94 THE DARK DAY.
length subduing her feelings in some measure, and before I could find words to congratulate her upon her convalescence, she said to me ' I owe to you, my friend, the preservation of my life; I will not suffer the low estimation at which I must hold existence, lonely, poor, and friendless as I am, to diminish in the least, my sense of the amount of gratitude I owe you. May the God of the stranger and the fatherless my God -reward you, for all your exertions, and all your personal risks; it is all I have to bestow, even upon those kind friends who have nursed me with parental care. '
“I found only a few words, to say that the service I had been permitted to render her, was such as was due the unfortunate. I ventured to add, that whatever had been done for her by those who were about her, was amply repaid, in the consciousness of aiding the unfortunate. All joined me in the assurance, and having conducted her to her chair, I took a seat on the opposite side of the fire place.
As my eyes became used to the gloom of the room, I found myself able to distinguish the features of the stranger, and to judge, allowing for the ravages of a long and disastrous voyage, and her physical and mental sufferings, something of what, as a young man, I might be supposed to feel an interest in the beauty of the lady, who certainly felt under great obligations to me.— Her features were entirely different from those of any female I had ever seen, and more of a cast to attract closer examination than delicacy might warrant: and, it is possible that the impressions, which I supposed were made upon me at that interview, were the result of a long and intimate subsequent acquaintance, of rich and dear associations, with her who then sat before me, lonely, friendless, without a home, and sheltered only by the oft exercised, ( but let it be said ) unwearied charity, of total strangers! Her features were such as I have heard described, as denoting strength of intellect, capability of great attainments, and above all, indicative of sound judgment, as well as depth and intensity of feeling. She once turned her face from the fire, and gave me an opportunity of observing its profile. The peculiar projection of the lips, and the nose, particularly attracted my attention; I felt a consciousness that I had seen such features, and my perplexity was enhanced by my inability to recollect where or when, whether they belonged to some acquaintance, or had been represented upon paper. I dwell upon these circumstances now, with an interest that I know must appear childish to you; and which I can scarcely convince myself is materially connected with what I have to say -but let it be recollected, that to tell my tale of misery has become the business of my life. I know not another circumstance which can unite me to existence, or which would infuse interest enough into life, to make it supportable to me.
“I was roused from my reverie, by an intimation from an attendant, that it was time for us to return.
“I learned in an adjoining room, that the object of my solicitude was named Miriam. She had left the continent of Europe with her father and other friends, with an intention of settling in a southern city, Charleston, perhaps. They had much wealth in the vessel which was lost, that probably sunk soon after the ship struck upon the shoals.
“The addition of a single individual to a family, has never been considered in this portion of the country, ás forming any cause of complaint; the necessaries and comforts of life are easily obtained; and they have here never been sparingly offered to a stranger the stranger, a female, and in distress, secured a claim upon any family, which to deny, would have been considered an insult to Heaven. I was aware of this; I knew, too, that those who had administered to the wants of the unfortunate object of my consideration, in her greatest distress, would scarcely forego the happiness which they must experience, in noting the effects of their kindness upon her recovering health. Yet expenses were necessarily incurred by the poor people at whose house Miriam then was; and the constant attention which they had bestowed to her debilitated frame, had certainly detracted from the amount of labour, which the care of a family required. These were inconveniences of which they would not complain, but which I thought might be remedied. The next morning I acceded to the proposal of my mother to visit Miriam. In passing through Plymouth, I learned that several trunks had been found, that evidently belonged to the passengers in the wrecked vessel, and as the proper officers were taking measures to secure as much of the cargo as possible, for the benefit of those who might hereafter present just claims to it, it was proposed that the lady should be requested to identify, as far as she could, the property of her father.
“Soon after my mother had been introduced to Miriam, she made her acquainted with the little plan, which she had formed for her comfort. She must return with her her house was large, the means of administering to her wants would be more at hand; and she could then without a fear of incommoding any one, find a home, until her health was reinstated, and the arrangement of her little property saved, might render it necessary to depart.
“Miriam struggled with her feelings, and expressed her thankfulness for the kindness of the offer, in a tone which indicated how truly she appreciated the favours of her new friends. The feelings of those who had given the stranger a home, were consulted by my mother; and Miriam shed a tear of gratitude upon the neck of her kind benefactress, as she was lifted into the chaise by the side of my mother.
“When I returned to Plymouth town, I found myself unable to identify any article appertaining to our new guest, except a large trunk filled with books, now partially damaged, but which were immediately given into my care; those I conveyed home as soon as possible.
