WE ARE GOING HOME.
"The sounds that fall on mortal ear
As dew-drops pure at even,
That soothe the breast, or start the tear,
Are Mother, Home, and Heaven.
"A home, that paradise below,
Of sunshine and of flowers,
Where hallowed joys perennial flow,
By calm celestial bowers."
ANONYMOUS.
Time wore heavily on with Winnie Santon, after Natalie had left them.
Left as she was, much in her unnatural mother's society, who seemed to
be never more pleased than when she might thwart her designs, or, in
some manner act so as to make those about her uncomfortable, it was not
to be wondered at, if she did sigh for other days, and a confidant, to
whom she might unburden her heart. Her father spent but a small portion
of his time at home; on the contrary, he rather sought to avoid the
fireside, which had once been so dear to him. His feelings, whatever
they might have been, were kept locked up within his own breast, yet
Winnie could read the look of sympathy which he bent upon her, as he
grasped her by the hand, ere he hurried away to banish painful
recollections by duties "on change." When difficulties, which Natalie
had foreseen, caused Winnie's heart to ache, she would school herself to
meet the injustice as she knew _she_ would have done; and the timely
advice of the Sea-flower proved to the lone girl a valuable legacy. She
had heard from Natalie, through the correspondence which for some time
she had kept up with our friend Harry Grosvenor, the which letters were
anticipated and perused with no common interest; indeed, her happiness,
scarcely realized by herself, was closely allied therewith. Mrs. Santon
looked upon these ever punctual letters, which appeared so frequently
among the post-boy's morning deposits, with an evil eye, yet they did
not serve to banish the schemes of her invention in regard to Mr.
Montague, as a favored competitor for the hand of the heiress; and it
was his unwelcome visits, which were not unfrequent, that counted among
the numerous trials which weighed more and more heavily upon her
spirits. Poor Winnie! each life is made of joys and sorrows.
The death of Mr. Delwood was a deep affliction to his son, for although
he was an austere man, forbidding in his manners, he had always
manifested a spirit of tenderness for his only remaining relative, and
Clarence now sought to dispel the loneliness which was creeping over
him, by directing his attention to his father's unsettled estates, which
was no light task, as Mr. Delwood had been a gentleman of great
property. The life-like specimens of artistical skill, executed by Mr.
Alboni, known only to Boston lovers of the fine arts as "the unknown
artist," were disposed of by Clarence Delwood, in accordance with the
wishes of Mr. Alboni, who, in entrusting the Madonna to his keeping
until his return, placed not only the likeness of the mother before him,
but it possessed him of a correct likeness of his betrothed.
The noble steamer Atlantic, after a most favorable passage of twelve
days, carried our friends safely to the desired port of Liverpool. As
Natalie stood once again upon terra firma, she could hardly credit that
over three thousand miles of ocean separated her from her home,--that
the same waves which washed the shores of her cherished island, broke
upon the shores of this Eastern world.
Mr. Alboni was in the happiest frame of mind as they made the tour of
England and Scotland, for from thence they would repair to his own loved
Italy. Over the mind of the tourist, visiting the Old World for the
first time,--countries where have transpired thrilling events recorded
in history, what an immensity of thought and feeling sweeps! It was thus
with Natalie; she could not realize that she was treading in the
footsteps of royalty, who living in long past days, had held sway over
this land, had looked upon this land of "merrie England" as their home.
London, like a mighty Babel, rose before them, her gigantic towers
telling of man's greatness, while the resplendent shining of the sun,
reflected from a million turrets, proclaimed that there was one above
all. St. Paul's, with its dome of grandeur, reflecting not only honor
upon her world-renowned architect, Sir Christopher Wren, but standing a
living memento that Christ hath built his church upon earth.
Westminster must be visited by every stranger. As Natalie roamed over
this vast structure, in itself a world of curiosity, like so many small
churches roofed in by one great canopy, she lingered in the south
transept, in what is called the Poet's Corner. Here are the tombs of
many of the most famous poets of England. Chaucer, Edmund Spencer,
Francis Beaumont, and others, have tablets here erected to their memory,
while in other chapels are monuments erected in memory of sovereigns,
who have long since gone to render an account of their deeds done here,
to the one great Sovereign of the universe. As the eye of Natalie rested
upon the tomb of the gentle Mary, Queen of Scots, the history of whose
brief life, and the many cruel indignities which were heaped upon her,
rushing to her memory, she stood as if riveted to the spot, when a voice
near her attracted her attention, and a rough-looking old sailor,
tarpaulin in hand, threw himself at her feet, exclaiming,--"Bless the
memory of old England! She is more sensible than I ever thought for.
