THE FOUNDLING OF LIVERPOOL.

BY THE LATE CAPTAIN MACDONOUGH, AUTHOR OF
HERMIT IN LONDON.'

There is no romance like the romance of real life, and such is that now before us. It was on a dark tempestuous night, when the wind raged off shore, and the black waves were hugely swelling and raising their angry crests mountains high, that the captain of a fine vessel, arrived direct from China, with that heart of oak which distinguishes a British seaman in the commercial service as well as in that of the royal navy, resolved, at all risks, on landing personally at the nearest point his letters, and the welcome announcement of the arrival of the ship and its valuable cargo. The boat was got ready, lowered, and manned by four stout skilful hands, when the intrepid captain and the mate of another vessel leaped into her, followed by a passenger, who seemed equally fearless, and eager to gain the shore. After tossing about for some time, buffeted by the hostile billows, they gained their place of destination, and sprung on shore with that indescribably elastic bound which distinguishes the ma riner feeling his foot for the first time on his native soil, after a long absence and tedious voyage, and after all the dangers and vicissitudes by land and sea. The boat's-crew and passengers were drenched with salt water, and eagerly made for the first house of reception that presented itself, which was an obscure public-house in a remote part of the town; here, having obtained something like fresh clothing, consisting of a few boat cloaks and blankets, and giving their garments to be dried, they nestled round the fire, and called for something to warm the inner man, as well as the outward form and body of mortality. There is, in a British tar, a something of light heart, which keeps him above water in the storm, and exhilarates his spirits in the calm, more especially when enjoying the comforts of dry land, and indulging in the delights of home and native shore. Content gilds then the humblest fare, and I am convinced that a natural innate feeling of gratitude to Providence warms the bosom at that precious moment. The faithful captain had discharged his duty, and all was calm and self-approving in his peaceful breast; the mate

had thrown care overboard, since he saw the white cliffs of Albion; the crew were light-hearted easy fellows, and the merchant passenger had the satisfaction of returning home in safety with his wealth, with a mind, nevertheless, full of eventful remembrances, doubtful cogitations, and speculative intentions, mostly bearing on duties to perform, benevolence to exert, an establishment to seek, and a determination to cast anchor in repose for the rest of his life.

When cold and thirst were appeased and provided for, they all looked around them, as men lately arrived naturally do, when one lonely being in the form of a fellow-man, seated in a corner of the tap-room, met their eye. He was poorly habited, or rather in the faded and fast-decaying remains of respectable attire; he was cleanly, yet shabbynecessitous, yet apparently above seeking alms. On the table before him was something wrapped up in the ragged remnant of a silk handkerchief, and at his feet a Newfoundland dog, looking affection in his master's face, in return for a sad regretful glance which he cast upon the poor animal, and which seemed to say, "thou art all fidelity, my poor companion, and scanty is the crust that I can afford thee. Thou hast felt the hand of affliction bruise thee, but thou hast cheerfully borne its stripes; the foot of poverty has crossed thy path, but thou hast still stedfastly and meekly kept on thy humble journey, seeking no new master;" and, breaking silence shortly after, he actually accented, in a low tone of voice, “No, Juba, I will not part with thee, be my fate what it will." The animal here rested his head on his master's knee; never was there a stronger emblem of confidence and dependence, trust, and grateful adherence in return; no," added he, and the dog leaped with joy.

"no,

Examining now with tearful eye the article wrapped in the silk handkerchief, he murmured to himself, "And this, too, is hard to part with; it belonged to my dear boy." His features changed, he passed the palm of his hand over his fore. head, which as soon as he dropped it met the lips of his faithful follower, and the tear was wiped off by the pressure of them. Clearing his voice, the man of altered fortunes said, addressing himself to the newly arrived party, "Gentlemen, does any one of you wish to purchase an excellent violin ?" No," harshly exclaimed the mate, with a voice

which the nightly mist and the damps of many a mid-watch had rendered hoarse and hollow," no, my old gentleman; but if half-a-crown can be of any service to you and your poor messmate there," pointing to the dog, you are welcome to it with all my soul; order something to warm your old heart, and never be cast down-life's but a rough voyage to us all, but although you do seem now on your beam-ends. another tide, and a prosperous voyage, may get you off yet, Here," holding out the half-crown in one hand, and a glass of grog in the other, success to you; its hard work, perhaps, now, but you may bring up with a wet sail yet; here's to you, I say," forcing the money on him.

