Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-08-18
with a cry Of agony ho fell back, as
as tho body to which he was

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tied.
The cry drew the attention OF a scntl-
mel on board the Squirrel to a speck
drifting down upon h?r, and crew was
sent to bring the boat alongside. Tho
living was lifted on board and the boat,
with its dead, was again adrilt.
For the moment but little thought was
given to the circumstance, for in tho
morning the attack on the Moro would
begin. But when the seigc was over, and
tho city, with all its treasures, had fallen
into the hands of the English, minor mat
ters-tho little events growing out of tho
attack-camo to tho surface. All on
board the ship were anxious to know
something of the poor fellow they had
saved from death. No one knew him;
but n messenger from one Of the trans
ports, with colonial troops on board, so
far recognized him as to say he had seen
him in Rholc Island. The officers and
men were kind to him, but he had re-
ceived too great shock to notice it. He
could not be led to say or do anything
that would throw ighG on his history.
He was quiet, did as he was tod, but
showed no trace Of intellect. When food
was placed before him he ate of it spar
ingly; where they placed him there he
sat for hours; and if he moved at all, it
was to look over his shoulder, as though
lie feared to see something frightful
there
The ships that could be spared were
sent home or to the North. The Squirrel
sailed for Halifax; from there she was
ordered to Rhode Island, where she
arrived in September 1863, still having
Can't. Joe on board. Here he was idcn-
titled by q number Of persons, including
Martin, to whom he was turned over to
be taken to Cape Cod. Once there,
Nabby Martin pleaded with her father
10 Keep him under their own roof, where,
no longer able to take care of himself,
she could minister TO his wants. As yet,
she had not seen him, but she encouraged
herself with the hope that reason had
not wholly vanished that her voice and
presence would lift the cloud from his
shattered intellect. 50 strengthened,
she entered the room. If her lips treni-
bcd and her heart sank within her at the
sight of his bent form and vacant stare,
she did not for moment faltcr, but
throwing her arms around him, with a
loving kiss she drew him to her breast.
From that day forward every artitice
was rcsorted to to gain some evidence
that he was not the wreck he seemed.
One day, when other means had failed,
she put her hand gently upon his arm
and sang, in sailor style, an old refrain
that in his youth he used to sing. But
it was all in vain; the light had so nearly
gone out as to leave no hope that it could
ever be rckindIcd, and with the patient,
undying love of woman, she gave herself
up to the task before her. His whims,
for he had them, were gratiied. He
abhorrcd the sight of the sea- and would
sit contentedly on the other side of the
house. lie seemed to like the sunshine,
was less restless if he occupied chair in
thecorncr Of the sitting close up to
the wall and if from time to time he
looked over his shoulder, as at first, the
intervals were longer when Nabby was
near. But it could be seen that he failed;
that from day to day his form was more
bent, his step less firm; and OF nourish-
mcnt he took but little. So it went on
until November, when, lying upon the
lounge one day, seemingly in doze, he
raised himself, gazsd out upon distance
that he alone could see, shouted line
from tie old rcfrain
"Sight of land from topsail var I'm
a-d fell back with glazed and staring
eyes. -NeOpot Post.