They couldn't have done a nobler thing than to have placed _her_
likeness here!" and thus the jolly fellow's tongue flew, as if he would
re-spin all the forecastle yarns of his lifetime, much to the
discomfiture of the eagle-eyed guide, who bade the intruder begone; but
our nautical friend, deigning to give this polite invitation to depart
no further notice than he would have given to the juvenile whales, as
they were taking first lessons in spouting of their maternal protector,
the guide seized him by the shoulder, and was about to show honest Jack
what virtue there was in "force of arms," when Mr. Alboni interfered,
saying,--let us at least hear what the honest fellow would say
for himself."
"Your honor,", exclaimed Jack, whose very countenance spoke as plainly
as a nose which appeared as if it had been imitating the feathered
tribes, in their efforts to satisfy thirst, for so long, that its
tendency had become upward in sympathy, and eyes which it were difficult
to follow in the direction of both at the same time, could speak, that
he who had been accustomed to guiding his bark by stars of the first
magnitude, all his days, would not now, at this age of life, be guided
by this "star" of diminutive light. "Your honor," said the astonished
tar, as he discovered the beautiful form before him to be actually
possessed of life and breath, and was no senseless piece of statuary,
"shiver my topsails, but if I didn't take the lady to be _her_
representation, my name's not John Sampson!"
"Sampson!" exclaimed Natalie, actually taking him by the hand, "Are you
John Sampson?"
"I'm Sampson the world over, my lady," replied the tar, "and why
shouldn't I be? I've come all the way from Yankee America, to visit my
native dust-heap, which never produced, beside its daily growth of what
might be known the other side of the water, as nature's own pie-plant
and sausage-improver, but one Sampson; but," added he, in a subdued
voice, "may I ask who can take enough interest in a poor fellow, who
never belonged to nothing, as to speak his name? If I had not seen _her_
go down with my own eyes, I should say that the noblest lady that ever
lived was standing before me; but she's gone where only her kind do go;"
and the rough man drew the sleeve of his jacket across his eyes.
"I am the sister of a little sailor-boy, whom you once rescued from
imminent peril,--perhaps death; and I rejoice that fortune has favored
me with a sight of your honest face, that I may repay in part, at least,
the debt of gratitude which we owe to you,--Harry Grosvenor, do you
remember him?" asked she, placing her well-filled purse in his hand.
"Ah, that noble little specimen of young America! a young hero!--could
have jumped over two Johnny Bulls, although my dust-heap happened to be
this side of the water. Well do I remember him! and you are the sister
that he used to talk about, till I really thought the fellow had got
into a lunatic's overall?"
"Yes, I am his sister," said the Sea-flower, and she might have
added,--your name has never been forgotten in my prayers; but this was
no place for the illiterate, though good-hearted sailor's ludicrous
expressions, and having doubly feed the guide, who did not witness a
scene like this often, within these walls, which were looked upon as
sacred by other than his eagle eye, our friends sought the Adelphi,
whither, at Mr. Alboni's request, Sampson joined them; for there was
something in the words which he had uttered, that struck upon that
gentleman's ear; and yet, what it was, was not clear to his mind.
"You have spoken of some noble lady," remarked Mr. Alboni; "pray tell me
if you have never met with but one whom you could distinguish by that
title, in all your travels?"
"And for a very sensible reason; there never was but one like her; or,
that is, I have always thought so until to-day," replied the tar,
glancing toward Natalie; "for my old eyes have seen pretty much
everything they have got in this little world. Ha! I should like to see
the inch of land or water that my foot hasn't measured."
"Let us hear a little of your history, my good fellow: begin with the
beautiful lady," said Mr. Alboni, proudly contemplating his
grand-daughter.
