Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-03-31
BESSIE'S STORY.

What my own-my true own name
may be or may have been, do not
know. have a fancy, like dream,
that perhaps it has been Adele. And
yet can not say why. My father, the
Captain, whose daughter am by adop-
ton, gave to me the name of Bessie, for
his wife, and Luna, for the moon. Thus
within the log-book it is written Bessie
Luna Wray.
Girls that have upon the shore their
home can tell to an exactness what age
they have and when their birthdays shall
be. But for myself. who have only a
home upon the sea, l may know but
this-that I have nearly fifteen years of
age, 'sor thereabouts,' as the Captain
says. have never known of the birth
day-only an anniversary. And when
I have forgotten myself of the day of the
month on which that happens, obtain
the ssPetrel's" log-book for the year of
eighteen hundred and sixty-four, where
I find this of record:
journal of hemaphrodite brig 'Petrel,'
Wray master, from San Francisco to Homo
This day begins with clearing weather and
light airs from S. E.. Middle part of the day
Of oang Week sts Moons full
at IL p. m. At II 80 p. M, lat by obs 30 deg
i min., hove to, and picked up a boat of
on the seat, and a female child about one year
old wrapped in capote such as is worn by
toe p9s Of Repps G6e cha Bas s L
Wray. So ends this twenty four hours
Such is all know of my beginning of
life-excepting that only for the I'M
common brightness of the moon, the
lookout had not seen the drifting boat.
It is said, in all the books have read, of
the babe who is discovered, that it smiles
sweetly in the face of its benefaotor.
But the Captain tells me often that I
rent the air with crying till I was black
in the face, until, arriving on the deck
of the Petrel," old Candace, the
negress, took me in her embrace. She
it was who was stewardess, with her
husband Jim (also of color) as cook.
The Captain would at once have had
me fed with Port wines, condensed milk,
canned soups and like nourishment.
But Candace said "no," and gave me
of food in small quantities. "Dat ar
little stummick mus'n be filled to de-
pletion," is that which the Captain re-
peats as her words to him.
Remaining on board, she had care
of me for four years. l would not be on
the shore for even an hour. cried Bit
terly when out of sight of my Captain.
Again we had stewardess who was
English, with her husband to cook. She
taught me my sewing, and prayer to
say to the good God. But as / became
more old in years the Captain gave to
me my instruction in books. He learned
me of many things useful, and it is said
of me that have marvellous power to
attain in study. At my present age I
am thin-suelte, rs old M. Jacques, the
former mate, says-with complexion
of brunette, and eyes and hair which
are black. This it is, with the readi-
ness which had in learning the French
language of M. Jacques, which gives me
to think that my mother at least was
French. The accent and words seemed
to always be known to me as of dream.
But the Captain will have it to say
that I am gift of Christmas from his
wife who is with the good God. Be that
as it may, am to him as his very, very
own, and he to me as father and mother
in one, ttthe child of his old age," he
insists; for though straight and erect rs
the mast of the tsPetrel," he is in age
sixty years.
He had provided for me everything
of comfort and elegance that a young
girl could wish. For the sPetrel' is q
small brig which goes over all the
world where q keel may float, in order
to trade. It may be to purchase shells
in the Indian Ocean, furs in st. Peters
burgh, fruits at Havana, spices in Cey-
lon, silks at Nankin, diamonds or
ostrich feathers at Cape Town, knick-
knacks ia London, or bijos.tevie at
Havre-anywhere and everywhere that
a bargain may be made, we 60. And
in every port the ladies of the consignee,
or the American consul. win have me at
their homes. and are 50 good to- me.