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 ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN.
 
 ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN: 
 
 A .V.':r Mivr '-'F TiiK 
 
 VOYAGE OF THE WILDFIRE 
 
 TO CALIFORNIA. 
 
 tnitlj Itnrirs, torftntrs, <tr. 
 
 BY FANNY FOLEY, 
 
 ONE OP THE PASSENGERS, DAUOHTEE OF AN OFPICEE OP THE 
 MEDICAL 8TAPP. 
 
 "I, too, have been upon thy rolling breast, 
 Wildest of waters! I have seen thee lie 
 Calm, as an infant pillow'd in its rest 
 On a fond mother's bosom, when the sky, 
 Not smoother, gave the deep its azure dye, 
 Till a new heaven was arch'd and glass'd below." 
 J. Q. PEBCIVAL. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 LINDSAY AND BLAKISTON. 
 
 1850.
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1850, 
 BY LINDSAY AND BLAKISTON, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Eastern District of 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 0. SHERMAN, PRINTER.
 
 PS 
 
 TO THE READER 
 
 THE following narrative was handed to us by a friend 
 of the writer, to whose care the manuscript was forwarded. 
 It would not, probably, have surprised her, had she met 
 with it in the form of a serial, in one of our literary 
 journals, under the modest heading of "A Trip to Cali 
 fornia;" but it will, perhaps, startle her not a little, to 
 find that she has written a book bearing a title of some 
 pretension. 
 
 It is but fair to state our opinion, that the real name of 
 the writer has not been given. Fanny Foley sounds 
 rather fictitious ; and possibly all the names mentioned in 
 the narrative are so, in order to avoid offence. Even that 
 of the ship may not be genuine. 
 
 There has manifestly been no effort at display, in deli 
 neating ocean scenery ; this having been often well done 
 by others. In fact, Miss Foley seems to have left home 
 with a romantic anticipation of thrilling adventure by 
 
 259442
 
 X TO THE READER. 
 
 sea, such as shipwreck, capture by pirates, or some other 
 catastrophe ; and being disappointed in these expectations, 
 devoted herself to depicting what may be called domestic 
 life on shipboard. 
 
 The work may be safely commended to all, and es 
 pecially to ladies who are about to be associated with 
 others in a long sea-voyage. They may learn from it to ^ 
 appreciate the great difference, in such circumstances, 
 between a very amiable and a very annoying temper and 
 deportment. 
 
 "We have divided the work into chapters, for the con 
 venience of perusal, and now commit it to the favour of 
 the reader, with a strong persuasion, that they who shall 
 read the first chapter, will continue to the end. 
 
 THE PUBLISHERS.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 Departure from New York Notice of Officers and Passengers- 
 Lucy, the Gentle Governess Mrs. Parker A Character- 
 Harry Morton An Exciting Incident First Sabbath at Sea, 
 
 13 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Lucy begins her School Amusing Conversation Water-spouts 
 Fanny thinks them of no Use Flare-up with Mrs. Parker 
 Henpecking to some Tune Another Sabbath delightfully 
 spent Mrs. Howard a great Favourite Harry Morton again 
 
 Interesting Development Harriet O'Connor Her Mother's 
 
 hapless Fate, - - - - ''',' ' * 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The Captain's Newfoundland Dog overboard Mrs. Parker and 
 Lucy again Fanny Disappointed Sights not worth Seeing 
 "Whales don't come up to her Expectation Sam Parker miss 
 ingAnother Flare-upFanny's Visit to Nero, the Cook 
 
 ftl 
 
 lUo Janeiro, - -
 
 XII CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 At Sea again Fanny had been 111, and saw Little of the City 
 Lucy and Colonel Howard Astounding Discovery of Harriet's 
 Father Account of his Escape and Subsequent History, 109 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Prejudices of Seamen Fanny teases Lucy about Colonel Howard 
 Class in the Cabin to learn Spanish Mrs. Parker in the 
 way as usual Passing the Straits of Magellan Fanny wishes 
 to see Storm Rebuke of Captain Black Affecting Incident 
 in his Life Enter the Pacific Mr. Selden visits Nero on the 
 Sabbath His Simple and Interesting Story, - - 130 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Fanny becomes Weary of her Journal The Cabin Party dull 
 Colonel Howard and Lucy especially so Some Mystery about 
 it Board a Deserted Ship Crew Murdered by Pirates One 
 Survivor His Account of the Horrible Transaction The 
 Mystery Explained, - - - -' - '- 171 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Amusing Anecdotes Speak a Vessel with Despatches from the 
 United States Harriet made Happy by a Letter from Home 
 A Distressing Occurrence saddens every Heart Voyage 
 draws to a Close with great Sorrow in the Parker Family 
 Anchor off Monterey, September 2d, 1849, - - 198
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Departure from New York Notice of Officers and Passengers 
 Lucy, the Gentle Governess Mrs. Parker A Character 
 Harry Morton An Exciting Incident First Sabbath at Sea. 
 
 THE VOYAGE. 
 
 Monterey, California, Sept. 3d, 1849. 
 
 MY EARfrY, MY BELOVED FRIEND, ELLEN : 
 
 TIME and change, it has been said, are fatal to 
 school friendships. Experience, my own experience, 
 does not accord with this opinion. Have not four 
 weary moons waxed and waned since the evening 
 when we exchanged our tearful adieus on the portico 
 of Whitefield Seminary ? and is my heart less thine 
 own than when we wrote our vow of eternal friend 
 ship, and signed our names with our heart's blood? 
 (Drawn with the point of a pin from our finger-ends.)
 
 14 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 And what changes have I not passed through since 
 I left my native land, to encounter the unknown 
 dangers of the deep ? and still through all and after 
 all, thy Fanny's thoughts return to thee, and her 
 fondest desire is again to be at thy side. 
 
 But now to business. I promised you to keep a 
 journal, from the time of our departure from New 
 York, which should furnish you with a faithful pic 
 ture of life at sea : in storm and in calm, in sick 
 ness and health, by night and by day, as the mar 
 riage service has it. Well, I have fulfilled my 
 contract to the best of my ability ; and here, in this 
 ponderous packet, you have the result of my labours, 
 up to the day of our arrival at this back door of our 
 great Republic. Do not be critical as to the matter 
 or style, for indeed it was often a difficult task to 
 keep my log, as the sailors say. x 
 
 JOURNAL. 
 
 Monday, June 2d, 1849. We left New York at 
 7 o'clock this morning, in the ship Wildfire. I ad 
 mire the name ; it promises well for adventure. I 
 should like to encounter all the perils of the sea, 
 were I sure of getting safely through them. Above 
 all, I desire to be boarded by pirates ; how sorry I
 
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 15 
 
 am those gallant fellows are so scarce, that we can 
 not hope to see them nearer than the Chinese Sea. 
 Captain Kid has been my especial favourite, ever 
 since the time when my mother used to lull me to 
 sleep, by singing his address under the gallows. I 
 remember I wished so much that I had been one of 
 the audience, to get a share of the gold he be 
 queathed so generously. Do you know the lines ? 
 
 "Good people, young and old, 
 And you, my sailors bold, 
 You're welcome to my gold ; 
 I must die." 
 
 I suppose he mentally added, "if you can find it;" 
 for, if ajl accounts are true, he had stowed it away 
 in such safe places, that to this day it has never been 
 discovered. 
 
 When we bade mother good-bye, I believe she 
 was very sorry she had not decided to accompany 
 us. But father told her, if he does not resign next 
 spring, he will send for her. He can tell by that 
 time whether there is any prospect of living com 
 fortably in California. You must see mother often, 
 Ellen, and be as merry and foolish as you can, the 
 better to supply my place to her. Puss is too 
 young to be a companion, and my brothers, you 
 know, will neither of them be at home this year.
 
 16 THE KOMANCE OP THE OCEAN. 
 
 You need not expect any descriptions of natural 
 scenery from my pen. I cannot endure anything so 
 silent and motionless as mountains, rocks, and fo 
 rests. If there were a volcano now in full opera 
 tion, or the landscape were convulsed by an earth 
 quake, with houses and trees dancing a country 
 dance, I should think it very grand indeed. 
 
 While my fellow-passengers are admiring the bay, 
 so famed for its beauty, and the ever-changing 
 views of the shore we are so rapidly leaving, I am 
 studying the physiognomy of those who are to be 
 my companions for the next three or four months. 
 If I have any insight into character, I think I shall 
 find much to interest and amuse me among-the sub 
 jects of my scrutiny. But I must introduce them 
 to you by names, that being all I yet know myself. 
 There are Colonel Howard and his mother, Captain 
 Parker and wife, five children, governess, and little 
 black boy. The Colonel and Captain both belong 
 to the regiment of which my father is the surgeon ; 
 therefore I shall have a fine opportunity of becom 
 ing well acquainted with my future neighbours. 
 Then there is the Rev. Mr. Selden, going out as 
 chaplain to our post. The oificers of the ship are 
 Captain Black, a serious, gentlemanly man, and his 
 mate, Mr. Spencer, a gallant fellow, I am sure, full
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 17 
 
 of fun, too, if his merry eye tells truly. He is very 
 polite to me, has sailed with brother Ned, and likes 
 him well, so of course he'll like me, for everybody 
 says I am Ned's ditto. 
 
 4th. Eyes, and ears, and tongue, have been so 
 overwhelmed with business, that for the last two 
 days I could not find time to scratch a line. I must, 
 however, tell you about the governess, Lucy Mee- 
 cham. She is a lovely creature : don't be jealous 
 Ellen, when I tell you that I have already given 
 her a warm corner in my heart. She is taller than 
 I, has beautiful brown hair, which she arranges with 
 much taste, eyes of the softest blue, and a com 
 plexion clear, not very fair, but varying with every 
 emotion. She would not be called a beauty, but the 
 expression of her countenance is uncommonly lovely. 
 She told me all her history : that is, she answered 
 my questions, which were neither " few nor far be 
 tween." I call myself a Yankee, though really a 
 Pennsylvanian, because it gives me a kind of right, 
 you know, to catechise every one that comes in my 
 way. Miss Meecham has a widowed mother and a 
 sister younger than herself. 
 
 During her father's lifetime they were wealthy, 
 but at his death, lost nearly everything, I forget 
 how, and her mother has now a bare maintenance. 
 
 2
 
 
 18 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 Having had a highly-finished education, Lucy 
 thought it her duty to help her mother by teaching. 
 She saw Captain Parker's advertisement, replied to 
 it, and had an interview with him, liked his appear 
 ance and manners, and entered into an engagement 
 with him without having seen Mrs. Parker at all. 
 She was first introduced to her on board the ship. 
 I fancy Lucy (though she says nothing) begins to 
 have misgivings as to her prospect of usefulness or 
 happiness in Mrs. Parker's family. That lady is 
 the head of the house, and a complete tyrant, I am 
 convinced. The Captain appears to be an amiable, 
 frank, and honourable man, quite agreeable in con 
 versation, when his lady is out of hearing ; but in her 
 presence he is awkward and uneasy, as if fearful 
 that he might do or say something that would dis 
 please her, and so call forth a reproof that would 
 expose the failings of both. Sarah, their oldest 
 child, is fourteen years of age, a pleasant, affec 
 tionate girl. The next two are rude, uninteresting 
 boys. A three year old Nannie is in everybody's 
 way, and a cross, ugly baby, of ten months, is toted 
 about from morning till night on the hip of poor 
 little Jake, Mrs. Parker's black boy. Such is the 
 family group : nothing attractive in the picture, cer 
 tainly.
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 19 
 
 5th. I will give you an idea of our mode of life on 
 shipboard. We do not rise early, but are generally 
 ready for breakfast, which is at eight o'clock. From 
 the table we go up to the deck, at one end of which 
 an awning is spread, with comfortable settees under 
 it, and a table, all firmly secured to the deck. Here 
 the ladies, with the Colonel and Chaplain, generally 
 assemble, and converse or do nothing, as each one 
 pleases. I beg Mrs. Parker's pardon for including 
 her in this set of idlers. She invariably makes her 
 appearance with a huge work-basket, filled with what 
 appears to me an inexhaustible supply of shirt-collars 
 and darnable stockings. I asked her very civilly this 
 morning if she darned for the Captain's company. 
 Oh you ought to have seen her eyes, what a look she 
 gave me ! Yet she answered me never a word ; but 
 just then, Jake happening to be in unfortunate 
 proximity to his mistress, with his usual burden on 
 his hip, she gave him a kick on the shin that made 
 him howl, and in his haste to get out of the way of a 
 second attack, he stumbled over the work-basket and 
 fell, the baby's nose coming in contact with the deck. 
 Oh dear, the hubbub ! Baby screaming more kicks 
 on poor Jake the lady scolding first at the boy for 
 throwing the child down, then at her husband for not 
 picking it up. How it ended I did not wait to see.
 
 20 THE ROMANCE OP THE OCEAN. 
 
 clapping my hands to my ears, I flew to my cabin, to 
 take a hearty laugh. 
 
 I fear Mrs. Parker will never forgive me for caus 
 ing her to expose herself thus before Colonel Howard. 
 She is always as mild and sweet as cocoa-nut milk in 
 his presence. Military rank, I verily believe, is the 
 only thing for which she has any reverence. Colonel 
 Howard is a dear old soul : though I must take care 
 how I call him old ; being a single man, he is tender 
 on that point. He has a noble figure, handsome face, 
 and most attractive manners, making himself pecu 
 liarly agreeable to young ladies, as Lucy and I can 
 testify. He is devoted to his mother ; another rea 
 son for my liking him. He is not so very old after 
 all, only about thirty-eight, I believe ; but I always 
 pretend to look upon him as quite a patriarch, just to 
 tease him ; my old failing, you know. 
 
 He and Mr. Selden often play chess in the morn 
 ing, Lucy and I sitting by, sometimes overlooking 
 the game, sometimes engaged in mutual confidences- 
 In return for Lucy's openness to me, I have given 
 her the natural history of Dr. Foley's family, with 
 the various personages in any way connected with it. 
 This brings you in, so that Lucy is fully acquainted 
 with the rise and progress of our ardent and enduring 
 friendship.
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 21 
 
 I am going to court Lucy for my brother William 
 if I can. She will make a pattern minister's wife. 
 She is so conscientious and unselfish, and ready to 
 do everything for everybody. With all this faultless- 
 ness of character too, she has so little self-esteem, 
 that I don't believe she thinks herself any better than 
 I am, though, alas, I can see how sadly deficient I 
 am in all those lovely traits I so much admire in her. 
 You know, Ellen, you are to have Ned if he turns out 
 to be worth anything ; then won't I have two sweet 
 sisters ? When I told Lucy my plan, for I cannot 
 keep anything to myself, she smiled and said, " You 
 are truly generous, Fanny, to give me what you so 
 highly prize ; I wish I could reciprocate, but I have 
 no brother, not even a cousin, to my knowledge, to 
 ofier you." I thanked her, but said I would not need 
 her aid in that particular ; that I thought it likely, 
 before our voyage was ended, I should secure one of 
 our fellow-travellers as a companion on the voyage of 
 life ; that I had not decided whether it should be the 
 Colonel, or Chaplain, or Mr. Mate, as I call him. 
 
 6th. I had a cruel disappointment to-day. When 
 our baggage was brought on board, I saw a large 
 pine box, which I had not noticed before, marked 
 with father's name. I asked him what it contained ; 
 He said, "Provision for the voyage."
 
 22 THE KOMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 "Why I thought everything was furnished by the 
 Captain ?" 
 
 " Oh yes, these are extras." 
 
 I was delighted thinks I, this is dear mother's 
 thoughtfulness. I know exactly what the box con 
 tains, preserves and pickles, smoked tongues, and 
 spiced gingerbread. This morning, as I was passing 
 father's state-room, he called to me, " Fanny dear, 
 run get me a chisel, and I will give you a pleasant 
 surprise." 
 
 "Yes, father," said I, running hastily to the deck. 
 Seeing Mr. Spencer, "Please, Mr. Mate," said I, 
 " lend me a chisel, and let my sailor-boy come down 
 and open a box for father." 
 
 " Your sailor-boy, Miss Fanny ! and who may he 
 be?" 
 
 "Why that handsome Harry, to be sure ; I do like 
 handsome men." 
 
 "Thank you, Miss Fanny," said he with a low 
 bow; "I take that as a personal compliment." 
 
 " Oh, you vain fellow ; you are not to be compared 
 to Harry." 
 
 " No, certainly not ; an officer should never be com 
 pared to a common sailor." 
 
 " Well, are you going to get me a chisel or not, or 
 shall I try the Captain ?"
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 23 
 
 " Yes, indeed, and you shall have your sailor-boy 
 too; so don't look so cross." 
 
 Down came Harry with the chisel, and the top of 
 the box was soon removed; the whole surface was 
 covered with heavy books. 
 
 " Oh, father, these books have been on the top ; I 
 fear the jars have been crushed." 
 
 "Jars," said he, putting on his spectacles and 
 looking carefully into the box ; " why, child, there is 
 nothing in it except books." 
 
 "Books!" I repeated in a tone of dismay, "no 
 thing but books ! Why, father, you said it contained 
 provision for the voyage." 
 
 "Food for the mind, child, I spoke figuratively. 
 It is the British Encyclopaedia, a most valuable 
 work. I intend to commence it, and read it regularly 
 through. I advise you to take a volume and read a 
 portion of it every day." 
 
 " I, father ; I shall hate the very sight of them ; 
 they'll remind me so painfully of pickles, preserves, 
 smoked tongue, and spiced gingerbread." I went off 
 singing, " 'Tis ever thus from childhood's hour," &c. 
 Harry laughed at me, the rogue ; I would have boxed 
 his ears if father had not been present. I must make 
 you acquainted with my protdge*. He is about my 
 own age, and certainly the handsomest man I ever
 
 24 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 saw. His hair, long and dark, hangs in loose curls. 
 His eyes are a dark hazel, his complexion rather 
 brown, but clear, with a brilliant colour always on 
 his cheek. Then he has fine teeth and a most en 
 gaging smile. A few days ago, I was leaning over 
 the railing, when I observed a large fish swimming 
 near the ship. I took it for a shark, and turning 
 round, to make the inquiry of any one who should be 
 near, I saw Harry standing at a little distance. I 
 called to him to look at the fish and tell me what it 
 was. He came forward and did as I requested, but 
 said he could not inform me ; that he had little sea- 
 knowledge, this being his first voyage. 
 
 His voice was so soft, and his manner so respectful, 
 that I felt inclined to continue the conversation. 
 
 True to my assumed Yankee character, I soon 
 learned his history, though I sometimes doubted if 
 he were telling the exact truth. Some of my ques 
 tions embarrassed him, and he would either hesitate, 
 or ask me to excuse his answering. He says his 
 name is Henry Morton, that he is an orphan, and 
 has been living in New York with his grandparents. 
 He confesses that he came to sea against their will, 
 but would not tell me why. Never mind, I'll get it 
 from him yet. 
 
 I often exchange words with him, as I wander
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 25 
 
 about the deck, looking into all the queer places, and 
 asking questions of the sailors. He invariably greets 
 me with a smile, and seems gratified by my notice of 
 him. 
 
 One day, Mr. Spencer overtook me in my tour of 
 observation, and offered to assist in my investiga 
 tions. 
 
 " No, thank you," said I ; " you'll only be in my 
 way ; it is a great deal funnier to go about as I 
 please, without some one at my elbow to say you 
 musn't open that, and you can't go in there. Just 
 now I quizzed the old sailor at the wheel there, till 
 he could not for his life make out whether I was 
 really as simple as I seemed, or only making fun of 
 him." 
 
 " Do tell me, Miss Fanny, how you managed it ?" 
 
 " Well, I went up to him and said, ' My friend, is 
 your name Jack Tar ?' ' No, miss ; Jacob Black, at 
 your service.' * Well, now, that's odd, I thought 
 all sailors were called Jack Tar ; I am sure they are 
 always named so in the newspapers.' He half 
 laughed, but did not reply. 'I have often heard,' 
 said I, ' of the long yarns that sailors spin. I havn't 
 seen any such work yet on board this ship. I sup 
 pose those ropes that are attached to the masts are 
 what you call yarns ?' ' Yes, ma'am, just so.' ' They
 
 26 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 are very thick indeed ; I do not know how you can 
 spin such enormous things. Is it done on this wheel 
 that you are turning?' 'Yes, ma'am; but it isn't 
 fixed right for spinning now.' ' Oh, well, I'll get 
 Mr. Spencer to come and have it fixed, for I do 
 want to see how you can spin such long yarns.' So, 
 Mr. Mate, off I came to find you, leaving Jacob 
 Black pondering on the matter with a sorely troubled 
 aspect." 
 
 " You are the oddest girl, Miss Fanny ; how can 
 you think of such queer fancies ?" 
 
 " Thank you for the compliment, if it is intended 
 as such ; and now, that's a good creature, just take 
 yourself off, for I want to go down to the lower 
 regions to see my other favourite, that shiny black 
 cook. He gave me a pressing invitation this morn 
 ing. Said he, ' Missus, you never been see a kitch- 
 ing yet ; you must come see where Nero lib. Nice 
 warm place, plenty good ting dere. Nero berry 
 proud see funny lady.' Who could resist such an 
 appeal ?" 
 
 " Indeed, Miss Foley," said Mr. Spencer, " you 
 must not think of such a thing. In the first place, 
 you'll certainly break your neck getting down, and 
 then the sight of the operations there may injure
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 27 
 
 your appetite, if you're at all delicate. I beg you 
 won't try it." 
 
 "Indeed I will," said I, " so you need not waste 
 your eloquence on me. If I break my neck, as you 
 say I will, I shall at any rate be spared the last evil 
 consequence you predict." 
 
 Just then Mr. Selden joined us, and I was obliged 
 to relinquish my purpose for the time. 
 
 7th. This morning, when Lucy and I went up to 
 the deck, there was no one under the awning but Mrs. 
 Parker and the children. Lucy sat down and com 
 menced reading one of father's volumes, which lay 
 on the table. Looking about for something more 
 congenial to my taste, I snatched the baby from 
 Jake's arms, and tried to amuse it by playing paddy- 
 cake on its little hands, but it screeched and kicked 
 till I was glad to give it up. 
 
 "Mrs. Parker," said I, willing to conciliate her if 
 possible (for since that eventful morning she has 
 never spoken to me), " do please give me a stocking 
 to darn ; I can run heels beautifully just try me." 
 
 "No, Miss Foley" (drawing herself up with great 
 dignity), "I don't darn for the company." 
 
 I moved off, singing "Begone, dull care, you and 
 I can never agree." Little George Parker was sit 
 ting on the floor, playing fox-and-geese on his slate.
 
 28 THE EOMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 I invited him to come and let me help him. He did 
 so very willingly, though if he had caught his mo 
 ther's eye he would have seen there " If you do, I'll 
 pay you for it." 
 
 I taught him tit-tat-toe, and several other of my 
 old school-games. We became quite good friends, 
 and I really found him an amusing companion. He 
 could tell me a great deal about garrison life that 
 was interesting to me. Having never been at a 
 military post since I was sent to boarding-school, 
 eight years ago, I shall feel like an entire stranger 
 there. 
 
 "Miss Meecham," said Mrs. Parker, "I under 
 stand from Mr. Parker that your salary commences 
 with our departure from New York." 
 
 Lucy, taken by surprise, coloured deeply, but 
 answered calmly, "Such was the Captain's offer, 
 madam." 
 
 " I dare say ; it's just like him. I was a fool to 
 Well, then, I should think, Miss Meecham, your 
 duties should commence at the same time. Four 
 months lost out of a year, and a quarter's salary 
 and passage to pay beside, is no trifle, I can tell 
 you, out of a lieutenant's pay ; for Mr. Parker is 
 only a brevet captain." 
 
 "I am perfectly willing, Mrs. Parker," replied
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 29 
 
 Lucy earnestly, " to do anything you wish. Indeed, 
 I would have proposed it, had I supposed the in 
 struction of the children could be carried on to any 
 advantage while at sea. I mentioned it to Captain 
 Parker, but he discouraged the idea." 
 
 " Let me tell you, Miss Meecham, it is to me you 
 are to apply, when my children are concerned. Mr. 
 Parker knows little and cares less about my domestic 
 arrangements. He manages his company, and I my 
 household. I don't see what should prevent the 
 children from studying. Sarah can learn her his 
 tory, and some other things, and the boys can read 
 and spell." 
 
 " Do you not fear that confinement in the cabin 
 may be injurious?" 
 
 " I don't intend confining them to the cabin ; they 
 can study here ; who's to hinder them, I wonder ? 
 My children have as good a right to a seat on deck 
 as any of the passengers. They don't go for no 
 thing even the little nigger's charged for." 
 
 Poor Lucy ! she evidently shrank from such a 
 public exhibition, but she only said, "I fear the 
 bustle on deck might distract their attention." 
 
 " Distract their attention, indeed !" said Mrs. 
 Parker. " I should like to see my children's atten 
 tion distracted by anything under the sun, when I 
 
 3*
 
 30 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 set them at a task. No, Miss Meecham ; if you have 
 not sufficient dignity of character to enforce obedi 
 ence from your pupils, I shall be present to aid you." 
 
 A pleasant prospect, truly ! I tried to catch 
 Lucy's eye, that I might have the satisfaction of 
 making a face at Mrs. Parker ; but she kept her face 
 turned away from me, and her eyes were looking out 
 upon the ocean. 
 
 "I am ready, Mrs. Parker, to commence "when 
 you wish it," said Lucy, after waiting to see if any 
 more pearls would drqp from the lady's mouth. 
 
 "To-morrow, then, from nine to eleven, if you 
 can spare me so much time from more agreeable 
 occupations." 
 
 Lucy looked hurt, but did not reply. 
 
 Seeing a group of sailors near the mainmast, and 
 Mr. Spencer talking earnestly, I went up to him to 
 ask what the matter was. He pointed to the deck, 
 and there lay poor Harry, dead to all appearance. 
 I screamed, and was running away, when the mate 
 caught my arm, and said, laughing, "He's only 
 fainted ; it will be over soon. I ordered him aloft, 
 but he had taken only three steps up the shrouds 
 when he lost his hold, and would have broken his 
 worthless head on the deck, if the men had not
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 31 
 
 caught him. Your precious favourite is a complete 
 coward." 
 
 " I am sure you are unjust, Mr. Spencer," said I ; 
 "wait till you hear what he has to say." 
 
 He began to revive. I leaned over him, and said, 
 " Harry, do you feel better now?" 
 
 "Oh," said he, with his pleasant smile, "that's 
 Miss Fanny's kind voice. Yes, miss, I am well, I 
 think." 
 
 He raised himself to his feet, then putting his 
 hand to his head, staggered to the side of the ship, 
 where he steadied himself by a rope. 
 
 "I beg your pardon, Mr. Spencer," said he, "for 
 giving so much trouble. My head has been weak 
 since my childhood ; I never could look down from a 
 height without giddiness. I would have told you so, 
 but I feared you would consider it cowardice if I did 
 not make the attempt." 
 
 " What possessed you, then, to offer yourself as a 
 sailor?" said Mr. Spencer, sternly. "A weak head 
 has no business on board ship ; it generally sails in 
 company with a faint heart." 
 
 "Necessity compelled me, sir, to embark for Cali 
 fornia. I had no funds. I offered to do duty as a 
 sailor on the voyage out, and Captain Black was 
 kind enough to accept my services. Employ me in
 
 32 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 any other duty, sir, however difficult, you'll never 
 find me shrink from it." 
 
 "Please forgive him, Mr. Spencer," said I, "and 
 speak kindly to him, poor fellow do, for my sake." 
 
 " Well, Morton, I shall not punish you this time; 
 you may go." 
 
 " I thank you, sir," said Harry, <" and many, many 
 thanks to you, dear lady, for your kindness to a 
 stranger." 
 
 The tears were in his beautiful eyes as he spoke, 
 and, as he turned away, by a sudden impulse he 
 caught my hand and kissed it, then hastily disap 
 peared down the gangway. 
 
 "What impertinence!" said Mr. Spencer; "I 
 wish I had had the fellow flogged." 
 
 "Oh don't talk so," said I; "he doesn't know 
 any better, he is so young." 
 
 "Well, Miss Foley," said he crossly, for he was 
 in a monstrous ugly humour, " young as he is, and 
 handsome as you say he is, if I catch him tripping 
 again, he shall have his dues like any other sailor. 
 A pretty thing, indeed, for justice to be stopped by 
 soft words and a pretty face." 
 
 I seized his two hands and dragged him round, 
 singing 
 
 " Oh ! cruel was the vessel, as tore my love away, 
 And cruel was the wild wind as took him out to sea;"
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 33 
 
 then suddenly throwing him off, I ran down to my 
 state-room. 
 
 8th. Our first Sunday at sea. I have looked 
 forward to it with apprehension, as likely to be one 
 of the longest days in my experience ; but in reality 
 it has been a most delightful one. It is splendid 
 weather. Although now in the torrid zone, the sun 
 is only hot enough to make the shade of the awn 
 ing agreeable. The sky is cloudless, and a gentle 
 breeze keeps the sails well filled, and sends us 
 steadily on our course. 
 
 When we were all collected on deck this morning, 
 Mrs. Howard proposed singing. We spent an hour 
 thus delightfully. Lucy has a sweet voice, and per 
 fect knowledge of music, and Mr. Selden and Col. 
 Howard sing quite well. Every one joined except 
 Mrs. Parker, and she sat there with her hands in her 
 lap, looking as if her heart was with her work-basket, 
 which she had left below. Her thimble though was 
 on her finger : I have no doubt she sleeps in it. 
 
 At eleven o'clock, Mr. Selden preached on deck, 
 by invitation of Captain Black. Every soul on 
 board was present ; the sailors looking so clean and 
 fresh in their Sunday suits. We had an interesting 
 sermon. I missed the text somehow, but I know it 
 was something about going to the sea in ships. We
 
 04 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 had fine singing too, most of the men joining with 
 their rich deep voices. When service was over, and 
 the men were moving away, I wanted just to speak 
 a kind word to Harry, for he sat apart and looked 
 sad and lonely. I had taken a step forward for the 
 purpose, when Mr. Spencer, guessing my intention, 
 touched my arm, saying in a low voice, "Don't, Miss 
 Fanny not now. Captain Black would be highly 
 displeased at such familiar notice of a sailor. I 
 would advise you not to draw his attention to your 
 favourite. If he had been present when that scene 
 occurred the other day, Morton would never have 
 got off with a whole skin." 
 
 "Why," said I, " the wretch must have a heart 
 as dark as his name." 
 
 " No, you judge hastily ; he is not a bad-hearted 
 man : on the contrary, I have often known him do 
 many generous and kind acts ; but he has been at 
 sea the best part of his life ; and here we learn to 
 look upon cowardice and shrinking from duty as un 
 pardonable sins. Captain Black is an unhappy man, 
 too, which makes him more stern and unyielding 
 than he would otherwise be. I suspect that he has 
 had heavy domestic troubles, but I have never heard 
 him allude to them. I know he has a fine wife. I 
 wish she would accompany him on his voyages. For
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 35 
 
 my part, I think every ship ought to have some 
 females on board ; it would contribute more than any 
 thing else toward humanizing and gentlemanizing 
 both officers and crew. Somehow it is not easy for 
 us to play the tyrant, or swear, or get into a passion, 
 in the presence of a female. I sailed my last voyage 
 with a captain who had his wife and two young children 
 on board. I never had so pleasant a trip. The lady 
 was a great deal on deck, and took an interest in 
 everything ; and in bad weather, when all are usually 
 in an irritable humour, she had endless expedients for 
 making the time pass pleasantly below. She got the 
 men when off duty to read together, furnishing them 
 with entertaining books, and conversing with them 
 frequently on what they had been reading. Every 
 man on board loved her like a sister. The children, 
 well-behaved, fearless little fellows, were the play 
 things of the whole crew. Often have I seen them 
 seated on an old salt's knees, listening to his won 
 derful stories, or playing hide and seek with the 
 younger sailors. There was scarcely an oath heard 
 during the voyage, though we had some right ugly 
 weather, and there was not an instance of disobe 
 dience or punishment. An officer of the ship, who 
 had sailed with this captain on a previous trip, with 
 the same crew, but without his wife, told me that
 
 36 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 then the captain and crew were continually at 
 variance ; that he could not issue an order without 
 an oath, and that he would almost flog a sailor for 
 looking at him. So you see, Miss Fanny, the in 
 fluence a good woman can exert. I am determined 
 when I marry to make the agreement that my wife 
 shall always accompany me on my voyages, when 
 ever I have a ship of my own, or am in command of 
 one. Why should not a sailor's wife follow her hus 
 band as faithfully as the soldier's wife does ?" 
 
