Chapter 3

The animation with which he recited these circumstances, after he was far from the spot where they took place, strongly portrayed the fearless independence of his former life. He spoke with the decision of one whose commands had been unappealable, and all the barbarian chief lightened in his eyes. But when he recalled his home there, his family happiness, his countenance fell, his eyes clouded, and he spoke in half-stifled words. He described his palace-hut; his arms, his hunting spear, his canoe; his return to his hut, with the fruits of the chase; the graceful, delicate person of his wife; her clinging fondness on his entrance; his tenderness for her, and for his children--for she bore to him a son and a daughter; and, while he spoke, he burst into tears, and sobbed like a child. "I was then beloved," said he, "Honoured!--master of all around me; Now, I am nothing:--no home--no wife--no friend! I am an outcast here!--when there! Oh, Berea! wilt thou have forgotten me?" His tears, and wild agonies, prevented him proceeding; and my eyes could not remain dry, when seeing such genuine grief, such real suffering.

But the cause of his being separated from his South-Sea home, and his beloved Berea and her babes, remains to be told. It appears, that about three years before the period I met him, a Russian ship, sent on a voyage of discoveries, touched at the island where Laonce had become naturalized. The captain was received with royal hospitality by the king; and the _Prince Laonce_ became the glad interpreter between the Europeans and his august father-in-law--for the captain spoke French. And, besides procuring the crew all they wanted for common comforts, the young chief loaded the commander and his officers with useful presents. One night it blew a violent gale, and the Russian captain, deeming it impossible to keep his anchorage in a bay so full of unseen dangers, made signals to the land, in hopes of exciting some native, experienced in the navigation, to come off, and direct him how to steer. Every moment increased his jeopardy; the storm augmented; and, at each growing blast, he expected to be torn from his cables, and dashed to atoms against the rocks. No one moved from the shore. Again the signals were repeated: Laonce had risen from his bed on hearing the first. Who was there amongst all in that island, excepting his British comrade, who would have known how to move _a ship_ through those boiling waves? The light canoe, and a vessel of heavy burthen, were different objects! His comrade was then watching by the side of an almost dying wife, who had just made him the father of his first-born son. Could Laonce summon him from that spot of his heart's tenderest duties, to attend to the roaring guns of distress from a stranger vessel? Impossible! He rose, and looked out on the night. He listened to the second signal, he wrung his hands, and, sighing, was returning to his couch again. His wife had then risen also. She clasped her arms round him, and a big tear stood in both her eyes, "You tell me," said she, "that your people do not make those thunders to heaven, and to earth, till they are drowning. You know you can save them all. Go, Lao,"--and she smiled; "go; and the foreign chief, after you have saved him, will give you something for me--either a looking-glass, or a silk handkerchief. Go, Lao."

He wound his arms round the gentle pleader; and, almost ashamed that the father and the husband in his heart, should make him calculate between his own life and that of the gallant crew, he told her, that the tempest raged too tremendously for him to dare stemming it. But she laughingly repulsed his caresses, accusing his fondness for her as the inducement of his assumed apprehensions; and being too long accustomed to the rashness of her own people, in braving every weather, to believe any plea of positive danger, she still persisted; saying she must have a silk handkerchief that night from yon ship, or she should think he loved his sound sleep better than he did his fond Berea.

