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Article THE SAILOR AND HIS SISTER. ← Page 3 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Sailor And His Sister.
" Tell me first , " said he , " who and where your friends reside , and then shall I deliver my important message to you . " "Alas ! " cried the agitated girl , "I know not whether any of my friends are still living , for they have long been widely scattered over the earth . I left my mother alone at Kirkwall , in Orkney , and am myself a sojourner in the land , of strangers , where there is no one to care for me in the midst of my sorrowor to soothe the rifeing
tu-, mults which are now ready to burst over my soul . " The warm heart of the honest tar melted within him , and rushed into his eyes , as she pronounced these sickening words ; and , in the mingled feelings of uncertainty and joy , he fell upon her neck , and , as he kissed her pale but beautiful face , declared himself her friend , her brother , and protector . The scenes and recollections of other years suddenly overclouded his brain , and he sobbed aloud in the very bitterness of his
heart . The children fled in amazement , while the sailor and his sister remained as if transfixed to the spot , labouring under the overpowering emotion of that moment's meeting . Their interview was discovered from the windows of the mansion , and , upon the lady inquiring into the cause of so singular an event , she was soon made acquainted with the whole circumstances ofthe case ; whenwith a kindness and
affa-, bility peculiar to herself , she invited the stranger to walk into the house , where he would have an opportunity of conversing with his sister unmolested and alone . Many , and deeply-interesting to himself , at least , were the interrogatories of the sailor : for who that has been long and far away from the
friends of his youth , would not feel strong and strange emotions stir within his heart , as he again drew near to the scenes of his boyhood , and the home of his fathers!—the hopes , fears , doubts , and the dark forebodings of inevitable evil press so heavily upon the heart , that the very strings of its existence are ready to give way under the heavy load of apprehension and uncertainty . Thomas Firth had for twelve long years been a wanderer from sea to sea and from shore to far-distant shore ; many and great were the
dangers he had encountered and escaped in the course of his peregrinations ; and when he at length returned to his native land an unknown and unknowing stranger , his own sister looked upon him with doubt and suspicion , and , in the dreary waste of this world ' s wilderness , there was none other to claim him for a brother . Sarah had come from Orkney only a few months previous to her brother ' s return from Alexandria , in Egypt , whowhile in London , was
, informed of her present residence and occupation , and instantly determined on paying her a visit in his way home to Kirkwall , which at once removes anything that might appear like fiction or romance in their meeting at such a place , and in a manner so truly affecting , that we are inadequate to describe what may be but very faintly conceived . Mrs . H was much moved by the behaviour ofthe sailor , and , during the short time he remained under her hospitable roof , was
successfully assiduous in making him happy . She was no less desirous to convince him that his sister , about whom he expressed the most affectionate solicitude , was comfortable and contented under her protection ; nay , so far did she extend her goodness , that , when the hour of his departure arrived , the family carriage was ordered to convey him ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Sailor And His Sister.
" Tell me first , " said he , " who and where your friends reside , and then shall I deliver my important message to you . " "Alas ! " cried the agitated girl , "I know not whether any of my friends are still living , for they have long been widely scattered over the earth . I left my mother alone at Kirkwall , in Orkney , and am myself a sojourner in the land , of strangers , where there is no one to care for me in the midst of my sorrowor to soothe the rifeing
tu-, mults which are now ready to burst over my soul . " The warm heart of the honest tar melted within him , and rushed into his eyes , as she pronounced these sickening words ; and , in the mingled feelings of uncertainty and joy , he fell upon her neck , and , as he kissed her pale but beautiful face , declared himself her friend , her brother , and protector . The scenes and recollections of other years suddenly overclouded his brain , and he sobbed aloud in the very bitterness of his
heart . The children fled in amazement , while the sailor and his sister remained as if transfixed to the spot , labouring under the overpowering emotion of that moment's meeting . Their interview was discovered from the windows of the mansion , and , upon the lady inquiring into the cause of so singular an event , she was soon made acquainted with the whole circumstances ofthe case ; whenwith a kindness and
affa-, bility peculiar to herself , she invited the stranger to walk into the house , where he would have an opportunity of conversing with his sister unmolested and alone . Many , and deeply-interesting to himself , at least , were the interrogatories of the sailor : for who that has been long and far away from the
friends of his youth , would not feel strong and strange emotions stir within his heart , as he again drew near to the scenes of his boyhood , and the home of his fathers!—the hopes , fears , doubts , and the dark forebodings of inevitable evil press so heavily upon the heart , that the very strings of its existence are ready to give way under the heavy load of apprehension and uncertainty . Thomas Firth had for twelve long years been a wanderer from sea to sea and from shore to far-distant shore ; many and great were the
dangers he had encountered and escaped in the course of his peregrinations ; and when he at length returned to his native land an unknown and unknowing stranger , his own sister looked upon him with doubt and suspicion , and , in the dreary waste of this world ' s wilderness , there was none other to claim him for a brother . Sarah had come from Orkney only a few months previous to her brother ' s return from Alexandria , in Egypt , whowhile in London , was
, informed of her present residence and occupation , and instantly determined on paying her a visit in his way home to Kirkwall , which at once removes anything that might appear like fiction or romance in their meeting at such a place , and in a manner so truly affecting , that we are inadequate to describe what may be but very faintly conceived . Mrs . H was much moved by the behaviour ofthe sailor , and , during the short time he remained under her hospitable roof , was
successfully assiduous in making him happy . She was no less desirous to convince him that his sister , about whom he expressed the most affectionate solicitude , was comfortable and contented under her protection ; nay , so far did she extend her goodness , that , when the hour of his departure arrived , the family carriage was ordered to convey him ,