There are spots in life, like bright days in the year, when all above,
around, and beneath, is so full of beauty, that the spirit bathes in the
luxurious scene almost to weariness.
Such a spot to Sam was the day of his return to his native village. The
cordial welcome of the good old Commodore, testifying his hearty
approbation of his gallant conduct by a commission that at once
established his independence; the warm embrace of friends who had grown
up with him from boyhood, and who exulted in his enviable prosperity;
the respectful consideration that was meted out to him on all sides; and
above all, the flow of ardent and almost overpowering affection that met
him in that home, where parents and sisters poured out into his own
glowing bosom the bursting fulness of their hearts--affection, respect,
honor, and independence, all in one united band, waiting upon him, and
doing all that in them lay, to make this hour of his life bright and
happy.
The meeting between Sam and the family of Major (now General) Morris,
was all that he could have asked. His old and first friend, the General,
was at a distant part of the country, engaged in active service; but
Lady Morris greeted him with the warmth of a mother, and Susan, that
once retiring and bashful little girl--a glance of whose eye filled the
heart of the little sailor-boy with rapture, who had refused bright
offers, and turned away from many an ardent lover--met our hero with a
manner so cordial, and with all the friendship of her heart unmasked,
that he could doubt no longer of the pure delight that awaited him.
Peter was almost beside himself with joy, and kept his crutches going
from morning till night, cutting off immense slices from his bundle of
"pig-tail," and stowing them away two at a time; talking to every one he
met, telling most incredible stories, and sometimes, when he thought he
could do it without being heard huzzaing, as though to let off
superfluous steam.
The Commodore, however, before the close of the day, damped his ardor
for a few moments, by bringing a serious charge against his favorite.
'It is all well, Peter. To be sure, Captain Sam has shown himself a man,
but what do you think about his letting prisoners slip out of his hands
in that way?'
'In what way, your honor?'
'By letting them go, and giving them one of the ship's best boats; and
finding them with compass and stores, and every thing so that they might
put off to sea, and hunt up their squadron--that looks too much like
comforting the enemy, Peter.'
'Pardon me, your honor, if I can't agree with your honor this time.
Captain Sam had good warrant for what he did.'
'Good warrant, Peter--from whom?'
'I heered our minister--God bless him--on the last Sabbath, and your
honor must have heered him too, say--and he took it from the good old
Book, your honor--"Love your inimies, do good to them that hate
you"--and more of the same kind.'
'But, Peter, you don't mean that we should deal with these men, whom you
have been so long wishing that the winds would blow high and dry,
according to the good Book, do you?'
Peter had to turn his quid over, and chew a little on it, for he
remembered having indulged some rather ungenerous feelings--especially
towards his blockading friends.
'It is hard, I allow, as your honor very well knows, to make a man's
conscience always jibe right when encountering an inimy to one's self,
or thinking of one that is dear to us that may be like to git into their
clutches; but when a man can catch a chance to show a little Christian
spirit towards them that seek his hurt, whether it be inimies to one's
country, or inimies to one's self, it will be better, as I take it, in
the long run, your honor, and at the last reckoning, that we should do
so.'
'Well, well, Peter, it is getting late, and you must be pretty well
tired to-day, you had better turn in.'
'Many thanks to your honor, and a long life.'