"It's a yarn, your honor, that hasn't been spun to every jack tar that's
sailed the seas, for I've a sort of feeling about me, that her memory
shouldn't be used to gratify common curiosity; and, sir, it's only
through the lady's sweet face, so much like _her_, that I am induced to
tell the story, word for word. Ye see, it was about twenty years ago,
come September, and I shipped for a voyage to America in the De--De--,
well, never mind the name; those Frenchmen always spile their crafts
with a jaw-breaker of a name. Well, we had a fair time of it, till we
got pretty well on to the American shores; and as for me, I never expect
to enjoy myself again, as I did the first part of that voyage. We had
quite a crowd of passengers, and among them was a gentleman, with his
lady and child; if that wasn't the handsomest couple that I ever sot
eyes on, then I've missed my reckonings! The lady,--why, your honor, it
fairly dazzled my eyes to look at her! She always had a kind word for
everybody; even us old tars she would talk with, as if she wasn't the
best lady in the world; there wasn't one of us but would have gone to
the mast-head feet first, to do her a favor; and as for gold, she wasted
a young fortune on our ugly selves. We were within a couple o' days sail
of New York, when one of those moist fogs came up, such as will make a
fellow lose a whisk of his patience, if he happens to have any. Well, we
kept on, as we thought, in the same course, for about twelve hours,
when, like a clap of thunder, we struck fast upon a rock! It was as calm
as any day I ever saw, but our sails were all set, and that with the
run of the sea, gave us no small shock; but our captain hoped we might
not have received any serious damages, and set the carpenters to work to
find what our situation was. Well, your honor, it wasn't ten minutes
after we struck, afore we began to settle down. I knew I'd sailed the
ocean longer than our captain, and when I found that we were going down,
I ran below, and found the gentleman and his lady, and told them just
how matters stood with us, and offered to stand by them till the last;
for we had but two boats aboard, and I knew there'd be a scene. When the
lady heard this, she turned to her husband, and said,--'I am prepared,
to share whatever is to be your fate, Paul; but God in mercy save our
child!" We went aloft to the hurricane deck, and such a sight I have
never seen since! every man, woman, and child that we met there, was
looking for something, if no more than a straw, to save themselves. We
had now settled down even with the water, when I, 'spying a large trough
floating near, made for it, and the gentleman taking the babe from its
mother's arms, spread a few clothes in it, and lashed the little thing
into this curious looking craft; both gave it one last kiss, and it was
launched on the wide ocean. At this instant the lady drew from her
pocket a roll of parchment, and handing it to me, said,--"You may be
saved; if you ever hear from my child again, put this into safe hands
for her; but if you should never hear of her, keep it for yourself, and
may God be with us all." At that moment we were carried down, and as I
rose again, I caught at a spar which was floating near, and looking
after my friends, I saw them rise far to leeward; they were still
clasped in each other's arms. I would willingly have gone down if she
might have been saved; but that could not be, and I was borne far out to
sea. The fog lifted, but I was not able to make my whereabouts, and in
this condition I was left for two days, when I was picked up by a vessel
bound to Liverpool direct. I told the captain my story, and found that
we had missed our bearings, that our vessel had been wrecked upon the
Nantucket shoals. Our voyage proved to be a long and stormy one, for the
September gales took us on to the coast of Africa; and when a year after
I shipped for New York, I heard nothing of the child, and have always
supposed her little bark took her to a better land."
"And so it did!" exclaimed the weeping Natalie, holding the great rough
hand of the tar within her own; "the little bark bore her in safety to a
peaceful shore, where she was received with open arms by those who have
filled the place of her natural parents. You see before you, my honest
friend, no other than the child of that gentle mother, whose parting
from her babe you witnessed."
Sampson gazed upon her with astonishment, and clapping both hands to his
head, as if to assure himself that his exterior was yet in a healthful
condition, whatever transmogrification the interior might have
undergone, he exclaimed,--"I'm not so sure, after all, that my name's
Sampson! I really begin to think that I must have gone down, with the
rest; and yet, I could swear to it that I'm a portion of that dust-heap!
If my topsails aren't shivered this time; clean gone by the board!" and
as if to verify his words, he sank deeper into his chair, and broke into
such a train of musing, as caused the little son of Africa in
attendance, to jingle his glasses right merrily, that the wild bursts of
his uncontrollable mirth might sound the less.
Mr. Alboni could scarce credit what he had heard. "And the parchment,"
inquired he, "what was the purport of that?"
