The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1917-05-31

pieaseo that / Win take tlem all 10
Cape Palmas."
This did not answer 30 well. 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 or
his 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 ana
our own women And this one says
choked out Nolan, that he has not
heard word from his 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. l. who did not un-
derstand anything of the passion In
voIved in 1t, 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 Nolans
agony and Vaughans 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 go home!
And after some fashion Nolan said
80. And they all fell to kissing him and
wanted to rub his nose with theirs.
But he could not stand it long. and,
getting Vaughan to say he might go
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 1t Is to be without family.
without home and without 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
fly. your home and your country. pray
God in his mercy to take you that in
slant home to his own heaven. Stick
by your family. boy. Forget you have
q self, while you do everything for
them. Think of your home. boy. Write
aud send and talk about it. Let 1t be
nearer and nearer to your thought the
farther you have to travel from it. 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 flag" and he pointed to the ship.
never dream 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 flatters you or who abuses
you, never look at another tag, never
let night pass but you pray God to
bless that flag. Remember. boy, that
behind all these men you have to do
with, behind officers and government
and people even, there is the country
herself. your country. and that you be-
long to her as you belong to your own
mother Stand by her. boy. as you
would stand by your mother If those
devils there had got hold Of her to-
day.
I was frightened to death by his
calm, hard passion. but | Numbered
out that would. by all that was holy.
and that l had never thought of doing
anything else. He hardy seemed to
hear me- but he did. almost In whis-
per. say. "Oh. If anybody had said so
to me when | was of you age!'
think it was this half confidence of
his, which | never abused. for | never
told this story till now. which after
ward made us great friends. He was
very kind to me. When we parted
from him in st. Thomas harbor at the
end of our cruise | was more sorry
than | can tell. was very glad to
meet him again in 1890. and later in life.
when | thought | had some influence
In Washington. 1 moved heaven and
earth to have him discharged. But 1t
was like getting II ghost out Of prison
1Qey pretenueu there WIS uo SuCu HILL
and never was such man. They will
say so ut the department now.
There Is a story that Nolan met Burr
once on one of our vessels. when
party of Americans came on board In
the Mediterranean. But this believe
to be lie: or. rather. 1t is a myth. well
found. involving tr' mendous blowing
up with which he sunk Burr-asking
him how he liked to be without
country"
After that cruise | never saw Nolan
again. | wrote to him at least twice a
year, for in that voyage we became even
cOnfidentially intimate; but he never
wrote to me-. The other men tell me
that In those fifteen years he aged very
fast. And now it seems the dear old
fellow is dead. He has found a home
Mt last. and a country.
Since writing this ! have received
from Danforth who Is on board the
Levant. letter which gives an &C.
count of Nolans last hours. 1t removes