Dusty Diamonds Cut and Polished: A Tale of City Arab Life and Adventure

by R. M. Ballantyne

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

  THE OCEAN AND THE NEW WORLD.

  Doctors tell us that change of air is usually beneficial, oftennecessary, nearly always agreeable. Relying on the wisdom of thisopinion, we propose now to give the reader who has followed us thus fara change of air--by shifting the scene to the bosom of the broadAtlantic--and thus blow away the cobwebs and dust of the city.

  Those who have not yet been out upon the great ocean cannot conceive--and those who have been out on it may not have seen--the splendours of aluminous fog on a glorious summer morning. The prevailing ideas in suchcircumstances are peace and liquidity! the only solid object visibleabove, below, or around, being the ship on which you stand.

  Everything else is impalpable, floating, soft, and of a light, bright,silvery grey. The air is warm, the sea is glass; it is circular, too,like a disc, and the line where it meets with the sky is imperceptible.Your little bark is the centre of a great crystal ball, the limit ofwhich is Immensity!

  As we have said, peace, liquidity, luminosity, softness, and warmthprevail everywhere, and the fog, or rather, the silvery haze--for it isdry and warm as well as bright--has the peculiar effect of deadeningsound, so that the quiet little noises of ship-board rather help thandestroy the idea of that profound tranquillity which suggestsirresistibly to the religious mind the higher and sweeter idea of "thepeace of God."

  But, although intensely still, there is no suggestion of death in such ascene. It is only that of slumber! for the ocean undulates even when atrest, and sails flap gently even when there is no wind. Besides this,on the particular morning to which we call attention, a species of whatwe may call "still life" was presented by a mighty iceberg--a peaked andtowering mountain of snowy white and emerald blue--which floated on thesea not a quarter of a mile off on the starboard bow. Real life alsowas presented to the passengers of the noble bark which formed thecentre of this scene, in the form of gulls floating like greatsnowflakes in the air, and flocks of active little divers rejoicingunspeakably on the water. The distant cries of these added to theharmony of nature, and tended to draw the mind from mere abstractcontemplation to positive sympathy with the joys of other animalsbesides one's-self.

  The only discordant sounds that met the ears of those who voyaged in thebark _Ocean Queen_ were the cacklings of a creature in the hen-coopswhich had laid an egg, or thought it had done so, or wished to do so,or, having been sea-sick up to that time, perhaps, endeavoured to reviveits spirits by recalling the fact that it once did so, and might perhapsdo so again! By the way there was also one other discord, in the formof a pugnacious baby, which whimpered continuously, and, from someunaccountable cause, refused to be comforted. But that was a discordwhich, as in some musical chords, seemed rather to improve the harmony--at least in its mother's ears.

  The _Ocean Queen_ was an emigrant ship. In her capacious hull, besidesother emigrants, there were upwards of seventy diamonds from the Beehivein Spitalfields on their way to seek their fortunes in the lands thatare watered by such grand fresh-water seas as Lakes Superior and Huronand Michigan and Ontario, and such rivers as the Ottawa and the SaintLawrence.

  Robert Frog and Tim Lumpy were among those boys, so changed for thebetter in a few months that, as the former remarked, "their own motherswouldn't know 'em," and not only improved in appearance, but in spirit,ay, and even to some small extent in language--so great had been theinfluence for good brought to bear on them by Christian women workingout of love to God and souls.

  "Ain't it lovely?" said Tim.

  "Splendacious!" replied Bob.

  The reader will observe that we did not say the language had, at thattime, been _much_ improved! only to some small extent.

  "I've seen pictur's of 'em, Bob," said Tim, leaning his arms on thevessel's bulwarks as he gazed on the sleeping sea, "w'en a gen'l'mancame to George Yard with a magic lantern, but I never thought they wasso big, or that the holes in 'em was so blue."

  "Nor I neither," said Bob.

  They referred, of course, to the iceberg, the seams and especially thecaverns in which graduated from the lightest azure to the deepestindigo.

  "Why, I do believe," continued Bobby, as the haze grew a little thinner,"that there's rivers of water runnin' down its sides, just like as if itwas a mountain o' loaf-sugar wi' the fire-brigade a-pumpin' on it. An'see, there's waterfalls too, bigger I do b'lieve than the one I once sawat a pantomime."

