THE PIRATE.

Waikato Times, Volume V, Issue 265, 22 January 1874, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE PIRATE.

Early in the month of August, 1811, a good sized brig started from Boston, bound for New Orleans. On board there was an old man, named Adam Wirt, who went out for the purpose of seeking an only son, who, he had learned, was somewhere on the coast of the Mexican Gulf. Adam Wirt was wealthy, but for years had been alone, to dwell amid its glitter. When the old man had taken a second wife to his home, his son Robert stepped from beneath his father's roof, and swore that so long as the step-mother lived he would not cross its threshold again. That second wife was now dead : and, being sad in his loneliness, the old man resolved to seek his child. The brig made good weather, and for several days nothing occurred to break the monotony of the voyage ; but, at length, one pleasant morning, one of the look-outs reported a sail to the southward and eastward. The wind was from the east, and the brig had it slightly abaft the beam, as her course lay south-south-west. Captain Poole brought his glass from the cabin, and, after gazing "Upon he stranger some ten minutes, he made her out to be a schooner standing directly towards them. " Where do you think she's bound ?" asked old Adam Wirt, as he heard the captain's report. " Couldn't say yet," returned the captain, again levelling his glass upon the stranger. " I can tell you better after watching her a little." Fifteen minutes more passed, and at the end of that time Captain Poole lowered his glass, and while a slight tremor shook his frame, he uttered, " The schooner is falling off !" "And what of that?" asked the old man, who had not failed to notice the captain's manner. % " Wh 9l£!' it ? ~~ wii y> simply that ihe fellow ifj'SeQnd for thmgwig." f* "Wa&ts to speak us, I suppose?" said Wirt. *-* v ' " Very likely," returned the captain, as he turned to take a look at the company, and then cast his eyes aloft ; and, again turning to the old man, he continued, " You need be under no needless alarm; sir ; but in all probability, that schooner is a pirate." ■' A pirate !" reiterated Adam Wirt, while his face assumed a livid hue, " Then what in in Heaven's name shall we do ?" " We shall have to make the best of it ; for of two things we may rest assured — we can neither run away from him, nor fight him. Look ! his deck is crowded %ith men !" The brig's crew had by this time become aware of the nature of the schooner, and, as may be supposed, they felt anything but comfortable under the conviction thus arrived at. The brig was heavily laden, and at the best she was an unpromising sailor; while the schooner, with the wind full upon her quarter, came dashing along at a most furious rate. A consnltation was held upon the quarter-deck, and it was at length agreed upon that the brig should be kept on her course, and if ordered by the pirate to heave-to, that they would do so at once, and offer no resistance, which, if offered at all, could only render their position worse. In an hour and a half the schooner had come up to within a quarter of a mile, and fired a gun to windward, and in a few moments afterwards the brig was lying to with her main-topsail to the mast. The crew watched the schooner as she began to round-to ; and though they could not repress an instinctive dread, yet they felt almost confident that no violence would be used so long as they showed no resistance ; nor in this were they disappointed, for as the schooner ranged alongside, and the pirates began to flock on board, no signs of murderous intent were manifested. The pirate captain was the first to board the brig. He was a young man in the prime of life ; and next to follow him was a fair-headed, handsome youth, who seemed to hang upon his commander's steps with a strange mixture of devotion and fear. "Do you command this vessel?" asked the pirate leader of Captain Poole. " Yes, sir," replied Poole. " Then, of course, you will have no objection to my overhauling-your cargo, sir," said the pirate, with a slight smile ; " for you might have some articles to which I might take a fancy." "If I am not mistaken," returned Captain Poole, " you will need no permission from me, for I am unable to resist." " You show your good judgment, at least ; and if you will lead the way, I will take a look in at your cabin first." As the pirate captain thus spoke, he turned toward the companion-way, and was just upon the point of starting for the cabin, when his eye caught the form of Adam Wirt ; and, at the sight, he started baGk as though he had seen a spirit from the other world. The old man, too, seemed eqally startled ; for as

