Evening star., 1899-04-01

ful forebodings- lest some disaster had be-
fallen the country we loved well. The
muttcrings in the south of the year before
in the event of certain election caused
some anxiety, and the absence of vessels in
regions where in years gone by they were
as thick as the leaves in Vallambrosa was
held by the older heads 10 be ominouSy
significant but 1t was not until We reached
the highlands of Cape Cod that we were to
learn the full extent of the great calamity
that was upon us. The election we had held
on board the ship way off in the waters of
China on the other side of the globe, was
only the prelude of the more general one
at home. AS Mr.. Lincoln was the choice
of the majority of the officers and men
of the frgate Niagara, so we were to learn
subsequently he was also the choice of the
nation.
The First News.
When off the highlands a pilot boat
discovered near by, and the pilot put off in
a boat with his pockets full, as is customar-
lily done. of the latest papers. He was
awaited with mpatience that seemed al
most painful, and the moment he had cross
ed the rail and reached the gangway he was
asked by the captain, dear old Com. Nc
Kean than whose heart none more loyal
ever beat for the flag. this question:
Pilot wnat is the news"
The pilot, Dolliver was his name. looked
around at all standing about the quarter
deck, apparently amazed at the question,
for what he about to tell US as news
was quite old to him, and, instead of re-
plying at once to this question, the pilot,
as so often happens, asked the captain with
some SURPRISE:
Where in thunder have you come from
caDtain?'
When told more politely if less emphat-
icalIy. by the captain that he had come
from Hong Kong, the pilot followed this in
formation with another question:
''Ain't you heard nothing at all since sail
ing?" ,,, -,
NO" replied the captain, nothing at all,
as we have touched nowhere since leaving
the Cape of Good Hope There was no news
there when we sailed
Delivers reply to this assurance I shall
never forget. II was as forcibie as II
was emphatic, and as impressive as words
could possibly make it, even if it was
little inelegant
"Weli, gentlemen, the country is all bust
ed to HI
An Excited Ships Company.
While this colloquy was going on between
the pilot and the captain, the ships COM
pany had crowded aft in both gangways'
and. like the officers, were intensely anx-
ions to hear what the news might be. What
Deliver had said so emphatically had
reached their ears, and had touched their
hearts Tears started from eyes that were
not accustomed to weeping, and coursed
down the cheeks of those bronzed old
heroes. 1t could be seen that firm re-
solve to stick loyalty to the old flag that
had fiCated in honor over theif HVeS ana
fortunes had gone deep into their souls, for
almost Immediately every eye was turned
onward toward the peak, where the old
flag was floating peacefully and majesti-
caiiy, and intuitively every head was un-
covered in homage.
1t was an experience never to he forgot
ten and he sight Of those bronZed old
heroes with heads uncovered to the dear
old flag taught my young heart in a few
moments a who'll volume of patriotism.
had been born in n slaveholding state. and
had been reared surrounded by colored
children, and was influenced to some ex-
tent by the prejudices which the institution
of slavery had engendered, but when 1t be-
came necessary to decide off Boston har-
bor whether the love of state was to be
superior to the love of country, and my
pride in its glories and in its history, there
was no trouble after the sight / had wit
messed when Pilot Doliver came aboard.
An Impressive Scene.
Reaching Boston harbor in the midst of
deep excitement and deeper feelings among
those holding opposite views, a number of
our officers decided to abandon the cause
of the Union for that of the confederacy
then established Those who were loyal
were merely required to subscribe anew to
their oath of allegiance. After carefully
examining this new document 1t was rot
difficult to renew my allegiance at mo-
ment when SO many were abandoning our
cause. The scene of the highlands when
| Doltver came on board had craven Its i'm