Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-08-04

OOOH aitef lniS ne inquired Ii
thought that the breaking up of the
/ ice had destroyed the other sledge
n | replied, that | could not answer
4 with any degree of certainty; foI
: the ice had not broken until neal
5 midnight, and the traveller might
| have arrived at place of safety be-
: fore that time; but OF this could
r not judge.
From this time the stranger seem
2 ed very eager to be upon deck, to
) watch for the sledge which had be-
: fore appeared; f; but | have persua-
, ded him to remain IN the cabin, for
he is far too weak to sustain the
rtwness of the atmosphere. And l
have promised that some one
should watch for him, and give him
instant notice if any new object
should appear in sight.
Such is my journal OF what re-
lates to this strange occurrence up
to the present day. The stranger
has gradually improved in health,
but is very silent, and appears un-
easy when any one except myself
enters his cabin. Yet his manners
are so conciliating and gentle, that
although they have very little COM
municatiou with him. For my
own part, 1 begin to love him as a
brother and his constant and deep
grief fills me with sympathy and
compassion. He must have been
noble creature in his better days,
being even now in wreck so attract
i've and amiable.
said in one of my letters, my
dear Margaret, that | should find
no friend on the wide ocean; yet
have found a man who, before his
! spirit had been broken by misery,
/ should have been happy TO
have possessed as the brother OF my
heart.
/ shall continue my journal con-
cerning the stranger at intervals,
should have any fresh incidents to
record.
August 18th, II.
Myaffection for my guest increases
every day. He excites at once my
admiration and my pity to an as
tonishing degree. How can l. see
so noble a creature destroyed by
misery, without feeling the most
poignant grief? He is so gentle,
yet 50 wise his mind Is so cultiva-
ted /; and when he speaks, although
his words are culled with the chOic-
est art, yet they flow with rapidity
and unparalleled eloquence.
He is now much recovered from |
his illness, and is continually on |
deck, apparently watching for the |
sledge that preceded his own. Yet, |
although unhappy, he is not SO ut |
terly occupied by his own misery, !
but that he interests himself deeply |
in the employment OF others. He |
has asked Inc many questions con-
cerning my design and | have re- |
lated my little history frankly to |
him. He appeared pleased with
the confidence, and suggested sever
al alterations in my plan, which | |
shall find exceedingly useful. There
is no pedantry in his manner; but
all he does appears to spring solely
from the interest he inStinctiVely |
takes in the welfare of those who |
surround him. He is often over
come by gloom, and then he sits by |
himself, and tries to overcome all !
that is sullen or unsOcial in his
humor. These paroxysms pass
from him like a cloud from before
the sun, though his detection never
leaves him. / have endeavored to
win his confidence and trust that
| have succeeded. One day | men
toned to him the desire | had al /
ways felt of finding a friend who
might sympathize with me, and
direct me by his counsel. said !
did not belong to that class of men
who are offended by advice. | am
self educated, and perhaps | hardly
rely sufficiently upon my own pow
ers. wish therefore that my COM
panion should be wiser and more
experienced than myself, toconirm
and support me; nor have | be-
Iieved it impossible to find a true
friend.
81 agree with YOU" replied the
stranger, "in believing that friend
ship is not only a desirable but Il
possible, acquisition. / once had
friend, the most noble of human
creatures, and am entitled, there
fore, to judge respecting friendship.
You have hope and the world before
you; and have no cause for despair.
But IL have lost everything, and
cannot begin life anew" 5
AS he said this, his countenance
became expressive of a calm settled
grief, which touched me to the
heart. But he was silent, and pres
emily retired TO his cabin.
Even broken in spirit as he is, no
one can feel more deeply than be
does the beauties of nature. The
starry sky, the sea, and every sight
afforded by these wonderful regions,
seem still to have the power Of ele-
waiting his soul from earth. Such
man has double existence; he
may-suffer misery, and be over
whelmed by disappointments; yet
when he has retired into himself, he
will be like a celestial spirit, that
has a halo around him, within
whose circle no grief or folly ven
lures.
Will you laugh at the enthusiasm
express concerning this divine
wanderer? If you do, you must
certainly have lost that simplicity
which WAS once your characteristic
charm. Yet, if you will, smile at
the warmth of my expressions,
while find every day new causes
for repeating them.
August 18th, IL.
Yesterday the stranger said to me,
"You may easily perceive, Captain
Walton, that l have had great and
unparalleled misfortunes. / had de-
termined, once, that the memory of
these evils should die with me f; but
you have won me TO alter my de-
termination. You seek for knOwl-
edge and wisdom, as / once did;
and ardently hope that the graft
fication of your wishes may not he
IA serpent to sting you, AS mine has
been 10 me. 1 do not know that
the relation OF my mi5fortunes will
be useful To you, yet, il you are in
clined, listen to my tale, | believe
that, the strange incidents connected
with il will alfori view of nature
which may enlarge your faculties
and understanding. You will hear
of powers and occurrences, such as
YOU have been accustomed to think
impossible; but do not doubt that
my tale conveys in its series inter-
nal evidence of the truth Of the
events of which it is composed"
You may easily conceive that ]
was much gratified by the offered
4 an1lI moi ]