The tar sat as one in a trance, but by certain gesticulations, it
appeared that his skysails were not so shattered that he did not
comprehend the drift of the question, and after much tugging and pulling
at an old waistcoat, which was worn beneath the round-about, he produced
a roll, which, from twenty years' wear, it having been his constant
companion during that time, by sea and by land, had become in appearance
of an uncertain nature, and handing it to the gentleman, he said, after
examining the miniature which Natalie put into his hand, of her mother,
"The document belongs to her, and if I'd a happened to have met her on
the sea, I might have known it, even If I hadn't seen the picture of the
noble lady, for she's the exact imitation; but I never can get the land
fog out of my eyes when I'm ashore. That's a sorry looking bit of paper,
your honor, but it's what'll buy more than one twist of pig-tail."
Mr. Alboni perused the document. He was astounded!--not so much at the
contents of that soiled bit of parchment, which was the instrument by
which Natalie, or the holder, could come into possession of a handsome
fortune; but it was at the honesty of this whole-souled sailor. Was it
possible that this poor fellow, who gained his bread by dint of hard
labor, having a fortune within his grasp, which he conscientiously could
have called his own, had not disturbed a farthing thereof?--choosing
rather to reap the fruits of his own industry, treasuring this rich
legacy, as sacred to the memory of a friend.
Is there indeed such honor to be found in the breast of fallen man? Aye,
't is the heart of the noble sailor that beats with a heroism like this!
To him who goeth down to the great waters in ships, such honor is due!
"And you have had this in your possession for more than twenty years,"
said Mr. Alboni, "and yet have never helped yourself to a cent of that
which was rightly your own? Pray tell me, how would you have disposed of
this wealth at last, had you never heard of an heiress to the estate?"
"D' ye see, sir, I haven't travelled this world over so many times,
without making a beacon light occasionally. Now there's a difference in
light-houses, yer honor. There's the revolving light, and many other
kinds of light, but the brightest of all is that steady light which
shines into the darkness of the poor sailor's soul. I first made that
light, sir, at the Seamen's Home, in New York, and it was there I made
up my mind that I would lend this money to the Lord, for I was convinced
that that would be the most profitable investment; and I've been
thinking of it more and more, for these last few days, if I hadn't
better settle this on the Home, for you know these iron frames will give
out after a while; men don't live to see nine hundred years nowadays,
though I'm named after the strongest fellow that ever handled
a harpoon."
Mr. Alboni read the document to his grand-daughter, the effect of which
was, that certain sums of specie, deposited in the bank of ----, by the
Honorable Paul Sunderland, could by the bearer of this instrument, be
withdrawn at sight.
Sampson's tongue was still flying with rapidity, as if his auditors had
not been void of a number, while Mr. Alboni and Natalie were holding a
consultation aside.
"You are right, my child; you will never miss this from the wealth,
which I thank God I have it in my power to place in your hands. Let it
be as you say,--divide this sum between your protectors."
"I thank you, my dear, generous father," said Natalie, imprinting a kiss
upon the cheek of her relative; "you have made me happy. I will send
this most acceptable gift to my dear mother, not paining her feelings
with the thought that I would seek to repay her love for her child with
gold, but as an expression of her daughter's filial affection; and not
only will I reward this honest man with the half of this sum, but he
shall have the pleasure of presenting with his own hand this offering to
my mother."
To this latter proposition Sampson acquiesced with pleasure; he was
delighted with the prospect of once more seeing his young shipmate,
whose mysterious allusions to the Sea-flower he could now comprehend;
but as to himself receiving so liberal a legacy, he was not prepared to
look upon the proposition as favorably.
"Take it, my good fellow," said Mr. Alboni, "it is rightly your own; and
should you ever have anything to spare, you cannot do better than to
make the investment which you had purposed."
They parted,--the honest tar to take his way to Columbia's happy land,
while Mr. Alboni and the Sea-flower would prolong their visit for a
little here, then depart to feast their eyes upon Italian skies. Sampson
looked long after the gentle form of the Sea-flower, as he left them,
for when might he see so fair a sight again?