 " Oh ! well, Mr. Mate, ' forewarned forearmed.' I 
 am very glad you told me this ; for, as you will proba 
 bly propose to me before the end of our voyage, I shall 
 know what to answer. I have no notion of being 
 confined on shipboard like a tame monkey, or an 
 African parrot, just to keep the officers and men in 
 a good-humour. A sorry compliment you pay your 
 sex truly : it seems you have no principles of right 
 or wrong to guide your actions ; they depend entirely 
 on your state of mind at the time. If pleased and 
 happy, you are just and kind ; if otherwise, alas for 
 the poor soul that crosses your path ! I hope you 
 only claim this character for that amphibious class 
 of bipeds to which you belong." 
 
 The summons to dinner put an end to our conver 
 sation. Captain Black sits at the head of the table
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 37 
 
 with Mrs. Howard on one side, and Mrs. Parker on 
 the other. Mr. Spencer sits at the foot, with Lucy 
 on his right hand, and myself on his left ; Lucy's 
 next neighbour being Colonel Howard, and mine 
 Mr. Selden. Captain Black is perfectly polite and 
 attentive to the duties of the table, but seldom joins 
 in the conversation, though Mrs. Howard frequently 
 attempts to draw him out. However merry we may 
 be, I never saw him coaxed into a smile ; indeed I 
 always think he looks more sad at such times. As 
 we were about to seat ourselves at table to-day, I 
 said to Mr. Selden, " Please exchange seats with 
 me ; I do not want to sit next to Mr. Spencer again." 
 
 "Why," said he, as he acceded to my request; 
 " have you fallen out with Mr. Mate ? What was it 
 about?" 
 
 " Oh ! he has been giving me such a dreadful cha 
 racter of sailors, that I am really afraid to be near 
 one. Why if I should vex him, he would just as soon 
 stick that carver into me as not. Witness, all here 
 present, I'll never marry a sailor." 
 
 "Miss Foley," said Captain Black solemnly, "ad 
 here to that resolution, though spoken in jest. A 
 sailor's wife occupies no enviable berth. While her 
 husband is at sea, she is ever anxious and expecting 
 evil tidings ; and when he is at home she is little bet- 
 
 4
 
 38 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 ter off, so restless and discontented are we when on 
 shore." 
 
 "You have a wife, Captain ?" said Mrs. Howard. 
 
 " Yes, madam, one of the best of women. For 
 fifteen years I have promised her that every voyage 
 should be the last ; but when I get home, and have 
 seen my good wife and my old mother made happy 
 by my company, I forget the weary days I have 
 caused them to pass, and beg them to consent to just 
 one trip more. My poor, patient Mary," said he 
 after a pause, as if speaking to himself, " if Heaven 
 restore me to her once more, I will never, never, make 
 her heart ache again." 
 
 With the kind intention of drawing his mind from 
 such sad thoughts, Mrs. Howard asked, " Have you 
 children, Captain?" 
 
 Turning suddenly toward her, he answered almost 
 sharply, " Madam, I was once a proud and happy 
 father. Oh ! why did not Heaven take this worth 
 less life before I was permitted to take my boy from 
 his mother's arms to take him out to sea ? Selfish 
 wretch that I was we are now childless yet my 
 Mary never reproved me never called me my son's 
 murderer !" 
 
 He spoke in a loud, shrill voice, and his eyes 
 gleamed like a maniac's. No one spoke : all were too
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 39 
 
 much shocked and alarmed. The steward, standing 
 behind the Captain's chair, pushed a bottle of brandy 
 towards him; he seized it nervously, filled a tumbler 
 and drank it off. The steward contrived to make a 
 considerable noise and bustle in removing the dishes 
 for the dessert, and conversation was recommenced, 
 thus allowing the Captain an opportunity of recover 
 ing himself. This scene startled us all greatly : we 
 had no idea of the depth of feeling concealed under 
 so calm an exterior. How I want to hear the whole 
 of the melancholy story; but no one could dare to 
 ask him. Mr. Spencer never knew before that he 
 had had a child.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Lucy begins her School Amusing Conversation "Water-spouts 
 Fanny thinks them of no Use Flare-up with Mrs. Parker 
 Henpecking to some Tune Another Sabbath delightfully 
 spent Mrs. Howard a great Favourite Harry Morton again 
 Interesting Development Harriet O'Connor Her Mother's 
 hapless Fate. 
 
 JUNE 9th. Lucy's school commenced this morn 
 ing. She went to work as methodically as if she 
 were not a novice in the business of teaching. Her 
 manners are so placid and lady-like, that she seems 
 to do everything just right. (I wish you could take 
 some lessons from her, Miss Fanny Foley ; it would 
 be to your advantage even in my estimation, who 
 have a better opinion of you than other folks have.) 
 True to her promise, Mrs. Parker sat by, while the 
 children were learning and reciting their lessons. If 
 she sought occasion for fault-finding, she was disap 
 pointed. After learning from the mother what studies 
 
 
 
 she wished the children to take up, Lucy gave them
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 41 
 
 their lessons and heard their recitations without re 
 ference to, or interference from, Mrs. Parker. The 
 gentlemen left the sitting-room as we call it, when 
 the children and books made their entree, hut Mrs. 
 Howard and I kept our seats. She was engaged in 
 writing, but I did not pretend to do anything but 
 watch Lucy and Mrs. Parker. 
 
 I told Lucy that I felt myself very deficient in the 
 branch of orthography, and begged to be taken as a 
 scholar, to commence with little George Parker at 
 b-a-ba-k-e-r-ker, baker. Lucy shook her pencil at 
 me, and said she did not wish an addition to her 
 school, and that if I made any disturbance she would 
 appeal to Captain Black, and have me confined be 
 low. " Very well," said I, "if you do, I'll go down 
 to the kitchen to my friend Nero, and I'll bribe him 
 to put rats into the soup, and roaches into the plum- 
 tarts. I'll go and tell the Colonel, so I will, how 
 cross you are." Off I went to where the Colonel 
 and Mr. Selden were deep in a game of chess. I do 
 love to break in on such a party, it is so amusing to 
 see the struggle between politeness and vexation. I 
 took a seat by the board saying, fretfully, "I've 
 come here to plague you, because I can find nothing 
 else to do. Lucy's so cross and Mrs. Parker is SQ 
 amiable, I have no fun over there at all." 
 
 4*
 
 42 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 * $ . 
 
 "Astounding assertions, Miss Fanny!" said the 
 Colonel, laughing ; " both equally incredible. I did 
 not believe even playing schoolmistress would sour 
 Miss Meecham's temper." 
 
 " She is an uncommonly interesting girl," said the 
 Chaplain, " and must have moved in the highest circle 
 of society. I wonder if she is a connexion of the 
 former Governor of that name, who died abroad 
 some years since? It is not a common one." 
 
 "He was her father," said I; "and it is only since 
 his death that the family have been in straitened 
 circumstances." 
 
 " Governor Meecham her father !" said Colonel 
 Howard; "is it possible? I knew him well; he 
 was an old friend and classmate of of my father's." 
 
 " Oh, Colonel," said I, "Lucy's father an old friend 
 of your father ! Dear me ! why, let me see. Mr. 
 Meecham, according to Lucy's statement, was only 
 forty when he died, about three years ago; and your 
 father, were he living at that time, would have been 
 nearly seventy, as you told me yourself. I guess 
 you meant to say your father's son." 
 
 "Well, really now," replied the Colonel earnestly, 
 "Mr. Meecham was much older than I. I was quite 
 a boy when I met him at college, and he was over 
 eighteen."
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 48 
 
 Mr. Selden could not help laughing, as I did, at 
 this unintentional admission. The Colonel reddened 
 a little, but then laughing himself, he said good- 
 humouredly, " Well, I'll be a married man some day 
 soon, I hope, and then I'll defy you to tease me 
 about my age." 
 
 "Oh ! dear Colonel, I'm delighted to hear it. I do 
 hate old bachelor commandants, they are so stingy 
 and unsociable, and never give dinner-parties or 
 balls. Do tell me all about it. Have you fixed on the 
 lady ? and when is it to be ? A military wedding 
 is a thing I most desire to see." 
 
 " Softly, Miss Fanny ; you travel so fast, it puts 
 me out of breath to keep up with you. The time 
 is not decided, neither have I asked the lady ; but 
 I have her in my eye." 
 
 I really believe he was looking over at Lucy as he 
 spoke ; wouldn't it be funny ? However, I pre 
 tended to take it to myself; so hanging my head 
 bashfully, and looking down, as if to conceal my 
 blushes, I said, " My dear sir it's so sudden so 
 unexpected made so publicly I am overwhelmed 
 I really know not how to answer you ; please allow 
 me time for consideration. Mr. Selden, your arm ; 
 I must retire to my state-room." 
 
 When we reached the gangway, I stole a glance 

 
 44 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 at the Colonel. There he stood, just as I had left 
 him, looking, as Major Downing would say, "kind o' 
 streaked." 
 
 " Oh ! Mr. Selden, do hurry back and assure him I 
 was only acting. The poor man looks as though he 
 was in the 'Slough of Despond,' and saw no way of. 
 getting out. It's not very flattering to me his 
 being so scared. I don't think it would have been 
 such a dreadful thing, if I had been in earnest at 
 least not for him do you think it would, Mr. 
 Selden?" 
 
 "No, indeed, Miss Fanny. I only wish I had 
 been in his place ; you would have seen how diffe 
 rently I would have behaved." 
 
 12th. Near the West Indies. I wish we would 
 run short of water, or spring aleak, or anything to 
 make it necessary to run down to Hayti. I want to 
 see the blackeys playing royalty nobles and their 
 ladies walking arm-in-arm, and making morning 
 calls. Perhaps his majesty would invite us to 
 dinner. I dare say he would put friend Nero and 
 little Jake on his right and left hand. 
 
 Mr. Spencer says we shall run into Rio Janeiro ; 
 that is the only point we shall stop at during the 
 voyage. I don't care to go there, for I don't know 
 anything about the place. I would a great deal
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 45 
 
 rather visit Tierra del Fuego, and see the funny little 
 stunted natives dressed in skins. 
 
 I was just called up to see a water-spout, which 
 was quite near the vessel. It was pronounced 
 "grand," and "awful," and "beautiful," by those 
 around me. To me I confess it is one of the most 
 ridiculous and useless things imaginable, it seems 
 so absurd for a dark heavy cloud to be pouring its 
 waters, as this appeared to do, into the ocean, 
 through a huge funnel, just as a grocer fills a molasses 
 jug. But they tell me it draws the water up. 
 
 13th. This morning, during school-hours, while 
 everything was still, Mrs. Parker started suddenly 
 up, with a scream that was heard all over the ship. 
 "Jake, you wretch! see that baby catch it catch 
 it it will be overboard !" Everybody was on the 
 spot in an instant. Sure enough, the child had a 
 narrow escape. Jake had fast hold, as he thought, 
 of the baby's foot, and felt that he could indulge in 
 a short nap, while it amused itself looking out of a 
 port-hole, which had been accidentally left open. 
 The little thing struggled till it got loose from Jake's 
 grasp, leaving its shoe in his hand, and it was creep 
 ing through the port-hole when its mother happened 
 to see its danger. She picked up the child with one 
 hand, while with the other she cuffed Jake's ears,
 
 46 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 first one side, and then the other, so as not to de 
 stroy his equilibrium, until at length he fell forward 
 on the deck ; then giving him a few kicks, she left 
 him, to fall upon her husband with her tongue. I 
 think he would have preferred Jake's share to his 
 own, but he had not the choice of evils. 
 
 "A nice time you have of it, Mr. Parker read, 
 read, and smoke, smoke, from daylight till dark. I 
 don't think it would hurt you to look round at the 
 children now and then ; they might as well have the 
 man in the moon for a father, for all the good they 
 get of one. Do you suppose I can be in every place 
 at once? Poor children! it's a wonder they've 
 lasted so long, I'm sure. There was Sam, yester 
 day, away up the ropes, because I happened to be 
 below a minute ; and here's poor baby might have 
 been food for sharks, for all you care, as long as you 
 have a novel in your hand and a segar in your 
 mouth. You couldn't let me bring a decent servant, 
 that would have taken some care from my shoulders. 
 Oh, no ! it would cost too much ; but you could en 
 gage a handsome young governess, at two hundred 
 dollars a year and her passage out." 
 
 " My dear, my dear," interrupted the frightened 
 husband, "recollect yourself; it was your own pro 
 posal, it was really ; as you ever do, you were will-
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 47 
 
 ing to make a sacrifice of your own comfort for 
 your children's advantage. Let me take baby, 
 father '11 show it pretties." The child held out its 
 arms, and Mrs. Parker let it go without a word. 
 
 She had cooled a little, and must have felt how 
 abominably she had acted. She went below, and 
 we did not see her till dinner-time. 
 
 Poor Lucy ! it was too hard for her to bear. She 
 first rose as if intending to make her escape; then, 
 covering her face with her hands, sat down and 
 burst into tears. 
 
 Mrs. Howard put her arm around her waist, and 
 spoke soothingly to her, while the Colonel turned 
 pale with rage and muttered, " Shameless woman ! 
 she's a disgrace to the regiment." 
 
 The gentlemen all went away, and Lucy soon 
 held up her head and resumed her occupation. 
 
 14th. I asked Mr. Spencer to-day how soon we 
 would cross the line. 
 
 " In a few days," said he ; " why do you ask ?" 
 
 " Oh, I want to see Neptune and his lady ; they 
 always pay you a visit, do they not ?" 
 
 " I really am sorry to disappoint you, but there 
 are no such things on board our ship ; indeed, very 
 few genteel vessels now continue the practice. It's 
 well for your pet Harry that it is so. He's the only
 
 48 THE KOMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 raw hand here, and, I tell you, Neptune's barber 
 would have skinned his smooth cheek for him." 
 
 " Well, I'm so tired of this tame life ; your ship 
 might have been better named the Lamb than the 
 Wildfire. I don't believe we shall have a storm or 
 a shipwreck all the way out." 
 
 " I trust not, Miss Fanny. I have never been 
 wrecked, and certainly never wish to be, but have 
 seen_ quite storms enough to satisfy me." 
 
 I, on the contrary, have always thought a storm at 
 sea, must be the grandest sight in nature. My first 
 poetical attempt was called forth by reading the de 
 scription of a storm by Uncle Foster, in one of his 
 letters from Europe. When crossing the Atlantic with 
 his family, they had a fearful storm one night. Aunt 
 was sick in her berth, but uncle remained on deck 
 all the time enjoying the scene. He had a peculiar 
 taste for everything horrible. At length, determined 
 Aunt should have one glimpse of a sight she might 
 never see again, he ran below, and told her she must 
 go on deck with him for a moment. She begged 
 him not to insist on it, but he would not listen to 
 her; so wrapping a cloak around her, he carried 
 her to the deck. She opened her eyes on the ter 
 rific scene, gave one shriek, and fainted. The inci-
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 49 
 
 dent I thus versified, and, as I imagined at the time, 
 immortalized : 
 
 "The waves were rolling mountain high, 
 The lightning flashed across the sky, 
 The rumbling thunder loud was heard, 
 When Emma on the deck appeared. 
 
 " She cast around a fearful look, 
 Colour her trembling cheek forsook, 
 And with a cry which love alarms, 
 Sank lifeless in her husband's arms." 
 
 That storm made me a poetess, in my own estima 
 tion, and in that of my little schoolmates. At that 
 day, albums were the rage, those nuisances of society. 
 Every little ten-year-old girl had a morocco-backed, 
 gilt-edged book, containing contributions from the 
 pens of fathers and mothers, kind sisters and bro 
 thers, pastors and family physicians, and a few 
 other friends, who were found willing to take a little 
 trouble, in order to confer a great deal of pleasure. 
 Every fortunate owner of an album in our little 
 circle, wanted a copy of Fanny's " sweet verses." 
 
 Our friendship had not commenced then, Ellen, 
 or you would undoubtedly have been in possession of 
 one of these precious memorials. My brothers 
 laughed very much at my rhymes ; but mother 
 showed them to her visiters, and I was satisfied. I 
 
 5
 
 50 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 doubt if Byron was made as proud and happy by 
 the panegyrics of the world as I was by the admira 
 tion of my youthful companions. Thenceforth not 
 a cat or a dog in the connexion could end its mortal 
 life, but Fanny must write its epitaph. 
 
 15th. This has been another delightful Sabbath, 
 spent pretty much as the last. We are well pleased 
 with our Chaplain. I never heard any preacher 
 that interested me as much. Many a comfortable 
 nap have I taken when our dear old pastor at New 
 York was in the pulpit ; but I feel no inclination to 
 doze when Mr. Selden speaks. After dinner, Lucy 
 and I had our shaded retreat all to ourselves for a 
 time. 
 
 At my request she read aloud from Charlotte 
 Elizabeth's beautiful work, " The Flower Garden," 
 while I, reclining on the opposite sofa, watched her 
 lovely countenance as she read. She has a most 
 musical voice, and her mouth as she speaks or reads 
 is beautiful. 
 
 In the course of an hour, Colonel Howard joined 
 us, and, begging Lucy to continue, took a seat by 
 me. She read on until, happening to look up, she 
 saw the Colonel's eyes fixed upon her face, and felt 
 that he had been watching her countenance for some 
 time. They were both slightly confused, but Lucy,
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 51 
 
 immediately recovering herself, pleaded fatigue, and 
 begged the Colonel to relieve her. He took the 
 book and continued reading until the rest of our 
 party joined us, when a pleasant conversation en 
 sued, carried on chiefly by Mrs. Howard and Mr. 
 Selden. 
 
 Mrs. Howard is the dearest old lady ; so kind, and 
 cheerful, and intelligent. She has resided with her 
 son ever since he left West Point, having been a 
 widow for many years. 
 
 Sam Parker came and whispered to Lucy, " Please 
 come and tell us some stories." She rose instantly, 
 and went with him to a snug corner, where the rest 
 of the children were collected, awaiting the result of 
 Sam's mission. There she took a seat on a low 
 bench, the children on the floor at her knee, their 
 eager upturned faces soon showing that she well 
 knew the art of interesting their young minds. 
 
 "Isn't she a sweet creature, Mrs. Howard?" said 
 I, so that only she and the Colonel could hear me; 
 " wouldn't you like to have such a daughter ?" 
 
 "Yes, Fanny, or daughter-in-law," she replied, 
 looking smilingly at her son. 
 
 " Oh, mother," said he, "you have been so long 
 mistress of my establishment, that you would not 
 suffer a rival in the government."
 
 52 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 " There would be no rivalry, dear son ; I long to 
 resign my duties and responsibilities to one more 
 worthy and more capable." 
 
 " Such an one could not be found, mother," re 
 plied he, taking her hand and pressing it fondly. 
 
 17th. We have had some dismal rainy days, 
 obliging the females to stay below all the time. 
 
 Occasionally I put on father's oiled silk cap and 
 India-rubber cape, and stand at the top of the gang 
 way to see what's going on above. This morning, 
 while so occupied, I heard Mr. Spencer giving an 
 order in an angry voice. I called to him when he 
 was within hearing, " Mr. Mate, please don't break 
 Harry's head, or kick him overboard, now that there 
 are no females on deck !" He raised his cane and 
 ran towards me, but I dodged and ran to my room. 
 
 19th. Well, this day we have had excitement 
 enough, though of a different kind from what I have 
 been looking for. 
 
 It was just after dinner; we were all seated under 
 the awning, engaged in various occupations, I hem 
 ming a handkerchief for Mr. Selden. I noticed 
 Captain Black come on deck, and soon a little knot 
 of men were collected around him. He seemed to 
 be talking angrily. I would have given one of my 
 ears to know what was going on, but I feared to go
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 53 
 
 forward. Presently Mr. Spencer came towards us 
 and beckoned to me. I went to meet him. 
 
 " Miss Fanny," said he, "there's a storm brewing, 
 and I want you ladies to go below until it is over." 
 
 "No, indeed," said I, "it's what I've been long 
 ing for ; you must have me lashed to the mast when 
 the worst comes, for I am determined to see it all." 
 
 " Poh ! you foolish girl, that's not what I mean. 
 The fact is, Captain Black is overhauling that Mor 
 ton, and he'll order him aloft before many minutes. 
 If he refuses or fails, you may guess what the 
 upshot will be. I know you'll be for screaming and 
 begging for the fellow, but it's no use to try it on 
 Captain Black ; you can't move him any more than 
 you can bend the mainmast. I want you to be out 
 of the way in case anything of the kind should have 
 to be done. You will go down, now, won't you?" 
 
 " Indeed I won't I can't ; I feel that I must see 
 it all." 
 
 "Mr. Spencer," roared the Captain, "you're 
 wanted here, sir." The mate joined him, and the 
 whole group moved nearer to the mainmast, where 
 we could see and hear all that was done. 
 
 "Now, boy," said the Captain loudly, "I'll give 
 you one more chance to escape a flogging. If you 
 don't reach that fore-top in ten minutes, as sure as 
 5*
 
 54 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 there's a sky above us, I'll make a mark on your 
 shoulders that'll never leave them. Mr. Spencer, 
 make ready for punishment." 
 
 The mate gave an order to a sailor, who went be 
 low, and immediately returned with a piece of tarred 
 rope tied to a stick. 
 
 "Stir yourself, fellow," said the Captain, "five 
 minutes gone." 
 
 "Captain, spare me oh! spare me!" cried the 
 poor boy in agony. " I cannot do it. I should be 
 dashed to pieces on the deck. You cannot be so 
 cruel ; pity my youth, pity my aged grandparents, 
 oh ! spare me, I am too young to die. As you love 
 life yourself, oh do not put an end to mine !" 
 
 "I do not love life," said the Captain, with a 
 sneer, " so up with you at once ; you're time is out. 
 Off with your jacket and up instantly." 
 
 Instead of obeying, Morton threw himself on his 
 knees before the angry man, and, with his hands 
 clasped, and his beautiful eyes fix^d on the Captain, 
 he cried in the most solemn and appealing tones, 
 
 " Captain Black, are you a father ?" 
 
 The Captain started as if a shot had struck him, 
 turned deadly pale, and grasped Mr. Spencer's arm 
 for support.
 
 THE ROMANCE OP THE OCEAN. 55 
 
 "What is your request?" said he, in a hoarse 
 voice. 
 
 " Hear me one moment in private ; in mercy do not 
 refuse." 
 
 " Come below," said the Captain, glad, I suspect, 
 of an excuse to retire to his room. After a few 
 minutes, Colonel Howard and my father were re 
 quested to join the Captain in his state-room. 
 
 Such a state of suspense and anxiety as we were 
 all in, not even able to hazard a guess as to what was 
 transpiring below ! At last the gentlemen returned 
 looking very smiling. 
 
 " Well," said I, " what you can have found to laugh 
 at in such an affair, I cannot imagine." 
 
 "What do you think, Fan," said father, "Harry 
 Morton turns out to be Harriet something or other, 
 in short, your sailor-boy has changed into a right 
 pretty girl." 
 
 " Oh ! delightful !" said I, jumping up and clapping 
 my hands ; " who would have guessed such a denoue 
 ment ; I must see her it's too good for real life." 
 
 " Stop, Fanny, until I give the Captain's message 
 to Mrs. Howard. He begs, madam, that you ladies, 
 among you, will rig out the young woman that is to 
 be, for the present. A box, which she says contains
 
 56 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 her proper apparel, cannot be got at until our 
 arrival." 
 
 Mrs. Howard immediately went below, and I was 
 on the point of following, but Lucy, more considerate, 
 begged me not to see the girl yet, as she must be, 
 she thought, much distressed and mortified at the 
 disclosure she had been obliged to make. 
 
 I can hardly wait until to-morrow, to learn the 
 particulars of this strange story for strange it must 
 be, and know it I will. 
 
 20th. I asked father's permission to give Harriet 
 a vacant berth in my state-room, pleading my loneli 
 ness at night, which indeed I often feel to a painful 
 degree. He consented, if Mrs. Howard approved; 
 and Mrs. Howard says she thinks it would be both 
 right and kind to take the girl under my protection. 
 She is much prepossessed in her favour, notwithstand 
 ing the strange manner of her introduction to us. 
 
 Evening. Well I have had a long talk with Har 
 riet, and, without any questioning on my part, she 
 has made me acquainted with her whole history. 
 
 She felt so distressed at the unfavourable opinion 
 we must entertain of her, that she wished us to know 
 her reasons for her strange conduct : sure, she said, 
 that we would at least judge her kindly, if we could 
 not acquit her of all blame.
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 57 
 
 She is really very handsome. I wish you could 
 have seen her as she sat opposite to me relating 
 her touching tale, her expressive countenance now 
 brightened with a smile, and now clouded with sad 
 ness, as the grave or gay predominated in her narra 
 tive. I can tell it most easily in the first person ; I 
 think I can recollect her exact expressions. 
 
 " My name is Harriet O'Connor. I know little 
 about my parents. My father was a soldier, and 
 was stationed at Clinton Barracks. My mother died 
 there when I was about four years old. I think my 
 father must have deserted, for my grandparents 
 never mention his name ; and when I once asked my 
 grandmother to tell me about my father, she wept 
 bitterly, and said, * He is dead to you and all of us ; 
 never speak of him more.' I have seen some of his 
 letters, which are preserved in an old family Bible. 
 I believe grandmother never opens them, but I have 
 observed her, when she thought she was unnoticed, 
 take them up and look at the handwriting until the 
 tears would drop down on the old Bible. 
 
 " In these letters my father speaks with the fondest 
 aifection of his wife and little daughter. In one he 
 says, * The officers' ladies are very kind to my beau 
 tiful Harriet.' Oh ! Miss Fanny, how I have longed 
 to hear something of that beautiful mother. I have
 
 58 THE KOMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 no recollection of her, or of iny life at the garrison, 
 except that I remember there wsre drums and soldiers 
 and a flag flying from a high staff. I was about five 
 years old when I was brought to my grandparents, 
 who resided in New York city. My grandfather is 
 a master-mason, in easy circumstances. I have been 
 well educated, and treated with the greatest kindness 
 and affection by my excellent relatives. 
 
 " Near our house lived a man who was of the 
 same trade, and had always been an intimate friend 
 of my grandfather. His name was Watson. He 
 had a pleasant family of sons and daughters. With 
 this family many of my happiest hours were spent. 
 It was my only visiting-place, my grandparents 
 seeming to avoid society. Frederick, the youngest 
 son, was about my own age, and from our childhood 
 we had a warm attachment for each other." 
 
 I laughed, for I thought I could see through it 
 now. Harriet blushed a little, but continued. 
 
 "I was so happy then. My kind grandmother 
 encouraged my frequent visits to Mr. Watson's, 
 saying that the old house was too dull for a young 
 heart. Frederick had learned the trade of a car 
 penter, and, as soon as he had made enough to 
 furnish a small house, we were to be married. We 
 were looking forward to that event as not far off,
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 59 
 
 when, one bright afternoon, as I was sitting sewing 
 with his sisters, as merry as a party could be, Fre 
 derick came in, pale and agitated, and throwing 
 himself into a seat, cried with affected glee, ' Girls, 
 give me joy ! I am a soldier : in a week I shall be 
 off for California ; ho for gold and glory !' What a 
 shock it was to all of us. His mother screamed, 
 and hung about his neck moaning, ' Oh my son, oh 
 my son !' It was a long time before we could ask, 
 or he tell, the reasons of the step he had taken. In 
 deed I do not remember that he gave any, for when 
 I found that the act was irrevocable, it was my great 
 endeavour to reconcile his friends to his conduct and 
 to comfort himself; for, now that he had leisure to 
 think over the consequences of his hasty decision, he 
 was nearly distracted. 
 
 "'Harriet,' said he to me, 'go with me; be my 
 guardian angel : if you refuse, I shall become despe 
 rate, reckless. I shall disgrace myself, bring sorrow 
 on you all. Five years ! Oh, I cannot endure it 
 alone five years !' 
 
 What could I do ? how resist such an appeal, 
 seconded as it was by the tears and entreaties of his 
 mother and sisters ? I consented, if I could obtain 
 my grandfather's permission. 
 
 " ' That you can never do,' said Mrs. Watson ; 
 ' they would rather see you dead than married to a
 
 60 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 soldier. No, if you would save Frederick, you must 
 be his wife, before you see them again. If you do 
 not, he will be lost to you for ever. Come now, this 
 instant, to our pastor ; he will perform the ceremony 
 immediately. When it is done, your grandparents 
 will see the necessity of submitting to it.' 
 
 " I was perhaps too weak, too yielding. I did go 
 with them, and a few solemn words made me Frede 
 rick's wife ; bound to follow him till death, through 
 :good and ill. It was a sad bridal, though heaven 
 knows we fondly loved each other. Mrs. "Watson 
 caressed me, and blessed me again and again. 
 
 " Now came the bitterest trial. I must go home 
 like a guilty thing, and bring sorrow to the hearts 
 that had cherished me so tenderly from my infancy. 
 Up to this time I had been thinking most of Frede 
 rick, but now my ingratitude to my fond parents, for 
 as such they had been to me, struck me with over 
 whelming force. ' I cannot go home, Mrs. Watson,' 
 I cried ; ' I cannot meet my grandfather ; he will 
 curse me when he knows all and my grandmother, 
 oh ! my kind grandmother, I shall break her heart !' 
 
 " ' Dear child,' said Mrs. Watson, ' I will go with 
 you ; do not fear their anger, they love you too- well 
 to be harsh. They cannot blame you when they 
 hear all.'
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 61 
 
 " It was but a short walk to the door of my home. 
 With a throbbing heart and burning cheek, I entered, 
 and met my grandmother's delighted smile as she 
 ran forward and clasped me in her arms, saying, 
 ' Dear child, how long you have been away ! it is so 
 lonely without you.' 
 
 "Bursting into tears, I fell on my knees, and 
 clasping my grandmother's hands, cried out abruptly, 
 i Frederick is a soldier, and I am his wife /' 
 
 " My grandmother looked steadily at me a moment, 
 then fell back senseless into her chair. Mrs. Wat 
 son and I were busily applying restoratives, and she 
 was gradually recovering her recollection, when my 
 grandfather came in. He stood looking on in be 
 wildered astonishment, without the power to speak. 
 At length my grandmother observed him, and motion 
 ing to him to come near, and taking both his hands 
 in hers, looked earnestly in his eyes and said, ' My 
 dear, my faithful companion for sixty years, I have 
 something to say to you. Tell me, does not the 
 curse you pronounced on our miserable son lie heavy 
 on your heart ?' 
 
 "'It does it does heaven only knows what a 
 weight it is !' 
 
 " ' Will you promise, solemnly promise, never to 
 curse his only child, our little Harriet ?' 
 
 6
 
 62 THE KOMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 " ' Harriet, our pride, our darling, our all ! why- 
 ask such a strange question ?' 
 
 " ' No matter now. Will you promise that, what 
 ever may happen, you will be kind to the child, and 
 if she should err, you will forgive, as you would be 
 forgiven ?' 
 
 " 'I will, Caroline, I will. As I hope for mercy 
 at last, I will deal tenderly with our child.' 
 
 " ' Now, Mrs. Watson, do your cruel errand, and 
 may heaven strengthen my poor husband to hear it, 
 and live !' 
 
