyages
falls down upon the ship ike a
pail.
We enter the harbor Of Horta,
chief city of Faval, one of the Azores.
No time was lost in getting ashore.
Everybody sought out his best SUIT.
From the hold of the ship great
trunks were yielded up, and silks
and diamonds and costly costumes,
long unused, were eagerly brought
into requisition. At last we were
ready, and soon our feet touched
the long desired land.
Horta as a harbor Is scarcely
worth describing. Lying idly,
swinging on the waters, were a few
fishing smacks, the hulk of an old
American ship told n story OF wreck
and disaster, while a small Danish
brig, lately come in for a supply of
fresh water, said plainly enough in
its loneliness that few vessels enter
ed this solitary harbor, and then
only when they could not help 1t.
as in the caseof the India merchant
men. coming hither for renewal OF
provisions and some fresh meat.
The town itself looked as dreary and
as lonesome as the harbor. Here
and there a group of men might be
seen talking laughing and Jesting
with one another but evidently, as
far as occupation was concerned,
practically unemployed. Some lay
on the wharves, indolent as the laz-
zaroni of Naples, while others again
went up and down the narrow streets,
needless of purpose and caring little
to all appearance, how soon the day
might end. A few old women, IN
long blue cloaks and heavy hoods,
were in the streets, and some bare
footed sisters from a neighboring
convent made up the picture pre-
sented for our inspection on our ar
rival in Horta. The account for the
small number of persons we encoun-
tered is not difficult, since the peo-
ple of these islands seldom come out
in the daytime, leaving until the
cool evening the enjoyment of their
recreation and what business trans
actions they contemplate.
The news of our coming, however,
soon spread and curious faces Of
more curious people were TO be seen
at every corner, eagerly cycling the
lately arrived strangers. Nor were
the natives unfriendly in their
manifestations in their professions
even Of friendship. The Governor
of the island sent some of his slaves
to offer us baskets of oranges and
other tropical fruits. This kindness
we interpreted as good omen, re-
minding US, as it did, of the hospl-
tality of Guacanagari to Columbus
on his arrival at San Salvador. Call
ing upon the friendly and kindheart-
ea stranger We returned our very
sincere thanks and were in turn re-
ceived with most generous and po-
lite attention.
The Governors name was Fernan-
der Correjo. A Brazilian by birth,
ie had been a long time at the Court
of Lisbon, where by intelligence and
breadth of view be had become dis
tinguished, endearing himself to all
the court and making hosts of
friends. He soon acquired place
and power, and WAS named Govern
or OF Fayal in token OF his many
services and the esteem in which he
was held by the government of
Donna Maria.
The Governor invited the ships
company 10 grand banquet. Moth
ing was left undoae % make our
soiourn pleasant as possible Our
host entertained Us VITA prlae. :
courtesy; variety o. disaes vef
with the excellence oi their arapa-
rstioa. while the bee, wine that
Spain can boast crowned = rapast
truly royal in all its service. Ne
thanked our stars for coming TO this
island. Fernandez Correlo had
three daughters. One of them, the
oldest, was of dazzling beauty. She
was Just eighteen. with a perfect
figure and dark piercing eyes. The
expression on her face bore an mex
pressible charm. Her hair fell in
long ringlets, oushining in brillian-
cy the ravens wing.
A rumor was current in the island
that this young lady was shortly to
marry a rich American who had
taken up his abode at Horta. Her
youthful heart, however, had never
yet experienced that strange septi-
ment called love, and never vet the
magic words IL love .hee,' passed
her ruby lips. Innocent and pure,
this young girl knew not how strewn
with thorns is life's weary path
how bloom the roses, fresh in their
yet hiding the sting.
Careless of tomorrow was she, heed !
less of strife; SO far she had only !
read a gilded book, turned a golden |
page. Alas, poor childl dream on
thy dream of peace. In few
DAYS thou shalt awake to misery.
if not despair. When the repast |
vas over Donna Leonia (this was
The lady's name) sat down at the (
piano, and in a moment our hearts
were entrancsd by the most exquis-
tie tones j had ever heard evoked |
from that instrument / imagined I.
hat | was again at home. Visions |
Of my native country came at viii /
the old homestead, my mothers
face, my playmates Of younger
years, my sisters voice, my brothers
friendly call-all, all came up before
me. and once more. though SO far