* * * * *
"And this was the home of my mother," mused Natalie, as arrived in
Florence, our tourists entered the arched gateway, which led to the
broad domains of the long absent master, just as the sun was sinking to
rest, his soft lingering rays kissing the fleecy clouds, o'er which a
blush came and went, now deepening as the rose carmine, giving place to
the most delicate tinge that e'er sat upon a maiden's cheek,--born of
pure modesty. The scent of the delicate jasmine perfumed the air, while
the pensive strains of some fair one, soft and clear as the tones of a
wind-harp, was borne on the stillness of evening to the ear of the
lovely Sea-flower, who, reclining upon the bosom of her father, her
sunny tresses mingling with the silvery locks, which told that he had
seen many winters, whispered in words low and musical,--"My angel
mother,--I can feel her presence near; she has breathed this blissful
air; can it be more heavenly there?" With her eyes still upturned, as if
their mildness might pierce the veil of azure, her lips moved, as they
had ofttimes done before, in praise and thanksgiving for the wondrous
beauty which our Father, in his boundless love, hath set before his
children. As Mr. Alboni gazed upon each familiar object, surrounding his
beautiful villa, he was greatly surprised to find everything in the same
state of preservation as when he had last beheld his home, once so dear;
instead of an air of desolation, everything falling to decay, as would
be a natural consequence attendant upon the long absence of the family,
the scrupulous care and attention of some interested one, was apparent
on all sides. Even the little ivied bower, which Mr. Sunderland had
arranged with his own hands, when he first smiled upon his beautiful
bride, was still in existence; and here did Natalie dream away many a
happy hour, during her stay in dear Florence.
The old man and his frugal wife, to whose keeping the premises had been
entrusted, and who occupied a small tenement upon the grounds, could
not have been more surprised if one had appeared to them from the dead,
than were they when Mr. Alboni stood in the door of their cottage.
"I told you his honor would come again!" said the woman, turning to her
husband; "but I was really afeared it mightn't be in our time; and as
we've no one to leave in our shoes, I'm of the 'pinion that the place
would've dropped off to some stranger."
"Ha, yes," replied the husband, "my old woman's never far out o' the
way, though she does sometimes talk as if she expected to become
extinguished; but for all that, she's equal to two common ones. But I'm
particularly glad you've come home, on a good many 'counts, for if the
place must go into any other hands than an Alboni, I'm not over anxious
to witness the change in the coat of arms."
Mr. Alboni received this compliment as it was intended, and as one
motive in visiting his native land again was to dispose of this estate,
he now directed his attention to the future comfort of this most worthy
couple; for the domestics who had served in the family of Alboni, must
not suffer from want. Accordingly a comfortable cottage, adjoining
these lands, was obtained for their use, and an annual income,
sufficient to supply their wants, settled upon them for life; and so
with the estate of the Albonis, whose last representative of the name
would soon depart, for a memorial of days past, this aged couple hoped
to spend in contentment the residue of their days.
Amid all the splendor and gayety of fashionable life in Italy, the
Sea-flower was never so happy as when seated in the ivy bower, which
looked out upon a little lake, the same which had been her mother's
favorite place of retreat, where she might watch the ever-changing face
of the mellow skies, or roaming through those ancient halls, she might
feast her eyes on the many antique surroundings; but most of all, she
loved to linger in the great reception hall, whose walls were hung with
the portraits of her mother's family, for many past generations. Some of
those countenances denoted men of much strength of character, amounting
almost to a fierceness, but in nearly every female face Natalie
discerned that same gentleness of spirit, which, unknown to herself, was
the expression of her own spiritual countenance. Beneath the portrait
of the last Mrs. Alboni was a place reserved for that of her child,--the
Lady Sunderland; but by some circumstance it had never been placed
there. During the period of our heroine's stay in Italy, she spent much
of her time in the home of her ancestors, to which she became greatly
attached; but once having been introduced to an admiring Italian
assembly, it was no easy matter to remain in seclusion. This new star,
so mild, yet brilliant, was the theme of present conversation. She never
appeared in public, but the blessings of high and low marked her way;
and as she knelt in public worship, meekly bowing at the name of Christ,
there was not one who looked upon her, but this passage of Scripture was
brought to their minds,--"If the righteous scarcely are saved, where
shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
But all times come to an end; passing away, is written upon everything
pertaining to earth; and the time when our friends should return to
their island home, drew near.
