Natalie A Gem Among the Sea-Weeds Part 1

Natalie.

by Ferna Vale.

PREFACE.

In writing the following pages the author has spent pleasant hours, which perhaps might have been less profitably employed: if anything of interest be found among them, it is well,--and, should any be led to take up their Cross in meekness and humility, searching out the path that leads the wanderer home, it is indeed well.

NATALIE.

CHAPTER I.

THE SEA-FLOWER.

"What was it that I loved so well about my childhood's home?

It was the wide and wave-lashed sh.o.r.e, the black rocks crowned with foam!

It was the sea-gull's flapping wing, all trackless in its flight, Its screaming note, that welcomed on the fierce and stormy night!

The wild heath had its flowers and moss, the forest had its trees, Which, bending to the evening wind, made music in the breeze; But earth,--ha! ha! I laugh e'en now,--earth had no charms for me, Nor scene half bright enough to win my young heart from the sea.

No! 't was the ocean, vast and deep, the fathomless, the free,-- The mighty rushing waters, that were ever dear to me!"

ELIZA COOK.

"But the goodly pearl which the merchant bought, And for which his all he gave, Was a purer pearl than will e'er be brought From under the FOAMING wave."

H. F. GOULD.

"Ma.s.sa Grobener! Ma.s.sa Grobener! Please, sar, look here! De good Lord hab left his mitest ob angels here on de beach; and please, sar, step low or de wee bit will take to its wings and fly away. De good Lord be praised! but old Bingo hab found many a bright sea-weed in his day, but dis am de sweetest sea-flower ob de whole."

And as he spoke, the little one stretched out its tiny arms toward the poor old black man and gave a faint moan. Captain Grosvenor, who had now come up with the negro, was no less surprised than had been old Vingo, at discovering, among the fresh, bright sea-weed, an infant some eight months old. The babe was carefully lashed into a large wooden trough or bowl, and a canvas firmly stretched over the top, permitting only the head and arms to remain exposed, and judging from the dripping condition of the worthy little sea-craft, it could not have been many moments since it had come to anchor on the smooth, hard beach; probably the now receding waves had borne the precious burden to this most welcome harbor--"whereby hangs a tale."

"De good Lord be praised, ma.s.sa! but dis am de most curous ob all sea-ve'cles that eber trabers de great waters! I sure it must be a speint from de great scripture ark ma.s.sa read about in de good book; or may be it am one ob those old-time chariots, fiery chariots, we sings about; only it so moist around here, it put de fire all out and leabe de chariot. Or I tink it may be one ob dose machines Bingo used to see in old slabe-ma.s.sa's church, hung up ober de minister's head, to make de good psalms or de prayers go de right way, and I don't remember which; old Bingo always retained a bery bad memory, eber since before he was a child; but I tink dey used to call it a sound board, though it was full ob cracks."

Ah! poor fellow, had you seen that heart-rending look of despair, mingled with sweet resignation, upon the face of that mother! had you seen the glistening tear in the eye of that n.o.ble father, as, but a few hours before, they consigned their idolized child to the mercies of the deep; had you heard that prayer to G.o.d, if it might be his will, to spare their darling from an ocean-grave, your great heart would have been, if possible, kindled to a greater love for that helpless little one!

Captain Grosvenor, after having carefully taken the child from the grotesque looking craft, which had proved so trustworthy a sailor, and wiped the drops of spray from its little face, wrapped it in a large bandana, and gave it to the faithful Vingo, while he took his gla.s.s and scanned the distant horizon; for well did he know, though even at noon-day, that one more unfortunate bark had gone down near that dread "Nantucket shoal," upon which so many n.o.ble hearts have found a watery grave. "I see nothing," said the Captain, "nothing, not even a pa.s.sing sail; which is quite uncommon at this season, when so many vessels are constantly pa.s.sing and repa.s.sing our island; not even the light-boat do I see, which is probably owing to a fog coming in from the sea, as yet imperceptible to us here. Poor fellows! I fear they have gone down without a soul to help them! It seems hard when there are so many stout hearts and ready arms here, willing to risk their lives in the attempt to save. Those shoals, Vingo, are the only unkind thing there is about our cherished island; but the will of G.o.d be done. Truly his ways are unsearchable."