 "With many more words than I had used, Mrs. 
 Watson told the tale. My grandfather looked at 
 first perplexed, as she spoke of Frederick's enlist 
 ment and destination ; but when she mentioned his 
 urging me to accompany him, and then my consent, 
 and our hasty marriage, he sprang up, and coming 
 towards me, was about, I thought, to utter an impre 
 cation, when my grandmother caught his arm, say 
 ing, ' Oh, husband, remember !' Instantly subdued, 
 his countenance changed to a look of the fondest 
 affection, and putting his arms around me, and 
 pressing my head to his bosom, the tears rolled 
 down his cheeks, as he kissed my forehead, saying, 
 ' My darling child, may you never feel such sorrow 
 as you have brought upon us.'
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 63 
 
 " 'As for you, madam,' he said sternly, addressing 
 Mrs. Watson, ' you have acted a base part. Think 
 ing only of your son, you forgot what was due to a 
 motherless girl. You may leave her now in safer 
 hands hands which have sheltered her and laboured 
 for her from infancy. Go to your son ; tell him if 
 he behaves honourably during his term of enlistment, 
 and at the end of it returns to his duty at home, he 
 may then claim his wife, and with her I will give my 
 blessing and my fortune. Until that time comes, 
 she joins him not with my consent. She is not of 
 age he dare not resort to the law. Let him go 
 alone, and encounter the dangers and difficulties he 
 has thought of too late. If he returns to you at all, 
 he will be a wiser man. But stay, madam, had 
 your husband any share in this business ?' 
 
 1 "No, he is absent from the city.' 
 
 " ' I am glad, indeed, to hear that my old friend 
 has not proved false to me. Now, madam, you may 
 go ; I have nothing more to say.' 
 
 " Mrs. Watson rose, but throwing herself into the 
 seat again, and bursting into tears, she cried, ' Oh ! 
 Mr. O'Connor, pity my son, my poor son he will 
 be ruined without Harriet ! Let her go five years 
 will soon pass.' 
 
 " ' Woman,' replied my grandfather, greatly agi-
 
 64 THE KOMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 tated, 'don't talk to me of five years; the words are 
 like a knife in my heart. I once had a son, dearer 
 to us, far dearer than yours can be to you, for he 
 was our only one. He married a lovely woman, and 
 we were happy, for we thought our children would be 
 ever with us. In an evil hour he enlisted, and was 
 ordered to a distant station. 'Father,' he cheer 
 fully said at parting, for he saw our hearts were near 
 to breaking, ' five years will soon pass, and then we 
 will return, and make your old age happy.' Five 
 years did pass, but how ? Years of misery they were 
 to us, years of shame and guilt to our unhappy son. 
 At the end of that time a motherless babe was sent 
 to us; the wretched father ' 
 
 " He stopped, unable to continue. ' Madam,' he 
 resumed at length, 'you may go. Comfort your 
 son as you can, but of this be assured, Harriet shall 
 not go with him.' 
 
 "Mrs. Watson retired without speaking, and as 
 soon as the door closed behind her, my grandparents 
 each took a seat beside me on the sofa, and for a 
 few minutes we all wept together. 
 
 " ' Harriet,' said my grandfather, 'I shall confine 
 you to your chamber until the vessel has sailed; you 
 are too weak and yielding to be trusted with your 
 pretended friends, the Watsons. If it were for your
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 65 
 
 happiness, my darling, I would let you go, though I 
 might never know another happy hour ; but knowing, 
 as I do, the trials and temptations to which you 
 would be exposed, I cannot, I dare not consent. 
 Wife, lock her in the chamber in the third story, 
 and bring away the key.' 
 
 "I did not attempt resistance. I felt it was right, 
 but I wept when I thought of Frederick. I am 
 making my story tiresome, but I have little more to 
 tell. I was kindly treated during my confinement. 
 My grandparents spent many hours with me, and 
 provided everything they could to entertain me. Of 
 course Frederick's name was never mentioned. 
 
 " The first Sunday after my imprisonment, my 
 grandmother came in, and kissing me, said, 'Now, 
 my daughter, you are free ; the vessel sailed yester- 
 day.' 
 
 "We went to church, as usual. I saw the Wat 
 sons, but they avoided me. As we went out, the old 
 sexton slipped a letter into my hand, which I con 
 cealed under my shawl. As soon as I reached my 
 room I opened it. It was from Frederick a wild 
 epistle as ever was penned, by turns angry, tender, 
 despairing. He implored me, by every argument he 
 
 could use, to come to him. You will think me very 
 
 6*
 
 66 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 weak and wicked to have yielded, as I did, to his 
 entreaties. I could think of nothing but how I 
 should join him. I saw that a vessel was advertised 
 to sail for the same port in a day or two. I begged 
 my grandmother to let Sarah Watson visit me. She 
 sent for her. I told her my wish, and asked her 
 aid. She said she and her sisters and mother would 
 gladly do what they could secretly, but that their 
 father, on his return, was so angry at Frederick, 
 and at her mother, for urging me to the step I had 
 taken, that he had forbidden any of them to speak 
 to me on the subject. 
 
 " I told her my plan, which was to disguise myself 
 as a sailor, and as such, seek employment on a vessel 
 bound to California. I knew Mrs. Watson had a 
 chest of clothing belonging to a son who had once 
 been to sea. I asked for these, and that they would 
 furnish me also with a supply of female apparel to 
 use when I left the ship, as I could not, without risk 
 of detection, bring any of my own from home. This 
 she promised they would do. The next day I went 
 to Mr. Watson's, dressed myself in a sailor's suit, 
 went on board this ship, the Wildfire, and was at 
 once engaged by Captain Black. 
 
 "On Monday evening I told my grandmother I 
 was going to stay with Sarah Watson all night ; she
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 67 
 
 made no objection, but kissed me and told me to 
 stay as long as I pleased. 
 
 " Oh, was not my heart hardened, when I could 
 thus leave my grandmother for years, perhaps, 
 for ever ! You think me unfeeling, Miss Fanny, I 
 know, and you have reason to do so, but many a 
 sleepless hour I pass at night when all is still 
 around me, watering my pillow with bitter tears. I 
 hear again my grandmother's voice saying fondly, 
 Hhe old house is lonely without you,' and I see them 
 sitting at their silent hearth, and thinking of, but 
 never naming, the child who has so basely deserted 
 them. Oh ! I will write to them ; I will tell them I 
 was wretched, distracted. I know they will pity, will 
 forgive, will pray for me." 
 
 Harriet buried her face in her hands, and wept 
 passionately. Dear girl ! I could not help throwing 
 my arms around her, and joining my tears with 
 hers. When she became calm she went on with her 
 story. 
 
 " I had no difficulty in getting on board the ship, 
 the day she was to sail. All that has passed since, 
 you know. 
 
 " I thought, at first, I would make myself known 
 to Mrs. Howard, she looked so good and kind, and 
 ask her to take me out as her servant ; but again I
 
 68 f THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 considered that if I could sustain my assumed cha 
 racter until I reached Frederick, he might never 
 have to hlush for the degradation I had endured for 
 his sake, as he might do if I made it known." 
 
 "If he does not love you the better for it," said 
 I, "he must be a very wretch." 
 
 " Oh ! he will, I'm sure he will," said Harriet, 
 warmly. " I have made you think of him as selfish, 
 unreasonable, passionate ; but indeed he was none 
 of these until he took that fatal step. His disposi 
 tion seemed then entirely changed. It was seeing 
 this that made me think it my duty to follow. I 
 feared for his reason, his life ; and I fancied a voice 
 whispering in my ear, ' his soul will I require at 
 thy hands.' Now, Miss Fanny, you know all. Do 
 you blame me so very much, and do you think Mrs. 
 Howard will look coldly on me ? Oh ! I could not 
 bear it, I think, I feel such a desire to secure her 
 affection and sympathy." 
 
 "Oh ! do not be uneasy, dear Harriet," I replied. 
 "I carniot see that you are to blame at all, and I am 
 sure of Mrs. Howard's kind judgment. I will go 
 and tell our friends the whole. They are much in 
 terested for you already, and will be more so when 
 they are acquainted with your history." 
 
 To me, the greatest pleasure in hearing a good
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 69 
 
 story, is the prospect of imparting it to others. I 
 do not in the least resemble the oyster, which will 
 open its shell to receive a pearl, and closing it again, 
 will monopolize the precious secret, unless compelled 
 by force to relinquish it. You know I never could 
 enjoy a novel by myself, and even to eat an ice-cream 
 alone is intolerable. 
 
 I hurried on deck, and found our party collected 
 in the accustomed spot. Every eye turned inquir 
 ingly on me as I joined the group, but without 
 speaking I sat down and took out my work. 
 
 1 ' Miss Fanny," said Mr. Selden, "I have another 
 handkerchief beside that ; you need not be in such 
 haste to finish it." 
 
 "Come, Fanny," said Mrs. Howard, "remember 
 the golden rule." 
 
 " Oh, well," said I, laying down my work, " I am 
 ready now ; but I have been hearing a strange tale, 
 and I really wanted a little time to compose my 
 thoughts." 
 
 I gave them the account nearly word for word 
 as I have written it. Never had a speaker a more 
 attentive audience. When I came to the scene 
 in her grandfather's house, there were few dry 
 eyes in the circle around me. I stole a glance at 
 Mrs. Parker : actually there were unmistakeable
 
 70 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 drops in her eyes too ; the woman has a little piece 
 of a heart after all. 
 
 I had not commenced as Harriet did by telling 
 her name. When I had concluded, Mrs. Howard 
 asked, if she had told me her real name. " Yes, it 
 is Harriet O'Connor." 
 
 "Harriet O'Connor," she repeated, starting up, 
 " impossible ! Yet it must be the same ! Come with 
 me a moment, Fanny," she continued, putting her 
 arm in mine, and leading me apart from the com 
 pany. 
 
 " Call my son, my dear child ; I feel so weak and 
 agitated." 
 
 I beckoned the Colonel to us. 
 
 "William, do you recollect that miserable man, 
 O'Connor, who belonged to your company at Clinton 
 Barracks, fifteen years ago?" 
 
 " Yes, mother, I remember him perfectly, and his 
 young wife, who was so remarkable for her beauty ; 
 but what has reminded you of him at this time ?" 
 
 " My son, this young sailor-girl is his daughter, the 
 sweet infant of whom you took so much notice." 
 
 " Strange strange, indeed, if it be so ; and now I 
 see it must be ; the likeness between this girl and her 
 mother is striking, do you not think so ?" 
 
 " Yes, it is it was this resemblance to some fa-
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 71 
 
 miliar face, that made me interested in her from the 
 first. And now what is to be done ? She evidently 
 knows nothing of her father's history. Should she 
 ever learn it, it would cast a cloud over her whole 
 existence." 
 
 "Dear Mrs. Howard," said I, "do tell me, I am 
 so interested for Harriet. You may trust me, indeed 
 you may." 
 
 " I will trust you, Fanny. I am sure, after the ob 
 servation I have just made, you would never allow 
 yourself to reveal the secret. But not now," said 
 she gently, seeing my look of impatience, " I must 
 be alone for awhile. Po jfou and Lucy come to my 
 state-room after dinner. You see I understand your 
 social disposition, Fanny you will, I am sure, want 
 one to help you keep the secret." 
 
 Now I do not consider it a violation of my promise 
 to tell it to you, Ellen, as I surely shall do. Have 
 not our bosoms been the repository of each other's 
 secrets ever since we had any to communicate ? I 
 am sure it will be as safe with you as if it were locked 
 in an asbestos chest. I sometimes thought you were 
 a little too close. While I fulfilled literally my part 
 of our contract, telling you everything that I heard, 
 felt, or imagined, you had so few confidences to 
 make, that I was inclined to accuse you of unfairness.
 
 72 THE KOMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 This will be the first real secret I have ever been en 
 trusted with ; one that can never be revealed without 
 endangering the happiness, it may be the lives of 
 those concerned in it. I almost shrink from the trust. 
 I am sure I shall feel ten years older at once. 
 Twelve o'clock ! how long it will be until dinner-time, 
 and then we sit so long at the table ! I hope Mrs. 
 Howard won't wait for the nuts and fruit to-day. 
 
 Dinner was announced and disposed of as usual. 
 I did not catch Mrs. Howard's eye until the pudding 
 came on. What my looks said I do not know exactly ; 
 but Mrs. Howard declined being helped, and rose 
 from the table, glancing nt me as she retired. I 
 beckoned to Lucy, who immediately followed me to 
 Mrs. Howard's room. 
 
 "It is now fourteen or fifteen years," said Mrs. 
 Howard, "since my son left West Point, and was 
 ordered to Clinton Barracks. I accompanied him to 
 this his first post, and have ever since resided with 
 him when he was in garrison. There was a man be 
 longing to his company named O'Connor, who had 
 come on there a short time before, from New York, 
 with his wife, a beautiful young woman, and as re 
 markable for her genteel manners, as for her per 
 sonal advantages. O'Connor, a respectable man of 
 superior education, was soon created a sergeant, but
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 73 
 
 falling into bad company, became intoxicated, and 
 was reduced to the ranks. I was inquiring for a 
 woman of the company to do our washing. Mrs. 
 O'Connor was sent to me. I was interested in her 
 from the first, and seeing her afterwards every week, 
 I became greatly attached to her. She was still very 
 handsome, although the blooming cheek which had 
 once gained her the name of * the Rose of the Regi 
 ment,' was now almost as pale as the lily. She had 
 a babe about fifteen months old, the prettiest little 
 creature I ever saw. It was running about and just 
 beginning to talk when its mother first came to work 
 at our house. She had to bring it with her, when I 
 would always take it to my chamber and keep it for 
 the day. My son, who is fond of young children, 
 would often take it up and walk the portico with it, 
 until it would fall to sleep on his shoulder. As it 
 grew older, he took much pleasure in talking to it 
 and teaching it its letters and little verses. You will 
 not wonder then, dear girls, at my agitation when I 
 recognised in the unfortunate Harriet, our infant fa 
 vourite. 
 
 "Mrs. O'Connor made me acquainted with her his 
 tory, and often came to me for advice and sympathy. 
 She was an orphan, with a small property, and had 
 been brought up by O'Connor's father, who was her 
 
 7
 
 74 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 guardian. She spoke of the old couple, as of the 
 most affectionate parents, and said it was the first 
 unhappy day she had ever known, when her husband 
 told them of his enlistment. He soon began to 
 grieve for home, and that made him, she thought, 
 seek gay company, and thus he was led on deeper 
 and deepei* into transgression, until she feared he 
 had become a hopeless gambler and drunkard. I 
 asked if he was kind to her. The tears filled her 
 eyes as she replied, 
 
 "'Yes, ma'am, when he is himself, but when he 
 has been drinking a little, he comes home raving like 
 a maniac. Then he blames me as the cause of all 
 his misfortunes. If I answer him, he strikes me, and 
 calls me impertinent; and if I am silent, he strikes 
 me, and says I am stubborn. Sometimes he tries to 
 beat my baby ; I can't bear that, I snatch it up, and 
 run out and sit with it behind the pile of wood, back 
 of the barracks, until I think he has gone to sleep. 
 Then I steal to my room, put my poor child into its 
 cradle, and sit by the fire preparing something nice 
 for my husband to eat when he wakes.' 
 
 " ' Why don't you appeal to your officer for protec 
 tion, or take refuge with a neighbour ?' said I. 
 
 "'Oh, Mrs. Howard,' she answered, 'I feel so 
 humbled, to look at my husband and at myself and
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 75 
 
 think of what we once were. I wish to hide myself ; 
 as if I could thus in part conceal my degradation. 
 Alas for my dear parents ! who are looking forward 
 with hope to the close of our term of enlistment. 
 Miserable, disgraced, lost, as my husband is, how 
 can we venture to return to that dear pure home ! I 
 often think I will send them our poor babe, and let 
 them believe it an orphan. It will be happier for 
 them than to learn the truth.' 
 
 " Unhappy woman, my heart bled for her, yet I 
 could do nothing but point her to the only source of 
 comfort for the sufferer. I lent her books suitable 
 to her circumstances, and induced her to spend much 
 of her time in my family. She could do this the 
 more readily, as her husband was much of the time 
 confined in the guard-house for drunkenness. 
 
 " One day when she came to work, she seemed in 
 so much better spirits than I had ever seen her, that 
 I could not avoid remarking it. 
 
 " ' Oh, yes, ma'am,' said she, ' I have a little hope 
 now that I may see better days. My husband has 
 been sober for a week. He is so kind to me, and so 
 fond of our little Harriet, it makes me quite happy. 
 He says he will live a new life from this time, and 
 that only one year, and we'll go back to the dear old
 
 76 THE KOMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 father and mother.' I repeated this to my son when 
 he next came in from parade. 
 
 " ' Ah !' said he, shaking his head sorrowfully, ' I 
 fear she will be sadly disappointed. I am convinced 
 O'Connor was not quite sober at roll-call, and he 
 will not be satisfied now until he gets more liquor.' 
 
 "After tattoo, I inquired for O'Connor. My son 
 said he thought he had been drinking more ; but not 
 enough to justify his sending him to the guard-house. 
 
 " ' I am sorry for it,' said I, ' I always feel un 
 easy when I hear that he is only partially drunk.' 
 
 " I suppose it was about ten o'clock that night, 
 we had just retired, when the alarm drum was beaten. 
 My son hurried off, and was gone more than an hour. 
 When he returned he was greatly agitated, and 
 throwing himself into a chair, said hurriedly, ' Don't 
 ask me yet, mother it was too dreadful 1' 
 
 " After allowing him a few moments to recover, I 
 asked, 'Is it O'Connor?' 'Yes.' <He has killed 
 himself !' ' No, no would that he had ; worse, 
 much worse.' I could not inquire farther. I knew 
 too well what must have occurred. 
 
 " ' Yes,' said my son, 'he has killed his wife his 
 fond, faithful, beautiful wife. There she lay upon 
 the floor, with a deep wound in her forehead, her 
 dress and hair saturated with blood. The murderer
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 77 
 
 sat upon the bed, with an idiotic grin upon his face, 
 and in his hand the axe with which he had done the 
 hellish deed. We took him to the cell, where he 
 will have a bitter waking on the morrow.' 
 
 " Where is the child ?' I asked. 
 
 " ' Sergeant Garland took it home with him ; he 
 says his wife will take care of it, until it can be sent 
 to its grandparents.' 
 
 " Mrs. Garland had no children, and was a kind- 
 hearted, excellent woman. The next day information 
 of the occurrence was sent to Sultan, the county 
 town, ten miles distant. A party of police came 
 and took O'Connor up to prison. 
 
 " The poor victim was buried in the military grave 
 yard, a beautifully romantic spot, on a high bluff of 
 the Mississippi River. The funeral was attended by 
 the whole garrison; for Mrs. O'Connor had gained 
 the respect of every one by the perfect propriety of 
 her behaviour. The chaplain made a most interest 
 ing address at the grave. He had known the woman 
 well, had often visited her, and felt, he said, well 
 assured that she had the hope of the Christian, and 
 was now at rest. He closed with the beautiful quo 
 tation 
 
 ' Many fall as sudden, not as safe.' 
 
 7*
 
 78 THE EOMANCB OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 "In about a month O'Connor's trial came on. 
 There were no eye-witnesses of the murder ; but 
 many soldiers in an adjoining room heard O'Con 
 nor's voice in threatening tones, then his wife's cry 
 for mercy, followed instantly by the blow which 
 deprived her of life. Rushing into the apartment, 
 they found him with the bloody axe in his hand. 
 The evidence was so clear that the jury, only re 
 tiring for a moment, returned with the verdict of 
 guilty, and he was condemned to be hung at the 
 expiration of ten days. 
 
 " Contrary to the usual custom, O'Connor pleaded 
 guilty when the question was put to him at the 
 commencement of the trial. 
 
 "Addressing the court, he said, 'Though I stand 
 here before you a murderer, I was brought up in the 
 fear of God ; and though I know it is considered a 
 mere form to say "not guilty," I will not add a lie 
 to the black catalogue of my crimes. Yes, your 
 honour, I am guilty guilty; the blood of a wife, 
 who was dearer to me than the mother who watched 
 over me from infancy to manhood, is on these hands' 
 (holding them up to view). ' The stain is deep ; I 
 can never wash it off never.' He spoke loudly, 
 and looked wildly about him. A constable who 
 stood at his side caught his arm, and compelled him
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 79 
 
 to sit down. A glass of water was handed to him, 
 after drinking which he became again composed. 
 His demeanour during the trial excited much sym 
 pathy for him, but no one doubted the justice of his 
 sentence. 
 
 "Two or three days before the time appointed 
 for O'Connor's execution, Mrs. Garland, the woman 
 who had his child, was awakened about midnight by 
 a gentle tap at the window-pane. She went to it, 
 and by the brilliant moonlight saw a man standing 
 outside. He raised his finger to enjoin caution, and 
 then beckoned her to open the door. She did so. 
 ' Is the Sergeant asleep ?' said he. * Yes.' ' Well, 
 O'Connor has sent me to see his child; he cannot 
 die in peace until he hears from her once more. 
 Will you let me in, only for a minute ?' 
 
 "Mrs. Garland led him to the cradle where the 
 lovely babe lay, in the calm, sweet sleep of child 
 hood. The moon shone on its little face, making it 
 bright as that of an infant angel. The man knelt 
 by the cradle, and bending over the child, kissed its 
 ferehead, its mouth, its hands, while tears fell pro 
 fusely from his eyes upon the face of the peaceful 
 sleeper. 
 
 " Then rising to his feet, he clasped Mrs. Gar-
 
 80 THE HOMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 land's hand, and crying 'God bless you for your 
 kindness !' rushed out of the door. 
 
 "Mrs. Garland looked after him, and saw him 
 joined by a man whose presence seemed to command 
 respect ; for although they had to pass several 
 sentries, she heard no challenge. 
 
 " She returned to her bed, and did not mention 
 the circumstance until her husband had gone out to 
 his morning duties. Then she came to me, and re 
 lated the strange occurrence. We agreed not to 
 speak of it to any one. During the day a party of 
 police came down to the barracks, and searched 
 every corner for the criminal. They could discover 
 no trace of him, and concluding that he had secreted 
 himself on board a steamboat, returned to Sultan 
 to prosecute the search. 
 
 " This, dear girls, is the last that is known of the 
 miserable man. I am sure you will feel more kindly 
 than ever towards this poor child, who is innocently 
 and unconsciously connected with this fearful secret. 
 Now go ; you can talk it over together, but beware 
 how you ever mention it to others." 
 
 "It is a fearful secret, Ellen, is it not? I am 
 almost sorry I asked to hear it."
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The Captain's Newfoundland Dog overboard Mrs. Parker and 
 Lucy again Fanny Disappointed Sights not worth Seeing 
 Whales don't come up to her Expectation Sam Parker miss 
 ing Another Flare-up Fanny's Visit to Nero, the Cook 
 Rio Janeiro. 
 
 25TH. I have been more than a week writing 
 down this account. I know that I am in the habit 
 of reading over a sentence occasionally aloud, and I 
 might do it unconsciously and then, oh dear ! the 
 consequence I dare not think of it. For that 
 reason I put it out of my power to do any mischief, 
 by reading Harriet to sleep before I sit down to my 
 writing-desk. Would you like to know what book I 
 found to answer my purpose ? What but old Malte- 
 Brun? 
 
 I went to father's room one day, and asked him 
 to let me have the first volume. 
 
 "What for?" said he in surprise. 
 
 "Why, I intend to read it aloud to Harriet," said 
 I. " I think it right that I should try to improve 
 the opportunity I have of being useful to her."
 
 82 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 "A good speech, daughter Fanny, and a bright 
 idea for you," said father, as he gave me the book 
 and a slap on my cheek. 
 
 Well, the first night, after Harriet was snugly 
 fixed in her berth, I told her I was going to read to 
 her until she got sleepy. I opened at the word Cali 
 fornia. It gave the history, past, present, and to 
 come, of that then unknown country. 
 
 Harriet's eyes sparkled at the word California, 
 but she soon closed them, and in about ten minutes 
 was sound asleep. A sweet expression of happiness 
 was on her face, as if in dreams she was roaming 
 through that beautiful country, with some other 
 guide, though, I fancy, than old Malte-Brun. 
 
 If you should ever be doomed " to court that 
 sleep which still will fly," try a page of this invalua 
 ble work. You will find it more effectual than count 
 ing a hundred backwards, or any other method that 
 ever was devised. 
 
 26th. Captain Black has a beautiful Newfound 
 land dog, of a large size, spotted white and brown, 
 and named Rover. It is always at his side, except 
 when he sends it into the water, which he does daily 
 in calm weather. He generally swims about for half 
 an hour, diving, and playing with sticks and pieces 
 of cork that are thrown over to him. The Captain
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 83 
 
 on these occasions, I observe, always goes down into 
 his room, and stays there until he wishes the dog 
 taken on board, then comes on deck, and has the 
 boat lowered, until Rover can climb into it. I be 
 lieve the Captain cannot bear the mirth and noise 
 that are occasioned by Rover's gambols. He ap 
 pears to love the animal devotedly, often stopping 
 as he paces the deck, to pat the dog's head and say, 
 " Fine fellow, fine fellow !" At dinner, too, Rover 
 lies at his master's feet, and is always remembered 
 as soon as the guests are helped. 
 
 I asked Nero one day if he fed the Captain's dog. 
 
 " Oh no, missy ;" said he, " Capt'in no let massa 
 Rover eat wid nigger, he eat at fust table wid white 
 folks." 
 
 " Why do you call a dog massa?" said I laughing. 
 
 " He gentleman dog, missy ; I take off cap when 
 I sees him, and I says, 'Good mornin', massa Rover.' 
 But he snuff up he nose, and turn away he head, he 
 too proud to see nigger. Fine ting to be a gentle 
 man dog; wish Nero was dog." 
 
 " Oh, Nero," said I, wishing to comfort him, 
 " dogs can't eat tobacco ; what would you do with 
 out tobacco?" 
 
 " Berry true, funny missy, Nero neber lib widout
 
 84 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 baccy ; don't wish him be dog any more, redder be 
 nigger and hab plenty baccy." 
 Some one has written : 
 
 " Of all the sweets of nature, sweeter far 
 A friend to smoke with, and a good segar." 
 
 Nero required still less to make his happiness. 
 In his little dark kitchen, at work among his pots 
 and pans, with a "chaw" of tobacco in his mouth, 
 and a good supply in his pocket, he envies not the 
 king on his throne. "As happy as a king" is, I 
 believe, the legitimate standard in measuring happi 
 ness. It may be that in former times, kings were 
 happier than other people : you know we are told 
 that " Old King Cole was a merry old soul." But I 
 don't see any of the kings of our days who can pre 
 tend to an uncommon degree of happiness. Yes, I 
 must except Prince Albert, who enjoys most of the 
 privileges of royalty, without any of its troubles or 
 responsibilities. His is certainly an enviable situa 
 tion. 
 
 "Well, if I am not the craziest sane mortal that 
 ever attempted to write down the history of his 
 every-day life ! I should be ashamed to think that 
 any one beside yourself would read this serio-comico- 
 tragico trash, an " olla podrida," as Marryat would
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 85 
 
 call it. It's your own fault, Ellen ; you ought to 
 have known better than to ask me to write a journal ; 
 me, who never did anything methodically in my life. 
 You would partly excuse the awkwardly finished 
 sentences, and abrupt style of jumping from one 
 subject to another, if you could realize some of the 
 disadvantages I labour under. Often when I get in 
 terested in some scene I am describing, and am scrib 
 bling away at the rate of seven knots an hour, all 
 at once a tremendous jar, occasioned by some move 
 ment on deck, knocks over my inkstand, spilling its 
 contents over my nearly filled sheet. I should like 
 to see how you would bear such a catastrophe ; you 
 whom we always called the philosopher. As for me, I 
 don't pretend to bear it at all ; I don't know exactly 
 what I do, but I suspect I cut some queer capers, 
 for I am generally brought to my senses by a 
 hearty laugh from Harriet, for which the poor girl 
 gets first a box on the ear, if she is not very quick 
 in making her escape, and then, when I regain my 
 good temper, a sincere apology. After such a mis 
 chance, it is almost impossible to rally and marshal 
 again, in their proper order, the ideas which were 
 dispersed by that rude shock. Do what I can, there 
 are always some stragglers that never return to the 
 
 ranks. 
 
 8
 
 86 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 Perhaps you are ready to say, " I thought you 
 had something to tell about that dog." Well, so I 
 have, if you wait until I get back to him. As we 
 used to say at school (how mad it always made me), 
 " will you have it now, or wait till you get it ?" 
 
 This morning Rover was taking his usual exercise 
 in the water, when suddenly we saw him spring up 
 ward several times, barking in a sharp, unnatural 
 tone. He made such a commotion, that we could 
 not at first divine the cause of his alarm, but pre 
 sently a long white object rose quite near him, and 
 a sailor screamed, "A shark ! a shark !" 
 
 The noise brought the Captain on deck : he seemed 
 horror-struck at the peril of his favourite. " The 
 boat, the boat!" he shouted; "lower the boat; a hun 
 dred dollars for his life !" 
 
 The boat was lowered instantaneously ; the mate 
 and four sailors jumped in, and a few strokes of the 
 oars brought them to the scene of danger. The 
 men beat off the shark with their oars, and Rover, 
 almost exhausted by his efforts to escape, was taken 
 into the boat, when three hearty cheers rose from 
 the deck of the vessel. Captain Black raised his 
 hat as if he took it as a personal compliment, then 
 turned away and went below. 
 
 As soon as Rover reached the deck, he rushed
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 87 
 
 down, wet as lie was, to his master ; I wish I could 
 have seen the meeting between them. 
 
 The dog presently came up, carrying a heavy bag 
 in his mouth, which he laid at the feet of the mate. 
 Mr. Spencer opened it, and calling the four sailors 
 who had manned the boat, counted out to each of 
 them twenty-five dollars in silver. Old Nero, who 
 was standing near me, watched the proceeding with 
 great interest, and, scratching his woolly head, said, 
 " Wonder how much Cap'in give for save poor nig 
 ger ? let shark hab him for nothin', I reckon." 
 
 27th. Oh, that Mrs. Parker ! I can hardly keep 
 my hands off her sometimes. You can form no idea 
 of the thousand petty contrivances she has to annoy 
 poor Lucy. 
 
 In the first place, Lucy was induced, by broad 
 hints from Mrs. Parker, to offer a spare berth in her 
 state-room to Sarah and little Nannie. The conse 
 quence is, that she has to perform the office of dress 
 ing-maid to the cross little puss, because, she is so 
 perverse, she will not let any one but Lucy touch her. 
 
 She has long curly hair, too, of which she is very 
 proud, and so is her mother. This has to be care 
 fully dressed the first thing after breakfast, an ope 
 ration which consumes nearly an hour. 
 
 "Miss Lucy has nothing else to do," said Mrs.
 
 88 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 Parker, crossly ; " she can take more time to it than 
 I can." 
 
 Another thing I can't forgive Lucy for, is her 
 offering to assist Mrs. Parker with her sewing. I 
 was afraid she couldn't stand the daily display of the 
 overflowing work-basket, and the constant complaints 
 of its proprietress, as she plied the busy needle. 
 
 I warned Lucy of her danger ; but while she 
 thanked me for the friendly feeling I evinced, she 
 said she thought perhaps it was her duty to assist 
 Mrs. Parker. 
 
 "I really have," said the dear creature, " a good 
 deal of spare time ; would it not be acting according 
 to the golden rule to employ a little of it in Mrs. 
 Parker's service?" 
 
 "You can't give a little," said I; "that is the 
 worst of it. Mrs. Parker's plan is to work a willing 
 horse to death. If you give up to her here, you are 
 a complete slave during the remainder of your en 
 listment." 
 
 "It will be different, I think," said Lucy, "when 
 we get to our new home ; she will have her house to 
 attend to, and I shall be more at liberty." 
 
 "It will be different, indeed," I replied; "I will 
 wager a month's pay, as father says, that she will 
 lock you up in the school-room, from breakfast until 
 
 '
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 89 
 
 dinner, and from dinner till supper, and that every 
 morning that same work-basket will be sent to you 
 filled with articles which must be returned to her at 
 night, finished." 
 
 "Well, well, it's only for a year," said she, sigh 
 ing ; "if it really should be as bad as you predict, 
 I could bear it that long." 
 
 " Lucy, I have no patience with you," said I, an 
 grily ; " you have not the spirit of a flea. Oh ! I 
 only wish I could change places with you for a little 
 while ; I would tell the old tyrant, that as I was not 
 hired either as a dressing-maid or seamstress, I 
 should claim extra pay for any duties performed in 
 either character." 
 
