The Water Witch glided on her way with fine breezes and in gallant
trim, as if conscious of her beauty and the charm she spread over the
waters. In truth, this gem of the ocean was a sort of idol with Capt.
Ringbolt, who declared he could never survive her loss. He insisted
that her like had never before floated on the sea, and that when her
day of service was over, old Neptune would give her a tomb in some
bed of coral and pearls, and send up a pillar of foam in perpetual
commemoration of this graceful jewel in his crown. Her passengers,
however, were occupied with far graver thoughts. The first interview
between Strale and Mary was too simple and impressive to be here
described. It is enough to say, that a remembrance of the dangers and
distresses of the last few months, while it bound them to each other
by the strongest ties, led them also to united and devout thanksgivings
to that divine Being who had preserved them through all.
The voyage to Virginia was soon accomplished. Capt. Ringbolt, whose
kind offices were so essential to the safety of Miss Lyford, and
without whose agency the project for her deliverance must have failed,
was well rewarded for his services. It is but just to say, however,
that his humanity and generosity prompted him to assist in the
undertaking without any stipulated recompense. He had no fear that
his trade would be essentially disturbed, as he was confident a state
of things so unnatural must soon pass away. Yet for a time he thought
it prudent to keep up his traffic along the southern coast, where his
business might still be prosecuted with success.
A few days after the arrival of the party at Virginia, they found
a vessel for England, in which they determined to embark. Having
established Somers in a small house, and furnished him with means to
cultivate a good farm, Walter and Lyford, with Mary, sailed for Europe.
The voyage was prosperous, and in two months from their embarkation
they reached the shores of France, and soon entered its gay metropolis,
where in the family of Mr. Strale, Mary Lyford found the affection of
parents, and gave in return the love and gratitude of a child. All
the scenes of their past history were related by Walter, and in a few
weeks, with the full consent of his parents, he led Mary to the nuptial
altar. Their happiness was now complete. Years of love and tranquillity
glided away, untarnished by the lapse of time, consecrated by a visible
communion with God, and the life of christian faith.
The same enlightened and devoted piety which resisted the force of
the wildest superstition, was equally victorious over the gayeties
and follies of Paris. They were placed in circumstances where the
attractions of the world, its distinctions and honors, were freely
offered them; but they chose to live as pilgrims and strangers on the
earth, looking for a better country, even a heavenly. After a few
years' residence in Paris, they removed to Bremen, the original home
of Mr. Strale, where Walter, highly distinguished for his literary
character, filled one of the most important civil offices, and
diffused around him the best influences of the christian faith, adorned
and supported by a truly christian example.
Mr. Lyford returned to New England. He loved the land of the pilgrims;
and notwithstanding its follies and crimes, it was still the home of
his heart. He had seen among the friends of his sister one whom his
judgment not less than his fancy recommended to his affections. It
was his first, his long cherished, and ever constant love. On his
arrival at Virginia he addressed a letter to Miss Elliott, in which he
disclosed his attachment, and begged she would reciprocate a love which
could be none but hers. This communication was not wholly unexpected;
for their early sympathies, and the high esteem in which Lyford had
ever been held, had long before this awakened responsive affection in
her own heart. Soon after, he appeared in Boston, and was united in
marriage to one who was the pride of her family, and whose charms of
person and manners were only excelled by those of Miss Lyford.
It was one of the first objects of Lyford on his return to New England,
to seek the unhappy Trellison, and convey to him the free forgiveness
of his sister, and her sincere desires for his usefulness and happiness
here and hereafter. He was particularly charged by Mary to perform this
act of christian charity; for the letter of Trellison, which she read
on board the Water Witch, made a deep impression on her mind. She well
knew the gloomy fanaticism of his temper, and was anxious to mitigate
as far as possible, the anguish and horror which had overwhelmed him.
Bitterness and revenge had no abode in the bosom of Miss Lyford; and
though she had previously written to Trellison and assured him of her
forgiveness, she was not satisfied till she could know from her brother
that her message had been communicated.
Lyford had much difficulty in ascertaining the residence of Trellison.
He found him at last in a remote settlement, where he was devoting his
time to the instruction of children, and exerting the best influence
in the very small and scattered community in which he lived. They
conversed together of the scenes through which they had passed; in
which Trellison declared that so far as he was an actor, he could never
forgive himself; and his only hope of pardon from Heaven was founded
on the assurance of forgiveness to the chief of sinners.
The ancient chronicle from which we have sketched these pictures
here drops its curtain. We find no further traces of the different
individuals whose characters and doings have flitted like a dream
before our minds. But their history shadows forth their destiny; and we
may trace its brighter or darker lines, by the characters in which they
have been seen.
That memorable tree under which these deeds of terror were done, was
then in its greenness and beauty. Not long after, and it literally
fulfilled the prophetic intimation of Trellison. "Smitten, as was
supposed by lightning, it withered away, and stood for years with
leafless, outstretched arms, and sapless trunk, until burned to the
ground, by the descendants of the third and fourth generation of those
who suffered under it. In superstitious minds, tempests and torrents
could not wash away the blood from the unhallowed hill whereon it grew,
and the soil was cursed and barren of wholesome vegetation."[A]
True Religion acknowledges no affinity with superstition. She has
indeed suffered from the artificial bonds in which skepticism has
entwined them; but if her robes have been soiled and her countenance
marred by the unnatural position she is thus compelled to occupy, her
voice of charity and accents of love still proclaim her divine, and she
will always come forth with renovated beauty, and offer to man the best
antidote against superstition, and his only true happiness for time and
eternity.