"Den you tinks, ma.s.sa, dis little sea-flower was left here trough mistake, by de Lord?"

"It most a.s.suredly was left here by the Lord, Vingo, but not by mistake. The fact is, my boy, there has been a wreck off to the east south-east of the island; probably some vessel has mistaken her bearings, or, being unacquainted with the coast, has run on to the shoals and gone to pieces; and this infant was made fast to the first floatable object that could be found, and with a mother's dying prayer for a rudder, and the hand of Him who guides us all at the helm, she has come to us here; and with eyes of heaven's own blue, she silently asks for that protection which shall not be withheld from her so long as it shall be within my power to give. And now, Vingo, boy, you may turn the horse's head for the town."

"Yes, ma.s.sa."

And though some fifty years had pa.s.sed over the old negro's head, he sprang with the agility of boyhood's days; although, as the poor fellow often remarked, "he had a wonderful const.i.tution for enduring rest," the thought of his good missus's surprise, when she should learn of their morning's adventure, gave him new life, and he fairly danced about the beach for joy. Seated in the spring-cart, Captain Grosvenor took the babe in his arms, that had now fallen into a quiet sleep, while Vingo, perching himself first on one foot and then the other, to keep his balance, gathered up the reins, and all started for home.

"I am tinking, ma.s.sa, dat my missus be quite ober-much-come at de sight of dis little sea-flower."

"Yes, boy; yes, sea-flower indeed. I have travelled the wide world from stem to stern, but never have I met with such an emblem of innocence before." And though the hardy sea-captain had spent the greater part of his life among the whales, he stooped down and pressed his lips to the brow of the unconscious sleeper.

"Luff off there a little, Vingo; keep to the right; these bare commons are not the easiest grounds to ride over, though with a light spring-cart like this one can navigate with some degree of comfort. The broad ocean is the place, after all. Give me the old ship Tantalizer, and I am at home. Take the gla.s.s, Vingo, and see if you can make out whether the steamboat is in sight or not."

"Cannot eben make de staff, ma.s.sa. Ah! now I sees him; de flag is up, old Ma.s.sachusetts am in sight."

"She will be in early to-day. Travels decently fast, considering she is all out of joint. I hope we shall get a new steamer some day; then we may keep posted with what is going on in the outer world."

"Yes, ma.s.sa, people tink we a piece ob de continent den."

An hour's ride brought our worthy captain to his own door, where stood Mrs. Grosvenor, with her son Harry, their only child, of seven years, awaiting him.

"You have made a long stay at the sh.o.r.e this morning, my husband; but if these little excursions will deter you from making a longer voyage, I will not complain."

"Yes, wife, yes; but for a peace offering I have brought to you a gem from among the sea-weeds."

"My dear husband, where can you have found this child?" and tears were in the eyes of the lady as she received the little unknown from his arms.

"Is it for you? to be yours, mother? Mother, may it stay with us here?"

asked Harry; and in his delight he stumbled over old Neptune, who was stretched at full length upon the floor, and the two went rolling over and over, first one up and then the other, till finally the boy came off victorious, seated astride the animal's back, who marched up to Mrs.

Grosvenor's side, where they both remained, eyeing the little stranger in silence.

"The child's dress denotes no common birth," remarked the Captain, as his lady disrobed it of its rich lace dress, saturated with the salt seawater. "And the gold bands; are there no marks?--nothing, by which we may gain the least clue of its history?"

"I see nothing; and it is well; for my heart already yearns towards the little creature, and in my selfish human nature, I can't but hope that we may be able to keep her for our own." And as she spoke she pressed the clasp of the band, and, behold! the miniature likeness of a lady was brought to view. The foster mother gazed upon those features, as if it were the face of an angel.