The enthusiastic love which still warmed the faithful husband's breast, and a third signal of distress from the struggling vessel, mastered his better judgment, and, seizing his canoe, he dashed into the foaming waves and boldly stemmed their fury to the object of his mission. The overjoyed crew, as they heard his voice hailing them through the storm, cast out a rope, by which they hoisted him into their cracking ship. The most rapturous acknowledgments from the captain, greeted him as soon as he jumped on the deck; and the eager seamen called him their deliverer. He was happy! he said, he was happy in the achievement of what he had done; he had obeyed the wish of his beloved Berea, and he had survived the lashing surge. He was happy, in the confidence that he should rescue the gallant vessel he came to take under his control. But that hour of happiness was his last. He took the helm in his hands; he gave the requisite directions to the seamen, for the management of the ship; and he soon steered her out of the dangers of the bay, till she rode in safety on the main ocean. He then asked for a boat to carry him on shore, for his canoe had been crushed by an accident. But the wind still blowing hurricanes, they would not venture the loss of one of their boats: and during the hot contentions between him, and the ungrateful chief of the vessel he had preserved, they were driven out far to sea; whence his swimming arm, had he plunged into the boisterous deep, could have been of no use to him. Indignation, despair, overwhelmed him. None appeared to understand the nature of his feelings; all pretending to wonder that a European born, should not be grateful to any occasion that would carry him away from a savage country like that. In vain Laonce remonstrated; in vain he talked of his wife and children; the captain and his sailors laughed, promised him better of both sorts among his kindred whites; and when he cursed their hardened hearts and cruel treachery, they laughed again, and left him to his misery. At last, when the protracted hurricane subsided, and the vessel's log-book proved that she had been driven several degrees leeward of the Society Isles, abandoned to a sullen despair, he ceased to accuse or to reproach; he ceased even to speak on any subject, but cast himself into his lonely berth during the day, that he might not be irritated to continued unavailing madness, by the sight of the ingrates who had betrayed him. To his straining eyes, nothing but the silvery line of the starlit sea was on that distant horizon; but his heart's vision pierced farther, and he beheld the sleepers in that home;--no, not the sleepers! His disconsolate, his despairing wife, tearing her bright locks, and beating the tender bosom he must no longer clasp to his own. His children--"Oh! my babes!" cried he, and the cry of a father's heart for once pierced the obdurate bosom of the captain, who, in that moment, had happened to come upon the deck to examine the night. To ease his Otaheitan benefactor, he declared he had thus carried him off, to share in the honour of his expected discoveries. The unhappy chief, in then answering him, begged, that if he had, indeed, any spark of honesty towards him, he would prove it, by obeying his wish in one thing at least; and that was, to set him on shore on the first European settlement they should fall in with. "Do this," said he, "and I may yet believe you have honour. For honour is a man's own act; a discovery is fortune's; and for its advantages, did I stay, I should not have to thank you. But I want none such. Set me on shore, and there I will follow my own destiny."

To this poor request, the iron-souled commander of the vessel, at last consented; and in the course of some weeks after, Laonce was landed on the coast of Kamschatka. His secret intent was to lie in wait for the possibility of some ship touching at the port where he was set ashore, that might be bound to the track of his beloved islands; but not uttering a word of this, to the reprobate wretch who had torn him thence, he simply bade him "farewell! and to use his next pilot better;" so saying, they parted for ever. But weeks and months passed away, and no vessel bound for the South Seas, showed itself in that distant latitude; and its gloomy fogs, and chilling atmosphere, its pale sky, where the sun never shone for more than three or four hours in the day, seemed to wither up his life with his waning hopes! In no way did it resemble the land he had left; the warm, and the genial heavens of the home he was yet bent to find again;--and he left Kamschatka for some more propitious port; but, like _Sinbad the Sailor_, he wandered in vain. A cruel spell seemed set on him, or on the spirit of adventure; for in no place could he hear of a vessel going the way of his prayers. At last he arrived, by a most tedious and circuitous journey at Moscow, with a design to lay his case before the young and ardent Alexander, the then Emperor of Russia; with the hope that his benevolence, and a sense of what he had done for the vessel which had betrayed him, would incline his majesty to make some effort to return him to his island, and his family.