  "Ay, an' far prettier too," said Tim.

  Bobby Frog did not quite see his way to assent to that. The waterfallson the iceberg were bigger, he admitted, than those in the pantomime,but then, there was not so much glare and glitter around them.

  "An' I'm fond of glare an' glitter," he remarked, with a glance at hisfriend.

  "So am I, Bob, but--"

  At that instant the dinner-bell rang, and the eyes of both glittered--they almost glared--as they turned and made for the companion-hatch, Bobexclaiming, "Ah, that's the thing that _I'm_ fond of; glare an'glitter's all wery well in its way, but it can't 'old a candle to grub!"

  Timothy Lumpy seemed to have no difference of opinion with his friend onthat point. Indeed the other sixty-eight boys seemed to be marvellouslyunited in sentiment about it, for, without an exception, they respondedto that dinner-bell with a promptitude quite equal to that secured bymilitary discipline! There was a rattling of feet on decks andladderways for a few seconds, and then all was quiet while a blessingwas asked on the meal.

  For many years Miss Annie Macpherson has herself conducted parties ofsuch boys to Canada, but the party of which we write happened to be incharge of a gentleman whom we will name the Guardian; he was there tokeep order, of course, but in truth this was not a difficult matter, forthe affections of the boys had been enlisted, and they had alreadylearned to practise self-restraint.

  That same day a whale was seen. It produced a sensation among the boysthat is not easily described. Considerately, and as if on purpose, itswam round the ship and displayed its gigantic proportions; then itspouted as though to show what it could do in that line, and then, as ifto make the performance complete and reduce the Westminster Aquarium toinsignificance, it tossed its mighty tail on high, brought it down witha clap like thunder, and finally dived into its native ocean followed bya yell of joyful surprise from the rescued waifs and strays.

  There were little boys, perhaps even big ones, in that band, who thatday received a lesson of faith from the whale. It taught them thatpictures, even extravagant ones, represent great realities. The whalealso taught them a lesson of error, as was proved by the remark of onewaif to a brother stray:--

  "I say, Piggie, it ain't 'ard _now_, to b'lieve that the whale swalleredJonah."

  "You're right, Konky."

  Strange interlacing of error with error traversed by truth in thissublunary sphere! Piggie was wrong in admitting that. Konky was right,for, as every one knows, or ought to know, it was not a whale at allthat swallowed Jonah, but a "great fish" which was "prepared" for thepurpose.

  But the voyage of the _Ocean Queen_ was not entirely made up of calms,and luminous fogs, and bergs, and whales, and food. A volume would berequired to describe it all. There was much foul weather as well asfair, during which periods a certain proportion of the little flock,being not very good sailors, sank to depths of misery which they hadnever before experienced--not even in their tattered days--and eventhose of them who had got their "sea-legs on," were not absolutelyhappy.

  "I say, Piggie," asked the waif before mentioned of his chum, (ordosser), Konky, "'ow long d'ee think little Mouse will go on at hispresent rate o' heavin'?"

  "I can't say," answered the stray, with a serious air; "I ain't studiedthe 'uman frame wery much, but I should say, 'e'll bust by to-morrow if'e goes on like 'e's bin doin'."

  A tremendous sound from little Mouse, who lay in a neighbouring bunk,seemed to justify the prophecy.

  But little Mouse did not "bust." He survived that storm, and got hissea-legs on before the next one
.

  The voyage, however, was on the whole propitious, and, what withschool-lessons and Bible-lessons and hymn-singing, and romping, andgames of various kinds instituted and engaged in by the Guardian, thetime passed profitably as well as pleasantly, so that there were,perhaps, some feelings of regret when the voyage drew to an end, andthey came in sight of that Great Land which the Norsemen of olddiscovered; which Columbus, re-discovering, introduced to the civilisedworld, and which, we think, ought in justice to have been namedColumbia.

  And now a new era of life began for those rescued waifs and strays--those east-end diamonds from the great London fields. Canada--with itsmighty lakes and splendid rivers, its great forests and rich lands, itsinteresting past, prosperous present, and hopeful future--opened up toview. But there was a shadow on the prospect, not very extensive, it istrue, but dark enough to some of them just then, for here the hithertounited band was to be gradually disunited and dispersed, and friendshipsthat had begun to ripen under the sunshine of Christian influence wereto be broken up, perhaps for ever. The Guardian, too, had to be leftbehind by each member as he was severed from his fellows and sent to anew home among total strangers.

