Hatchie, the Guardian Slave; or, The Heiress of Bellevue

day, day

or breath,

as a pai

painted

NT MA

king, home-made sort of man might have been seen attempting to effect a safe transit of the steamboat levee at New Orleans. This personage was no other than Mr. Nathan Benson, commonly calle

e prevailing "mode" had not been consulted in the fashioning of his garments. His coat was, without doubt, made by some village tailoress, for many of the graces with which the masculine artist adorns his garments were entirely wanting in those of our worthy farmer. His hat was two inches too low in the crown, and two inches too broad in the br

o has labored for five-and-thirty years at the stubborn soil of New England. His hair was sa

he, good soul, found no difficulty in applying them to every action he performed. He was, to use a common phrase, a "professor

f escaping steam, and the splashing paddles of a boat a short distance down the stream, attracted his attention, and towards her he directed his steps. Approaching near enough to read her name, he was not a little surprised to find the boat he had seen advertised to start a week before. Concluding, in his innocence, that some accident had detained her, he hastened on board.

luded to take passage in her for Cincinnati, and accordingly he sought for the captain. To his inquiries

start, cap'n?" inq

ler. "John," continued he, turning to a waiter near him, with

ly, as the waiter dodged into the pantry,

ou go?" inquired

me about right," replied Uncle

rough, I will wait a few minutes

he engaged a passage, applying to the bargain the trite principle that "no berth is secured till paid for," which had been reduced to writing, and occupied a conspic

beyond the stated time. Depositing his trunk upon a heap of baggage in the cabin, and turning with pious horror from the gaming-tables there, Uncle Nathan seated himself in an arm-chair on the boiler deck, to await the departure of the boat, and, in anticipation, to feast his vision with the wonders of the Father of Waters. He waited very long and very patiently, for Uncle

ame exemplary patience; but sti

virtue, cardinal or secondary, hastened to the captain, with some appearance of indignation on his honest features. The worthy

nation, asked to be shown his berth. The captain consulted the clerk, and the clerk consulte

Uncle Nathan, aghast. "

and kindly offered him a mattress on the floor, assuring hi

could be, and was informed that ma

latter are boarded on them from the time they take passage, if they wish,-often a week or ten days. Berths are often eng

its cheerless lights, in the damp atmosphere and the clouds of mosquitos, to produce a sigh for home and its joys. If any one had hummed "Sweet Home" in his ears, it would have brought the tears to his eyes. He thought of everything connected with his hallowed home: of the good-natured spinster who was his housekeeper, and of the ten-acre lots upon his farm; of the red steers and the gray mare; of the shaggy watch-dog and the tabby-cat; of home in all its minuti?. Its familiar

Chalmetta. On his return from Georgia he had not deemed it prudent to visit Bellevue. Of the

off to-night, is there?"

cap'n just told me the mail hadn't come,

is expression. Perceiving that he looked perfectly sincere, and was innocent of any intenti

ed Uncle Nathan, piqued at the coldness

o," returned Henry; "for I have lain about this boa

e Nathan, with interest. "When did

out ten minutes," answe

same thing!" said Uncle Nathan,

yet the boat seemed full of passengers

they will get s

e captain is trying to get a freight of soldiers on deck. The c

st outrageously," said the

ry, who now explained to his companion some

dy?" asked Uncle

'Belle of the West,' which I am pretty well assured will sail to-morrow,

your passage-money again?"

d Henry, now understanding the p

h? The sign in the cabin says '

imposition for travellers who pay their passage in advance, in case the boat gets aground, or the captain pleases to detain them an unreasonable

e got off," said Uncle Nathan, chopfallen; for, if any one

d you may not. As you have paid your fare, you had better keep

the kind sympathy of the officer. "I had no sort of

e a very naughty place," returned Henry,

ejaculated Uncle

u been h

n more iniquity in that time than I

e fervid utterance

he North, I per

e of Massachusetts, which, thank the

re," suggested Henry, who had known and ap

nd, to see a company of soldiers marchin' through the streets last Sabba' day, to the tune of 'Hail Columby;' and then to th

ied Henry, good-naturedly, for it must be confesse

in the luxurious metropolis of the South,-as long, at least, as the patience of his new-found military friend would permit