That this hope was not vain, the character of the good Alexander, since proved by a life of undeviating promptness to all acts of humanity, may be a sufficient voucher. But whether the homeward-bound chief, found, on his setting his foot again upon the ground whence he had been so cruelly rifled; and whence, indeed, the innocent confidence, the playful bravery of his fond wife, had urged him; whether he found his cherishly-remembered home, yet standing as he left it; and her, still the tender and the true to his never-wandered heart; and whether his children sprang to his knee, to share the parental caress; and the people around, raised the _haloo_ of joy to the returned _son of their king!_--whether these fondly-expected greetings hailed his arrival, cannot be absolutely told; for the vessel that took him out, was to make the circuit of the globe, ere it returned; hence, from that, and other circumstances, the facts have never reached the narrator of this little history, of what was really the meeting between Laonce and his Berea; of the young chief, and the natives he had devotedly served! But can the faithful hearts of wedded love, doubt the one; or manly attachment suspect the other? For the honour of human nature, we will believe that all was right; and, in the faith of a humble Christian, we will believe, that "he who shewed mercy, found mercy!"; That he is now restored to his island-home, and to his happy, grateful family!

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Among the _poetical_ contributions are The Angels' Call, and Woman and Fame, by Mrs. Hemans; Carthage, and Stanzas, by T.K. Hervey; the Chapel on the Cliff, by W. Kennedy; all entitled to high praise. A Christian's Day, by Miss A.M. Porter, is a sweet devotional composition. The extract from one of Mr. Atherstone's unpublished books of the Fall of Nineveh, maintains the high opinion already formed of the published part. Mr. C. Swain has two beautiful pieces. We have only room to name those _gems_ of the poetry, viz. Wearie's Well, and another beautiful ballad, by W. Motherwell; and some exquisite lines by the Rev. G. Croly; and to quote the following:--

CHANGE.

BY L.E.L.

The wind is sweeping o'er the hill; It hath a mournful sound, As if it felt the difference Its weary wing hath found. A little while that wandering wind Swept over leaf and flower; For there was green for every tree, And bloom for every hour.

It wandered through the pleasant wood, And caught the dove's lone song; And by the garden-beds, and bore The rose's breath along. But hoarse and sullenly it sweeps; No rose is opening now-- No music, for the wood-dove's nest Is vacant on the bough.

Oh, human heart and wandering wind, Go look upon the past; The likeness is the same with each-- Their summer did not last. Each mourns above the things it loved-- One o'er a flower and leaf; The other over hopes and joys, Whose beauty was as brief.

We congratulate the editor and the public on the past success of the _Amulet_, especially as it proves that a pious feeling co-exists with a taste for refined amusement, and that advantageously. There is nothing austere in any page of the _Amulet_, nor anything so frivolous and light as to be objectionable; but it steers in the medium, and consequently must be acceptable to every well-regulated mind. Indeed, many of the pieces in the present volume may be read and re-read with increased advantage; whilst two only are unequal to the names attached to them.

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THE GEM.

_Edited by Thomas Hood, Esq._

The present is the first year of the _Gem_, which, as a work of art or literature, fully comes within the import of its title. It is likewise the first appearance of Mr. Hood as the editor of an "annual," who, with becoming diffidence, appears to rely on the "literary giants" of his muster-roll, rather than on his individual talent. Notwithstanding such an editorship must have resembled the perplexity of Sinbad in the Valley of Diamonds, Mr. Hood's volume is almost unexceptionably good, whatever he may have rejected; and one of the best, if not _the best_, article in the whole work, has been contributed by the editor himself. Associated as Mr. Hood's name is with "whim and oddity," we, however, looked for more quips, quirks, and quiddities than he has given us, which we should have hailed as specially suited to the approaching festive season, and from their contrast with the contents of similar works, as more likely to attract by their novelty and humour.

