Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1909-04-29

Chalice and plate from churches borne,
And gems from shrielxing beauty torn,
Each string fpearl, each silver bar,
And all the wealth Of western war.
RoKEBY.
AS the skipper strobe towards
ltha town, his logged air and
lowering brow evinced The dis
quiet Of his spirit az what had
just occurred. He was nettled by
the maiden s rejection OF bis proffer-
cd gift, and still deeper feeling OF
resentment agltated his mind against
the Secretary. Far other. man was
he than he was deemed by the
burRhers Of st. Mary's. In truth.
they knew but little more Of him
than might begained from his few oc-
casional visits to the port In call
ing which, as il brought him fair
harvest 81 profit, lsia him under 4
necessity to cultivate. far the nonce,
the good opinion Of bis customers
by such address as he was master OF.
Cocklescraft belonged tothat tribe
OF desperate men, until near this
period in the full career Of their
bloody successes, known as "The
Brethen Of the Coast. His first
breath was drawn upon the pillows
Of the ocean, and his infancy was
nursed In the haunts OF the buc-
cancers, amongst the Keys OF the
Bahamas. When buta lad, attend
ing upon these wild bands In their ex-
petitions against the commerce OF
the Gulf, he CHANGED TO attract the
notice OF the famous Captain Nor
gan, whilst that most rapacious OF
all The pirate leaders was preparing,
at Jamaica, for his incursion against
Maracaibo. The freebooter was
charmed with thu precocious relish
for rapine conspicuousin the charac.
ter Of the boy; and, with an affec.
tionate interest, took him under his
tutelage, assigning TO him post
near bis person, rather Of pageantry
than service-that Of a page or arm.
or-bearer. according TO the yet lin.
geriug forms Of chivalry. The In.
credible bravery Of the buccaneers
In this exploit, and their destestabIe
cruelties we're Witnessed by this
callow imp Of the sea, with q delight
and shrewdness Of apprehension
which gave to his youthful nature
the full benefit of the lesson. He
was scarce two years older when,
In the due succession OF his hopeful
| experience, he again attended bis
| patron upon that unmatched adven-
| ture pf plumber and outrage, the
4 ssagudF Of Panama. and 1t was re-
-aarked that amidst the perils Of the
cruise upon the Costa Rica, the tolls
Of the inland march over moor and
mountain, and the desperate hazards
Of the storming OF the city, the page,
graceful and active as the minion Of
a lady's bower, and fierce as young
sea- wolf, was seen every where, like
an el6sh sprite, tracking the foot
steps Of his ruthless master. The
history Of human wickedness has
not more appalling chapter than
that which records the fate Of the
wretched inhabitants Of Panama in
this assault; and yet, In the midst
Of its shocking enormities. The gay
and tasseled familiar Of the rnffian
pirate chief tripped dainty through
the carnage. with the light step Of a
reveller, and pursued the flying
virgins~and affrighted matrons, from
house TO house, az the flames en-
veloped their roof trees, with the
mockery and prsnkishness Of an ac-
tor 10 q masquerade, This expedi-
tion terminated not without adding
another item to the experience Of
the young freebooter the only one,
perhaps, yetswanting 70 bis perfect