There was a powerful struggle betwixt pride and actual suffering in the acceptor's mind-honest pride, looking back to his former situation, a respectable and reputable life, and the occupation of a creditable situation in society, on the one hand, and not only the dire personal endurance of want on the other, but the privations and necessities of two who were dearer to him than himself—these had a hard conflict to gain the mastery, but the feelings of a father turned the scale, and, whilst his varying features painted what passed within, he submitted to the humiliation, and accepted the assistance so frankly and so kindly afforded by a worthy son of Neptune. He would have preferred selling something to receiving a donation, because in the first instance he could give a quid pro quo; but then the violin reminded him of one who was dear to him, and who once touched its strings, whilst it recalled to his imagination other and happier days. During the time this mental combat was occupying the interior of the fallen man, honest Jack was enjoying the pleasure of doing a good action, nor would he be contented with merely recruiting the sufferer's purse, he insisted, at the same time, on bis tasting his grog; a flush of gratitude, raised more from sensibility than from the stimulous of liquor, offered acceptable thanks, when the man of sorrow rose modestly, saluted the company respectfully, and withdrew.

The eyes of the captain and his passenger were, all this time, fixed upon him : in the latter he created an indescribable interest-so much so that he could not part with him thus: an honest man brought to distress is a being of as much interest, sympathy, and respect, as a worthless individual, re

duced by vice and prodigality, is a mark for contempt, disgust, and abhorrence. The better to enable him to learn something more of the poor man's story, the merchant-passenger followed him out, and recommenced the subject of the violin." You mentioned," said he, "that you might be prevailed upon to part with your violin, if we could agree as to the price, and I am certain that we shall not differ on that score.

"

"Yes," replied the pauvre honteux,

I may be obliged

to part with it, because my dear children are in want of bread, but it grieves me sorely to see it go out of the family; my poor boy used to gladden our ears with a tune in more prosperous times, and this is all that I have left to remember him, poor fellow! I am sure that it would afflict him if he knew how we were all now situated,—but we shall never meet again."

Here his voice fell below the chord of complaintiveness, to a deeper tone of woe-remembering regret.

66

"You have lost your son, my worthy sir," responded the merchant, in a sympathizing note: "he has probably fallen in the army, or the navy, or in the merchant service, one of the victims of climate, or the many chances of the elements?" The old man made no reply. Perhaps," resumed the speaker, "premature decay may have blighted the blossom ere it became a flower; but the rest of your family must console you for his loss, which I think that instrument will only serve to revive, causing a painful sensation; in a word, if you are disposed to part with it, I will give you your own price for it, be that what it may."

66

My good sir," said the poor man, "this is too generous; it is nothing else but a delicate way of doing a charitable action; such noble conduct becomes you well; but it would be disgraceful for me, as a man of honour and probity, fallen although I be, to put an exorbitant price on the article, with the view of heavily taxing your benevolence. No, sir; if a guinea will suit your convenience, it is all I ask, the violin is your's," banding it to him with a sigh.

They had now walked on together some distance, without considering if they were travelling the same road; but the fact was that the old man was steering homeward, whilst the merchant was conducted by an attractive power, the full im

pulse of which he was at a loss to account for. The instrument had now changed hands, but the companion still remained by the side of its former possessor.

"You have not told me how you lost your son."

"Why, I know not how to answer that question: he may be alive," laying deep stress on the word may, " but I fear not; he is lost to me; and as his goodness and gratitude so fully repaid me for my affection for him, whilst he was with me, I doubt his present existence, from not having heard of him for so long a period of time. I had a son, do you see, and yet I had not a son; the boy-" Here feeling interrupted his narrative, and he broke off by concluding with, "but this cannot concern you; I am now, sir, at the door of my wretched dwelling; my inclination would induces me sto invite you in, and to give you the welcome which you deserve; but I am ashamed of my abode, and my means hinder me from exercising the offices of hospitality to which my heart and my habits incline me." The merchant listened to this with tearful eye, and, pressing the poor man's hand in his, solicited permission to enter his lowly apartment, assuring him that his friendship and acquaintance should not terminate here. With a look of resignation, which banished pride, he accepted the offer, and they both went in together. On the door being opened, an interesting female, humbly attired, but with every mark of former gentility, sprung forward to embrace her father, but, upon beholding a stranger, drew back and hung down her head, partly from bashfulness, and partly from a wounded feeling at beholding a witness of the dire distress under which herself, her sire, and sister were labouring. A glimmering lamp, on a coarse ta ble, shone just sufficiently to enable her to toil at plain-work for a seanty sustenance, and discovered, in a corner, another female on a bed of sickness: this was her younger sister. The dog now frisked and curvested about the feet of the eldest, and then flew, with a cry of affection, to the other, licking her hands, and springing on the foot of the bed; it seemed as if the poor animal wept a welcome, and announced coming aid to the indigent family.

This gentleman," said the father, "has kindly accompanied me home; he has also," holding up the guinea, purchased my instrument. I have, moreover, had a little

་