 "And suppose," said Lucy, laughing at my ear 
 nestness, " I should act by your advice, and ' brave 
 the lion in his den;' Mrs. Parker would certainly 
 dismiss me, and what then would be my situation ? 
 Oh ! Fanny, your kind sympathy may help to lighten 
 my chain, but you must not attempt to remove it." 
 
 "I think the Colonel wants a governess," said I, 
 mischievously; "perhaps he would engage you." 
 
 How sorry I was that I had made such a speech, 
 when I saw how Lucy was hurt. Colouring violently, 
 she burst into tears, and I had to tell her it was all 
 
 fun, and make ever so many apologies which did not 
 
 8*
 
 90 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 mend the matter in the least. I am always making 
 such mistakes ; bad luck to my long tongue. 
 
 28th. "Well, it's just as I thought it would be. In 
 an unlucky moment, when my eye was off her, Lucy 
 went to work upon one of those shirt-collars, and 
 was forthwith installed a partner in the firm of Parker 
 and Company, with an equal interest in .the stock of 
 the work-basket. 
 
 "I congratulate you, Lucy," said I, "in having 
 found a friend to take pity on you, and furnish you 
 with employment. As for me, I expect my fingers 
 will become ossified for want of use. I have hemmed 
 Mr. Selden's handkerchiefs a dozen times over, until, 
 by repeatedly cutting off the hems, I have made 
 them so small, he says they will hardly come up to 
 the clerical standard." 
 
 29th. Mr. Spencer called to me this morning, and 
 asked me if I wanted to see land. " Look away out 
 there," said he, "at that blue streak in the horizon; 
 that is the island of Johannes." 
 
 Well, I could see the long blue streak to be sure, 
 and must believe, as I could not disprove it, that it 
 was what Mr. Spencer stated. You know I was 
 always rather sceptical on land, and here I am 
 doubly so, where faith without sufficient evidence is 
 so frequently required.
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 91 
 
 They point out to you a small white speck, which 
 looks like a bright cloud, and tell you that it is a 
 sail, or an iceberg ; and you are shown a long black 
 or blue streak, which is sometimes land and some 
 times the back of a whale. Wasn't it funny, or as 
 you would say, a remarkable coincidence, that the 
 first land I should see after leaving home, should be 
 that very island, which was always my favourite 
 residence when we used to play on our large map of 
 the world. You, always odd and romantic, chose 
 that ugly rocky island on which poor Bonaparte 
 died, while I would establish my headquarters at the 
 island of Johannes, and with my little paper boat, 
 guided by a pin's point, would cruise along, up the 
 Amazon and its countless tributaries. 
 
 July 1st. I was called on deck in a great hurry 
 this morning, to see a whale. My preconceived 
 ideas of sea-sights must have been greatly exagge 
 rated, for I am disappointed in everything. Entre 
 nous, I consider whales a regular humbug. I had 
 imagined our vessel could glide down the throat of 
 one without touching bottom, but, after seeing the 
 animal, I shall never again call it a monster. Lucy 
 could not understand, or forgive my laughing at the 
 water-spouts ; and when looking at the whale, after 
 showing by her changing colour, how much she
 
 92 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 was interested and astonished, she turned to me 
 saying 
 
 " Surely, Fanny, you must be satisfied now ; even 
 you cannot be disappointed here." 
 
 " Oh, yes," said I, sorry to spoil her enjoyment, 
 " it is a grand sight;" then a thought struck me, 
 which made me burst out laughing. 
 
 "Oh! Fanny," said Lucy, earnestly, "you are 
 too bad !" 
 
 "Indeed," said I, "I am not laughing at the 
 whale ; I ask his pardon if he thinks I am ; but such 
 a ludicrous scene of my school-days occurred to me, 
 that I could not help it. I never hear the word 
 whale without thinking of it. 
 
 " There was a simple, good-natured girl who was 
 the butt of the whole school, and the fun of it was, 
 that she was so entirely unconscious of it, that when 
 we were laughing at one of her mistakes, she would 
 join in and laugh more heartily than any of us. 
 
 "We were playing a game, which requires the 
 girls in turn to select a word which has two or more 
 entirely different meanings. When it came to this 
 girl's turn, she gave us without any hesitation, ' Wale 
 a fish, and wale a walleyT ' 
 
 Don't you remember, Ellen, how we all threw our 
 selves on the grass, and rolled over and over, almost
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 93 
 
 in convulsions ; while Matty sat by, highly amused 
 with our capers, which she supposed was a new way 
 of ending the game ? 
 
 "Well," said Lucy, after laughing at my story, 
 " if we are favoured with any more sea-sights, in 
 stead of calling you up, I will lock the door of your 
 state-room and keep you there until it is all over. 
 Did you ever visit the Falls of Niagara, Fanny?" 
 
 " Yes ; and I never laughed so much in my life. 
 Don't look so shocked now, I am sure you would 
 have laughed yourself. Our party, consisting of 
 father, mother, my brothers, and myself, stole off 
 from the dinner-table just as the dessert came on, 
 that we might have our first view of the Falls, with 
 out being incommoded by company. 
 
 " As we approached the river, we heard something 
 like instrumental music, mingling with the roar of 
 the cascade. 'Well,'.! said, 'I have heard of the 
 music of the waters, but I did not suppose it was so 
 much like a hand-organ.' Just then we emerged 
 from the woods, and the glorious scene burst sud 
 denly upon us, and at the same moment another 
 sight met our eyes, for which we were totally unpre 
 pared. On the very verge of the bank, stood a man 
 with an organ, grinding away at Home, Sweet Home. 
 A little monkey, dressed as a soldier, was dancing to 
 the music, and when we appeared, it ran towards us,
 
 94 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 holding out its hat for pennies. I turned my back 
 to the Falls and laughed with all my might, and so 
 did Ned ; but I never saw father so angry in my 
 life. He threw a dollar to the man, and said, ' Stop 
 your grinding ! shut up that infernal thing, and be 
 out of sight this instant !' 
 
 " He raised his cane as he spoke, and the man, 
 picking up the money and the monkey, made off in 
 double-quick time." 
 
 2d. About 12 o'clock to-day Mrs. Parker came 
 up from below, where she had been occupied for 
 some time; and on calling the roll, as she appears to 
 do mentally after every short absence, the hopeful 
 Sam was not visible. 
 
 "Jake, where's Sam?" 
 
 "Don't know, missus; I sees him bit ago, straddlin' 
 over de railin', fixin' he fishin' line." 
 
 "He's gone! he's gone!" cried the mother in most 
 pathetic tones, clasping her hands and running fran 
 tically about the deck. 
 
 " Where's Mr. Parker ? Where's the Captain ? 
 Oh ! men, lower the boat save my poor child !" 
 
 The gentlemen were all on the spot in a moment. 
 
 " Oh, Colonel ! Oh, Captain !" shrieked the mo 
 ther, " my boy my boy can't you save him ? 
 Captain, drag the ocean; find at least his cold 
 corpse."
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 95 
 
 "Be calm, madam," said the Colonel, "it is not 
 at all certain that he has fallen overboard ; he may 
 have secreted himself as a joke." 
 
 I never saw such a sudden change in any one, as 
 in Mrs. Parker. I imagine former experience whis 
 pered that the Colonel had hit upon the true solution 
 of the mystery. The pale cheek turned to an angry 
 red, and the touching tones of maternal solicitude 
 changed to the sharp, harsh voice more natural to 
 her, as, shaking her fist at the invisible delinquent, 
 she cried, " Let me only catch him ! I'll make him 
 smart for it to dare to play his jokes on me ! Mr. 
 Parker, I beg you'll have the ship searched in 
 stantly." 
 
 Just then Nero's woolly topknot appeared above 
 the level of the deck. 
 
 "Nero," said Captain Parker, "have you seen my 
 boy Sam ?" 
 
 " Yes, massa. He ! he ! he ! Him hidin' in de 
 big dinner-pot. Him say he want to scare he 
 mammy. He ! he ! he !" 
 
 Down went the Captain, and soon returned, 
 dragging his reluctant son by the collar. He 
 hauled him to his mother, as judge and jury in all 
 such cases. Mrs. Parker turned her back on the 
 criminal, and addressed the mate. "Mr. Spencer,
 
 96 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 you understand the art of flogging, I presume. You 
 will do me a favour, a great favour, if you Avill take 
 that boy and give him a sound whipping. Don't be 
 afraid; his skin is tough, you can't hurt him." 
 
 The mate, bowing acquiescence, took Sam's hand, 
 and disappeared with him. Apparently he lost no 
 time, for in a few minutes our ears were assailed by 
 the loudest yells that surely ever issued from a white 
 man's throat. Mrs. Parker started, and ran towards 
 the gangway, screaming, "He'll kill the boy! Stop 
 him ! He'll kill the boy ! Mr. Spencer ! Mr. 
 Spencer !" 
 
 "Yes, ma'am coming, ma'am," replied the mate, 
 making his appearance, with the blubbering boy at 
 his heels, holding a handkerchief to his face. 
 
 "If you have hurt him, Mr. Spencer," said Mrs. 
 Parker, looking daggers at the mate, "you shall pay 
 for it. Come here, my child ; come down with me, 
 and let me see your poor shoulders." 
 
 Sam followed slowly, and the father brought up 
 the rear, a little anxious to see what mischief had 
 been done. 
 
 " Oh, Mr. Spencer," said I, " don't you tremble 
 for the result of the examination ?" 
 
 " Not a bit ; the old cat will find no marks but 
 those her own claws have made."
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 97 
 
 "But what was that awful squalling for? Do tell 
 us." 
 
 " Well, you see I didn't fancy having the office of 
 executioner thrust upon me in that style ; so, when 
 we got below, I said to the boy, 'Sam, instead of 
 thrashing you, I'll flog this post, and you must stand 
 by and scream with all your might, to make the old 
 woman think you're getting it pretty heavy.' 
 
 " We both went to work in earnest, but the fellow 
 overacted his part, and I suppose made you all 
 think there was murder going on." 
 
 Just as he finished speaking, Captain Parker 
 came up. 
 
 "Well, Spencer," said he, "you're an odd genius. 
 I'm right glad, though, you didn't flog Sam. I 
 wonder if there's a boy living that won't play such 
 tricks sometimes. I know I was full of them in my 
 young days. Many a time have I limped into the 
 kitchen, where my mother was at work, crying out 
 that I had nearly chopped off my toe with the axe, 
 and sitting on the floor, holding my foot in my hands 
 in apparent agony, until the dear soul would search 
 her drawers for lint, salve, and bandage ; and then, 
 when I saw her coming to examine the wound, up I 
 would jump, and run off laughing. 
 
 " My good mother always excused my frolics, as 
 9
 
 98 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 she called them, when they reached my father's ears, 
 by the convenient axioms (how I used to bless the 
 inventors of them) 'Boys will be boys,' and 'You 
 can't find an old head on young shoulders.' Poor 
 soul ! she wasn't like " 
 
 I am afraid the Captain was about to commit him 
 self; but he was interrupted, just in time, by cries 
 from below, which made him stamp his foot and walk 
 away to the farthest end of the vessel. Sam was 
 getting it now, sure enough. When we met Mrs. 
 Parker, at dinner, she was as stately as a duchess. 
 She never turned her eyes toward our end of the table 
 at all ; and when Mr. Spencer offered her some meat 
 he was carving, she made him no reply. 
 
 4th. We celebrated our national jubilee in hand 
 some style. The men had a holiday, and were 
 dressed in their Sunday clothes. At nine o'clock 
 our beautiful star-spangled banner was hoisted and 
 a salute fired, after which Colonel Howard read the 
 "Declaration of Independence," and Mr. Selden 
 made a very excellent oration. 
 
 We had a better dinner than usual, and sat a long 
 time at the table, drinking toasts and healths and 
 making speeches. It was all in earnest at first, like 
 a real Fourth of July celebration ; but as is generally
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 99 
 
 the case where I have any hand in the matter, we 
 got to making all kinds of funny toasts and speeches. 
 
 Captain Black had left the table early, making 
 some excuse, and Mrs. Parker followed, without any 
 apology ; so that we had not one to spoil our fun. 
 We had such a pleasant day, that I could not help 
 wishing, as the children do after a merry Christmas, 
 that the Fourth of July would come every week. 
 
 5th. Mrs. Howard is the most industrious knitter 
 I ever knew. She can even read and knit at the 
 same time, so that in truth her needles are seldom 
 at rest except at meal-times. I did not fear to 
 offend her by asking if she furnished stockings for 
 the regiment. 
 
 "Yes, Fanny, I do," said she, "that is, for most 
 of the children of the regiment. When I see a sol 
 dier's wife with three or four little children about 
 her, I know well that she has not the means of pro 
 curing suitable covering for so many little feet. It 
 is a great pleasure to help those who are doing all 
 in their power to help themselves. I always feel a 
 great degree of interest in the camp women ; they 
 are a hard-working, much-enduring, much-despised 
 class. I have witnessed among them, too, more de 
 voted affection to husbands and children, than I ever 
 saw in any other station in life.
 
 100 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 "When a drunken soldier is sent to the guard-house, 
 however unkind he may be at home, his wife will go 
 in tears to the commandant to beg for his release ; 
 and if she cannot obtain that, she will expend her 
 last hardly-earned money in furnishing him secretly 
 with a little tobacco, or some nice eatables, to cheer 
 his imprisonment." 
 
 Mrs. Howard has kindly given Harriet a supply 
 of yarn, which she is working up into socks for that 
 scamp, Frederick. I can't endure the man; some 
 times, when Harriet is in very good spirits, I abuse 
 Frederick until she gets really angry, just for the 
 fun of hearing her arguments in his favour. 
 
 One day I said to her, " Three months is a long 
 time for man's constancy to endure; I should not 
 wonder at all, now, if on our arrival, you should 
 find Frederick provided with one of those Spanish 
 beauties for a wife ; what would you do then ?" 
 
 "Miss Fanny," said she, taking me seriously, "if 
 such a thing should happen, I would throw my 
 self" 
 
 "Into the first homeward-bound vessel," said I, 
 interrupting her. 
 
 " No, into the sea, the cold sea ; that is the only 
 place deep enough, and dark enough, for shame and
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 101 
 
 misery such as mine would be." Then she had to 
 cry, of course ; and I looked and felt like a goose. 
 
 I wish I could avoid provoking such scenes, but I 
 can't, for my life. I catch a glimpse of fun in the 
 distance, and with my eye fixed on it, go stumbling 
 along, through bog and brier, until the vision disap 
 pears like the mirage of the desert. 
 
 6th. I have not, until to-day, been able to ac 
 complish my design of visiting Nero's domains. 
 Wandering about the deck, solitary and alone, I 
 happened to encounter Sam Parker, employed like 
 myself. As he is always associated in my mind with 
 the big dinner-pot, the thought struck me at once 
 that he could act as a guide in the perilous descent 
 to the black hole. 
 
 "Sam," said I, "do you know the way to the 
 kitchen?" 
 
 " Oh ! yes, ma'am," looking a little foolish. 
 
 " Well, I want you to lead me down there." He 
 brightened up at the proposition, then shaking his 
 head, said doubtfully, 
 
 "I don't know, Miss Fanny you'll not find it 
 easy, I tell you; it's so powerful dark, I almost broke 
 my shins over a coil of rope at the foot of the ladder, 
 and then you have to walk down a slanting plank, 
 
 9*
 
 102 
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 that's as slippery as ice. I fell flat on my back when 
 I stepped on it, and slid clear down to the bottom." 
 
 "Oh! that's fine," said I; "the more difficulties 
 the better I'm determined to try it. Let's get out 
 of sight before Mr. Spencer comes up from the 
 cabin." 
 
 Down went Sam, I following close at his heels. 
 It was monstrously dark, and I had to go so slowly, 
 feeling my way every step, that I soon lost sight of 
 my guide. 
 
 " Sam, where are you ?" said I ; " don't you go to 
 playing any tricks on me, or I'll give you over to 
 Mr. Spencer." I heard his hearty laugh a few feet 
 below me. 
 
 " Oh ! no, Miss Fanny ; I was trying to fix two 
 or three steps here that have given way. I can't 
 manage it, however ; you'll have to go back or catch 
 hold of this rope, and slide down about six feet; that 
 will bring you to the inclined plane I told you of." 
 
 " I'll never turn back ; you might as soon expect 
 General Taylor to surrender. I'll go down if any 
 body can ; and if I can't get back again, I'll take up 
 my quarters in the big dinner-pot ; I dare say it 
 will be as comfortable as the tub of Diogenes." 
 
 I seized the rope as soon as I could find it, and, 
 sliding down with more impetus than I intended,
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 103 
 
 landed on the board below, with a shock which made 
 mo breathless for some seconds. 
 
 "Now, Miss Fanny," said Sam, "you needn't 
 expect to walk down this board, for I tell you it's 
 an impossibility. I'll sit down on my feet, and if 
 you'll sit behind me in the same manner, and hold 
 fast to my jacket, down we'll shoot like a sky-rocket, 
 only that goes up." 
 
 " I'm agreeable," said I ; " you sit still until I get 
 fixed, and when I give the word, then start." 
 
 Will your sensibilities be greatly shocked, dear 
 Ellen, at the idea of your chosen friend in such a 
 situation ? I fear so, but it can't be helped. I 
 might have concealed the fact, but I scorn to give a 
 half confidence where I have promised all. 
 
 " Go !" I cried; and away we went with railroad 
 speed. I had no idea it was such a long journey. 
 The soles of my slippers became quite hot with the 
 friction. The top of the plane was almost in total 
 darkness ; but as we neared the foot, a light was 
 visible, and we soon found ourselves safely anchored, 
 close to Nero's huge stove. 
 
 " My star ! my star !" said old woolly -head, look 
 ing around at the unusual noise, " what comin' here ! 
 eh, Massa Sam, you here gin ? Take care mammy dis
 
 104 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 time. Oh ! Missy Fanny, dat you ? tought you was 
 an angel, so white and pretty." 
 
 " Maybe so, Nero ; but I do wish you would give 
 us a little more light in honour of my arrival ; I can 
 not tell which is you, and which is the stove." 
 
 "He, he, he!" said the old man ," I got nice 
 candle here, I light when Massa Spencer come down 
 for 'spect a kitching." 
 
 When the light was brought, I seated myself on a 
 keg, which was the only thing in shape of a seat that 
 I could discover. The oddly shaped room was not 
 much larger than the kitchen of a canal-boat. All 
 around the floor, close to the wall, I don't know what 
 else to call it, were ranged chests, barrels, and boxes, 
 containing groceries and other provisions, leaving 
 only a narrow pathway between them and the stove, 
 which occupied the centre. A table stood in front 
 of the stove, at which Nero was washing dishes. All 
 around the walls were suspended brass and tin pots, 
 and cooking utensils of every kind, that were as 
 bright as sand could make them. 
 
 "Why, Nero," said I, "you have everything in 
 fine order; I don't know how you can keep those 
 brasses and tins so bright, when you have to use them 
 every day." 
 
 " Oh ! Missy, nebber use 'em, pity for spile 'em ;
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 105 
 
 got black pots for use, like nigger face, not show 
 dirt." 
 
 So saying, he opened a closet, and revealed a col 
 lection of iron utensils of all sorts and sizes. 
 
 " But I hope you keep them clean too," said I, a 
 little dubiously. 
 
 " Oh ! yes, Missy, Massa Spencer berry ticklar ; 
 come down every day say, 'Wipe out your pots, Nero, 
 and bring me dishcloth ;' so I takes down dis white 
 cloth, you sees hangin' up dere, and I puts it in de 
 pots, and I shows it to Massa Spencer all clean. He 
 say, ' Berry well, you fine fellow, Nero ; here baccy 
 for you.' 
 
 " And that is your dishcloth, is it ? Well, it is 
 the whitest I ever saw ; let me have it and I will put 
 lace all around it, and mark your name on it." 
 
 Much flattered, the old man took down the cloth, 
 folded it carefully, and handed it to me with a grace 
 ful bow. "Now, Sam," said I, "we shall be missed 
 if we stay much longer, and I am dreadfully afraid 
 of Mr. Spencer's finding us out. 
 
 "Nero, I wish you had an easier road to your 
 house ; I would like to visit you oftener, but it took 
 me so long to get down here, that in what manner I 
 am to get back, unless I could fly, I am sure I 
 cannot tell."
 
 106 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 " Oh ! Missy, you come a wrong way, Massa Sam 
 know berry well ; he funny like yousef ; he play you 
 trick. Nero road all plain sailin'." 
 
 I picked up a poker to run after Sam, but changing 
 my mind, I called to him, " Here, Sam, you rogue, I 
 forgive you, with all my heart ; for I wouldn't have 
 lost the fun of sliding down that inclined plane, upon 
 any consideration. It's the only adventure I'm 
 likely to have on this voyage." 
 
 Under Nero's guidance, I soon reached the deck, 
 and, repairing to the sitting-room, amused our friends 
 greatly by a description of my voyage of discovery. 
 Mr. Spencer joined us presently, having evidently 
 just come up from the cabin. 
 
 "Here," said I, producing the towel, "tell me 
 what this is." 
 
 "Indeed I can't," said he, examining it carefully. 
 "I don't know that I have ever seen it before." 
 
 "Yes, you have, but not in as fair hands, cer 
 tainly. It is the cloth that friend Nero shakes at 
 the pots, and presents to your inspection on your 
 daily visits. I knew you would not believe I had 
 actually been in his kitchen, so I brought away 
 this trophy to convince you. I am going to expend 
 much time and taste in beautifying it, and then re 
 turn it to its place, where it will be as a memento of
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 107 
 
 me every time you look at it. I wish you would let 
 me accompany you, Mr. Spencer, in your visits of 
 inspection. I am sure I should learn a great deal 
 from you in the matter of housekeeping, and from 
 Nero in cookery. When I get a house, though, I 
 shall not take the trouble you do. I'll just have the 
 dishcloth brought up to the drawing-room every 
 morning, and a glance at it will tell me the state of 
 affairs in the kitchen. It's a capital hint, that I 
 shall not fail to act on." 
 
 Poor Mr. Spencer looked prodigiously annoyed, 
 and did not know what to do with himself, until for 
 tunately spying a sail, where I am sure there was 
 none visible, he ran below for the spyglass. 
 
 July 8th. We are in sight of Rio Janeiro. In a 
 few hours we shall anchor off the town. Already 
 the soft west wind regales us with the fragrance of 
 the orange-flower. What a paradise it would be, 
 were it not for the snakes. How I hate the ugly 
 things ! I know all the pleasure I might enjoy in 
 viewing the natural beauties of the place will be 
 entirely destroyed by the constant fear of encounter 
 ing one of these reptiles. When father was stationed 
 at Fort Mackinaw, although I was a little thing of 
 only four years old, I well recollect how I used to 
 run and scream at the sight of one of the dear little
 
 108 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 grass-green snakes with which the island abounds. 
 They are perfectly harmless ; indeed it is said there 
 are no venomous serpents or insects on that island, 
 although the surrounding country is much infested 
 with them. 
 
 I am ahout to lock my escritoire, as Lucy is 
 hurrying me to come on deck and enjoy the ap 
 proach to the city. She says the hay is filled with 
 vessels, displaying the flags of every nation. 
 
 "Only think, Fanny," said the dear enthusiast, 
 " the first flag I saw was our own glorious banner, 
 and close to it, almost enveloped in its folds, was the 
 flag of the new republic of Liberia." 
 
 I may not reopen my journal until we are again 
 on the ocean; it will depend on my employments 
 and feelings while on land.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 At Sea again Fanny had been 111, and saw Little of the City 
 Lucy and Colonel Howard Astounding Discovery of Harriet's 
 Father Account of his Escape and Subsequent History. 
 
 JULY 12th. At sea once more, and out of sight of 
 land. Now tell me, you say, your impressions of 
 Rio Janeiro. I will, faithfully. 
 
 We landed after dark, and were put into queer 
 carriages, large enough to hold two persons, and 
 carried on the shoulders of four stout negroes. We 
 were taken up a long street, badly lighted, namely, 
 by lamps in the shop windows, and badly paved, 
 I should suppose, from the unequal gait of our 
 carriers. 
 
 At last we stopped at a hotel kept by a Yankee 
 actually by a Yankee who shook hands warmly 
 with each one, saying, "Well, how d'ye do? I'm 
 mighty glad to see folks from hum." 
 
 He has made a great mistake, though, in not 
 
 getting an American wife. He said he came out 
 
 10
 
 110 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 "just to look about him a little, and lie made money 
 so shocking fast that he never could find time to 
 go hum for a wife;" so he married a pretty little 
 Spanish woman, whom he has been trying for five 
 years to drill into his Yankee ways, without much 
 effect, as he himself acknowledges. The consequence 
 is, that the establishment presents an odd mixture of 
 American comforts and customs with manners and 
 fashions peculiar to the Spanish. 
 
 "We had a fine supper, but I was too much fatigued 
 to eat anything, and immediately retired to a com 
 fortable chamber, which I was to share with Lucy, 
 Mrs. Howard and Harriet occupying one adjoining 
 ours. I had a restless night, and towards morning 
 a severe headache and fever came on. Mrs. Howard 
 was quite alarmed when Lucy called her, and imme 
 diately sent for father. He asked if we had slept 
 with our windows open. We had to confess that 
 such was the fact. 
 
 "Well," said father, "we have the prospect of a 
 right pretty case of country fever. If you had read 
 my book, Fan, that you despise so much, you might 
 have been spared this attack. There is nothing 
 worse for a stranger than to sleep in the night air of 
 this climate. I wonder that you, Miss Meecham,
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. Ill 
 
 did not recollect this fact; you must have met 
 with it." 
 
 "She did, father," said I, for I saw Lucy was not 
 going to speak. " She reminded me of it, and begged 
 me not to run the risk ; but I said I would rather be 
 roasted with the fever than with the hot air of the 
 chamber, so she let me have my own way. I am 
 glad I shall be the only sufferer." 
 
 "I hope it may be so," said father, shaking his 
 head doubtfully. Father has such an ugly way of 
 shaking his head all doctors have, I believe ; it 
 makes me so nervous when I'm sick it seems to 
 say, " If you only knew what I know." 
 
 Don't you like calomel and jalap, and castor-oil 
 and blister plasters? I will spare you the particu 
 lars ; your own experience can furnish a parallel. 
 For three days I kept my bed, not dangerously ill, 
 but too weak to sit up. Mrs. Howard and Harriet 
 never left me, although I begged Mrs. Howard to 
 accompany Lucy and the gentlemen in their sight 
 seeing excursions. Lucy came in from her walks 
 and rides looking so animated and happy that I 
 almost envied her, but she always tried so sweetly to 
 amuse and interest me with her account of their 
 adventures, that I could not grumble. She spoke 
 so much one day of what Mr. Selden said, and what
 
 112 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 Mr. Selden did, that I said to her, " Lucy, I don't 
 half like your making so much of Mr. Selden. You 
 may do what you please with the Colonel ; he don't 
 suit me, he's too lofty and romantic, and all that, but 
 Mr. Selden I have appropriated to myself until the 
 end of the voyage ; so if you please, just let the 
 poor man alone until I get about again." 
 
 I knew it was all a ruse (only think of Lucy's 
 being guilty of such a thing !) ; for I said to father 
 one day, just on purpose to find out, "I hope you 
 take good care of Lucy, father." 
 
 "Indeed," he replied, "I scarcely see her after 
 we leave the house in company ; Howard takes that 
 office on himself entirely. He marches off with Miss 
 Meecham under his arm, leaving Selden and myself 
 to follow or not as we choose." 
 
 " Did you hear that ?" said I, to Mrs. Howard, as 
 father left the room. 
 
 " Yes, Fanny, and I am not jealous at William's 
 forgetting me for awhile in such company. Sweet 
 girl," she added, while her eyes filled with tears, "I 
 only hope he may induce her to become a life-mem 
 ber of our little family. I never had a daughter, 
 Fanny, and although William has ever been to me 
 all that the most loving son could be, yet I have a 
 longing desire, such as you cannot understand at
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 113 
 
 your age, to be called mother by such an artless, 
 lovely, and pious woman, as I believe Lucy to be. 
 Even now, in our daily intercourse, as you have 
 often noticed, in addressing her I unconsciously call 
 her my daughter, bringing up the ready blush to her 
 cheek, as she sees the merry smile on yours, Fanny." 
 
 On the third afternoon of our stay in Rio Janeiro, 
 I was lying half asleep, half listening to Harriet, 
 who was reading a dull novel for my entertainment ; 
 Mrs. Howard, who was sitting by the open window, 
 with her knitting, suddenly sprang up, and leaning 
 far out, to attract the attention of some person pass 
 ing, cried out in a loud voice, " Stop, stop ! oh, stop !" 
 Then running to the door, she said, " Keep Harriet 
 with you," and rushed down stairs. 
 
 "Well," said I, "Harriet, you may shut the book 
 now, for I can think of nothing else until Mrs. 
 Howard returns. What could have taken her off 
 in such a hurry ? Dear me ! I shall worry myself 
 into a fever, if she does not come back soon. Just 
 run down, Harriet, that's a good girl, and see if you 
 can find out anything." 
 
 " Oh no, Miss Fanny ; didn't you hear Mrs. 
 Howard say I must stay with you?" 
 
 " Well, then, I shall put on my shoes and wrapper 
 
 and go down myself." 
 
 10*
 
 114 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 " Indeed you shall not," said Harriet, with one of 
 her pretty smiles, " for I'll lock the door and put 
 the key in my pocket." 
 
 Well, nothing was to be done but to endure it, 
 and endure it I did for three or four hours. Lucy 
 came in from her walk near sundown, and I asked 
 her if she had seen Mrs. Howard. She said no, but 
 a waiter had met Colonel Howard at the door, and 
 told him his mother wished to speak with him in the 
 ladies' parlour. 
 
 "Poor Colonel," said I, "I'm so sorry for him; 
 I suspect the old lady is taking him to task for his 
 neglect of her lately. I hope he won't get such a 
 whipping as Sam Parker did. It wasn't all his fault 
 either, poor fellow ; I know who ought to take a share 
 of it." 
 
 Lucy was busy washing her face and fixing her 
 hair, and so pretended not to hear, but I could see 
 that she was smiling and blushing in spite of herself. 
 
 Another hour passed, and then a waiter knocked 
 at the door and said Mrs. Howard wanted to see 
 Harriet in the parlour. Harriet ! well that was too 
 queer ; if it had been Lucy, now, I should have been 
 sure that I could guess what was the mystery. Har 
 riet had not been absent more than half an hour, 
 when we heard her foot in the hall, and throwing
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 115 
 
 open the door, she rushed in exclaiming, "My father ! 
 I have found my father !" then falling on her knees 
 at my bedside, and covering her face with her hands, 
 she burst into a kind of hysteric fit, laughing and 
 crying by turns. Poor girl ! I hardly knew what to 
 say. Had I never known O'Connor's fearful story, 
 I should have congratulated her heartily on her good 
 fortune, but, with that fresh in my memory, I could 
 only say mentally, " Better, far better, if he had 
 been lost to you for ever." 
 
 Mrs. Howard came in presently, and, taking Har 
 riet's arm gently raised her, saying tenderly, " This 
 unexpected happiness, dear child, has overcome you. 
 You must let me send you directly to bed ; after a 
 night's rest we can talk it over calmly." Harriet 
 said she had been acting foolishly she knew, begged 
 Mrs. Howard's pardon, and retired to her chamber. 
 
 " Now, dear Mrs. Howard," said I, coaxingly. 
 She understood me, and drawing a chair to my bed 
 side, while Lucy seated herself on a low stool at her 
 feet, Mrs. Howard commenced her narration. 
 
 " As I was sitting at the window, watching the 
 strange costumes of the passers-by, my attention was 
 attracted by a man in the dress of an American, 
 whose carriage convinced me he had once been a 
 soldier. You know there is a certain indescribable
 
 116 THE ROMANCE OP THE OCEAN. 
 
 air, or gait, acquired by a person who has been a few 
 years in the army, that can never be unlearned, and 
 is at once recognised by an old soldier, such as I 
 consider myself to be. I watched him as he slowly 
 approached with his hands under the skirt of his 
 coat, and his eyes bent on the ground. When nearly 
 opposite my window he raised his head and looked 
 over at the hotel ; I instantly recognised the wretched 
 O'Connor. Involuntarily I called to him, as you 
 recollect, then ran down and found him at the door. 
 ' O'Connor,' said I, ' do you remember me ?' ' Yes, 
 ma'am,' said he, much agitated, 1 1 have good cause ; 
 you were kind to Tier ; you are Lieutenant Howard's 
 mother.' I told him to come in, that I had much to 
 say to him. I took him to the parlour, and locked 
 the door, fearful that Harriet might come in unex 
 pectedly. 
 