he ga/.ed into the face of the pirate, a fearful tiemor shook his frame, and he grasped the rail for support. The buccaneer gazed a moment into the working features before him ; and then stepping forward and laying his hand tremblingly upon the old man's arm, he said, " Tell me, sir, from whence you come. Tell me what name you bear." " Men call me Adam Wirt," replied the old man, half recoiling from the touch that rested upon him. " Great God, my father !" broke from the pirate captain's lips ; and he would have fallen upon the old man's bosom, had he not put forth his hand as if to keep him off. j| "Thy father!" repeated old Wirt, moving back from where he stood. " No, no ! I am not thy father ! Oh, God ! Once thou mightest have been my boy ; once I gazed with a parent's pride upon your features ; and once I called thee son. But, but — oh, heavens !— is this a dream ? My boy a pirate !" "Father," still urged the pirate, following with a slow step the old man/s backward movement, " own me as thy son, and thou shalt " "No! Away, thou bloodthirsty man ! I know thee not. Oh, God ! And is it thus I find my boy ?" "Listen to me one moment, my father," exclaimed pirate chief, in a tone and manner little in keeping with his vocation. "These hands are not stained with one drop of blood ; and, save where the red flag of proud England has waved, I have not till the present time intruded upon another deck than my own. But now, though I have gold in my lockers, I am in want of bread ; yet will I leave thee to go in peace. You shall receive no further trouble from me." " The old man covered his face with his hands, and the deepest agony dwelt in his bosom ; and while thus he stood, the pirate captain ordered his own men to return to their own vessel. The gentle youth, who had followed his chief on board the brig, at this moment approached the spot where Adam Wirt stood, and, clasping both the old man's hands in his own, he said, " Oh, kind sir, if you are that man's father, speak to him one kind word ! Smile upon him, and own him as your son. One word from you may reclaim him from all his errors. " Boy," uttered the old man, as he gazed upon the , pure and almost heavenly features that were turned so earnestly upon him, "you know not what you. ask. I have left my home in search for my son, but such as I find him, I will never own him. Back again will I go, and alone will I travel my weary way through life.'Wsir, think once^more !'i urged the genfle youth, seeq^J^Ji^^ lws ' every hope upon the result qf his v plea. '•One fend greeting- froW hlsTfather -teiay yet reclaim him. ' Speak it — oh, speak it !" " Never !" uttered Adam Wirt, as he pushed the suppliant from him. " Then the duty must still rest with me," sadly murmured the youth, as he turned away from the spot. "The father may cutbjrn off, but I cannot." " Frank !" exclaimed the pirate captain at this moment ; " come here, the grapplings are already cut off, and we must haste away. Not a thing here have I molested, and I shall leave with a lighter heart. Come !" As the pirate chieftain spoke, the youth followed him quickly on board the schooner ; and in a few moments afterwards the brig was again on her way, unmolested. Old Adam Writ returned to his home in Boston, but that home was darker and more gloomy than ever. He had left it in search of his son ; he had found that son, but he had left him the chief in command beneath a rover's flag. But gradually, like some dim spirit arousing from the cloudy mist of conscience, arose the earnest appeal of that son, and also the prayers of the gentle youth who had urged a father's pardon for him. As thoughts like these crowded themselves upon the old man's mind, he could not but feel that he might have saved his boy. The continued memory of the scene on the deck of that brig softened his heart, but the feeling only made him more miserable. •The morning of the 28th of August, 18 12,1 2, dawned upon the city of Boston, and ere the sun went down on that day ten thousand hearts were filled with joy and national pride. On that memorable day the United States frigate Constitution, under command of the brave Hull, entered the harbour of Boston, after her glorious victory over the English frigate Guerriero. The wharves and the adjacent streets were crowded with the enthusiastic people, and as the battle-scarred heroes walked up from the landing, they were everywhere hailed with the loudest acclamations of thanks and joy. Not far from the landing to which the first boat from the victorious frigate was hauled up stood old Adam Wirst. He had heard of the ship's arrival, and, with his American heart overrunning ivith patriotic impulses, he had dragged lis feeble steps down to the water to Destow his meed of praise upon his ;ountry's heroes. One after another of ;he officers passed by ; and while old idam was swinging his hat in the air le felt a light touch upon liis arm, and, is he turned, his eye rested upon the brm of the fair youth of the pirate ;chooner. " Ha ! what wouldst thou with me ?" lttered the old man, slightly trembling it the memory thus startled into life. " Look, look ! — look there, sir !" said he youth, in an earnest tone and manler, at the same time pointing to a >arty of seamen who were coming up. 1 See that wounded man — he tfho halts 1 his walk. Do you not hear the houts that greet him ? A braver heart r a more effective arm was not to be 3und on the decks of our frigate. He Dught nobly for his country, and he

has scaled his devotion by some of his best blood '" Adam Writ stopped not to hear more ; for in the person of the patriot thus ppinted out he had lecognibed his own son, and, springing quickly forward, he caught the wounded seaman in his arms. Those who stood around saw this meeting, and they knew that the aged father was blessing his hero son. Louder swelled the shouts ot joy, and many a parent there wished that such pleasure might be his. None, save the aged father and the gentle youth, knew of the stain that had once blotted the sailor's name ; and in their bosoms all was forgotten, all forgiven — for upon the altar of his country's liberty he had offered atonement for his crime, and his heart had thrown off all shackles but those of love, virtue, and honor.

