Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-06-23

geons do. Then II anybody was sick or
died, or II the captain wanted him to
on any other occasion. he was always
ready to read prayers ! have remark
ed that he read beautifully.
Ny own acquaintance with Philip
Nolan began six or eight years after
the war. on my 6rst voyage after l
was appointed midshipman. 1t was
in the 6rst days after our slave trade
treaty, while the reigning house, which
was still the house Of Virginia, had
still sort Of sentimentalism about the
suppression Of the horrors Of the Mid.
die Passage. and something was some
times done that way. l first came to
understand anything about 1.-The man
without country" one day when We
overhauled dirty little schooner
which had slaves on board. An officer
was sent to take charge Of her. and
after q few minutes he sent back his
boat to ask that some one might be
sent him who could speak Portuguese
We were all looking over the rail when
the message came, and we all wished
we could interpret when the captain
asked who spoke Portuguese. But none
Of the officers did. and just as the cap
tain was sending forward to ask II any
Of the people could, Nolan stepped out
and said he should be glad to interpret
| II the captain wished. as he understood
the language. The captain thanked
him, fitted out another boat with him.
and In this boat 1t was my luck to 60.
When we got there 1t was such a
scene as you seldom see and never
want to. Nastiness beyond account.
and chaos run loose in the midst Of the
nastness. The negroes were. most of
them, out Of the hold and swarming all
round the dirty deck, with a central
throng surrounding Vaughan and ad
dressing him in every dialect and pa
tois of dialect. from the Zulu click up
to the Partisan of Beledeljereed.
AS we came on deck Vaughan looked
down from a hgshead on which be
had mounted in desperation and said:
"For Gods love. is there anybody
who can make these wretches under
stand something"
Nolan said be could speak Portu.
guese and one or two fine looking
Kroomen were dragged out. who. as
1t had been found already, had worked
for the Portuguese at Fernando Pc.
'Tell them they are Free" said
Vaughan. land tell them that these
rascals are to be hanged as soon as we
can get rope enough"
Nolan explained 1t In such Portu-
guese as the Kroomen could under
stand and they in turn to such Of the
negroes as could understand them.
Then there was such yell Of delight.
clinching Of fists. leaping and dancing.
kissing Of Nolan's feet and general
rush made to the hogshead by way OF
spontaneous worship of Vaughan as
the deus ex machinu Of the occasion.
Tell them" said Vaughan. well
pleased. that | will take them all to
Cape Palmas."
This did not answer SO we'll. Cape
Palmas was practically as far from
the homes Of most OF them as New Or
leans or Rio Janeiro was-that Is, they
would be eternally separated from
home there And their interpreters, as
we could understand. instantly said.
"Ah, non Palmas." and began to pro-
pose infinite Other expedients In most
volube language. Vaughan was
rather disappointed at this result OF
bis liberality and asked Nolan eagerly
what they said The drops stood on
Door Nolan's white forehead as he
hushed the men down. and said:
"He says Not Palmas.' He says.
Take US home. take US to our own
country, take us to our own house.
take US to our own pickaninnies and
our own women And this one says"
choked out Nolan, that he has not
heard word from mis- home in six
months. while he has been locked up In
an internal barracoon."
Vaughan always said he grew gray
himself while Nolan struggled through
this Interpretation. |. who did not I'M
derstand anything Of the passion in
volved In it. saw that the very ele-
ments were melting with fervent heat
and that something was to pay some
where. Even the negroes themselves
stopped bowling as they saw Nolan's
agony and Vaughan's almost equal
agony of sympathy. AS quick as he
could get words, he said:
'Tell them yes. yes. Tell them they
shall go to the Mountains Of the Moon
II they will. II | sail the schooner
through the Great White desert they
shall 60 home"
And after some fashion Nolan said
30. And they all fell to kissing him and
wanted to rub his nose with theirs.
But he could not stand 1t long. and.
getting Vaughan to say ho might 60
back, he beckoned me down into our
boat As we lay back in the stern
sheets and the men gave way. he said
to me: "Youngster, let that show you
what It is to be without a family.
without a home and without a coun-
try. And II you are ever tempted to
say word or to do thing that shall
put a bar between you and your fam
lily, your home and your country. pray
God in bis mercy to take you that In
slant home to his own heaven. Stick
by your family. boy. Forget you have
self, while you do everything for
them. Think of your home, boy. Write
and send and talk about 1t. Let 1t be
nearer and nearer to your thought the
farther you have to travel from 1t, and
rush back to 1t when you are free. as
that poor black slave is doing now.
And for your country, boy" and the
words ratified in his throat land for
that fag." and he pointed to the ship.
never dream q dream but OF serving
her as she bids you. though the service
carry you through thousand bells.
No matter what happens to you. no
matter who fatters you or who abuses
you. never look at another flag. never
let a night pass but you pray God to
bless that flag. Remember. boy, that
behind all these men you hive to do
with, behind officers and government
and people even. there is the country
herself. your country, and that you be-