Jan.] 



AUCKLAND ISLES. 



359 



flowers and the fruit, and especially by a little bird, of exquisite plu- 

 mage, which we caught in the forest. 



For the first time since the 26th of October, my wife now attempted 

 to walk alone, by the assistance of her brother and myself, who sta- 

 tioned ourselves at a short distance apart in the cabin, with our arms 

 extended, while she would totter from one to the other, in the same 

 manner as an infant is first taught to venture itself alone on its tiny 

 feet. The success of this experiment filled her with such joy that it 

 quite overcame her ; and while resting her head on my shoulder, she 

 poured out from the fulness of her heart a prayer of. gratitude and 

 praise to Heaven, for this and other blessings she had experienced. 

 On becoming a little more composed, she exclaimed, " Oh, if my dear 

 mother could but just see me beginning to learn to walk, after being 

 deprived so long of the use of my limbs, how thankful to Heaven she 

 would be, for this act of mercy to her daughter." 



In the course of a subsequent conversation, of a very affecting and 

 interesting character, respecting the afflictions which had attended our 

 voyage since we left New-York, she evinced so much philosophical 

 calmness, pious resignation, and humble reliance on the wisdom and 

 mercy of her Creator, that I ventured to communicate to her, for the 

 first time, the fact of Geery and Spinney's having been removed to 

 another state of existence. 



The shock of this disastrous intelligence overcame her assumed 

 fortitude at once ; she burst into tears, and for some time refused to 

 be consoled. Young Geery had been the favoured and accepted suiter 

 of her sister, to whom he was solemnly betrothed when we sailed on 

 this ill-omened voyage. "Do let me weep, Benjamin," said my wife, 

 "for I cannot help it — these tears will relieve njy almost bursting 

 heart. He was the lover of my sister ; and a more noble or more 

 manly soul never animated the human frame. He was worthy of her 

 affections, and he possessed them. I weep for her, and his poor 

 mother, whose heart will break when she hears the dreadful news. 

 You know, Benjamin, that she doted on Samuel ; and his filial affec- 

 tion was most exemplary. Poor disconsolate mother ! you was indeed 

 making the shroud of your son f* 



Why should I prolong or extend this scene any farther ? I can 

 portray but a very faint and imperfect picture of the reality ; and 

 though of the most thrilling interest to the parties concerned, the reader 

 may think it a dull, heavy impediment to the progress of the voyage. 

 I will therefore return to our nautical duties. 



Our long, affecting, and, I trust, not unprofitable conversation was 

 at length interrupted by the arrival on board of some of our invalid 

 seamen, who had been recreating themselves in the majestic groves 

 and delightful valleys of this charming island. On meeting them at 

 the gangway, I found that they had brought a few berries, and a 

 splendid collection of the most beautiful flowers, intended, they said, 

 expressly for Mrs. Morrell. They felt their health and strength im- 

 proving very fast, they said, and hoped, by the blessing of God, to be 

 able to go to their duty on the following day. This was agreeable in- 