It was the day before they would bid adieu to pleasant scenes here, to
journey to Liverpool, for business led Mr. Alboni to sail for America
from that port. The sun had gone down,--the last sunset which the
Sea-flower would look upon here,--the last sunset! Pause, dear
reader,--when will that same sun set to us for the last time? It may be
soon, it may be later; yet it is the same, for all time is present with
God. The evening shades began to claim their reign, regardless of the
smiles and entreaties of lingering day, that he would delay his
approach,--fit symbol of sunny youth, who would banish from his presence
death's unrelenting grasp. And yet, who does not love night with earnest
tenderness? and has no one a smile for death?
Natalie still lingered beneath the ivy trellis, her feet drawn upon the
cushions, for she would not crush the gentle flowers, which told to her
their love in the rich perfume of the air; and yet, if trodden under
foot, the flowers, with their dying breath, the beauteous flowers, do,
with their richest perfume, breathe forgiveness.
Her eye was fixed upon the lake,--its glassy ripples a striking contrast
to the giant waves upon which she had ever looked with delight. Ah, who
may divine her thoughts, as she muses thus? A faint smile plays with the
dimples around her mouth, and but for the words she whispers, one might
indeed think her intent upon the ripples which kiss the shore at her
feet; but no, she is transported to where the breaker's roar is heard,
and a proud, noble form she sees,--his piercing eye bent upon the sea.
Full well she knows for whom his heart thus wildly beats; "dear, good
Clarence," she whispers, and starting from her revery, she kneels in
prayer. "My Father, God, thou art merciful unto the weakest of thy frail
ones, keep thou my heart to thee alone; may I have no other gods before
thee; cast out all idols, if any there be, and breathe thy spirit within
my soul; and may thy will be done."
"Amen," was the response of bright ones, of upper spheres, and may we
receive strength to say,--"Thy will be done."
"Adieu, dear home of my childhood," spake Mr. Alboni, as the dim
outlines of the land of his nativity at last faded in the distance; and
burying his face in his hands, he gave himself up to his own
reflections, from which Natalie would not recall him.
Arrived in Liverpool, the steamer in which they were to have embarked
had sailed; consequently a few more days were added to their sojourn
there; but when at length their proud steamer left her pier, accompanied
by many heartfelt good wishes that she might be attended with all
success, that her voyage might prove most favorable, the Sea-flower wept
tears of delight, that she might once more listen to those voices of the
deep; and calmly gazing upon the countenance of Mr. Alboni, she said,--
"Father, we are going home."
Her words fell upon the ear of an officer of the ship, a gentleman of
that nobleness of soul which alone constitutes a true man; one whose
kind and gentlemanly consideration of the comfort and pleasure of those
who have, from time to time, crossed that three thousand miles of ocean
which separates Liverpool from New York, have before been publicly
mentioned, and will long be remembered by those who have before come
under his guidance. "We are going home,"--the officer raised his hat as
he passed the Sea-flower, involuntarily repeating her words,--words
which many times have been idly spoken, but how full of meaning.
As that gallant steamship made her way over the rolling billows, like
"a thing of life," as if indeed she recognized the course o'er which she
had so many times borne aloft her proud head, in seasons of tempest as
well as of sunshine, there was not one who walked her decks, but looked
upon her gigantic form as an ark of safety, rather than the frail plank
which only separated not far from three hundred immortal beings from an
ocean grave. Several days' sail left "merrie England" far behind, and as
they drew nearer the American shores, many an eye was deluded with the
belief that it had been the successful one, in being the first to make
the outline of the nearest shore of this land of the free. There was the
eye of youth, lit up with the light of innocence, which when riper years
should have left their impress, might have given place to more of guile;
while hand in hand, along her peaceful decks, roamed old age and
infancy, alike joyous in the air of cheerfulness which reigned with
all around.