"I cannot have the heart to wish to retain _her_ child! To deprive that mother of anything that can give her pain to lose. Would I could ask her to forgive my cruel thoughts; forgive the desire to retain this her gem.

But I know she has gone to her home in the skies; she was too pure for earth. Yes, this must be the mother, the child is so like her."

"The same features, the same expression; and," said the Captain, "I will use every means of finding out if there is one left of that ill-fated crew to tell the tale. It will probably be reported in a few days, if there are any missing vessels, either from our coasts or foreign ports.

In the meantime I will take care to have this discovery registered at head-quarters, and then if we can discover no trace of her parentage we may have her for our own."

"Have her for our own! Nep, do you hear that? We are to have a new sister!" shouted the boy; and Nep, as if comprehending his young master's words, laid his great honest face on the feet of the child, and caressed her.

"Please, missus, don't make little Sea-flower too fresh; she be pining for de sea;" remarked Vingo, as Mrs. Grosvenor proceeded to bathe the child in cool fresh water; and having brought out the baby-clothes worn by Harry, she was soon, by the aid of a little new milk, made comfortable, and, creeping down after old Nep, sat with her hands buried in his s.h.a.ggy coat, crowing with delight. The lights at Captain Grosvenor's burned long into the night of that eventful day, of the discovery of the Sea-flower, while he related to his wife how they had found the little one among the sea-weeds, and in forming plans for her future adoption, should nothing be learned of her parentage, and no friends come to claim the child.

Soon after the commencement of our story, a fearful storm swept the New England coast. 'Twould seem as if the rage of the storm-king knew no bounds; and many hearts there were made desolate in that long-to-be-remembered September gale. Fragments of wrecks came ash.o.r.e on different parts of the island, together with casks, chests, rigging, stoven boats, etc., which were picked up in various places, and by various characters. Some would watch eagerly for these trophies of destruction, and with grasping hand seize upon them, viewing the storm as sent for their own particular benefit; increasing their worldly goods, regardless of others' woes. While some there were, who turned away with a heart sick at the scene of devastation, yet submissively bowing to His will, "who holds the waters in his hand." Wreck upon wreck was reported. The total loss of vessels from all parts of the world was very great, which only served to increase the mystery in regard to the unknown, which went down 'neath a calm noon-day sky. Days and months pa.s.sed on, and still no tidings; till finally they came to look upon the loved one as their own.

The child grew in strength and beauty, and was a source of great amus.e.m.e.nt to them all. Old Vingo would delight to make one of his "squantums," as he called it, to the sh.o.r.e; and with master Harry, who was now taking his first lessons in driving, (a point once attained, boyhood thinks to gain no higher) and Sea-flower in his arms; with Nep, who is determined to be "head horse," bounding off in the distance, is happiness enough for the negro, and his white teeth glisten in the bright sunshine like so many African pearls, as he jabbers away to Sea-flower, as if she were comprehending the whole. But 'twas enough for Vingo, that she in reply to his half hour's remarks, would put out her hand toward the blue waters, and with eyes dilated with wonderment, would say, "Tee! Indo, Tee!"

There on the beach they would have a fine race with the surf, Vingo following with the child the receding wave, and then, as it came in with a roar from the sea, he would run as if pursued by a foe, sometimes the spray dashing up all around them, much to the joy of the Sea-flower, her merry laugh according strangely with the music of the waters. Harry amused himself for a while, throwing the bits of drift-wood into the water, that he might see old Newfoundland dash in and combat with the waves, to secure the prize, which he never failed to do; but wearying of this, he came and took his seat by the side of his sister, and commenced whittling diligently on an old piece of plank.

"Vingo, do you think my father will ever go to sea again?"

"I don't know, young ma.s.sa; but why you tink ob dat?"