The embellishments of the _Gem_, fifteen in number, have been selected by A. Cooper, Esq. R.A. _The Death of Keeldar_ is a beautiful composition by Mr. Cooper, and is worthy of association with Sir Walter Scott's pathetic ballad. _The Widow_, by S. Davenport, from a picture by R. Leslie, R.A. is one of the most touching prints we have yet seen, and every one is capable of estimating its beauties, since its expression will be sure to fasten on the affections of the beholder. _May Talbot_, by J.C. Edwards, from a painting by A. Cooper, is admirable in design and execution. Of the _Temptation on the Mount_, engraved by W.R. Smith, after Martin, we have spoken in our accompanying Number; but as often as we look at the plate, we discover new beauties. It is a just idea of "all the kingdoms of the earth;" the distant effect is excellent, and the "exceeding high mountain" is ably represented. The faces in the _Painter's Study_ are decidedly superior to the rest of the print. The _Fisherman's Daughter_, from a painting by Bone, is pleasing; and _Venice, with the Embarkation of the Doge_, is a stirring scene of pageantry and triumph.

Among the _poetry_ is the Painter's Song, a pleasing composition, by Barry Cornwall, who has also The Victim, a dramatic sketch of twenty pages. Stanzas by Horace Smith, Esq. are a pleasant satire upon the little vanities of great people. We give the _Dream of Eugene Aram_ in full, although it consists of nearly two pages of small type.:--

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THE DREAM OF EUGENE ARAM.

BY T. HOOD, ESQ.

[The late Admiral Burney went to school at an establishment where the unhappy Eugene Aram was usher subsequent to his crime. The admiral stated, that Aram was generally liked by the boys; and that he used to discourse to them about _murder_ in somewhat of the spirit which is attributed to him in this poem.]

'Twas in the prime of summer time, An evening calm and cool, And four-and-twenty happy boys Came bounding out of school: There were some that ran and some that leapt, Like troutlets in a pool.

Away they sped with gamesome minds, And souls untouch'd by sin: To a level mead they came, and there They drave the wickets in: Pleasantly shone the setting sun Over the town of Lynn.

Like sportive deer they coursed about, And shouted as they ran,-- Turning to mirth all things of earth, As only boyhood can; But the Usher sat remote from all-- A melancholy man!

His hat was off, his vest apart, To catch heaven's blessed breeze-- For a burning thought was in his brow, And his bosom ill at ease: So he lean'd his head on his hands, and read The book between his knees!

Leaf after leaf he turn'd it o'er, Nor ever glanc'd aside-- For the peace of his soul he read that book In the golden eventide: Much study had made him very lean, And pale, and leaden-eyed.

At last, he shut the ponderous tome; With a fast and fervent grasp He strain'd the dusky covers close, And fixed the brazen hasp; "O God, could I so close my mind, And clasp it with a clasp!"

Then leaping on his feet upright, Some moody turns he took,-- Now up the mead, then down the mead, And past a shady nook,-- And, lo! he saw a little boy That pored upon a book!

"My gentle lad, what is't you read-- Romance or fairy fable? Or is it some historic page, Of kings and crowns unstable?" The young boy gave an upward glance,-- "It is _The Death of Abel_."

The Usher took six hasty strides, As smit with sudden pain,-- Six hasty strides beyond the place, Then slowly back again; And down he sat beside the lad, And talk'd with him of Cain;

And, long since then, of bloody men, Whose deeds tradition saves; Of lonely folk cut off unseen, And hid in sudden graves; Of horrid stabs, in groves forlorn, And murders done in caves.

And how the sprites of injured men Shriek upward from the sod,-- Ay, how the ghostly hand will point To show the burial clod; And unknown facts of guilty acts Are seen in dreams from God!

He told how murderers walk the earth Beneath the curse of Cain,-- With crimson clouds before their eyes, And flames about their brain: For blood has left upon their souls Its everlasting stain!

"And well," quoth he, "I know, for truth, Their pangs must be extreme,-- Wo, wo, unutterable wo,-- Who spill life's sacred stream! For why? Methought, last night, I wrought A murder in a dream!

"One that had never done me wrong-- A feeble man, and old: I led him to a lonely field, The moon shone clear and cold: Now here, said I, this man shall die, And I will have his gold!

"Two sudden blows with a ragged stick, And one with a heavy stone, One hurried gash with a hasty knife-- And then the deed was done: There was nothing lying at my foot, But lifeless flesh and bone!