 " 'Now,' said I, ' if you have no objection, I should 
 like first to hear your history from the time of your 
 escape. My son, Colonel Howard, is absent at pre 
 sent ; we are on our way to California, to join his 
 regiment.' 
 
 "'Madam,' said O'Connor, 'you shall hear all, 
 and thankful am I for the privilege of relating to 
 one, who can feel for me as I am sure you will, the 
 secrets which have lain concealed so many years,
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 117 
 
 like burning coals in my bosom. I have watched 
 with indescribable emotion every vessel that carried 
 our country's flag, as it came into the harbour ; but 
 when it had arrived, and was at anchor, I dare not 
 go near it. I have often gone to the post-office and 
 inquired if there were a letter for O'Connor, with a 
 strange inconsistency, hoping and expecting to be 
 sought out and discovered, in the place where I had 
 buried myself, to escape detection. Every day I 
 pass this house because it bears an American name, 
 and my searching glance scans every face that wears 
 the lineaments of my native land. 
 
 " ' But never have I met even the friendly smile 
 that acknowledges me as a countryman ; and, until 
 to-day, it has been twelve long miserable years since 
 I have heard the tone of sympathy or kindness, save 
 in a foreign tongue. 
 
 " ' But I am forgetting myself. I must go back 
 to my imprisonment ; I can go no further there is 
 no need. You know all my weakness, my unkind- 
 ness, my last fearful act. You know of my remorse, 
 my repentance, you believed it. I know you did ; 
 for when Colonel Howard visited me in my cell, he 
 brought from his mother kind and encouraging mes 
 sages, that soothed my broken spirit. 
 
 " ' These evidences of an interest in my fate pro- 

 
 118 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 duced an impression, strange as it may seem, that in 
 some way I should be enabled to escape my merited 
 doom. This was farther strengthened by the feeling 
 manner of the judge when I was brought into court 
 to receive my sentence. He fixed his eye earnestly 
 on me for a moment, and, turning deadly pale, 
 dropped the paper from his hands ; but recovering it 
 in an instant, proceeded, under great agitation, 
 through the painful duty. 
 
 " ' The public papers, in describing the trial, men 
 tioned in terms of praise the Christian fortitude with 
 which the prisoner heard the awful sentence. But 
 they knew little of what was passing in my mind. I 
 scarcely heard a word of the address, but with my 
 eyes fixed on the countenance of the judge, my 
 thoughts were full of life, not of a shameful death. 
 
 " ' One week had elapsed, when, late at night, after 
 I had been sleeping for some time, the opening of 
 the door of my cell awakened me, and a man having 
 an air of authority, whose face I had never seen be 
 fore, was introduced by the jailer. "Leave us alone," 
 said the stranger; "I am authorized to converse with 
 the prisoner." When we were alone, "I am come," 
 said he, "to save you." "Are you sent by the judge?" 
 I inquired. "Such questions," he replied, "are im 
 proper. Ask no explanations, but listen to my
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 119 
 
 directions, and follow them strictly, as you value 
 your life." Much of what now passed I am bound 
 by promise and by oath never to disclose. When all 
 had been said, he left me, promising to return 
 speedily and conduct me to a place of safety. 
 
 " ' The stranger soon returned, bringing with him 
 a suit of clothes, which he bade me put on. " Take 
 nothing with you," said he. I caught up my little 
 Bible, saying, "I must and will take this," and buried 
 it in my bosom that precious Bible, my mother's 
 last gift, which you, madam, had so kindly taken 
 care of after my arrest, and forwarded to me in 
 prison. You may well suppose I had not previously 
 learned to value it much. 
 
 " ' He then put a paper into the jailer's hands, 
 saying, "This is your warrant for permitting the 
 prisoner to go out in my company. After we are 
 gone, you will have some of the bars of the grating 
 displaced, and a rope suspended from the window, to 
 create a belief that he has escaped that way. Here 
 are one hundred dollars to reward your secrecy. 
 You could gain nothing by giving information ; be 
 prudent, and you have nothing to fear." 
 
 " ' I accompanied my guide through the long halls 
 of the prison, and then along many gloomy streets, 
 until we reached a solitary place, where stood a man
 
 120 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 holding two saddled horses, which we instantly 
 mounted. "We will go slowly at first," said he in a 
 low tone. "Am I to go far?" "Yes, far enough: 
 do you grieve to leave the gibbet behind?" "No; 
 only one thing I beg you won't refuse me I cannot 
 go until I have seen my child." " Your child ! where 
 is it ?" "At the barracks, ten miles off." "Are you 
 crazy, man ? How could you visit the barracks 
 without detection ? You must give up the idea I 
 tell you it is impossible." 
 
 " ' I felt desperate regardless at that moment 
 of life and everything else, my whole soul intent on 
 one object, to see my innocent babe. " I will go 
 no farther," said I sullenly; "if you do not comply 
 with my request, I will return to my cell. Why 
 should I not ? there is nothing now but this precious 
 child to bind me to life." "You are a madman, or 
 an idiot," said my guide angrily. "I would gladly 
 leave you to the fate you deserve, but my promise 
 forbids it. You risk the life and liberty that seemed 
 so dear to you an hour ago, but it is your own 
 choice ; I am not responsible for the consequences. 
 The barracks are not much out of our route, and if 
 the sentinels do not recognise you in your present 
 dress, you may possibly escape the dangers of this 
 rash experiment."
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 121 
 
 "'Riding briskly, we reached the barracks an 
 hour before day, but the moon having risen made 
 objects easily discernible. When sufficiently near 
 we tied our horses, and I was told to follow at a dis 
 tance until a signal should be given me to advance. 
 When challenged by the sentinel, my mysterious 
 guide said, " Friend, with the countersign ;" then 
 going forward, a whispered conversation ensued, and 
 I was beckoned to come on. "Now," said he, "you 
 have ten minutes ; make the most of your time we 
 must depart immediately." 
 
 " 'I obtained admission to my sleeping child, on pre 
 tence of coming at the earnest entreaty of its father, 
 that he might hear of it once more before his death. 
 You cannot imagine the comfort I derived from that 
 brief glance at my unconscious babe. The remem 
 brance of her sweet smile has accompanied me 
 through many years of misery. I have never heard 
 of her since that time. My old parents no doubt 
 have long since gone down with sorrow to the grave ; 
 and my daughter I know not whether most to hope 
 or fear to hear that she still lives.' 
 
 "'O'Connor,' said I, 'you have great cause for 
 thankfulness. Your parents are living ; your daughter 
 I have seen lately, a lovely intelligent girl, who will 
 welcome you with the warmest affection.' 
 
 11
 
 122 THE KOMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 " ' Is it, can it be possible that there is such hap 
 piness in store for a wretch like me ? Oh ! bless 
 you, madam, bless you, for the sweet assurance. 
 Where is my child ? can you tell me that ?' 
 
 " ' I saw her in New York,' said I, fearing to tell 
 him all then ; ' I can give you her direction. Now 
 finish your story.' 
 
 " ' Well, a few miles below the barracks, we came 
 to a little town on the Mississippi River. " Here," 
 said my guide, " you are to take the boat to New 
 Orleans. Once on board and you are safe, if you 
 have common sense, which I have had some cause 
 to doubt, in the short time we have been together. 
 Here is a purse containing a sum in gold, that will 
 maintain you until you can get employment, and 
 here is a well-filled valise. A steamboat will soon 
 arrive ; take your valise, and stay at the tavern until 
 it comes. Those under whose orders I act, advise, 
 that at New Orleans you should seek a vessel sailing 
 to some foreign port. Now I leave you farewell!" 
 
 " * Without giving me time to express my thanks 
 for his services, he galloped quickly away, leading 
 the horse upon which I had ridden. I repaired to 
 the tavern, breakfasted, and in an hour found myself 
 on a fine steamboat, bound for New Orleans. 
 
 " ' As soon as I reached that city, I went along
 
 THE ROMANCE OP THE OCEAN. 123 
 
 the wharves, making inquiries among the outward- 
 bound vessels. I found one just ready to sail for 
 Rio Janeiro, engaged a passage in her, and in a short 
 time had taken my last look at my native land. We 
 had a tempestuous voyage ; many times shipwreck 
 seemed inevitable. I felt that I was a Jonah, for 
 whose sake the innocent were thus made to suffer. 
 I wondered that the crew did not suspect me, and 
 insist on drawing lots for my detection. But I was 
 still to be spared, I hope in order that I might re 
 pent and amend. We arrived here safely ; I soon 
 found employment as a clerk with an English mer 
 chant. I am still with him, and have accumulated a 
 considerable sum of money. It has appeared value 
 less heretofore ; now I shall regard it in another 
 light.' 
 
 " * O'Connor,' said I, 'there is something in your 
 countenance and manner, that makes me hope you 
 have found that true peace, to which the chief of 
 sinners may attain.' 
 
 " ' I have, I have, madam,' said he, with much 
 feeling, l and you, by that kind act, of sending me 
 my mother's Bible, were the means of my obtaining 
 it. During our stormy voyage, I had few opportu 
 nities for reading or meditation. But when I had 
 secured a comfortable situation, and had no cause
 
 124 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 for anxiety about my temporal prospects, the subject 
 of religion was much in my thoughts. 
 
 " ' In this state of mind, on a Sabbath afternoon, 
 when I had been nearly a year in this place, I was 
 passing a plain building, which I had never before 
 noticed, and hearing singing, I went up to the door, 
 which stood open. It was a little group of English 
 and American residents. 
 
 " ' They were singing a hymn I had often heard 
 at home, but little thought how applicable it would 
 one day be to me. 
 
 "People of the living God, 
 
 I have sought the world around, 
 Paths of sin and sorrow trod, 
 
 Peace and comfort nowhere found." 
 
 " ' You recollect the lines. I cannot describe the 
 fascinating effect that this homelike scene had upon 
 me ; I could not move from the spot. I remained 
 leaning on the side of the door, where I could see 
 and hear all that passed within. 
 
 " ' A Protestant minister rose and preached such 
 a discourse, as I thought had never been heard be 
 fore. Every word seemed to suit me ; I went home 
 to peruse my Bible. Every Sabbath found me at the 
 missionary's chapel, every evening was employed in 
 devouring the contents of that doubly precious book.
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 125 
 
 " ' Gradually the clouds seemed to clear away, 
 dispersed by the " Sun of righteousness, who rose 
 with healing in his beams." I remembered my sins, 
 my great sin, but only to feel assured that they were 
 not remembered against me. The communion and 
 sympathy of Christians I much desired, but have 
 never ventured to introduce myself even to the ex 
 cellent missionary. I am living alone in the world, 
 yet mine is not a useless life. 
 
 " ' I have many opportunities of doing good, both 
 to the bodies and souls of those around me. This 
 has been my chief enjoyment ; I scarcely dared to 
 hope, that a home and relations would ever be mine 
 again. But your words, madam, have inspired me 
 with new life.' 
 
 " Just then, I saw my son coming into the house, 
 and sent for him. He was nearly as much surprised 
 as I had been, for, like myself, he recognised O'Con 
 nor instantly. I ran briefly over the outlines of the 
 history I had just listened to. 
 
 " 'And now, William, can we venture to tell him 
 all? Can you, O'Connor,' said I, looking cheerfully 
 at him, ' bear to hear good news, very good news ?' 
 
 " ' Oh ! my daughter,' said he, rising eagerly, 
 ' where is she ? Tell me yes, tell me !' 
 11*
 
 126 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 " ' She is here, in this house,' said I. 
 
 " ' Oh ! merciful Heaven !' he exclaimed, clasping 
 his hands, ' truly my cup of blessing is full to over 
 flowing.' 
 
 " 'O'Connor,' said the Colonel solemnly, 'before 
 we permit you to see your child, we must put you on 
 your guard. You must recollect that she knows no 
 thing of the painful circumstances of your early life. 
 She knows her mother died at Clinton Barracks; 
 she suspects you are a deserter. She must never 
 know more. Can you command yourself, think you, 
 at all times ?' 
 
 " 'Yes, yes,' said the poor man. 'Are not twelve 
 years of total silence on the subject long enough to 
 make it a granger to my lips ?' 
 
 " 'There is another thing,' said the Colonel; 'your 
 daughter bears a perfect resemblance to her unfor 
 tunate mother.' 
 
 "'I feared it I deserved it,' said O'Connor, 
 pacing the room with agitated steps. 'But I can 
 bear it I will bear it. Oh ! trust me, kind friends, 
 and let me see my child.' 
 
 " Harriet was summoned. When she entered the 
 room, he staggered back an instant, then going quickly 
 forward, clasped her in his arms. ' It is your father, 
 Harriet,' I said. ' My father !' she screamed joy-
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 127 
 
 fully, hanging her head fondly on his shoulder, as 
 he still continued to embrace her in silence. 
 
 "'Now, O'Connor,' said William, with judicious 
 thoughtfulness, after a few minutes had passed, 'say 
 good night to Harriet, for we must have some con 
 versation on your plans for the future.' 
 
 '"O'Connor kissed her again and again, then dis 
 missed her with a tender blessing, and a promise to 
 see her early next morning. Harriet's sad story 
 had now to be related. Her father was much 
 affected. 'Poor lamb!' he exclaimed, 'so old in 
 sorrow, though so young in years. I will go with 
 you. I will remain with my child until she can re 
 turn to New York; then I will go back, like the 
 prodigal son, to my father's house.' 
 
 " He will settle with his employers to-night, and 
 be ready to sail with us to-morrow evening. 
 
 " Dear girls, is it not a touching story ? I want 
 you to feel kindly towards the poor man, whom you 
 must often see during our stay together. I am sure 
 you cannot feel otherwise, when you see his mild 
 face, so deathly pale, and his thin white hairs, giving 
 him the appearance of a man of sixty. It is strange 
 that we recognised him, for when we knew him his 
 hair was of a dark brown, and his complexion ruddy ;
 
 128 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 but his features and countenance, once remarkably 
 handsome, are wonderfully unchanged." 
 
 Harriet was so lighthearted the next morning, 
 laughing and skipping about, that I said to her, 
 "You won't care for Frederick, now you've found 
 your father, will you?" 
 
 " Oh ! Miss Fanny, how can you say so ? Won't 
 he be Frederick's father too ? I am sure the dear 
 fellow will be almost as rejoiced as I am. Oh ! my 
 father is so beautiful, Miss Fanny, you will be ready 
 to love him too." 
 
 Harriet spent several hours alone with her father. 
 When she returned, the traces of tears were on her 
 cheek. 
 
 "I do not feel so merry now," said she, smiling 
 sadly. " I can see my father has been a great suf 
 ferer, and oh ! how lonely he must have felt, so 
 many years among strangers in a foreign land. I 
 cannot understand why he did not return home, or at 
 least write, but feared to offend him by asking. He 
 tried to ascertain if I had any recollection of my 
 mother, or of my life at Clinton Barracks, but I 
 have none. I am sorry, for it would gratify him to 
 think so." 
 
 I spent the last afternoon of our stay in Rio at 
 the window, and saw many specimens of the animal
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 129 
 
 and vegetable productions of the country, but no 
 thing, I believe, worthy of a particular description. 
 
 In the afternoon we went on board; and I was 
 really so glad to see Mr. Selden and Mr. Spencer, 
 who walked by the side of my chair to the wharf, 
 that I forgot I was riding through the famous city 
 of Rio Janeiro, which I had never seen before, and, 
 entre nous, most sincerely hope I may never see 
 again.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Prejudices of Seamen Fanny teases Lucy about Colonel Howard 
 Class in the Cabin to learn Spanish Mrs. Parker in the 
 way as usual Passing the Straits of Magellan Fanny wishes 
 to see a Storm Kebuke of Captain Black Affecting Incident 
 in his Life Enter the Pacific Mr. Selden visits Nero on the 
 Sabbath His Simple and Interesting Story. 
 
 JULY 15th. Without having really bad weather, 
 the sea has been so rough, ever since we sailed from 
 Rio, that I have been several days writing down 
 what belongs to our short but eventful stay on land. 
 
 I complained to Mr. Spencer, that I could not 
 write for the bumping and jerking of the vessel, and 
 asked him why the ocean should be so much rougher 
 south than north of the equator. 
 
 " I will tell you," said he, with a look so serious 
 that I was almost frightened. " "VVe crossed the line 
 without the usual tribute of respect to Neptune. He 
 always resents such neglect. I have known the con-
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 131 
 
 sequence to be, the loss of the vessel and crew. We 
 shall get off well if a rough sea is all we have to com 
 plain of." 
 
 " Oh, you are not in earnest, now ?" said I, " I 
 know you are not." 
 
 " It is part of a sailor's creed," said he, in the 
 same serious tone ; " I am bound to believe it." 
 
 " But Captain Black, surely he does not ?" 
 
 " Captain Black is a sceptic," replied he, quickly; 
 then turned and left me. Now, for my life I can't 
 tell whether the man was in earnest or only trying 
 to mystify me. I wish I could find out. I certainly 
 never saw him put on such a manner before. 
 
 16th. Harriet is so happy with her father ; he is 
 quite a favourite with all on board ; he has a most 
 prepossessing face. I often watch his countenance, 
 while he, unconscious of observation, is leaning fondly 
 over Harriet's chair, playing with her long curls, and 
 smiling at her innocent remarks. " How could such a 
 man," I say to myself, "one so amiable, so tender 
 hearted, ever have been degraded into a brute, a 
 fiend ?" I began to talk to Lucy one day of our com 
 mon secret. She shuddered, and stopped me, by 
 saying, " Oh, Fanny, I beg you will never mention 
 it. I wish I had never known it. I am afraid to 
 trust myself even to think of it."
 
 132 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 "You have an advantage over me, ' ' said I ; " Colonel 
 Howard knows all, so that you need not put bolts and 
 padlocks on your tongue in your intercourse with 
 him ; while I, when in familiar converse with my 
 lovers, am constantly, uneasy lest I commit myself. 
 I want them both, you see, till I have made a selec 
 tion." 
 
 "I never touch on that topic with Colonel Howard," 
 said Lucy, rather coldly ; " neither is he, as your 
 words insinuate, my lover." 
 
 " You astonish me, Lucy ; has he, then, ' never 
 told his love, but let concealment, like a worm 
 i' the bud, feed on his damask cheek ?' not damask 
 either manly would sound better. I am ashamed 
 of him ; a soldier, that wears laurels dearly won at 
 Cerro Gordo and Chapultepec, afraid to speak his 
 mind to a woman. But, dear fellow, perhaps he 
 needs a friend to advise and assist him ; I must get 
 him to open his heart to me." 
 
 " Fanny, Fanny !" said Lucy, catching hold of my 
 arm, " you won't do anything so foolish, so improper. 
 Tell me you're in jest ; oh, it's unkind to frighten 
 me so." 
 
 " Well, Lucy, dearest, I am only in fun ; I am 
 really sorry, too, since it has made you so uneasy. 
 I'll never do it again till the next time."
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 133 
 
 I nearly killed myself laughing to-day, at one of 
 Lucy's young ideas. Little George Parker, the 
 second boy, was reciting his spelling lesson, when a 
 sudden jerk of the ship made him drop his book and 
 clap both hands to his mouth, screaming bravely at 
 the same time. 
 
 " What is it, dear?" said Lucy, trying to remove 
 his hands. 
 
 " Stop your bawling, and tell me what ails you," 
 said his mother, giving him as she spoke a slap which 
 only made him scream the louder. 
 
 " I I, bit my tongue, so I did, the ship shaked 
 so," he sobbed out ; " I can't spell any more !" 
 
 "Yes you can," said Mrs. Parker, "and you shall, 
 too. You can keep your teeth shut. I'm not going 
 to have you stop for nothing; it's all an excuse." 
 
 " I can't," said the boy ; " I know I can't spell 
 with my teeth shut." 
 
 " Let us try," said Lucy, mildly, and taking the 
 book, she spelled a few words through her closed 
 teeth. 
 
 The children all laughed, notwithstanding their 
 mother's presence. I encouraged them in it, for I 
 like to help the poor things to a little fun. Taking 
 the book from Lucy, I commenced spelling as 
 awkwardly as I could. Mr. Spencer drew near, 
 
 12
 
 134 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 and remarked, " Your scholars are merry, this morn 
 ing, Miss Meecham." 
 
 " Yes," said I, " Lucy is obliged to teach them a 
 new mode of speaking, to suit the rude manners of 
 your ill-behaved vessel. Come, let me teach you, 
 Mr. Mate ; it may save your tongue from many an 
 unexpected nip." 
 
 Always ready for a joke, he took the book and 
 spelled a line under my direction, in such a comical 
 way, as made the young folks roar. Mrs. Parker, 
 who never speaks to Mr. Spencer any more than to 
 myself, rose with great dignity, and said, " Chil 
 dren, take your books to the cabin, and remain 
 there." Jake, who always considers himself in 
 cluded in these general addresses, gathered up the 
 baby, with a shoe and stocking it had pulled off, and 
 trotted after the rest, followed by the lady herself, 
 much to my satisfaction. 
 
 "Now, Lucy," said I, "you may thank me for 
 getting through your task an hour earlier than 
 usual." 
 
 " I rather think I deserve the credit," said Mr. 
 Spencer. " I am the hawk, on whose approach the 
 careful hen collects her innocent brood, and hurries 
 them to a place of safety." 
 
 " I wish you would fly this way often, then," said I.
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 135 
 
 "Oh, no!" said Lucy, gently, "your intentions 
 are kind, I know, but I cannot allow you to interfere 
 with my duties ; you would only drive me from this 
 pleasant shelter to the close cabin, and that, I am 
 sure, you do not wish." 
 
 17th. Mr. Selden has suggested such a pleasant 
 way of employing a part of our long afternoons. He 
 is a good Spanish scholar, and proposes that Lucy 
 and myself, the Colonel and Mr. Spencer, should 
 take lessons in the language from him. He has all 
 the books necessary. 
 
 Evening. Oh ! Mrs. Parker, you abominable 
 woman ! Only think, Ellen, what she did ! This 
 morning, when school was over, I went to Lucy and 
 informed her of the pleasant plan we had in view. 
 She was much gratified with the prospect. After 
 we had talked the matter over a little, I went to my 
 state-room. Presently Lucy came in, looking un 
 usually flushed and embarrassed. 
 
 " Fanny," said she, her voice slightly trembling, 
 " I shall not be able to join your Spanish class ; Mrs. 
 Parker desires me to commence French with Sarah 
 in the afternoon. Please make the best excuse you 
 can for me to Mr. Selden." 
 
 "And can you, Lucy, allow yourself to be so im 
 posed upon?" I exclaimed indignantly. "Won't
 
 136 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 you for once take your own part, and show her you 
 are not her slave ?" 
 
 "It is no imposition," replied Lucy mildly. "I 
 engaged to teach French. I am a little disappointed, 
 I own, but I ought to have expected it." 
 
 So saying, she left me, to prepare for dinner. " If 
 I don't thwart that fine scheme," said I to myself, 
 "my name's not Fanny Foley !" Hastily finishing 
 my toilet, I ran on deck, and fortunately, alone 
 under the awning, found the very person I wished 
 to see, Colonel Howard. 
 
 "My dear Colonel," said I, sitting down hy him, 
 "I am in great need of your assistance. If we lived 
 in the 'days of old romance,' I am sure you would 
 gladly break a lance for your ladye-love." 
 
 " Most undoubtedly I would ; but as in these de 
 generate days we have no chance of displaying such 
 gallantry, ask anything that man can do, and your 
 behest shall be obeyed, fair lady. Shall I call 
 ' spirits from the vasty deep ?' ' 
 
 "No, the task I require of you is one in which 
 you will have more hope of success. All the weapons 
 you will need are those with which nature has already 
 bountifully supplied you, a blarneying tongue and a 
 fascinating smile." 
 
 " Well, really it is not very flattering to my self-
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 137 
 
 esteem to hear that those are among my prominent 
 characteristics. I hope it is not the general im 
 pression, but only one of your own odd notions." 
 
 "I don't know," said I, with affected simplicity; 
 " I never heard Lucy say what was her opinion of 
 you." 
 
 "I didn't mean Miss Meecham," said he, looking 
 foolish; "that was a fib too. But it's no use to spar 
 with you, Miss Fanny ; I always get the worst of it. 
 Tell me, now, in what way I can serve you." 
 
 He was outrageous when I informed him of Mrs. 
 Parker's meanness. 
 
 "I should like to see the woman pitched over 
 board. I declare," said he vehemently, "it would 
 be a mercy to Parker, poor fellow !" 
 
 "So it would ; and after six months or so, which 
 would be all that decency required in a new country, 
 he could marry his lovely governess. What a good 
 step-mother Lucy would make, wouldn't she?" 
 
 "Miss Foley," said the Colonel, rising angrily, 
 and putting on a very stately air, " I don't think it 
 shows kind feeling for your friend, even to suppose 
 such a thing." 
 
 " Oh, Lucy won't hear it, and I didn't know you 
 would be so touchy in the matter. I am right sorry 
 I said it, though, for I am afraid, if Mrs. Parker 
 12*
 
 138 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 were to fall overboard, you would plunge in to save 
 her, notwithstanding your pity for her husband." 
 
 He remained silent and thoughtful, and I feared 
 I had ventured a little too far, so I tacked about, as 
 we sailors say. 
 
 " Colonel Howard, if you will talk to Mrs. Parker, 
 I think you can induce her to let Lucy join our 
 class. Can't you persuade her that such close con 
 finement in this latitude will injure Sarah's health, 
 or something of that kind ? I know you can do it, 
 if you will try." 
 
 "Well, I'll do my best," he replied cheerfully, 
 "as soon as I can find Mrs. Parker alone." 
 
 How good-tempered he is. I wish I hadn't teased 
 him so unmercifully. 
 
 18th. Nothing was said of either Spanish or 
 French lessons yesterday afternoon ; but this morn 
 ing I saw Colonel Howard and Mrs. Parker in 
 earnest conversation. Presently Mrs. Parker went 
 below, and the Colonel joined Mr. Selden and my 
 self, who were together awaiting the result of the 
 conference. 
 
 "Wish me joy!" said he, as he came near. "I 
 have succeeded." 
 
 "How? We are curious to know the particulars." 
 
 "I mentioned, as if I thought she had not heard
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 139 
 
 it, our plan for studying Spanish with Mr. Selden. 
 I said we would find even a slight knowledge of the 
 language useful and necessary in our ordinary inter 
 course with our future neighbours, and proposed that 
 she should allow her daughter Sarah to join the 
 class. I remarked that she was of an age to acquire 
 a language rapidly, and, as Miss Meecham would he 
 taking the same lesson, they would assist each other. 
 She professed herself quite pleased with the pro 
 posal, and gave a gracious assent." 
 
 "Handsomely done, indeed," said Mr. Selden. 
 "We consider ourselves engaged, then, to meet in 
 the sitting-room at three o'clock, to commence our 
 studies. I must go and make my arrangements." 
 
 "And I must go and tell Lucy," said I. 
 
 "Stop one moment, Miss Fanny," said the 
 Colonel. "Don't let her know that I had any share 
 in altering the arrangement ; she might be dis 
 pleased." 
 
 "Oh, trust me," I answered, "to do it properly. 
 I'll tell her that Mrs. Parker's natural kindness of 
 heart induced her to propose the plan herself, or 
 that, with dishevelled locks and streaming eyes, I 
 knelt at her feet and melted her into acquiescence. 
 Which do you think she will be the most likely to 
 believe?"
 
 140 THE ROMANCE Of THE OCEAN. 
 
 "Poll ! nonsense, you crazy girl !" said he, laugh 
 ing. 
 
 Lucy was delighted with the arrangement, and in 
 her innocence never seemed to think of any ma 
 noeuvre having been necessary to bring it about ; so 
 I told her nothing of the means, and took no little 
 credit to myself for so doing. 
 
 We spent two hours very pleasantly at our lessons. 
 Mr. Spencer and I had some fun between us, but the 
 Colonel and Lucy, and even little Sarah, were intent 
 upon the business before them. Mr. Selden called 
 me to order, and even threatened to put me upon a 
 chair, if I did not behave better ; so I promised to be 
 a good girl and learn my lessons. 
 
 20th. The evenings are now too cool to allow of 
 our sitting on deck after sundown ; but we are so 
 happy in the cabin, we do not regret it. The ladies 
 have their sewing or knitting in their hands, and the 
 gentlemen read to us, or occasionally entertain us 
 with incidents from their own experience. Some of 
 these anecdotes will amuse you more than anything 
 our present life affords. The following is one of 
 Colonel Howard's stories: 
 
 At Fort Leavenworth I had an Irish servant, 
 who was continually trying my patience by the most 
 provoking blunders. On one occasion, when he had
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 141 
 
 done a thing in exactly the opposite way to that 
 which I had directed, irritated beyond all endurance, 
 I exclaimed, " Pat, you're for ever putting the cart 
 before the horse." 
 
 "Well, your honour," said Pat, reddening, "I 
 never did it to my knowin' but wonst, and that was 
 when I first came into the country, and was strange 
 to its ways. I didn't think the likes o' your honour 
 would be throwin' that up to me." 
 
 " How was it ?" said I. 
 
 " Well, you see, as soon as I landed, bein' a hearty 
 boy, with a good appetite and an empty pocket, I 
 looks about me for some way of makin' a livin'. 
 I sees a smart-lookin' gintleman watchin' all the 
 Paddies as they came ashore. I mistrusted he was 
 wantin' help, as they call us in this country ; so I 
 goes up to him, and says I, ' If ye're lookin' for a 
 sarvent of gintale manners and good caracter, I'm 
 the man. You won't find a better in the hwll lot.' 
 
 " 'Where's your recommend?' says he. 
 
 " 'Sure I ought to know meself,' says I, 'better 
 than anybody else can ; an' I give you the word of a 
 gintleman that Patrick Shannessy, that's me, is 
 worth his weight in gold.' 
 
 "'Well,' said he, 'if your other qualifications 
 equal your impudence, you must be a jewel of a
 
 142 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 fellow. Do you understand gardening and the care 
 of horses ?' 
 
 " ' Do I !' says I. ' Maybe ye'll ask me if I know 
 how to eat a paratie. Sure hadn't I all the care of 
 my father's garden, ever sence I could walk a'most?' 
 (I didn't tell him why should I? it was only a 
 paratie patch, with a dirty corner left for the pig.) 
 'As for the horses, bless your honour! nay father 
 kept one that nobody could do anything wid but me- 
 self.' (I didn't tell him no lie there, neither; for 
 many a day I walked the streets o' Dublin, not on 
 horseback, but wid the horse on my back, stoppin' 
 to saw wood at gintlemen's doors.) 
 
 "With that he engaged me right away; and mighty 
 proud he looked, as he walked home with such a fine 
 fellow as meself at his heels. 
 
 " ' It's me that's the lucky boy,' says I to meself, 
 ' and Amiriky's the blessed counthry. I wonder they 
 didn't ma^ke Columbus a saint for finding it out. I'd 
 have prayed to him, next to St. Patrick, rest his 
 bones. Here's me, now, ten minutes off the ship, 
 and the promise of ten dollars in my pocket if I live 
 a month; and sure a month here won't be longer 
 than a week in ould Ireland, where three watery 
 paraties every mornin' was all a tall fellow like me 
 could get to keep him on top of the ground. I
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 148 
 
 wonder now if the priest will make me fast every 
 Friday. That would be hard ; but it won't be con 
 venient to confess for a year any how, so I needn't 
 worry meself.' So talkin' this way to meself we 
 came to the gintleman's house, and a fine place it 
 was for sartain. 
 
 " ' Here, Bridget,' says he, to the cook, ' this is a 
 countryman of yours, just off the ship ; let him have 
 a good dinner, and then I'll tell him his duties.' 
 
