FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   344   345   346   347   348   349   350   351   352   353   354   355   356   357   358   359   360   361   362   363   364   365   366   367   368  
369   370   371   372   373   374   375   376   377   378   379   380   381   382   383   384   >>  
d surprisingly well, for the Dutchmen of that neighbourhood still recount anecdotes, of the achievements and sufferings of Captain Marvel, as they usually call him, though they have long ceased to think the country belongs to the United Provinces. Moses was glad to see me; and, after passing a night in the cottage of his mother, we proceeded towards Clawbonny, in a conveyance that had been sent to Willow Cove to meet me. It was a carriage of my own, one of my own negroes acting as driver. I knew the old team, and will acknowledge that tears forced themselves to, my eyes as I thus saw myself, as it might be, reinstated in my own. The same feeling came powerfully over me, as we drove to the summit of an elevation in the road, that commanded a view of the vale and buildings of Clawbonny. What a moment was that in my existence! I cannot say that I was born to wealth, even as wealth was counted among us sixty years since, but I was born to a competency. Until I lost my ship, I had never known the humiliating sensations of poverty; and the feeling that passed over my heart, when I first heard that Clawbonny was sold, has left an impression that will last for life. I looked at the houses, as I passed them in the streets, and remembered that I was houseless. I did not pass a shop in which clothes were exposed, without remembering that, were my debts paid, I should literally be without a coat to my back. Now, I had my own once more; and there stood the home of my ancestors for generations, looking comfortable and respectable, in the midst of a most inviting scene of rural quiet and loveliness. The very fields seemed to welcome me beneath its roof! There is no use in attempting to conceal what happened; and I will honestly relate it. The road made a considerable circuit to descend the hill, while a foot-path led down the declivity, by a shorter cut, which was always taken by pedestrians. Making an incoherent excuse to Moses, and telling him to wait for me at the foot of the hill, I sprang out of the carriage, leaped a fence, and I may add, leaped out of sight, in order to conceal my emotion. I was no sooner lost to view, than, seating myself on a fragment of rock, I wept like a child. How long I sat there is more than I can say; but the manner in which I was recalled from this paroxysm of feeling will not soon be forgotten. A little hand was laid on my forehead, and a soft voice uttered the word "Miles!" so near me, that, at t
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   344   345   346   347   348   349   350   351   352   353   354   355   356   357   358   359   360   361   362   363   364   365   366   367   368  
369   370   371   372   373   374   375   376   377   378   379   380   381   382   383   384   >>  



Top keywords:

Clawbonny

 

feeling

 
passed
 

wealth

 

leaped

 

carriage

 
conceal
 
relate
 

honestly

 

happened


attempting
 
ancestors
 
generations
 

literally

 

comfortable

 

respectable

 
fields
 

beneath

 

loveliness

 

considerable


inviting

 

recalled

 

paroxysm

 

manner

 

forgotten

 

uttered

 

forehead

 

fragment

 

remembering

 

pedestrians


Making

 

shorter

 

declivity

 

descend

 

incoherent

 
excuse
 
emotion
 

sooner

 

seating

 

telling


sprang
 
circuit
 

Willow

 

conveyance

 

cottage

 

mother

 
proceeded
 

acknowledge

 
forced
 

negroes