"Nothing but lifeless flesh and bone, That could not do me ill; And yet I fear'd him all the more, For lying there so still: There was a manhood in his look, That murder could not kill!

"And, lo! the universal air Seem'd lit with ghastly flame,-- Ten thousand thousand dreadful eyes Were looking down in blame: I took the dead man by the hand, And call'd upon his name!

"Oh, God, it made me quake to see Such sense within the slain! But when I touch'd the lifeless clay, The blood gush'd out amain! For every clot, a burning spot, Was scorching in my brain!

"My head was like an ardent coal, My heart as solid ice; My wretched, wretched soul I knew Was at the Devil's price: A dozen times I groaned--the dead Had never groan'd but twice!

"And now from forth the frowning sky, From the heaven's topmost height, I heard a voice--the awful voice Of the blood-avenging sprite:-- 'Thou guilty man! take up thy dead, And hide it from my sight!'

"I took the dreary body up, And cast it in a stream,-- A sluggish water, black as ink. The depth was so extreme My gentle boy, remember this Is nothing but a dream!

"Down went the corse with a hollow plunge, And vanish'd in the pool-- Anon I cleansed my bloody hands And wash'd my forehead cool, And sat among the urchins young That evening in the school!

"Oh, heaven, to think of their white souls, And mine so black and grim! I could not share in childish prayer. Nor join in evening hymn: Like a devil of the pit I seem'd, 'Mid holy cherubim!

"And peace went with them one and all, And each calm pillow spread-- But Guilt was my grim chamberlain That lighted me to bed, And drew my midnight curtains round, With fingers bloody red!

"All night I lay in agony, In anguish dark and deep-- My fever'd eyes I dared not close, But stared aghast at Sleep; For Sin had render'd unto her The keys of hell to keep!

"All night I lay in agony, From weary chime to chime, With one besetting horrid hint, That rack'd me all the time,-- A mighty yearning, like the first Fierce impulse unto crime!

"One stern, tyrannic thought, that made All other thoughts its slave; Stronger and stronger every pulse Did that temptation crave,-- Still urging me to go and see The dead man in his grave!

"Heavily I rose up,--as soon As light was in the sky.-- And sought the black, accursed pool With a wild, misgiving eye; And I saw the dead in the river bed, For the faithless stream was dry!

"Merrily rose the lark, and shook The dewdrop from its wing; But I never mark'd its morning flight, I never heard it sing; For I was stooping once again Under the horrid thing.

"With breathless speed, like a soul in chase, I took him up and ran,-- There was no time to dig a grave Before the day began: In a lonesome wood, with heaps of leaves, I hid the murdered man.

"And all that day I read in school, But my thought was other where: As soon as the mid-day task was done, In secret I was there; And a mighty wind had swept the leaves, And still the corse was bare!

"Then down I cast me on my face, And first began to weep, For I knew my secret then was one That earth refused to keep; Or land or sea, though he should be Ten thousand fathoms deep!

"So wills the fierce avenging sprite, Till blood for blood atones! Ay, though he's buried in a cave, And trodden down with stones, And years have rotted off his flesh-- The world shall see his bones!

"Oh God, that horrid, horrid dream Besets me now awake! Again--again, with a dizzy brain, The human life I take; And my red right hand grows raging hot, Like Cranmer's at the stake.

"And still no peace for the restless clay Will wave or mould allow; The horrid thing pursues my soul,-- It stands before me now!" The fearful boy looked up, and saw Huge drops upon his brow!

That very night, while gentle sleep The urchin eyelids kiss'd, Two stern-fac'd men set out from Lynn, Through the cold and heavy mist; And Eugene Aram walked between, With gyves upon his wrist.

Mr. Planché's versification of the homely proverb--Poverty parts good company--will create many good-natured smiles, and run counter with Mr. Kenney's To-morrow. Some of the minor pieces are very pleasing, especially two by Hartley Coleridge, Esq.