 " I got along for a week without makin' any bad 
 mistakes. Biddy was a good friend to me, and told 
 me how to do some jobs I had never put a hand to 
 before. But one mornin' the master says, ' Pat, put 
 my horse to the sulky, and bring it to the door.' 
 Well, I was so feared of being laughed at by the 
 man that worked the farm, that I wouldn't ask any 
 questions of him, but I goes to Biddy, and says I, 
 * Biddy, I'm in a fix ; ye see, I never geared a 
 horse in my life, and I don't know how to go about 
 it; can't ye jest come and give me a lift, ye good 
 creature, that ye are ?' 
 
 " ' Well, I can't in conscience leave my work now,' 
 says she, ' but I'll tell you, just watch Solomon, he's 
 gearin' a horse now; you'll easy learn.' 
 
 " I went back to the barn, and there was Solomon 
 puttin' a horse to the plough. I watches him out o'
 
 144 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 one corner of my eye, and as soon as Solomon gets 
 out of sight, I gets the horse and fastens him with 
 his tail to the back part of the buggy, though I had 
 mighty hard work to get him fixed straight ; and 
 then I takes up the shafts like Solomon did, and 
 drives him round to the front door. Pretty soon 
 the master came out all ready for a ride, but instead 
 of gettin' in, he bursts out laughin', and runs back 
 into the house. Out he comes again with the mis 
 tress and the young master and the young ladies, 
 and such a laughin' they set up, I thought they'd a 
 killed themselves. At last, the master, says he, 
 ' Pat, is that the way they gear horses in the old 
 country ?' 
 
 " ' No, yer honour,' says I, ' but Biddy tould me 
 to watch Solomon, and do jest as he done, and so I 
 did jest the very same way ; sure, I thought it was 
 the fashion maybe in Amiriky.' 
 
 "'Well, Pat,' said he, very kindlike, 'take the 
 horse out, and I'll show you how we do the thing. 
 I'll forgive the mistake for the good laugh you've 
 given us.' 
 
 " I wish he had promised to forget it as well, but 
 he didn't, nor the young master, nor the young ladies 
 neither ; even Biddy, the kind-hearted creathur, had 
 to come it over me now and then, and I knocked
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 145 
 
 Solomon down twiste afore he'd stop a laughin' at it. 
 So the long and the short of it was, that I had to 
 leave the best place in all Amiriky, because I wonst 
 had the bad luck to put the cart before the horse." 
 
 22d. We got upon the subject of ghost stories last 
 evening, and as a natural consequence, we sat up to 
 an unusually late hour. I thought of you, and of 
 the summer we spent together years ago, at Grand 
 ma Wilson's, when we used every night, as soon as 
 the candle was lighted, to draw our low seats to 
 grandma's knee, and beg her to tell us some of her 
 nice Jersey ghost stories. Then, when bedtime came, 
 we would steal into the kitchen, hand in hand, to 
 bribe old Susan to come and sit by our bedside until 
 we fell asleep. Many a handkerchief and apron 
 have we made for her as the penalty of hearing 
 grandma's delightfully awful stories. Even now, 
 the same strange feelings are left upon my mind, 
 after an evening so spent, and I was not at all sorry 
 last night that I had secured a foom-mate. Harriet, 
 I fancy, was similarly affected. I noticed her taking 
 a miniature case from her trunk just as she was pre 
 paring to step into her berth. 
 
 "Why, you romantic creature," said I, "do you 
 sleep with that next your heart?" 
 
 " Oh no," she replied, "but I look at it the last 
 13
 
 146 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 thing, that I may, if possible, dream of Frederick, 
 instead of imagining that the Spirit with the Burning 
 Hand is pursuing me ! If you hear me struggle, Miss 
 Fanny, please waken me." 
 
 I promised, after making a similar request of her. 
 
 You remember, Ellen, that horrid story of a ghost 
 that appeared to a man at work in a field, and com 
 missioned him to have justice done to a person who 
 had been defrauded of his rights. To give authority 
 to his commission, or to corroborate some statement, 
 he said, "Here is my mark!" and laying his hand 
 upon the rail of the fence, left there a charred im 
 pression of three fingers. The story is a favourite 
 with father. I believe he either saw the impression 
 himself, or saw the man that did see it. 
 
 Mrs. Howard related an incident somewhat similar. 
 This occurred in Jersey, too, where all grandma's 
 ghosts flourished. They ought to be counted as one 
 of the staple commodities of the state, along with 
 peaches and melons? 
 
 Some orphans were about to be defrauded of an 
 estate, because of a signature being wanting to an 
 important document. When the case was before the 
 court, and just on the point of being decided against 
 the rightful heirs, a white hand appeared over the 
 unsigned paper, which lay upon the table, seized a
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 147 
 
 pen, and affixed the necessary name, a solemn voice 
 at the same instant uttering "Witness my hand!" 
 
 I asked Mr. Selden if he was a believer in ghosts. 
 
 " Most certainly," he answered, "and if the com 
 pany will permit, I will relate one of undoubted 
 authenticity." 
 
 He then gave us the story of Saul and the Witch 
 of Endor, arranging it with such ingenuity that we 
 did not recognise it till the close. 
 
 " On leaving West Point," said Colonel Howard, 
 " I was, with six of my classmates, ordered to Jefferson 
 Barracks. There were many more young officers at 
 the station, and having a very easy commandant, he 
 did not give us duty enough to keep time from pass 
 ing slowly with us. The consequence was, that 
 practical jokes on each other, and mischief of every 
 conceivable kind, were resorted to, to keep us alive. 
 A toad put into the bed of a room-mate, a board 
 placed over a neighbour's chimney, an officer's 
 sword and sash secreted, when the drum was hurry 
 ing him to parade ; these, and a hundred such tricks 
 were our daily fare. Once a wild, thoughtless youth 
 threw a well-filled powder-horn upon the fire, around 
 which a dozen of us, in dressing-gowns and slippers, 
 were comfortably seated with our cigars. One of 
 the party had sufficient presence of mind to pluck
 
 148 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 the horn from the flames, and plunge it into a bucket 
 of water. It was already blackened and shrivelled 
 by the heat a moment more would have been too 
 late. 
 
 " The only trick in which I took an active part, 
 was in playing the ghost upon one occasion. A com 
 panion and myself, wrapped in long sheets, and 
 having our faces rubbed with phosphorus, sallied 
 forth at midnight to visit the sentries. As we ap 
 proached the first post, we were not seen by the 
 sentinel, who had probably been in his box, until we 
 had approached within a dozen steps of him. At 
 the first glance, he dropped his musket and made 
 for the guard-house with all speed, screaming, as he 
 ran, ' Corporal of the guard ! och, murther ! St. 
 Pathrick, dear, don't let 'em catch me !' 
 
 " We gave chase at first, but he made such an up 
 roar, that fearing discovery, we hastened to our 
 rooms and to our beds." 
 
 " Garrisons are as famous for ghostly visitants 
 as Fanny says New Jersey is," observed Mrs. 
 Howard. 
 
 " Several years ago, I was on a visit to my cousin, 
 Mrs. Captain Fuller, at Fort Monroe. Her daughter 
 Mary, a girl of fifteen, was at the time much in 
 terested in the study of astronomy. One night, she
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 149 
 
 made an appointment with her governess, who resided 
 in the family, to rise at twelve o'clock, for the pur 
 pose of seeing a particular constellation. 
 
 " They proposed to go out of the front door, to 
 avoid disturbing the Captain, who was not in the 
 secret, as they were by no means sure of his approv 
 ing the scheme. Passing round the house, they 
 would reach a balcony in the rear, from which they 
 could command a view of the heavens. To do this 
 they must necessarily pass a sentry, who was stationed 
 at the side of the building. Intent upon their pur 
 pose, and without a thought of mischief, they threw 
 white wrappers around them, and with their heads 
 uncovered sallied forth with noiseless steps. When 
 they reached the corner of the house, there stood the 
 sentinel within a few steps of them. Uttering an 
 exclamation of surprise, he hastily retreated a short 
 distance, then rallying his courage, he raised his 
 musket, and aiming at the girls, cried out, ' Come 
 an inch nearer, and you shall have it ; ghost or not, 
 a Yankee's not afeard of you.' 
 
 " Much more scared than the sentinel, the girls, 
 without speaking a word, ran with all their might to 
 the back portico. When they were satisfied with 
 their astronomical observations, the difficulty was 
 
 how to get back into the house without passing the 
 13*
 
 150 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 sentinel, who they feared, if they returned the same 
 way, would fire without allowing time for explana 
 tion. An old negro man slept in a room that had a 
 window opening on the porch. They concluded to 
 awaken him, and make him unlock the back door. 
 It required some time and much thumping on the 
 window-pane to arouse the sound sleeper. At length 
 he raised the window, but seeing two figures in white, 
 he thought it was a summons for him from the other 
 world. 
 
 " ' Oh, beautiful angels,' said he, his teeth chatter 
 ing with fright, ' hab you come for ole Bob ? Please 
 let him stop a bit; white folks can't spare him no 
 how.' 
 
 " 'Why daddy,' said Mary, laughing very heartily, 
 ' don't you know us ? It's Miss Syms and Miss 
 Mary ; we came out to look at the stars, and now 
 we want you to open the door and let us in.' 
 
 " ' Oh, yes, yes, missus, I knows you well enough 
 now ; but I hopes you won't be for comin' agin to 
 scare ole nigger dis fashion. Tudder world werry 
 nice place, dare say, but what Massa John and Miss 
 Nancy do widout Bob eh ?' 
 
 " The next day Captain Fuller was officer of the 
 guard. He came in about ten o'clock, saying he 
 hoped none of us had been disturbed during the
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 151 
 
 night; that a sentry stationed at the side of our 
 quarters had sworn that two ghosts issued from our 
 front door at midnight, passed round the house, and 
 disappeared behind it ; that he had challenged them, 
 but received no answer ; and that their feet made no 
 sound upon the pavement as they walked. 
 
 " ' What was thought of his statement ?' asked 
 Mrs. Fuller, to whom Mary had related the adven 
 ture. 
 
 " 'Oh,' said the Captain, 'if the fellow had pos 
 sessed an ounce of brains, he would have held his 
 tongue. It has only got him into the guard-house, 
 on bread and water. Of course he must either have 
 been drunk or sleeping at his post.' The girls could 
 not bear the idea of the soldier's being punished un 
 justly, so with great reluctance they confessed the 
 facts. 
 
 " ' Well, well,' said the Captain, ' that was a 
 sensible manoeuvre, to be sure. Why couldn't you 
 have gone out the back way at once ? Oh yes, I 
 see, you were afraid to pass my door ; I wasn't to 
 know anything about it. Well, you won't hear the 
 last of it soon, I promise you. I shall tell it to the 
 young officers ; and when they get hold of it, I guess 
 you'll wish you had stayed in your beds.' 
 
 "Your acquaintance with a garrison, Fanny, is
 
 152 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 not sufficient to make you feel the force of this 
 threat. Certainly, of all teasing, I never knew any 
 thing to equal that of a knot of young officers. You 
 will meet with your match soon, Fanny, if you are 
 not beaten at your own weapons." 
 "I defy them," said I proudly. 
 
 " ' Come one, come all, this rock shall fly 
 From its firm base, as soon as I.' " 
 
 25th. We shall make the shortest trip, Mr. 
 Spencer thinks, that has yet been made to the land 
 of gold. The Captain intends, if the wind and 
 weather continue favourable, to run through the 
 Straits, instead of going round the Cape. We shall 
 be almost -within hail of the giants on the one side, 
 and the pigmies on the other, without a chance of 
 seeing either. I think these ships might be more 
 accommodating. I told Mr. Spencer I was going to 
 ask Captain Black to stop a little while at the island, 
 that I might catch a little Fuegian, to take with me 
 for a curiosity. 
 
 "I would advise you not to do it," said he; "the 
 Captain is particularly cross in this neighbourhood. 
 I never address him myself, when I can avoid it. I 
 do not know any reason for it, unless the increased 
 anxiety and responsibility he must naturally feel, in
 
 THE ROMANCE OP THE OCEAN. 153 
 
 this often dangerous part of the voyage, produces 
 this irritability. It is remarked by all who have 
 sailed with him. I have heard the men say, 'We 
 must walk straight now, till we get round ; the old 
 man has his storm-cap on.' ' 
 
 26th. From the commencement of our voyage, 
 as you know, I have had a great desire to see a 
 storm, and early exacted a promise from Colonel 
 Howard, that if we should be favoured with one, he 
 would take me on deck, even if it should be at night, 
 to look at the ocean. I begin to despair of having 
 my wish gratified. We are already in the Straits, 
 with a fair breeze and a cloudless sky. We shall 
 soon run through, and once in the Pacific, the 
 chances for a storm are very few. 
 
 27th. I ran on deck as soon as I was up this 
 morning, to take a view of the heavens. Seeing 
 Captain Black standing alone, apparently watching 
 the clouds, I approached him, and said, " Captain, I 
 want to see a storm so much ; don't you think these 
 clouds look as if they would bring us one ?" 
 
 He started, and became strangely agitated, and it 
 was some moments before he spoke. "May Heaven 
 preserve us !" said he, in a solemn and tremulous 
 voice. "You little know what you are talking about. 
 Listen, young lady, and I will tell you what has
 
 154 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 never passed these lips but once, though the subject 
 is seldom out of my thoughts. 
 
 "Three years ago this very month, I was near 
 this spot, with as noble a vessel and as fine a crew 
 as ever sailed. My son was with me my brave and 
 beautiful boy. He was thoughtless and lightheaded 
 like yourself, Miss Fanny, and always wishing to see 
 a storm. Almost in this very spot he asked, as you 
 have just done, ' Don't you think those clouds will 
 bring us a storm?' I answered roughly, for my 
 heart was heavy with apprehension as I thought of 
 my son, and I would have given all I was worth that 
 I had left him in his safe and happy home. Yes, 
 that bitter thought will follow me to my dying day 
 the last words I was allowed to speak to my idolized 
 boy were words of stern rebuke. He turned away 
 my darling child saddened by my harshness. I 
 never heard his voice again. 
 
 "The storm came. I cannot describe it to think 
 of it almost maddens me. It was night. Oh ! the 
 horrors, the misery that can be crowded into one 
 night ! When daylight came, I found myself lying 
 almost lifeless on a rock. My faithful dog was at 
 my side no other living thing in sight. I looked 
 for my ship. Nothing was to be seen but a few 
 pieces of the wreck, tossed about on the angry waves.
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 155 
 
 My noble vessel, my hardy crew, my precious boy 
 all were gone. 
 
 " Oh, my dear young lady, be thankful to the 
 Providence which has so kindly preserved us, and 
 pray, oh ! fervently pray that you may never witness 
 a storm at sea." 
 
 28th. You can readily believe, Ellen, that though 
 I continued to watch the sky during the remainder 
 of the day, it was with entirely different feelings and 
 wishes. I could not get the Captain's solemn looks 
 and awful words out of my mind ; and I never, I 
 think, felt so happy, as, when going on deck this 
 morning, Lucy met me and exclaimed, "Fanny, 
 these are the blue waters of the glorious Pacific !" 
 I burst into tears I could not help it and hugged 
 the dear girl so heartily that she was quite surprised, 
 and said, "Well, I never expected such enthusiasm 
 in a young lady who laughs at whales and water 
 spouts." I did not enter into any explanation. The 
 fact is, I was a little ashamed of both my folly and 
 my fears. 
 
 29th. If you read these papers with a critical eye, 
 you will notice, what I have myself just detected, in 
 glancing over them. Some of the days which ought 
 to have been noted as Sundays, are occupied with 
 the relation of ordinary matters. This is a mistake.
 
 156 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 All our Sabbaths have been spent in a similar way 
 to the first, which I particularly described. Having 
 nothing new to say on the subject, I have omitted to 
 notice the Sundays ; but sometimes when I write on 
 Monday, put down the day of the month next to my 
 last date, without recollecting that a day has inter 
 vened. It has always been a difficult matter with 
 me to keep the day of the month correctly, so I just 
 guess at it my own heedless way, you know. 
 
 First Sunday on the Pacific. It has been a lovely 
 day. I spent hours leaning over the ship's side, 
 watching the motion of the snowy sunlit clouds as 
 they were reflected in the calm waters beneath. 
 
 The northwest wind, which was so fair for us, after 
 leaving Rio, would have been ahead in the course 
 we are now running, but we had no sooner got out of 
 the Straits, than the wind changed suddenly to a 
 stormy southwest, from which point it still continues 
 to blow, carrying us swiftly on towards our destined 
 port. 
 
 Mr. Selden's sermon, this morning, was on the 
 subject of missions. He gave a sketch of the pro 
 gress of the Christian religion in the islands of the 
 Pacific, dwelling particularly on the past and present 
 state of the Sandwich and Society Islands, both of 
 which groups our vessel is to visit on her homeward
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 157 
 
 trip. Addressing the crew, he said, " My friends, I 
 beg you to keep these facts in your memories ; and 
 when you see the peace, piety, and prosperity, which 
 prevail in these islands ; when you see their neat 
 villages, well-tilled fields, handsome churches, and 
 flourishing schools, contrast it with their condition 
 only a quarter of a century ago, and remember that 
 this change has been effected by the introduction of 
 the gospel. It is that alone which has the promise 
 of the ' life which now is' as well as of that which 
 is to come. Or, in the simple words of the poet, 
 
 " ' 'Tis religion that can give sweetest pleasures while we live, 
 'Tis religion must supply solid comfort when we die.' " 
 
 The crew listened with the deepest attention, and I 
 saw the tears chasing each other down Nero's polished 
 cheeks, though I cannot believe he could understand 
 much of the discourse. I asked Mr. Selden if he 
 noticed it ; he said he had, and he blamed himself 
 for not having paid more attention to the old man ; 
 that he had conversed at various times with all the 
 sailors, but that Nero looked so stupid and silent, 
 that he had scarcely thought of him as an intelligent 
 being. "I will do what I can to atone for my 
 neglect," said he, " by visiting him this very even- 
 ing." 
 
 14
 
 158 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 "Get a chart of the route from Mr. Spencer, 
 then," said I, "and not from this sly rogue," pinch 
 ing the arm of Sam Parker, who sat by me. 
 
 August 2d. As soon as I had an opportunity this 
 morning, I asked Mr. Selden the result of his visit 
 to Nero. He said he was exceedingly gratified. 
 " Well, now," said I, " I do want to have the whole 
 story ; hut please, that's a dear kind man, just write 
 it down for me. You can do it so much better than 
 I can ; I want it for the journal I am keeping for a 
 sweet young friend of mine. I will give you all the 
 credit of it with her, and when you go back to New 
 York" But I won't tell you, Ellen, all the pro 
 mises I made, lest you should present them against 
 me at some future time, when I may have concluded 
 to keep Mr. Selden for myself. I suppose he thought 
 the inducement sufficient ; for he consented, and im 
 mediately left me for the purpose. 
 
 After our Spanish lesson this afternoon, he handed 
 me the following paper, which I will paste into my 
 journal, it will save me the trouble of copying. Isn't 
 it a beautiful hand ? I wish I could draw likenesses, 
 I would send you a sketch of his very handsome and 
 intellectual face. No ; on second thoughts I wouldn't 
 do any such thing ; and, furthermore, I shall keep 
 his paper myself, and send you a copy. We shall be
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 159 
 
 on the ocean some weeks yet, and nobody knows 
 what may come to pass in that time. It's best to 
 be on the safe side. I have been pretending, (just 
 to myself, you know,) that I was a parson's wife, to 
 see if I could learn to behave myself properly in such 
 a situation. I think I succeed admirably; for a 
 whole week I have not laughed too loud, or played 
 hide-and-seek with Sam Parker, or pinned paper 
 streamers to Mr. Spencer's coat-tail. Even father 
 remarked the change, for this morning, as I sat at 
 the table with my Spanish grammar, committing my 
 lesson with great diligence, he remarked to Mrs. 
 Howard, " Fan's improving, isn't she ? That fine 
 girl, Miss Meecham, has been a useful companion to 
 her, I think. She's a right good child, only too 
 much of a hoyden!" Ellen, wasn't it too bad? I 
 could have cried with vexation, or trod on father's 
 corn with right good will, but I thought it most pru 
 dent to be so absorbed in my studies, as not to have 
 heard what was passing. I am glad none of the 
 gentlemen were present. 
 
 ME. SELDEN'S STORY. 
 " Under Mr. Spencer's guidance I had no difficulty 
 in reaching Nero's dark abode. Long before we got 
 to it, however, we could hear his voice, singing with 
 great energy, the lively Methodist hymn,
 
 160 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 " ' If you get there before I do glory hallelujah, 
 
 Look out for me, I'm coming too glory hallelujah !' " 
 
 " * I'll venture to say,' remarked Spencer, ' that 
 old black fellow is the happiest soul on board our 
 ship. I have never yet seen him out of humour, or 
 heard him make a complaint. I have sometimes said 
 to him, " Uncle, you must be monstrous lonesome 
 down here." "Not a bit, massa," he would answer 
 cheerfully, " Nero don't know what lonesome is. I 
 talk to myself I talk to de stove I talk to ebery- 
 ting. I have plenty company." And it's a fact too, 
 I heard him one day addressing the tea-kettle, "Well, 
 now, Missy Kettle, you bilin' too fast, you knows 
 you is ; no use in wastin' fresh water, dis way ; what 
 you spose Captin say ? I take you off dare now." 
 
 " Spencer left me at the foot of the descent, and 
 I approached to the table where Nero sat, with a 
 hymn-book before him. He gave me a cordial wel 
 come, saying, as I took a seat near him, * Nero bery 
 proud dis trip ; first hab pretty lady come to see him, 
 den good parson.' I assure you I felt uncomfortably 
 conscious of my culpable neglect of one who had pecu 
 liar claims upon my services as a Christian minister. 
 
 " ' I am glad to see you can read, Nero,' said I. 
 1 Oh no, massa, me can't read ; but old missus teach 
 me many good hymns, and give me her own book,
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 161 
 
 and me love to feel it in my hands.' 'You seem 
 happy, my friend.' * Oh yes, massa ; Nero hab 
 everyting him want, it ain't much, you know ; fore 
 long, old nigger he sewed up in hammock, and sunk 
 into deep water. Nero don't care how soon Good 
 Massa in heaven please take him home.' 
 
 "'I should like to hear a history of your life, 
 Nero, if you are willing to take the trouble. ' * Oh, 
 massa, old tongue love talk ; me very glad tell you.' 
 
 " I must give it you in my own language, though 
 it will lose half its interest in the translation. 
 
 " ' I was brought from the old country so young, 
 that I recollect none of the circumstances attending 
 my capture, except that my heart was nearly broken 
 by having a pet monkey torn from my arms and 
 thrown into the sea. I do not remember my mother. 
 I lived, with several other little ones of various ages, 
 on a plantation near New Orleans. We were well 
 fed and not overworked. Here I remained till I 
 must have been about thirty years of age. With a 
 rich master and a humane overseer, I led the happy 
 thoughtless life of a brute. To eat, drink, and dance, 
 to sleep, and work, was all I cared for. I never 
 thought of death, nor of another world ; indeed, I 
 was in total ignorance on these subjects. At that 
 time my master died, and his property being divided 
 14*
 
 162 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 amongst his heirs, I was sold to a gentleman of New 
 Orleans. Now commenced a different life : I learned 
 to know what hardships meant. My master had a 
 bad set of slaves, who looked upon me as a spy and 
 an intruder. I was constantly accused of crimes I 
 had never committed, and my master, passionate and 
 cruel, always punished me with the greatest severity. 
 This treatment instead of crushing, roused my spirit. 
 I determined to escape at all hazards. Providence 
 favoured my plan. My master was elected to Con 
 gress, and went to spend the winter in Washington. 
 He left in charge of his household a man who had 
 frequent drunken frolics, when, for days together, he 
 would be incapable of attending to his business. On 
 one of these occasions on which he had taken to his 
 bed, and the other servants were holding a revel in the 
 kitchen, I tied up my little stock of clothing, and 
 stealing out, hurried down to the river. Here were 
 vessels from all parts of the world. I inquired 
 for a ship bound to Boston, for I had heard that 
 there a negro was as free as a white man. Being 
 directed to one, I went on board, and met a negro, 
 who told me he was a free man, and cook of the 
 vessel. Confiding in his honest countenance, I told 
 him my troubles, and begged him to conceal me in 
 the hold till the ship should have sailed. He con-
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 163 
 
 sented, and taking me below, had secreted me, and 
 made every arrangement necessary for my comfort 
 able subsistence, before the officers returned on board. 
 We sailed the next day, but the cook did not discover 
 me to the captain until we were fairly out at sea. 
 Then he told him, with fear and trembling ; for the 
 captain was a severe man, and he did not know in 
 what light he would look upon the affair. He seemed 
 very angry at first, but after he had called me, and 
 had heard my story, he relented and said, " Well, 
 my poor fellow, yours is a hard case, to be sure ; I 
 suppose I must not throw you overboard or send you 
 back, but I run a great risk in taking you on." 
 
 " ' In a week, the captain was taken down with 
 the yellow fever. The other officers and crew were 
 so alarmed as to be unable to think what ought to 
 be done ; but I had seen much of the disease, and 
 knew the remedies usual in the case. The mate gave 
 me the medicines I asked for, and the captain was 
 left entirely in my hands. I never left him night or 
 day ; for forty-eight hours he raved with delirium, 
 and appeared to be unconscious of what passed around 
 him ; but if I left his side, he would cry, " Where's 
 Nero ; don't let him leave me." He recovered, and 
 from that day to this, he says I saved his life. This 
 was Captain Black. When we reached Boston, he
 
 164 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 took me to his home, and introduced me to his wife 
 and mother. " Here," he says, " make much of this 
 fellow, for if it hadn't been for him you would never 
 have been troubled with my company again." And 
 sure enough they loaded me with kindness ; not con 
 tent with providing every comfort for my body, they 
 cared for my soul ; they first taught me I had a soul. 
 They sent me to a church where people of my own 
 colour worshipped, and a man of my own colour was 
 in the pulpit. Ah, it made me proud to see him 
 read from the good book, and talk and pray just like 
 a white man. I have never since that day been 
 ashamed of the black face my Maker gave me. The 
 Captain's mother tried to teach me to read, but it 
 was of no use ; as soon as I became familiar with one 
 letter I forgot the last I had been taught. Then she 
 would read to me, and teach me verses from the Bible, 
 and prayers and hymns. Oh, I have reason to bless 
 God that I was stolen from my native land, for else 
 I should never have known the blessed truths which 
 make me happy in this life, and happy in the hope 
 of a better life to come. I have sailed with Captain 
 Black ever since ; he don't like to go to sea without 
 me. Only once I was prevented by illness from 
 going with him, and on that voyage his ship was 
 wrecked, and every soul lost but himself. I am quite 
 . - -
 
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 165 
 
 contented at sea ; every comfort is provided for me, 
 and all on board are kind. * But, oh,' said he, clasp 
 ing his hands, and looking upward with an expres 
 sion of the liveliest joy, * when we gets home to old 
 missus, Nero most too happy den he all but in 
 heaven.' 
 
 " Thus, dear Miss Fanny, have I given you the 
 simple tale of the old negro. We had a long con 
 versation afterwards, very pleasant and profitable to 
 myself, and I hope to him also. He took my hand 
 as I rose to leave him, and said earnestly, ' Tank 
 you, Massa Preacher, tank you very much. Me 
 pray for you in my poor talk every day you been on 
 ship ; me pray harder now.' ' 
 
 3d. Our afternoon exercises are delightful. I 
 like the Spanish much better than either French or 
 Latin. Mr. Selden was going to give us to-day a 
 verb to commit ; of course it was the dry old verb to 
 be, the first that you have to conjugate in every lan 
 guage. " Oh, do in pity," said I, " give us some 
 more interesting verb to love, for instance. I am 
 sure we can learn it more easily, and we may per 
 haps have need to use it soon, some of us. It is the 
 only Latin verb I remember, though I went through 
 the whole grammar. See if I can't repeat it now, 
 Mr. Selden. Ego amo, I love; tu amas, thou lovest"
 
 166 THE EOMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 (looking at Lucy); "ille amat, lie loves" (nodding at 
 the Colonel); "nos amamus, we love; vos amatis, 
 you love; illi amant, they love" (inclining my head 
 first toward the Colonel, then toward Lucy). They 
 all laughed except Lucy, and she kept her face so 
 resolutely bent over her exercise that it was only by 
 her heightened colour I could tell that she under 
 stood what I was about. 
 
 We had a hearty laugh this evening over an anec 
 dote Colonel Howard read us from a number of Lit- 
 tell's Museum. I must copy it for you, as I know 
 you have never met with it. 
 
 "At one of our seaport towns there stood a fort, 
 on the outside of which is a spacious field, overlook 
 ing a delightful prospect of land and water. At the 
 time we are speaking of, a Major Brown was com 
 mandant ; and his family being fond of a milk diet, 
 the veteran had several cows that pastured in the 
 land aforesaid. A sentry was placed near the en 
 trance, part of whose duty it was to prevent 
 strangers and stray cattle from trespassing thereon. 
 Upon one occasion, an Irish marine, a stranger to 
 the place, was on guard at this post; and having 
 received the regular orders not to allow any one to 
 go upon the grass but the Major's cows, determined 
 to adhere to them strictly. He had not been long
 
 THE ROMANCE OP THE OCEAN. 167 
 
 at his post when three elegant young ladies pre 
 sented themselves at the entrance, for the purpose 
 of taking their usual evening walk, and were quickly 
 accosted by the marine with ' You can't go there !' 
 
 " ' Oh, but we may,' uttered the ladies with one 
 voice ; ' we have the privilege to do so.' 
 
 "'Privilege!' repeated the sentry, 'fait and I 
 don't care what you have, but ye must n't go there, 
 I tell ye; it's Major Brown's positive orders to the 
 contrary.' 
 
 "'Oh, ay, yes we know that,' said the eldest 
 of the ladies with dignity, ' but we are Major 
 Brown's daughters.' 
 
 " ' Ah, well you don't go in there then anyhow,' 
 exclaimed Pat, bringing his firelock to the post. 
 You may be Major Brown's daughters, but you're 
 not Major Brown's cows !' ' 
 
 Captain Parker said the Irish soldier was always 
 remarkable for his literal observance of an order, and 
 rigid sense of duty, never in any instance using his 
 private judgment to evade or change an order, when 
 circumstances would seem to make it proper or 
 necessary. He said the anecdote just read reminded 
 him of a somewhat similar case that occurred many 
 years ago, when he was a young officer on duty in 
 Florida.
 
 168 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 "We were in a small picketed work, with only 
 one company. Being in constant expectation of an 
 attack from the Indians, every precaution was used 
 to prevent surprise. Captain Morgan, who was in 
 command, issued an order that the sentries, after 
 retreat, should on no account suffer any person to 
 pass without the countersign. A day or two after 
 the Captain and myself left the garrison at day 
 light, on horseback, to visit a post ten miles distant. 
 Being detained there longer than we had anticipated, 
 it was nearly ten o'clock at night before we reached 
 the first outpost of our own sentries. On being chal 
 lenged, Captain Morgan replied as usual, 'Officers 
 of the post,' and was about to pass on. ' Stand a 
 bit,' said an Irish tongue; 'whoever you be, you 
 don't stir a step furder widout the countersign.' 
 'Why, sentinel,' said I, 'it's the commandant, Cap 
 tain Morgan. You surely know his voice ; or if you 
 don't, you know that we are officers on horseback.' 
 'Maybe I do, and maybe I don't, but that's 
 neither here nor there,' said he positively. ' I 
 know the order, and there wasn't nothin' about 
 Captain Morgan or officers of the post in it, and I 
 ain't a goin' to be court-martialled for nobody. I'm 
 sorry for it, and I beg your honours' pardons, but I 
 wouldn't let mee own father in widout the word.'
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 169 
 
 "'Well, well,' cried the Captain impatiently, 
 * call the corporal of the guard directly, for I shall 
 be frozen if I am kept here much. longer.' 
 
 " ' Corporal of the Guard, No. 4,' cried the sentry 
 several times, in such stentorian tones that the 
 whole garrison must have heard him. But no relief 
 came. 'If your honours would take my advice,' said 
 the sentinel, 'you'll get off your horses and walk 
 about to keep warm. It's fat Corporal Cranly that's 
 on guard to-night ; and if he's laid down for a nap, 
 it's no joke to move him.' 
 