" And now, my son, that all is forgotten, tell me whence came your noble resolves?" said old Wirt, as he satin.^ his own dwelling, with his son by his *. side. "Wait one moment," returned the young man, while a peculiar expression rested upon his countenance. " Wait till the faithful companion of my wayward days comes back to us." " You mean the youth ?" "Ha ! here — here comes my friend, my saviour, my angel of mercy !" As the sailor spoke, a lovely female entered the room. Her eyes were sparking with a happy light, and a bright smile of joy irradiated her features. The young man sprang from his chair and caught her in his arms, and after imprinting a warm kiss upon the brow of the fair being, he turned to his father and said, " Father, here is the being who saved your son to virtue — my own dear wife !" " Your wife !" ejaculated the the old man, starting up from his chair, and gazing earnestly upon the beautiful features before. " Surely I have seen that face before." " Yes, father," said the female laying her head upon the old man's shoulder and gazing affectionately into his face. " I once pleaded for your son on the deck of the boarded brig. Then I was the first to point him out to you as his country's devoted son." " And you and the fair-haired youth are the same ?" " Yes, father," said the son ; " she is, indeed, the same. With a love and devotion that knows no cooling, this gentle being has followed me through the varied scenes of the last six years, and ever has she striven to make me what I now am. God bless her and protect her !" Old Adam Wirt was happy; and for many years .tt&Jived to cpjoy the sweet companionship f of his qeaiz _Jair wife ;_^ while that son, with a fcivcnt devotion, fought bravej^for his country, till peace once more spread her bright wings over the homes of America.

t ,We, understand that the immigrants by the Dilharee experienced no difficulty in obtaining situations, although some people had fears that immigration had been overdone. A large portion of them have already been engaged, and when the twenty or thirty who were booked for the Southern provinces have departed but few \v ill remain in the depot. The passengers by this vessel look strong and healthy, and able to do any work they ma} be engaged in. A meeting of the Regatta Committee was held last evening at the Thames Hotel — Mr. M. Niccol in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Secretary stated that the funds on hand at present amounted to and a further sum of had been promised. The prizes for the several events were arranged. The Hobson Company's band was retained for Regatta Day. The Secretary was also instructed to obtain tenders for catering on board the flagship, goal boats, &c. Committees were appointed for various duties, and the meeting adjourned until Monday evening. The programme is as follows : — Trading vessels, twenty-five tons register and upwards : First prize, £$O, with a sweepstakes of £$ added ; second prize, ;£io. Sailing boats under six tons : First prize, second, .£5 ; third, £2. Trading cutters, twenty-five tons and upwards : First prize, £2$ ; second piize, j£io ; third prize, .£5. Four-oared gigs : Prize, and five medals. Trading vessels under twenty-five tons register : Prizes —^2o, and £$. Sailing boats, nine tons and upwards : Piizes — a cup and ,£lO, ;£io, and £5. Sailing boats between six and nine tons : Prizes — ,£l5, £7, and £3. Four-oared amateur gig race, without outriggers : Prize, Open sailing boats : Prizes — £8, .£3, and £1. Merchant ships' four-oared gigs : Prizes, £10 and Pairoared amateur boat race, rowed on the gunwale : Prize, ,£5. Dingies under twelve feet over all, by boys under sixteen : Prizes, £3 and £2. — Echo, January 21. The Maoris of the Thames, with the characteristic partiality of semi-civilised races for display and finery, are evincing great interest in volunteering. The writer has seen parties of natives at drill in Maori settlements, and their aptitude in acquiring it is astonishing. A meeting of the members of the Auckland Rowing Club was held last night at the Thames Hotel — Mr. T. Henderson in the chair. The medals presented by the vice-president to the winning crew of a contest which took place in December last were then handed over. Messrs. T. Henderson, D. Oxley, W. Caverhill, and S. Hales weie the recipients. The following members were chosen to represent the club in the amateur four-oared lowing match in the foithcoming regatta: — Messrs. H. W. Henderson (stioke), L. Dacre (3), T. Henderson (2), C. Dacre (bow), and W. Giay (coxswain). Another crew was selected to compete in the same race : — Messrs. B. Provo (stroke), J. Dunnet (3), J. Dacre (2), and J. Marshall (bow). Several new members were proposed, and othei business having been disposed of, the meeting separated. — Echo, Jan. 22. The immigrants by the Dilharee complain very much of the difficulty they experience in obtaining house accommodation. Considering the large profits that acrue in the form of rents it is sui prising that the investments in house building aie so small. In many parts of Auckland building is active enough, but it does not keep pace with the rapid influx of immigrants. A pigeon message to the Thames Advertiser from Ohinemuri states that gold is found everywhere in the creeks, and does not appear to have travelled far. Steps will shortly be taken for the enlargement of the lunatic asylum, instructions having been given to the Provincial aichitect to that effect.