It was near the hour of mid-day, weather favorable, with the exception
of a fog which had suddenly sprung up. Occasionally the signal bell
sounded, that if any vessel were in their neighborhood, she might know
of their whereabouts. The fog as suddenly lifted as it had shut in upon
them, but to close down again heavier than before. Natalie had not, as
most of the ladies, gone below, but stood, intent upon those new
thoughts which the veil of fog, which had shut out all sight and sound,
save an occasional tone of the bell, had inspired, when,--a crash, which
shook their vessel from stem to stern, caused every one to look upon the
countenance of his fellow, there to read the words which he had no power
to utter. A propeller was at that instant seen moving athwart their
bows, and from the severity of the shock, it was thought that the
smaller vessel must have sustained serious damage. Accordingly a boat
was lowered from the steamer, under command of the first officer, to
render the unfortunates such assistance as was in their power, believing
their own damages to be but slight; but the boat had not been long gone,
when word was passed to their captain that they were in a sinking
condition. Upon examination it was found that a large breakage had been
made, directly under their bows, and the sea was rushing in
terrifically.
All was now a scene of confusion; some applied themselves diligently to
the pumps, and others sought to diminish the leak by stretching a sail
across the gap, while the passengers hurried, some one way, and some
another, as if in a state of frenzy. To seek assistance from the
propeller, even if she might not be in as disastrous a condition as
themselves, was out of the question; for both vessels being under full
headway at the moment of the collision, she was now again enveloped in
fog. Oh, God! must it be thus? no escape for these three hundred beings?
What an awful moment of suspense! Still the steamer settles down; what
is done must be done speedily. The captain is without his first officer,
with whom he might consult, his absence necessarily detracting from the
number of boats; but had the boats been suffered to remain unmolested,
for the benefit of the passengers, it were doubtful if they could have
contained so large a number. Where now are those gladsome little
children, those aged men and women, who, listening to those voices of
childhood, would fain have believed themselves young again? Ah! where
are they? Wringing their hands in wild despair! clambering over the
sides of the ship, endeavoring to save themselves on rafts, spars, or
articles affording inferior protection.
The Sea-flower,--where is she? where is her aged protector? Upon the
deck of that ill-fated steamer the Sea-flower kneels, with eyes meekly
turned heavenward. She asks that peace may be shed upon the hearts of
that agonized throng; that they may fitly receive this will of divine
dispensation. Never was her countenance more serene. Just then a voice
was heard at her side,--"we are going home;" it was the voice of the
noble officer, who had before noted her words.
"I was happy," replied Natalie, "when I said we are going home, but I
did not realize we would so soon meet the loved ones in that celestial
home, where we shall part no more forever; and I am happy now; yet this
terrible cry of anguish incites my deep, deep sympathies."
"Thank God for this presence of an angel, to shed light over my last
hour!" said the officer; "I now go down through that dark valley of
death, unattended by that gloom which had seized upon my soul. My God,
in mercy wilt thou sustain my wife and children, when they shall look
for my coming, and I shall never return to them more! and may they soon
meet me there." (He knew not that the youngling of his flock would so
soon join him in singing the songs of the redeemed.)
He said no more; they were going down; a life-preserver was in his
hands, which he would have secured about the Sea-flower, but she waved
her hand to him, saying,--"Take it to yourself. Farewell."
Supported by her grand-parent's arm, she gazed upon the waters; they
were not angry. Peacefully sighing, they met her touch, as if they would
welcome her home. "Mother," she breathed, with her last of mortal
breath;--was it a farewell to that loved one of earth, or did she
joyfully greet her sainted mother, who awaited the coming of her child
to her home in the skies, where "the Lamb which is in the midst of the
throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of
waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes?"
The blue waves rolled on, in their untiring way, and the sun went calmly
down upon this day,--the twenty-seventh of September, eighteen hundred
and fifty-four,--a day long to be remembered, both in the Eastern and
Western world, for in it was the sundering of many mortal ties. Many a
family circle wept as they looked upon the familiar places, which would
know their lost ones no more; but ah, chide me not, kind reader, in thus
leading you adown to the coldness of death, in setting before you that
which causes your tender heart to shudder. Mourn not for these departed;
for would we not wish to meet them there, when, ere long, this mortal
shall have put on immortality? Grieve not because that gentle one has
passed away! say not that she met with an untimely end, when in her
summer of life all was pleasantness before her. Think of her not as one
gone far away, never to be on earth more; cast her not from your heart,
where, during her little day here, in innocence she entwined herself
within its recesses. Oh, no, for she is nearer to us now; she is not
dead, but has passed from death to life; and may her memory remain with
us, in freshness as the ivy green, which loves best the churchyard's
place of holy quietude,--and by her influence may we in spirit come to
be more Christ-like.