 " ' How long since the Lieutenant made his 
 rounds ?' I inquired. 
 
 " ' Jest a bit afore you came, sir, and it '11 be nigh 
 on to two hours afore he comes,. again, so ye'd best 
 take it easy. Ye're welcome to my watch-coat, 
 Captain, for I see ye're shiverin', but I must do my 
 duty.' And the kind-hearted fellow actually took 
 off his coat, and assisted the Captain to put it on, 
 who was so thoroughly chilled by the night air, after 
 riding under a burning sun, that he could not decline 
 the offer. The sentry continued at intervals to call 
 the corporal of the guard, but without effect; and we 
 had to stand there, in that uncomfortable situation, 
 until the time came for the Lieutenant to visit the 
 
 outposts. lie was not a little astonished to find us 
 
 15
 
 170 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 there, and began to swear at the sentinel for an ob 
 stinate Irishman. 'Stop, sir,' said the Captain; 'if 
 you had done your duty as faithfully as this soldier, 
 you would have attended to his first call, and pre 
 vented all this difficulty.' The next day the sleepy 
 corporal was degraded to the ranks, and the Irish 
 man promoted to his place."
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Fanny becomes Weary of her Journal The Cabin Party dull 
 Colonel Howard and Lucy especially so Some Mystery about 
 it Board a Deserted Ship Crew Murdered by Pirates One 
 Survivor His Account of the Horrible Transaction The 
 Mystery Explained. 
 
 AUGUST 5th. The gentlemen were discussing to 
 day the pleasures and penalties of tobacco chewing. 
 Captain Parker is the only one of the company who 
 indulges in it habitually; but him you seldom see 
 without his mouth full of the vile stuff. He says 
 that, to him, there is no suffering equal to that of 
 being deprived of tobacco. Hunger and thirst and 
 he has felt both to an excessive degree are nothing 
 in comparison. He says he has seen the time, 
 during a campaign in the far southwest, when they 
 were reduced to such an extremity, that, on retiring 
 to their blanket at night, they would lay their only 
 quid out on a stump to dry, and return it to their 
 mouths in the morning.
 
 172 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 10th. I am almost ashamed now to open my 
 writing-desk, and see the word journal staring me in 
 the face. I wish I had never given it that title, for 
 there is nothing save the day of the month now and 
 then to give it the least pretension to that character. 
 I believe I have not written a line for a week, but I 
 am determined I won't turn over the page to see the 
 last date. 
 
 Allow me to excuse myself, in the words used by 
 a great author to a correspondent whom he had 
 neglected : " When I had nothing to say, it was not 
 worth while to write." 
 
 I am getting fidgety and impatient as we draw 
 near to the end of our voyage. I cannot settle my 
 self at anything. I read a little, and study a little, 
 and romp a good deal with any one I can press into 
 the service. " To nothing fixed but love of change.'' 
 I made Mr. Selden play cat's-cradle this morning 
 until he was quite perfect in it. (I only acted 
 parson's wife for a week I couldn't stand it any 
 longer.) 
 
 llth. I think something's going to happen; I 
 don't know what, and I don't care much, so it re 
 lieves the horrid monotony of our present existence. 
 I went rather unceremoniously into Lucy's state-room 
 this evening, and found her in tears, with an open
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 173 
 
 letter in her lap. She hurriedly closed it, and thrust 
 it into her dressing-box, while I, embarrassed by my 
 malapropos visit, asked her to lend me a needle, 
 and left her. I don't believe it was an old letter 
 from whom could it be ? I shall have to wait, I sup 
 pose, until time gives the explanation. Dear me ! 
 time is so slow ! Who said " As rapid as the flight 
 of time ?" Young, I believe, or one of those tame old 
 souls, who had never been three months on shipboard, 
 or they never would have made such an unfit com 
 parison. 
 
 Ten at night. I was glad to get away to my state 
 room, the evening has been so dull in the cabin. 
 Colonel Howard is uncommonly silent and serious. 
 Lucy is ill at ease, and certainly paler than usual, 
 while Mrs. Howard frequently regards her with looks 
 of affectionate anxiety. Mr. Selden must be in the 
 secret, whatever it is, for he tries, by engaging the 
 rest of the company in conversation, to keep them 
 from noticing with too curious an eye, the motions 
 and countenances of our silent friends. 
 
 12th. In reading, to-day, I was struck with the 
 following lines in a sonnet on Napoleon : 
 
 " Triumphant France bears home her mighty brave, 
 To fill oh ! glorious mockery a grave." 
 15*
 
 174 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 I do not know why it is that, in reading Napoleon's 
 history, I always feel myself on his side, and wish 
 him success, while my better judgment assures me that 
 the prominent traits in his character, were unalloyed 
 selfishness, unfeeling and deliberate cruelty, and un 
 principled ambition. What a lovely contrast, in 
 every point, is presented in the character of Ame 
 rica's mighty brave, her glorious Washington. His 
 natural disposition being domestic, peace-loving, and 
 retiring, he shrank not from a public encounter, 
 with the toils and dangers of the council, and the 
 battle-field, so long as his country needed his ser 
 vices. But widely as they differed in their sentiments, 
 hopes, and aims, their military and political career ; 
 in their closing days, and in the circumstances 
 attending their death-beds, the contrast was still 
 more striking. 
 
 Poor fallen Napoleon ! a prisoner in a strange 
 land, with no fond friend beside his couch of death 
 to whisper words of sympathy and love, exclaimed 
 with his latest breath, " Tete de I'arme'e!" Truly 
 this was " the ruling passion strong in death." Re 
 verse the picture. 
 
 Washington, in his own beautiful home, in the 
 midst of a nation who loved and revered him, had 
 his passage to the tomb rendered easy and peaceful,
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 175 
 
 by all the offices of love and kindness that attached 
 relatives could bestow. Looking around on these 
 beloved ones with a sweet smile upon his noble 
 features, almost his last words were, " I am dying, 
 but I am not afraid to die !" 
 
 13th. No clew yet to the altered demeanour of 
 my friends. When I asked the Colonel what made 
 him so silent, and look so cross, he said he had a 
 severe toothache. I didn't believe him ; but just to 
 punish him for the fib, I went to father and got a 
 bitter dose of laudanum and camphor, and made him 
 swallow the whole, though sorely against his will. 
 
 " If that doesn't relieve you in ten minutes," said 
 I, " father will pull the tooth out ; he is bringing his 
 case of instruments up with him." 
 
 " Oh ! it is decidedly better in fact it is quite well !" 
 said the Colonel, so quickly, that Mr. Selden, who was 
 the only person within hearing, laughed heartily. 
 
 "Well," said I, " as my prescription has had such 
 a marvellous effect on you, I think I will try it on 
 Lucy ; she has the same symptoms with yourself, ex 
 cept that she can't look cross if she tries." The 
 Colonel turned an appealing look to Mr. Selden, 
 which plainly said, " In mercy stop her." 
 
 "Come, Miss Fanny," said the parson, "there is 
 Mr. Spencer with the glass to his eye ; let us go and
 
 176 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 see what lie has discovered." I saw through the ma 
 noeuvre, but allowed myself to be led away, because 
 I didn't really intend to annoy Lucy, but only to 
 tease Colonel Howard. Lucy, dear child, is quite too 
 much afraid of me already; if I but fix my eye upon 
 her, and open my mouth to speak, she colours up in 
 an instant. 
 
 16th. An object at which the glass was frequently 
 levelled yesterday, without any satisfactory result, 
 is this morning quite near us. It is a vessel appa 
 rently deserted, though not a wreck, for all the masts 
 are standing ; yet the sails are loosened and flapping 
 in the wind, and not a sign of life is discernible. 
 The Captain has sent out a boat to examine the 
 strange ship. Mr. Spencer and four sailors, with 
 Colonel Howard as a volunteer, compose the party. 
 Lucy and I watched their proceedings through the 
 glass. They had difficulty in reaching the deck, for 
 there was evidently no one on board to assist them. 
 After many efforts they succeeded in fastening a 
 rope over a boom, when one of the sailors climbed 
 up, and arranged an easier mode of ascent for the 
 rest. After a considerable time, we saw them lower 
 ing into the boat the body of a man, apparently dead. 
 Then they all jumped in, and rowed hastily back to 
 the ship. As they approached us, every soul on
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 177 
 
 board was peering anxiously over the bulwarks. The 
 body appeared to be that of a youth. It was not 
 dead, however ; the eyes were open, and I saw his 
 hands move. He was raised to the deck with the 
 greatest care ; and while Mr. Spencer, followed by 
 my father, had him conveyed below, Colonel Howard 
 gave us the following account of their expedition : 
 
 " While still some yards from the ship," said he, 
 " we observed a very offensive smell ; and the sailor 
 who first gained the deck cried, in a tone of horror, 
 ' Heavens ! it is a mass of dead men !' It was truly 
 an awful sight that awaited us, and the sickening 
 effluvia almost overpowering. Six bodies lay around, 
 covered with frightful wounds, and in a disgusting 
 state of decomposition. 
 
 "The deck was black with dried blood. We went 
 below. In every place were traces of some awful 
 transaction. Pools of dried blood, fragments of 
 clothing, and broken weapons, indicated the violence 
 of the struggle. At length, in a dark corner of the 
 cabin, we found the poor lad we have brought away 
 with us. When, with some difficulty, we aroused him 
 into partial consciousness, in a faint voice he mur 
 mured, 'Friends?' 'Yes; what can we do for you?' 
 
 "'Water,' he gasped. I had none; but having 
 happily put a flask of brandy in my pocket, I
 
 178 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 poured a little down his throat. It revived him sur 
 prisingly, so that he could now speak without much 
 effort. 'What is the meaning of all we see ?' said I. 
 'Pirates.' 'Are you the only one left alive?' 'Yes, 
 I am alone. Give me water food I am dying 
 from hunger.' 
 
 " I saw that it was necessary to have immediate 
 aid, for life was nearly extinct. With all possible 
 speed we got him into the boat. I gave him brandy 
 repeatedly, as we rowed across the short space be 
 tween the vessels. 
 
 " If the Doctor succeeds in restoring the boy, we 
 shall be able in a few days to hear the story from his 
 own lips." 
 
 "If I be I, as I suppose I be," I am greatly 
 changed from the brave-hearted girl that left dear 
 New York some three months since. Why, I am 
 the veriest coward that ever was born on American 
 soil. If a dark cloud frowns upon us, or the breeze 
 but freshens a little, my heart throbs and my cheek 
 turns pale with apprehensions of a coming storm. 
 
 And now that bloody deck, those mangled bodies, 
 that emaciated boy, with nothing save death to dis 
 tinguish him from the dead, these thoughts destroy 
 for ever the veil of romance that my foolish, un 
 curbed imagination had thrown around the character
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 179 
 
 of the pirate. I'll never, while I live, sing "I'm 
 Afloat," heretofore my favourite song. How shall I 
 get home again, to my far off, happy, secure home ? 
 Undertake this voyage a second time I would not, if 
 the vessel were freighted with hard gold, and it were 
 to be all my own, on condition of my sailing in her. 
 
 Captain Black sent a party over to the deserted 
 ship, to scuttle her, I think they call it : that means, to 
 bore holes in the bottom, that she may fill with water 
 and sink. I asked Mr. Spencer if they would bring 
 away the sails and other articles of value that re 
 mained in her. "No, indeed," said he; "you could 
 not find a sailor who would abstract a nail from a 
 vessel in such a condition. He would be sure that 
 bad luck would follow him to the end of his days." 
 
 "We watched the lonely ship for hours, as inch by 
 inch she settled in the water. Now and then it 
 would tremble, as if a shiver ran through its huge 
 frame at the prospect of its approaching fate. It 
 reminded me of a diseased and suffering human 
 being, who clings to life with a tenacity unaccount 
 able to those around, to whom it seems that death 
 should be by him hailed as a deliverer. 
 
 Suddenly we were startled by a tremendous ex 
 plosion, which burst forth from the hold ; and when 
 the smoke had cleared away, only some floating
 
 180 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 planks and spars remained of the mighty fabric, 
 which had been the scene of this horrid tragedy. 
 The sailors had affixed a slow match to a barrel of 
 gunpowder found in the hold of the ship. 
 
 16th. The boy is better to-day. Father thinks 
 he will certainly recover. He was not wounded, but 
 dying of starvation. He would kill himself with 
 eating, if he were not watched; but he is only 
 allowed a little barley-water or weak broth. 
 
 The excitement of the last two days, or some 
 other cause not discoverable by me, has cleared the 
 cloud from Lucy's fair brow, and restored to Colonel 
 Howard his accustomed cheerful, social tempera 
 ment. I don't know why the mental barometer of 
 my friends should influence my spirits, but sure I 
 am, it is the case. Though they didn't choose to 
 trust me with their secret, I felt obliged to sym 
 pathize at random, not knowing whether they were 
 suffering from headache, toothache, or heartache. 
 As a famous western hunter once said, on being 
 rallied for missing an animal he had fired at, "I 
 wasn't quite sure whether it was a deer or a hog ; so 
 I took my aim with the intention of hitting it if it 
 should be a deer, or missing it if it should be a hog." 
 
 Lucy sang this evening one of the sweetest songs 
 of home I ever listened to. It brought tears to
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 181 
 
 every eye. She permitted me to copy the lines. 
 She sings them to your favourite air of "The 
 Watcher." 
 
 "HOME. 
 
 " What is that sound of sweetness, 
 That thrills the wanderer's breast, 
 And brings, with magic fleetness, 
 Fond thoughts of peace and rest ? 
 What is that word of gladness, 
 Which o'er the heart doth come, 
 With mingled joy and sadness? 
 
 'Tis home, sweet home ! 
 
 " Oh, touching is the feeling, 
 When scenes of days long past, 
 Upon the memory stealing, 
 Their vivid image cast. 
 Tho' cares are gathering o'er ua, 
 As far and wide we roam, 
 Yet hope is still before us, 
 
 At home, dear home ! 
 
 "And why is home thus pleasant? 
 Why should that single sound 
 Bring future, past, and present, 
 In one bright chain around ? 
 Because, in fond connexion 
 With it, in idea come 
 Those objects of affection 
 
 At home, dear home ! 
 16
 
 182 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 " Because our childish hours 
 Were spent beneath its shade ; 
 Around its verdant bowers, 
 And by its streams we played. 
 Sweet hours of youthful pleasure, 
 That never more can come, 
 Your memory still we treasure, 
 
 At home ! dear home ! 
 
 "If to an earthly dwelling 
 The heart thus closely folds, 
 What feelings should be swelling 
 Towards that which heaven unfolds? 
 The weary thence shall never 
 Again be forced to roam, 
 But be at rest for ever, 
 
 At home, blest home!" 
 
 O'Connor showed much emotion during the sing 
 ing, and left the room as soon as it was ended. 
 Father, taking off his spectacles to wipe his eyes, said, 
 " Miss Lucy, my dear, I hope that is not original ; 
 you are too young to have felt so deeply." "No," 
 replied Lucy; "they were written by a young and 
 lovely aunt of mine, who married a clergyman, and 
 went with him to the West, far away from her home 
 and friends. She wrote these lines a short time 
 after her marriage, and a few months later was taken 
 to the ' blest home' mentioned in the last verse."
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 183 
 
 18th. William Mason, the sailor boy, gave father 
 his history to-day. We were obliged to be satisfied 
 with hearing it second-hand ; father making the very 
 flattering remark, that he would be afraid to trust 
 him for a week yet in the presence of the ladies, for 
 they would be sure to talk him into a fever. 
 
 "The vessel was an American one, which left 
 Panama on the first of August, bound for Boston. 
 They had on board a captain, mate, and twelve men. 
 The night of the tenth was cold and wet ; and being 
 in an open sea, the captain fearing nothing, allowed 
 every man to go below but the man at the wheel. It 
 is probable he fell asleep, for William says he knew 
 nothing until he was awakened by the report of fire 
 arms ; and by the shouts, oaths, and other noises, he 
 was aware that there was ugly work, as he said, on 
 deck. It was daylight ; and peeping cautiously out 
 of his hammock, he saw that he was alone. 
 
 " Having no weapon at hand, and feeling that he 
 could be of no service, he consulted his own safety, 
 and seeing an open hogshead, which was about half 
 filled with sea-biscuit, he climbed in, and scratching 
 them away until he got to the bottom, he disposed 
 them over his head, so as to effectually conceal him, 
 while still allowing him space to breathe. He thinks 
 the fighting must have continued an hour ; after that
 
 184 THE KOMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 he could only distinguish hasty footsteps, loud voices, 
 and occasionally a groan. Then some men entered 
 the part of the vessel where William lay in conceal 
 ment. They appeared to be searching in every 
 corner, and one man even thrust his hand into Wil 
 liam's hiding-place, and taking up a biscuit, began 
 to eat it. ' Confound you,' said a comrade, * you're 
 mighty cool. It's a pretty morning's work, ain't it, 
 to murder a dozen men, and all for nothing, too ! I 
 don't wonder it gives you an appetite, you Spanish 
 blood-hound. Where's the gold you promised we'd 
 find ? I'd like to see the first grain of it. If I do 
 sell my soul to old Nick, and I reckon he's pretty 
 sure of it now, I want to get a good price for it.' 
 
 " The brute he addressed, answered by a mocking 
 laugh, and some words in Spanish, which William 
 did not understand. In a few minutes the men left 
 the cabin, and again he heard three or four shots 
 fired on the deck, and loud laughter, but no sounds 
 that would indicate resistance. 
 
 " He supposes they were, by way of amusement, 
 firing at the wounded, whom they found still living. 
 He listened eagerly for their departure from the 
 vessel, and, after a time, heard the sound of oars and 
 of voices becoming more and more indistinct, until 
 they ceased entirely. But he still feared to leave
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 185 
 
 his shelter, and actually remained in that position 
 until he knew that night had come on. Then he 
 crept cautiously out and stole on deck. The moon 
 had just risen on a scene that no pen could fully de 
 scribe, in all its horrors. Six of his late companions 
 lay in their blood, just as they were found afterward 
 by our party. He threw one glance around, and, 
 unable to bear more, ran down into the officers' cabin. 
 The floor was wet and slippery, he fell forward, and, 
 using his hands to raise himself, felt that they were 
 covered with blood. He must then have fainted, for 
 when he again opened his eyes it was broad daylight. 
 The stains upon the floor, and the arms strewed 
 around, showed that here had commenced the deadly 
 strife. In the cabin was a little wine and a few 
 biscuits. These William consumed in a day or two, 
 and then felt that he must die of starvation ; for he 
 chose that, rather than again to encounter the fearful 
 sight on deck, which he must have done in order to 
 gain the hold where water and provisions were 
 stored. 
 
 " He knows not how long he lay there in a state 
 of half consciousness, before he was found by our 
 friends. He says, when some one raised his hand 
 to ascertain if there were signs of life, he dreamed 
 that he had just died, and that his spirit had been 
 16*
 
 186 THE EOMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 met at the gate of Heaven by his mother, who, 
 taking his hand, said, ' You are weary, my son, with 
 your journey through the dark valley ; come, I will 
 lead you to the Fountain of Life.' With the super 
 stition so natural to the sailor, he cannot be persuaded 
 but that his mother is dead, although his only reason 
 for thinking so is this dream." 
 
 20th. William was brought on deck to-day, and 
 placed on one of the sofas. I had first to promise 
 father that I wouldn't open my mouth to the boy, 
 but let Mrs. Howard and Lucy amuse and pet him. I 
 wonder if father will ever allow that I have reached 
 the age of discretion. If I don't remember this when 
 we get to housekeeping together, and make him pay 
 for it too, it will be funny ! After dinner, when he 
 likes me to amuse him with my light chat, I'll not 
 speak a word, and in the evening, when he is drowsy 
 and wants to take a nap in his easy chair, I'll talk, 
 talk, talk, as hard as I can. 
 
 William is pale and thin, as you may suppose, but 
 he has a fine face, and is a sensible, well-educated 
 youth. Mr. Selden takes quite a liking to him, be 
 cause, as he says, he is a Boston boy, like himself. 
 
 This afternoon, just after dinner, I was seated 
 under the awning with a book in my hand, trying to 
 read, but really asleep half the time. The rest of
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 187 
 
 our party regularly retire to their berths for an hour 
 in the afternoon, but I disapprove of the custom, as too 
 great a waste of time. When I made such a remark 
 one day, Captain Parker asserted that I slept fully 
 as long in my chair as they in their berths, and asked 
 where was the difference, except that my nap was the 
 least comfortable. "A vast difference, Captain," 
 said I; "I sit down with the honest intention of 
 spending an hour profitably." (" Yes," said the 
 Colonel, aside, "profitably, over James's last in your 
 lap." I took no notice of the invidious remark, but 
 continued,) " If I fall to sleep, I cannot help it ; it's 
 not my fault, it's a misfortune for which I am not 
 responsible ; but you, on the other hand, deliberately 
 plan to throw away an hour of your time. There is 
 just as much difference, in my opinion, as between a 
 murder committed by accident, and one perpetrated 
 Avith malice prepense." Father was deep in Malte- 
 Brun, when I commenced speaking, but as I pro 
 ceeded, he laid down his book, and looked at me 
 through his spectacles with ludicrous astonishment. 
 The Chaplain smiled, and whispered softly, " Is Saul 
 also among the Prophets ?" 
 
 But this is not what I was going to tell you at all. 
 I wish there were some way of anchoring the mind 
 down to a given subject, so that it could not get
 
 188 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 away until you gave it leave. I sometimes am ready 
 to doubt my own sanity, for I commence on some 
 thing I want to say, and before I am aware, I am 
 flying off at a tangent, the dear knows how far, at 
 the imminent risk .of never getting back again to my 
 proper orbit. There it is again ! shall I ever be able 
 to tell a straightforward story ! I should like to 
 see myself in a witness-box. Wouldn't I puzzle a 
 lawyer as much as ever that relation of Cousin Sally 
 Dillard did ! 
 
 Well ! as I was sitting alone, half asleep, as I said, 
 Colonel Howard came on deck and joined me. Some 
 thing in his looks puzzled and a little alarmed me. 
 I could not tell what was coming. If he had been a 
 lover of mine, now, I should have known by instinct 
 that the crisis had come, and that he was about to 
 put the awful question. But as it was, I could not 
 guess the object of his seeking me with such evident 
 agitation and embarrassment in his manner. I did 
 not try to help him on by a leading question, but 
 kept my eyes fixed with eager curiosity on his face. 
 After an awkward silence, he commenced : " Miss 
 Fanny, I have a secret for you !" 
 
 " A secret ! Oh, dear Colonel, do tell me ; I can 
 keep it for ever, if necessary." 
 
 " I will not put your friendship to so severe a test ;
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 189 
 
 keep it for one hour, and the world may know it, with 
 my free consent. I am going to he married !" 
 
 " Married ! and to dear Lucy ?" 
 
 " Yes, she has at length consented, after a severe 
 struggle hetween what she considered duty on the 
 one hand, and inclination (as I hope) on the other. 
 My arguments, warmly seconded hy my mother, have 
 prevailed, and the ceremony will be performed at 
 three o'clock this afternoon." 
 
 " Does Captain Parker know ?" 
 
 " Yes ; he was early consulted, and has acted 
 handsomely. He readily yields any claim on Lucy's 
 movements that her engagement may have given 
 him." 
 
 " And Mrs. Parker, what of her ?" 
 
 " My mother has just gone to break it to her. I 
 dread an explosion there, I confess, and am sure it 
 is the same expectation that agitates Lucy so much. 
 I came to send you down to her ; you will, I hope, 
 be able to calm her." 
 
 " Well, I'll do my best," said I, jumping up. 
 " But, you cruel man, why couldn't you have given 
 me a little longer notice ? I'm sure I have not a 
 white dress fit to put on, and what Lucy means to 
 wear I can't imagine ; I don't wonder she's pouting 
 about it."
 
 190 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 "That," he replied, "would be the last thing in 
 Lucy's thoughts at such a time, I am very certain, 
 and I don't see why you should care for your dress. 
 I shall be the only young gentleman present, and 
 you won't expect much notice from me under the 
 circumstances." 
 
 " So you will marry yourselves after the Quaker 
 fashion ?" 
 
 " No ; Mr. Selden of course will perform the cere 
 mony." 
 
 " Mr. Selden ! well, let me assure you, sir, that I 
 consider Mr. Selden well worth pleasing. He's a 
 great deal handsomer, and somewhat younger too, 
 than some persons I could mention." 
 
 " Oh ! Fanny, Fanny ! Why, can't you be serious 
 for once ?" 
 
 " Fanny ! well really, you take upon yourself the 
 airs of a married man rather soon. I shall go to 
 Lucy now, and coax her to put off this affair until 
 we can send to the States for a proper outfit, and 
 have a military wedding, all in style." 
 
 I ran below, and burst into Lucy's apartment with 
 a smile on my face, and a light word upon my lip ; 
 but my first glance at the dear girl changed the cur 
 rent of my feelings, and, instead of trying to quiet
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 191 
 
 her, I threw my arms around her, and joined my 
 tears with hers. She was the first to speak. 
 
 " Oh, Fanny, am I acting justly, honourably ? 
 would my mother approve my conduct? I am so 
 afraid my feelings have blinded my judgment." 
 
 " Dear Lucy, be assured your mother will heartily 
 approve of all you have done. Trust Mrs. Howard 
 entirely. You know, although the Colonel's judg 
 ment might have been influenced by his wishes, his 
 mother would not, even for his sake, advise you to 
 anything improper." 
 
 " Mrs. Howard is so kind, so generous, I cannot 
 answer or resist her arguments. But consider my 
 engagement with Captain Parker. Have I a right 
 to break it?" 
 
 " Yes, with his consent, which has been freely 
 given. As to his wife, don't waste a thought on her ; 
 she dare not make any open opposition." 
 
 " I hope," said Lucy, "she will not be present at 
 the ceremony ; I could not bear to see her just now." 
 
 "You need not look at her until you are Mrs. 
 Colonel Howard, and then you will rank her, you 
 know, and it will be condescension in you to notice 
 her at all. Oh ! it will be such fun to see Xantippe 
 obliged to play the polite and amiable to the com 
 manding officer's lady."
 
 192 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 "Oh! Fanny!" said Lucy, sighing, "how can 
 you talk so lightly of it; how differently I feel." 
 
 " That's because you are too good for this world. 
 I shouldn't wonder some day to see you suspended, 
 like Mahomet's coffin, between heaven and earth, as 
 unsuited to the one, and not quite ready for the other. 
 But Lucy, dear child, are you really going to be mar 
 ried in the same dress you wore at dinner ? I never 
 heard of such a thing in civilized life. I scared your 
 Colonel half to death just now, by representing the 
 impossibility of the thing being done lawfully, with 
 out a reinforcement to our wardrobe." 
 
 " In truth, I never thought of it, Fanny ; I will 
 leave the matter to you. Will you be my bridesmaid, 
 and dress me according to your own pleasure ?" 
 
 "Yes, indeed I will, and Colonel Howard shall 
 invite Mr. Spencer to be my partner, and we'll have 
 a wedding after all. I do hate this stealing into 
 matrimony like a mouse into a trap. It will not 
 sound so badly either, in the newspaper announce 
 ment : Married, in the ship Wildfire, in the Pacific 
 Ocean, latitude so and so, longitude so and so. I 
 declare, I quite like the idea, it is so. odd." 
 
 I saw that my object was attained ; this light chat 
 was wiling Lucy's mind away from the sad thoughts 
 in which she had been indulging. I searched her
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 193 
 
 trunks for the prettiest dress ; and arranging her 
 hair in its most becoming style, declared myself 
 satisfied with the result. 
 
 "Now," said I, "you must go with me until 
 I make my toilet ; for if I leave you alone, you may 
 get the blues again, and I consider myself pledged 
 for your good behaviour." 
 
 I wrote a line to the Colonel, telling him we would 
 be ready in half an hour, and asking him to let Mr. 
 Spencer know what was expected of him. I was 
 soon dressed, and we sat conversing together, until 
 we heard a tap at my door. It was Mrs. Howard. 
 
 " We are waiting for you, my dear girls," said she, 
 cheerfully. " Here, Mr. Spencer, you and Fanny 
 go in first." 
 
 I took my partner's arm, and saw that the Colonel 
 was just behind us. Mr. Selden was ready with 
 his gown and book, and commenced the service as 
 soon as we had taken our stations. I saw it had 
 been contrived that there should be no delay, no 
 opportunity for Lucy to be agitated by surrounding 
 circumstances. It was well thought of. I feared, as 
 it was, she would be hardly able to go through with it. 
 
 She became so deadly pale that I passed my arm 
 around her waist, supposing she was going to faint ; 
 but she did not. She made the necessary responses 
 
 17
 
 194 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 in a low, clear voice, and did not shed a tear until it 
 was all over, when Mrs. Howard, putting her arms 
 around her, kissed her cheek so tenderly, saying, 
 " My daughter, my dear daughter !" 
 
 Lucy upon this burst into tears, and I cried too, 
 and then laughed, and the Colonel tried to say some 
 thing, but didn't know what, and we were as foolish 
 a looking party as you ever saw, until little George 
 Parker, who had surveyed the whole scene in asto 
 nishment, cried out, " Father, what is Miss Lucy 
 crying about ? The Colonel sha'n't take her, if she 
 don't want him to, shall he ?" 
 
 A general laugh relieved the awkwardness of the 
 company. I blessed the little rogue for his timely 
 aid, and vowed him a bag of sugar-plums on the 
 first opportunity. 
 
 Mrs. Parker was not present. "How did she take 
 it?" whispered I to Mrs. Howard. 
 
 " Not well, as you may believe. Indeed, her vio 
 lence frightened me. She talked of being shame 
 fully treated, deceived, insulted by Lucy, by my son, 
 by her husband. I tried to reason with her, but 
 without effect. I left her, and begged my son to go 
 and talk with her. I told him she must be quieted 
 before we could expect Lucy to comply with our 
 wishes ; that it would be cruel to allow the dear child
 
 THE KOMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 195 
 
 to suffer from her violence. I did not accompany 
 him to Mrs. Parker's state-room ; I shrank from a 
 repetition of a scene I had just witnessed. In about 
 fifteen minutes he came out, and told me, with a 
 smile, that the storm had blown over. * She will offer 
 no opposition,' said he ; ' indeed she professes that 
 she saw how it would be from the first, and is ex 
 ceedingly gratified that she should have been the 
 means of my obtaining such an estimable companion, 
 one who will be the ornament and pride of any garri 
 son, &c.' ' 
 
 "Why, the Colonel is a perfect Van Amburgh," 
 I cried. " I wish I could have seen the process of 
 taming the tigress ; it would have exceeded any ex 
 hibition in a menagerie. Wouldn't he tell you, Mrs. 
 Howard, whether it was gold or threats he em 
 ployed?" 
 
 " No, Fanny ; I didn't urge him on the subject. 
 He pities the Captain so much that he will not un 
 necessarily expose the failings of his wife." 
 
 The hours until tea-time passed very pleasantly. 
 Lucy was quite herself again, and Colonel Howard 
 of course more entertaining than usual. Mrs. How 
 ard looked the proudest and happiest of mothers. 
 Seated close by Lucy, with her hand often placed 
 caressingly on her shoulder, almost every sentence
 
 196 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 she spoke commenced or ended with "my daughter." 
 I had been seated by her other side, but after a time 
 rose and changed my seat, saying poutingly, " Mrs. 
 Howard is so elated with her new acquisition, that 
 she hasn't a thought to bestow on poor me." 
 
 " Oh, Fanny dear, come back," she cried, really 
 believing me as much hurt as I pretended. " You 
 are also my daughter in affection ; I wish I had an 
 other son, to make you so in reality." 
 
 " I am very glad you have not, then, Mrs. How 
 ard," said Mr. Selden; "it would be injustice to the 
 community for one family to monopolize two such 
 treasures." 
 
 Such a compliment ! and from the Parson, too ! 
 I knew it was all a joke, but I couldn't help feeling 
 foolishly; and, what was worse, I was conscious that 
 I showed it. 
 
 When the supper bell called us below, there we 
 found Mrs. Parker, standing in awful dignity, wait 
 ing for a presentation to the bride. She reminded 
 me, as she looked so cold and immovable, of the 
 pillar of salt into which Lot's wife was converted, 
 though, to be sure, not quite so tall as that column 
 is said to be at the present day. 
 
