374 SHIPWRECK OF THE MEDUSA, 
than to the French government, whose intentions he was only 
fulfilling. 
Several days passed before I could moderate my sorrow ; 
but at last our friends represented to me the duties 1 owed to 
the orphans who were left with us, and to whom I had pro- 
mised to hold the place of mother. Then rousing myself 
from my lethargy, and recollecting the obligations I had to 
fulfill, I bestoAved all my affections on the innocent beings 
whom my father had confided to me in his dying moments. 
Nevertheless, I was not at rest ; the desire of seeing the place 
where reposed the mortal remains of my worthy father tor- 
mented me. They wished to dissuade me; but when they 
saw I had been frequently weeping in private, thej" no longer 
withheld me. I went alone to Safal, leaving Caroline to take 
charge of the children, two of \a hom were still in a dangerous 
condition. What changes did I find at our cottage ! The 
person from whom we had hired our negroes had secretly 
removed them ; rank Aveeds sprung up every Avhere : the 
cotton withered for want of cultivation ; the fields of millet, 
maize, and beans, had been devoured by the herds of cattle 
from the colony; our house was half plundered: the bocks 
and papers of my father taken away. Old Etienne still re- 
mained ; I found him cultivating cotton. As soon as he saw 
me he drew near ; and having inquired if he wished to remain 
at the plantation, he replied, "I could stay here all ray life; 
my good master is no more, but he is still here ; I wish to 
work for the support of his children." I promised in m^^^ turn 
to take care of him during my stay in Africa. At last I bent 
my steps toward my father's grave. The shrubs Avhich sur- 
rounded it were covered with the most beautiful verdure ; 
their thorny branches hung over it as if to shield it from the 
rays of the sun. The silence which reigned around this soli- 
tary place was only interrupted by the songs of the birds and 
the rustling of the foliage agitated by a faint breeze. At the 
sight of this sacred retreat I suddenly felt myself penetrated 
by a religious sentiment, and falling on my knees upon the 
grass, and resting my head upon the humid stone, remained a 
long while in deep meditation. Then starting up, I cried, 
" Dear remains of the best of fathers ! I come not hither to 
disturb your repose ; but I come to ask of Him who is omni- 
potent, resignation to his august decrees. I come to promise 
also to the worthy author of my existence, to give all my care 
to the orphans whom he has left on earth. 1 also promise to 
make known to feeling hearts all the misfortunes he experi- 