 Colonel Howard, in a graceful but formal manner,
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 197 
 
 led Lucy towards her, and bowing, said, "Mrs. 
 Parker, my wife, Mrs. Howard." 
 
 Lucy half extended her hand, but the statue had 
 no idea of such familiarity. Curtsying, so as to 
 draw herself still farther back, she muttered " con 
 gratulate," and "happiness," &c., to which the party 
 addressed replied by a bow, and then all turned to 
 the table. 
 
 "If Mrs. Parker," whispered I to Mr. Selden, 
 "had been in the palace of Truth while making those 
 pretty compliments, she would have said instead ' I 
 wish you were both in the bottom of the Red Sea.' ' 
 
 "Perhaps so," he replied, smiling sadly; "but 
 could any of us, Miss Fanny, stand such a test? 
 Do we not continually express sentiments and use 
 phrases that are at variance with our true feelings?" 
 
 "We do, indeed," said I, "and I am sorry for the 
 unkind remark. I am sure no one would be more 
 unfitted for such an atmosphere than myself, who 
 say so many things that I do not think, and talk so 
 much without thinking at all." 
 
 17*
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Amusing Anecdotes Speak a Vessel with Despatches from the 
 United States Harriet made happy by a Letter from Home 
 A Distressing Occurrence saddens every Heart Voyage draws 
 to a Close with great Sorrow in the Parker Family Anchor 
 off Monterey, September 2d, 1849. 
 
 AUGUST 21st. Colonel Howard to-day, in giving 
 Lucy a description of the domestics belonging to 
 his establishment, mentioned an Irish servant, who 
 had been a soldier during the Mexican war. 
 
 "My first introduction to him," said he, "was 
 curious enough. When our army had entered the 
 city of Mexico after the capitulation, although there 
 was no open opposition, we were much annoyed by 
 continual firing from windows and the roofs of the 
 houses. Numbers of our troops were killed in this 
 way, the assailants themselves being in security. 
 Scouring parties were sent out through the streets, 
 with orders to attack any house from which a shot 
 should proceed. While on duty with one of these
 
 THE ROMANCE OF TUB OCEAN. 199 
 
 parties, I noticed a solitary soldier standing on the 
 pavement opposite to one of the finest houses in the 
 city. I rode up and asked him what he did there. 
 'Whist, Captin,' said he in a low tone, 'don't be 
 spakin' so loud. Ye know the Gineral give orders 
 that we may enter and sack any house that we git a 
 shot from ; and so I'm standin' here till they fire on 
 me from that grand palace fornenst ye, and there's 
 some fellows waitin' round the corner yonder to help 
 me with the sackinV 'Why, you fool!' said I, 'you 
 haven't more than one chance in a hundred for your 
 life, if you are fired at.' 
 
 "'Maybe not, Captin,' said he, raising his cap 
 and scratching his head dubiously, ' but faith I blieve 
 I'll risk it anyway ; it '11 be mighty fine plunderin'.' 
 
 " I rode away and left him. That night General 
 Scott sent for some of the Catholic priests, and in 
 formed them that, if the firing was not immediately 
 put a stop to, he would have the finest buildings in 
 the city blown up, commencing with the Cathedral. 
 The menace had its effect. After a few hours there 
 was not another shot fired. 
 
 " I met the Irish soldier on the Plaza next day, 
 and expressed my surprise at seeing him with a 
 whole skin. 'Och! Captin,' said he, 'that's jest my 
 luck. Ye see, after standin' there four blessed hours,
 
 200 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 till I was a'most dead, who should come out but an 
 English sarvant, and he up and he tells me, " This 
 is the British Minister's house, and has a purtection 
 from Gineral Scott." Bad luck to me! I jest missed 
 makin' sich a grand for tin.' ' 
 
 22d. I have been provoked beyond all bearing 
 to-day. Lucy, overgood, as she always is, requested 
 Mrs. Parker to allow her to continue to instruct the 
 children during the remainder of the voyage. The 
 lady, after expressing her fears that it would be too 
 much trouble, &c., gave her assent, and, as graciously 
 as it was in her power to do, her thanks for Mrs. 
 Howard's kindness. 
 
 "What will the commandant say?" I inquired, 
 when Mrs. Parker had left us to collect her troop. 
 
 " Oh, I asked his permission first, of course, and 
 he is willing I should do as I please in such mat 
 ters. I shall be much happier to feel that I am use 
 fully employed, and it is really not at all unpleasant 
 to me." 
 
 "Well," said I, "if Colonel Howard has begun 
 already to yield to your whims, I can tell him what 
 he may expect when you get into garrison. In the 
 first place, you will have a Sunday school for the 
 poor neglected camp children, and then an afternoon 
 during the week will be devoted to the ignorant,
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 201 
 
 hard-working soldiers' wives, and of course you 
 must have an evening school for the wicked, friend 
 less soldiers. You will find so many useful employ 
 ments calling you out of the house that you will 
 have no time to spare for your home or husband. 
 It's a pity you hadn't married Mr. Selden ; you're 
 only fit to be the patient, zealous, all-enduring wife 
 of a missionary !" 
 
 " You pay me a high but undeserved compliment," 
 said Lucy, smiling at my warmth ; "I am not half 
 good enough for that." 
 
 Our Spanish lessons are continued. The bride 
 and groom are the best students among us. It's an 
 odd way of spending the honeymoon, teaching and 
 learning ; but they are as much at their ease as if 
 they had been married a dozen years. 
 
 28d. We spoke a vessel this morning, just from 
 Panama, bound to Monterey. The Captain asked if 
 they carried a mail from the United States ; and re 
 ceiving an affirmative answer, he sent over a boat to 
 ask for letters for his passengers. It was nearly two 
 hours before they returned, and we were all anxious 
 to get a peep at the letter bag, for letters, written a 
 month after we left home, might by this route reach 
 us here. There were two or three for Colonel 
 Howard, all official; one for father, and one for
 
 202 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 Harriet. I took more interest in this than in the 
 one from my own home ; for both Harriet and her 
 father seemed to feel as if life or death hung on its 
 contents. They walked to some- distance from the 
 rest of the party, but an appealing look from Har 
 riet made me keep by her side. 
 
 " I cannot open it," said she, after many a nervous 
 effort to break the seal. " Miss Fanny, please 
 glance over it, and tell me at once if there is hope." 
 
 I tore it open ; it commenced " Dearest child." 
 I turned to the last page ; the closing words were, 
 " Come back to our home and hearts." 
 
 "All good news," said I, gladly; for a burden 
 was taken from my own spirit ; " you may read it 
 without fear." 
 
 She read it aloud, as well as her tears would 
 allow. It was the sweetest, tenderest, letter I ever 
 listened to. They told her they were making every 
 effort to get a discharge for Frederick. " If we are 
 successful," they said, "come back without fear; 
 everything is forgiven, everything will be forgotten, 
 when we clasp you once more in our arms. Your 
 husband, too, shall be a son to us in place of the 
 dear one who is lost to us for ever." 
 
 When she read these words, O'Connor covered his 
 face with his hands, and shook with emotion. liar-
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 203 
 
 riet threw her arms around him, and kissing his, fore 
 head, exclaimed, 
 
 " Oh ! father ! there is happiness in store for them 
 they little suspect. If they had not for a time lost 
 their daughter, they would never have found their 
 son." 
 
 25th. Colonel Howard told us to-day, at dinner, 
 the following anecdote, related to him by the gallant 
 
 Colonel W , now one of the oldest and most 
 
 esteemed officers in our army. 
 
 " Soon after the close of the last war with Eng 
 land, being ordered to a western post, I arrived in 
 Pittsburg about one o'clock at night, after a fatiguing 
 journey of four successive days and nights in a stage 
 coach. Stopping at a hotel, I speedily secured my 
 baggage, and hastening to the bar, demanded a cham 
 ber. 
 
 " ' We have none,' was the reply, 'we are full.' 
 
 " ' You must find me a bed or a bench,' said I, 
 1 1 am nearly dead for want of sleep.' 
 
 " ' Well, there is one room, the occupant of which 
 is out, and will not return to-night, as it is late. I 
 must let you in there, I suppose, at a venture.' 
 
 " He showed me to the chamber, in which there 
 was only a single bed. Completely exhausted, I 
 raised the quilt, and throwing myself in, boots, spurs,
 
 204 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 and all, just as I had travelled, I covered myself 
 up, and in an instant was asleep. I know not how 
 long I had slept, when I was aroused by a rough 
 hand jerking at my shoulder, and an angry voice, 
 with many oaths, was asserting its owner's right to 
 the bed, and bidding me vacate with all convenient 
 speed. 
 
 " ' Yours or not,' said I, ' here I am, and here I'll 
 stay until I get my nap out ; but if you choose, you 
 may get in beside me.' So saying, I threw off the 
 quilt, and raising my foot, displayed my singular 
 1 coutume de nuit.' 
 
 u * My stars !' exclaimed my visiter, in a tone of 
 dismay, 'booted and spurred !' then with a volley of 
 imprecations, rushed from the room, leaving me in 
 undisturbed possession. 
 
 " The next day I dined by invitation with a brother 
 officer, stationed near the city. Among the guests, 
 all strangers to me, was a British officer, who, to my 
 great embarrassment entertained the company by a 
 humorous account of the manner in which he had 
 been deprived of the use of his chamber the night 
 before. My friend, after the laugh had subsided, 
 directing the officer's attention to me said, ' Colonel 
 
 , allow me to introduce to you Lieutenant , 
 
 of the American army, the unceremonious intruder
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 205 
 
 upon your rights last night.' I blundered out an 
 apology, but he behaved like a gentleman, and looked 
 upon the affair as a capital joke." 
 
 Colonel Howard added another anecdote, as fol 
 lows : 
 
 " On the reduction of our army, at the close of 
 the war with England, many officers were thrown 
 upon the world without a cent, and at an age when 
 it would be too late to study a profession, and very 
 difficult to obtain any respectable means of support 
 for themselves and families. Mr. Monroe then oc 
 cupied the presidential chair. 
 
 "A Major Barker, then stationed in Florida, had, 
 from his earliest boyhood, been a schoolmate and 
 companion of the young James Monroe, and they 
 continued warm friends through their after-life. 
 When, by the reduction, Major Barker found him 
 self deprived of the means of subsistence, he saddled 
 his horse, threw his saddle-bags across it, and started 
 off" instanter for Washington. 
 
 " One day, a shabby, dusty traveller, dismounted 
 from a lank-sided, jaded steed, at the gate of the 
 White House. Taking his saddle-bags on his arm, 
 the horseman mounted the steps of the mansion, and 
 
 rang the bell with the air of an emperor. 
 
 18
 
 206 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 " * Is Jemmy Monroe at home ?' he inquired of the 
 astonished waiter who opened the door. 
 
 " ' Do you mean his excellency the President ?' 
 
 " 'Yes. I suppose you call him so.' 
 
 " ' Yes, he's at home ; hut I reckon you can't see 
 him,' said the fellow, with a sneer, looking mon 
 strously inclined to shut the door in the visiter's 
 face. 
 
 " ' Look here, fellow,' said the Major, * do you go 
 in and tell him that Sam Barker wants to see him.' 
 
 " Thanks to the heavy horsewhip, or something in 
 the Major's countenance, that the servant feared to 
 trifle with, he oheyed the command, and was told by 
 Mr. Monroe to show the gentleman in. 
 
 " '"Well, Jemmy,' said the Major, giving the Pre 
 sident's hand a hearty shake, 'you've taken away 
 my living, so I have come to stay with you until you 
 find me some honest way of getting my hread.' 
 After a few words the astonished servant was sum 
 moned, and told to have the horse sent to the stable, 
 and a chamber prepared immediately for Major 
 Barker. He actually remained several weeks the 
 guest of the President, and was provided with a 
 lucrative office." 
 
 Having a lovely starlight evening, Mr. Selden 
 wanted me to walk with him, the vessel moving so
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 207 
 
 steadily you could hardly feel her motion at all. I 
 took his offered arm accordingly, and we slowly 
 paced the deck until we reached the further end, 
 without a word having been spoken by either of us. 
 
 "Well," said I, "when a lady is invited to walk, 
 it is understood, I believe, that her partner is to 
 entertain her. Meditation is very pleasant in its 
 place, but it must be voluntary and not forced ; and, 
 for my part, just now I feel no inclination for it; so, 
 Mr. Selden, please tell me if I am to have the plea 
 sure of hearing your voice to-night, for, if not, I'll 
 rejoin our friends, who were conversing very plea 
 santly when I left them at your request." 
 
 " Oh, Fanny !" he ejaculated with a sigh, as if I 
 had interrupted some deeply interesting train of 
 thought. V ; 
 
 "No, sir, excuse me; not Fanny to you. I allow 
 it in Colonel Howard, because he is a married man, 
 and very old beside." 
 
 " Forgive me, Miss Fanny pray, forgive me, for 
 indeed I was not aware of what I was saying, I was 
 thinking so deeply." 
 
 " Well, I'll excuse you this time, if you'll tell me 
 what it was that absorbed you so completely." 
 
 " I will tell you," said he, quite seriously. " I was 
 left an orphan, and brought up by a bachelor uncle,
 
 208 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 who is the nearest relative I have ; and, for the last six 
 years, residing altogether at college, I have had very 
 few opportunities of mingling with general society, 
 and none of being intimately associated with any of 
 the female sex. Judge, then, Miss Fanny, you, 
 who are so fond of the social, cheerful intercourse of 
 every-day life, whether the few months I have spent 
 on shipboard have not been to me the most delightful 
 I have ever known ; and then say if you can blame 
 me for looking sadly forward to the future, made 
 doubly gloomy by this brief period of sunshine and 
 gladness." 
 
 "But you will be still near us," said I, quite 
 touched by his tone of despondency. "I am sure at 
 Colonel Howard's you will always find a cheerful 
 hearth and a warm welcome ; and my father, too, 
 though not so pleasant a companion, will be gratified 
 if you will visit us frequently." 
 
 " Oh, you are all kind, very kind," said he, "and 
 I ought not to murmur, but I shall feel the change 
 deeply. I must work the harder," said he, after a 
 pause, " and thus prevent sad thoughts from having 
 too much power over me. Our Spanish lessons, too, 
 must be given up ; you and Mrs. Howard will be too 
 much engaged in household duties, I presume, to 
 wish to continue them."
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 209 
 
 "Indeed," said I, "Lucy and I are most anxious 
 to go on with the study, but we feared to propose it, 
 lest it should be too much of a tax on your time." 
 
 "Oh, Miss Fanny," he exclaimed eagerly, "if 
 you only knew how I enjoyed the pleasant com 
 panionship of that evening hour, you would not have 
 hesitated to make known your wishes." 
 
 Just then Mr. Spencer and father came up and 
 joined us, and we all continued together until it was 
 time to retire. I was glad of the interruption, for 
 the conversation was too gloomy to suit my taste. 
 
 26th. This morning father called me into his 
 room and said, " Well, Fan, I've made Mr. Selden a 
 proposal, to which he consents, if it has your ap 
 proval." 
 
 " A proposal ! Oh ! father, how could you ? what 
 can you mean ?" said I, looking like a ninny. . 
 
 " Mean, child ! why nothing to look foolish about. 
 I didn't offer him your hand and heart ; I only asked 
 him to take a room in my quarters, and a seat at my 
 table. As he is such a fine, clever fellow, and a mon 
 strous favourite with you, I did not suppose you 
 would object, I'm sure." 
 
 "I ! Oh no ! I shall be very glad, indeed," said 
 I, vexed at my awkward embarrassment. 
 
 "I don't know, though," said father, musingly, 
 18*
 
 210 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 " whether it was a wise thing or not. I believe he's 
 a little tender, Fan, on the score of a certain very 
 giddy young lady. I wonder at it in a man of his 
 sense, but I don't know that you could do better ; so 
 he has my best wishes if he chooses to make the 
 attempt." 
 
 " Oh ! father," said I, " he is too good; and besides 
 he's poor, and I'm so young. It's impossible he 
 should have any such intention." 
 
 " Odd reasons enough," replied father, laughing. 
 "As to his goodness, you being rather deficient in 
 that quality, will require an extra allowance in the 
 other member of the firm ; in poverty you are about 
 equal; and as for your youth, that objection will 
 have less weight every day. There, go now, and 
 tell Selden, if you see him, it's all settled." 
 
 I went slowly up to the deck, and the first person 
 I met was Mr. Selden. Father's absurd hints made 
 me feel a little embarrassed, but I determined to be 
 myself, and said gaily, 
 
 " Father has just told me, Mr. Selden, of his pro 
 posal to you, and I assure you, your acceptance of 
 it will give me pleasure. Understand me though, 
 there are certain conditions to be premised. I am 
 an entirely untaught, inexperienced housekeeper, and 
 there may be many failures in the kitchen depart-
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 211 
 
 ment ; I don't expect father to overlook such things, 
 but you must promise that should the bread happen 
 to be a little sour, the acid shall not be communi 
 cated to your looks or temper, and if the light-cakes 
 should be of the consistence of lead, they are not to 
 have the effect of weighing down your spirits. If 
 you will 
 
 ' Be to my faults a little blind, 
 And to my virtues ever kind,' 
 
 I shall regard your compliance with my father's in 
 vitation as a real favour." 
 
 " I will promise all and everything, Miss Fanny," 
 he replied, laughing, " and the first time you see me 
 look cross, you may turn me out of the house." 
 
 28th. I shrink from the task of relating an occur 
 rence that has cast a gloom over the whole company. 
 
 The day before yesterday, Sam Parker was sitting 
 on the ship's side fishing, when his line became en 
 tangled with some floating object, and attempting to 
 extricate it by a sudden jerk, he lost his balance and 
 fell overboard. It being the hour of rest, after din 
 ner, no one was on the deck at the time but myself 
 and some sailors, who. were engaged at their duties. 
 My screams brought every soul up in an instant, but 
 although I pointed out the exact spot where the boy
 
 212 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 fell, lie was not to be seen at all. The boat was 
 lowered, and the men rowed round and round the 
 vessel, the deck of which the while resounded with 
 the frantic screams of the mother and children, and 
 the agonized voice of the father addressed to the cap 
 tain, mate, and crew, to save his boy, all of whom were 
 using every possible means to effect the desired object. 
 
 It was not until more than an hour had elapsed 
 that the body rose to the surface from under the 
 stern of the vessel, where it had been held fast for a 
 time by the line which the boy had coiled around his 
 waist. 
 
 Mrs. Parker's cries ceased when she beheld the 
 body lifted into the boat ; and when it was raised to 
 the deck and placed on a sofa, I never saw any 
 thing so touching as the expression of her counte 
 nance, as, without a word, she kissed and embraced 
 the wet lifeless body. ; i." 
 
 " Doctor," she said, looking up in father's face, 
 " won't you try everything you are acquainted with, 
 to restore life? it may not be too late." 
 
 Every means of resuscitation were resorted to, 
 merely to satisfy the parents, for there was no possi 
 bility even, father said, of restoring animation. At 
 length, they too saw the hopelessness of the case, and 
 allowed the body to be carried below, out of sight.
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 213 
 
 Mrs. Parker first knelt down by the sofa, and press 
 ing the cold hand to her cheek, she murmured, " My 
 bright-eyed, my merry-hearted boy, must you lie 
 alone beneath the dark deep waters ! it would better 
 suit your wretched mother." Then kissing the lips 
 again and again, she rose and went to her room, 
 with a face pale almost as that of the corpse, but her 
 features perfectly composed. 
 
 Strange woman ! 
 
 The father where he sought a place to mourn, I 
 know not ; we saw him no more until the solemn 
 ceremonies of burial were about to commence, at ten 
 o'clock the next day. The coffin, sewed up in white 
 canvass, was placed on an inclined plank, ready at a 
 given signal to be plunged into the ocean. Mr. Sel- 
 den, in his gown, was about to commence the service, 
 when he observed that Mrs. Parker was not present. 
 He whispered to Colonel Howard, if it was under 
 stood, that she did not wish it. The Colonel an 
 swered, that " it was her husband's desire that she 
 should not be informed of it until all was over." Mr. 
 Selden opened his book, and had read a few words, 
 when a noise was heard, and Mrs. Parker came 
 hastily up from the cabin. With a flushed face, and 
 her own loud and bitter tone of speaking, she cried, 
 
 " Who dared to bury my boy without his mother's
 
 214 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 presence ? say, who dared ? I should like to know 
 whom I am to thank for this kindness ?" 
 
 "My dear Sarah," said her husband, "it was all 
 to spare you. I thought it would be best " 
 
 "You thought! yes let me tell you, Mr. Parker, 
 if you had done it, sir if you only had kept me from 
 seeing the last of my darling boy I would never 
 have seen your face again never never ! Go on, 
 Mr. Selden ; you will see who can bear it best, the 
 strong-hearted man, or the poor weak woman." 
 
 The ceremony was concluded without further in 
 terruption. When the coffin was to be thrown off, I 
 turned away and shut my eyes it was too awful ; 
 but when, after hearing the plunge, I resumed my 
 former position, Mrs. Parker, though pale, looked 
 more calm than any of the spectators. While her 
 husband, weeping like a child, was being led away 
 by Colonel Howard, Mrs. Parker went to her state 
 room, and did not come among us again until this 
 morning, when she and the Captain joined us at the 
 breakfast-table, both so sad and silent, it was painful 
 to look at them. 
 
 I wish more than ever now, for our speedy arrival 
 at Monterey ; it is impossible to be gay again with 
 this scene in our thoughts, and the bereaved parents 
 ever before our eyes.
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 215 
 
 September 1st. I have not felt in the humour to 
 write for some days. I have been seconding Mrs. 
 Howard's benevolent efforts to amuse the two little 
 Parkers, and keep them from annoying their mother. 
 Oh ! your heart would ache to see what a change 
 has taken place in this poor lady ; I would give any 
 thing to hear her scold once more. 
 
 She goes through her daily duties with the regu 
 larity of a machine, omitting nothing that she has 
 been accustomed to do ; even the ponderous work- 
 basket has its usual place on her knee, and she darns 
 and stitches still, from breakfast to tea-time ; but her 
 blue eye has a lifeless expression, and her voice, when 
 she speaks, is so low and calm, that it sounds as if 
 she had no more interest in anything under the sun. 
 Occasionally she will rouse herself as if from a reverie, 
 and say hurriedly, " Jake, where's Sam ?" then sud 
 denly recollecting herself, her face becomes flushed, 
 then pale and settled down again into its prevalent 
 expression of listlessness. Her husband is very un 
 easy about her ; and father says, if we do not very 
 soon reach land, that her intellect will be permanently 
 deranged. 
 
 September 2d. Land in sight ! was proclaimed 
 from aloft soon after breakfast this morning. Most 
 welcome sound ! We were soon able to discern the
 
 216 THE ROMANCE OP THE OCEAN. 
 
 more prominent points from the deck, and continued 
 to watch with absorbed attention, as the line of coast 
 rose slowly to view in the distant horizon. With 
 gladdened hearts, but sobered by the late sad event, 
 we were little disposed for conversation. All seemed 
 to prefer communing with their own thoughts. Never 
 can I forget the heavenly expression on Lucy's coun 
 tenance, as she stood, silent and contemplative, lean 
 ing on the arm of Colonel Howard, pondering, as I 
 imagined, on the goodness of that merciful Being, 
 who has conducted our solitary ship so far in safety 
 over the mighty waters. Observing her intently, 
 and touched by her impressive manner even to tears, 
 with feelings to which I have heretofore been too 
 much a stranger, I could not forbear saying to my 
 self, "Shall I ever be like her?" Unconscious of 
 speaking audibly, you may judge of my surprise 
 when Mr. Selden, who, it seems, had been near my 
 side and noticed my emotion, replied to my soliloquy 
 in a subdued voice, and most soothing accents, "Yes, 
 Fanny, you will be like her ; you will learn to be 
 like her ; you are becoming like her every day." 
 
 It is now afternoon, and I have just come from 
 the deck. Mr. Spencer says we may expect to be 
 at anchor off Monterey this evening, and to-morrow 
 morning to be on shore. My joy is too great to be
 
 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 217 
 
 expressed. I shall be wild with delight, and almost 
 feel at home again, when we have once more 
 
 " Freedom's soil beneath our feet, 
 And freedom's banner floating o'er us." 
 
 With the voyage ends this crooked, blotted, un 
 sightly scrawl. When I receive your full absolution 
 for such an infliction, I will give you, perhaps, my 
 impressions of life in California. 
 
 Truly, dearest Ellen, 
 
 Your devoted friend, 
 
 FANNY FOLEY. 
 
 P. S. I had put up my packet in a neat envelope, 
 and sealed it with a dozen seals, and was about 
 despatching it to you, with my good wishes for its 
 safe journey, when Harriet came in with a piece of 
 news that delighted me so much I could not withhold 
 it from you. Her countenance wore a double ex 
 pression of evident joy, and yet as if she felt she 
 ought to be sorry. 
 
 "Harriet," said I, "what in the world have you to 
 tell me?" 
 
 " Oh ! Miss Fanny, I am so happy ! I mean I'm 
 so sorry my poor dear Frederick had a fall from a 
 ladder and broke his thigh, and will be disabled for 
 
 19
 
 218 THE ROMANCE OF THE OCEAN. 
 
 months, perhaps for life. But oh ! Miss Fanny, the 
 Colonel can discharge him immediately, without 
 waiting to hear from Washington, and we shall all 
 go home, father, Frederick and I, to the dear old 
 home, and we shall go across the Isthmus it won't 
 take us six weeks. Oh ! isn't it enough to make me 
 beside myself with joy ? I laugh and cry by turns 
 ever since I knew it." 
 
 "And how does the scamp I mean," said I, "how 
 does the dear fellow look and behave ?" 
 
 " Oh, he is pale, Miss Fanny, very pale, but so 
 handsome you can't think. I do want you to see 
 him. And he's so grateful to me, and so affectionate 
 to father. Oh, we shall be too happy !" 
 
 There is no pity for Frederick, though, mingled 
 with my pleasure at Harriet's happy prospects. I 
 shall be almost glad to hear that he has to limp 
 about on a crutch for a few years. He well deserves 
 it for his selfishness and folly. 
 
 Once more farewell. 
 
 Yours ever, most fondly, 
 
 FANNY FOLEY.
 
 LINDSAY & BLAKISTON PUBLISH 
 
 CHARACTERISTICS OF LITERATURE, 
 
 ILLUSTRATED BY THE GENIUS OF DISTINGUISHED MEN, 
 
 BY 
 
 HENRY F. TUOKERMAN, 
 AUTHOR OF "THOUGHTS ON THE POETS," "ARTIST LIFE," ETC. 
 
 A neat 12mo. volume. 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 The Philosopher Sir Thomas Browne. 
 
 The Dilettante Shenstone. 
 
 The Moralist William Ellery Cbanning. 
 
 The Wit Dean Swift. 
 
 The Philanthropist William Koscoe. 
 
 The Humorist Charles Lamb. 
 
 The Historian T. Babington Macaulay. 
 
 The Idealist John Sterling. 
 
 The Rhetorician Edmund Burke. 
 
 The Scholar Mark Akenside. 
 
 The Biographer Final Memorials of Lamb and Keats. 
 
 This forms, for the traveller, the sojourner at a watering-place, or in the 
 country, an agreeable volume for summer reading. It is of a higher order ot 
 merit than the light literature of the day, while it is less diffuse than works 
 of a more standard character ; it will be found both instructive and enter 
 taining. 
 
 OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. 
 
 He has happily chosen Sir Thomas Browne as the representative of the 
 Philosopher ; Channing, of the Moralist ; Rpscoe, of the Philanthropist ; 
 Lamb, of the Humorist ; Macaulay, of the Historian, &c. A glance at its 
 pages, and a knowledge of the author, assures us that it will be admitted as 
 one of the happiest works that has proceeded from his pen discriminating 
 with distinctions, with the accessary illustrations of a man of taste and tra 
 vels. Literary World. 
 
 The idea is a happy one, that of delineating the various forms of literary 
 character, by selecting some single specimen from each class, and analysing 
 its peculiarities. The execution is distinguished by the good sense and good 
 taste which mark most of Mr. Tuckerman's criticisms. Evening Post. 
 
 Mr. Tuckerman never attempts anything that he does not thoroughly per 
 form. Equally successful, both in prose and verse, in this volume he has 
 thrown the graceful charm of his polished diction around the characters he 
 has selected Tor analysis. No one can take up the book without being de 
 lighted at every step of their progress. Boston Atlas. 
 
 Those who like to think as they read, will find much pleasure in this de 
 lightful volume. Baltimore American. 
 
 For a companion under a tree, in the present season, we could commend 
 few books as confidently as " The Characteristics of Literature," by Tucker 
 man a gentle-thoughted, discriminating, tasteful series of analytical portraits 
 of distinguished men. Home Journal. 
 
 Those who like to think as they read, will find much pleasure in this ana 
 lytical volume. American. 
 
 He has given us a very entertaining volume, that cannot fail to be popular. 
 Transcript.
 
 MACKAY'S JP^PULAR DELUSIONS, 
 
 LINDSAY & BLAKISTON PUBLISH 
 MEMOIRS OF EXTRAORDINARY POPULAR DELUSIONS, 
 
 BY 
 
 CHAKLES MACKAY, 
 
 AUTHOR OF THE " THAMES AND ITS TRIBUTARIES," &c., &c. 
 
 " The object of the author, in the following pages, has been to collect the 
 most remarkable instances of these moral epidemics which have been excited, 
 sometimes by one cause, sometimes by another, and so show how easily the 
 masses have been led astray, and how imitative and gregarious men are, even 
 in their infatuations and crimes." 
 
 ";*- CONTENTS, 
 
 The Mississippi Scheme. 
 
 The South Sea Bubble. 
 
 The Tulipomania. 
 
 Relics. 
 
 Modern Prophecies. 
 
 Popular Admiration for Great Thieves. 
 
 Influence of Politics and Religion on the 
 
 Hair and Beard. 
 Duels and Ordeals. 
 Popular Follies in Great Cities. 
 The O. P. Mania. 
 The Thugs, or Phansigars 
 
 The Witch Mania. 
 The Slow Poisoners. 
 The Crusaders. 
 Haunted Houses. 
 Philosophical Delusions. 
 Introductory Remarks. 
 The Alchymists, or Searches for the Philoso 
 pher's Stone and the Waters of Life. 
 Fortune-Telling. 
 The Magnetizers. 
 And various other subjects. 
 
 Two more interesting volumes than these we have rarely perused. Through 
 the whole runs a vein of clear perception of what is right and true, which 
 enhances the value of the book for domestic reading. Commercial Advertiser. 
 A more usefu\.work has not been published for many a day, or one that is 
 as well calculated to open the eyes of the credulous to the arts of the design 
 ing speculator, or shield the thoughtless from the evils of popular errors. 
 Saturday Courier. 
 
 This is a truly interesting and instructive work. The history is that of the 
 frailties and follies of poor human nature, and it may be read with profit by 
 all who are apt to give way to credulity and impulse. Pennsyl n Inquirer. 
 
 Every delusion noted in the work is a story, and every story is full of interest ; 
 it has all the charm of fiction, and must continually excite the surprise of the 
 reader that such things could be to excite "special wonder. Ball. 1 atrwt. 
 The subject is one of profound interest ; the branches on which the author 
 touches are numerous and varied ; and from these facts and his established 
 ability we cannot but regard the work as a valuable one, promising to reward 
 the attention which it will be sure to excite. N. American and U. 6. Gazette. 
 The whole range of subjects has a fundamental character, for we all take 
 pleasure in considering the infirmities of our fellows ; and this detailed and 
 connected history of them appeals to one of the most prevalent and powerful 
 of human sympathies. The conception of the work is not inferior to the 
 execution Its extensive circulation will not only entertain many, but, by the 
 engrafting of its author's plain, common-sense views, it will open the eyes 
 of many to the delusions of the present enlightened age. Evening Bulletin. 
 The Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions form a wide field for the 
 author His object has been to collect the most remarkable instances of those 
 moral epidemics which have been excited, and show how easily the 
 are led astray in their infatuations and crimes. Daily Sun.
 
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