  Still there were to set off against these things several points ofimportance. One of these was that the Guardian would not part with asingle boy until the character of his would-be employer was inquiredinto, and his intention to deal kindly and fairly ascertained. Anotherpoint was, that each boy, when handed over to an employer, was not to beleft thereafter to care for himself, but his interests were to bewatched over and himself visited at intervals by an emissary from theBeehive, so that he would not feel friendless or forsaken even though heshould have the misfortune to fall into bad hands. The Guardian alsotook care to point out that, amid all these leave-takings and partings,there was One who would "never leave nor forsake" them, and to whom theywere indebted for the first helping hand, when they were in their ragsand misery, and forsaken of man.

  At last the great gulf of Saint Lawrence was entered, and here thevessel was beset with ice, so that she could not advance at a greaterrate than two or three miles an hour for a considerable distance.

  Soon, however, those fields of frozen sea were passed, and the end ofthe voyage drew near. Then was there a marvellous outbreak of pens,ink, and paper, for the juvenile flock was smitten with a sudden desireto write home before going to the interior of the new land.

  It was a sad truth that many of the poor boys had neither parent norrelative to correspond with, but these were none the less eager in theirliterary work, for had they not Miss Macpherson and the ladies of theHome to write to?

  Soon after that, the party landed at the far-famed city of Quebec, eachboy with his bag containing change of linen, and garments, a rug,etcetera; and there, under a shed, thanks were rendered to God for ahappy voyage, and prayer offered for future guidance.

  Then the Guardian commenced business. He had momentous work to do. TheHome of Industry and its work are well-known in Canada. Dusty diamondssent out from the Beehive were by that time appreciated, and thereforecoveted; for the western land is vast, and the labourers arecomparatively few. People were eager to get the boys, but the characterof intending employers had to be inquired into, and this involved care.Then the suitability of boys to situations had to be considered.However, this was finally got over, and a few of the reclaimed waifswere left at Quebec. This was the beginning of the dispersion.

  "I don't like it at all," said Bobby Frog to his friend Tim Lumpy, thatevening in the sleeping car of the railway train that bore them onwardto Montreal; "they'll soon be partin' you an' me, an' that'll be worsethan wallerin' in the mud of Vitechapel."

  Bobby said this with such an expression of serious anxiety that hislittle friend was quite touched.

  "I hope not, Bob," he replied. "What d'ee say to axin' our Guardian toput us both into the same sitivation?"

  Bobby thought that this was not a bad idea, and as they rolled alongthese two little waifs gravely discussed their future prospects. It wasthe same with many others of the band, though not a few were content togaze out of the carriage windows, pass a running commentary on the newcountry, and leave their future entirely to their Guardian. Soon,however, the busy little tongues and brains ceased to work, and ere longwere steeped in slumber.

  At midnight the train stopped, and great was the sighing and groaning,and earnest were the requests to be let alone, for a batch of the boyshad to be dropped at a town by the way. At last they were aroused, andwith their bags on their shoulders prepared to set off under a guide totheir various homes. Soon the sleepiness wore off, and, when the trainwas about to start, the reality of the parting seemed to strike home,and the final handshakings and good wishes were earnest and hearty.

  Thus, little by little, the band grew less and less.

  Montreal swallowed up a good many. While there the whole band went outfor a walk on the heights above the reservoir with their Guardian,guided by a young Scotsman.

  "That's a jolly-lookin' 'ouse, Tim," said Bob Frog to his friend.

  The Scotsman overheard the remark.

  "Yes," said he, "it is a nice house, and a good jolly man owns it. Hebegan life as a poor boy. And do you see that other villa--the whiteone with the green veranda among the trees? That was built by a man whocame out from England just as you have done, only without anybody totake care of him; God however cared for him, and now you see his house.He began life without a penny, but he had three qualities which willmake a man of any boy, no matter what circumstances he may be placed in.He was truthful, thorough, and trustworthy. Men knew that they mightbelieve what he said, be sure of the quality of what he did, and couldrely upon his promises. There was another thing much in his favour, hewas a total abstainer. Drink in this country ruins hundreds of men andwomen, just as in England. Shun drink, boys, as you would a serpent."

  "I wouldn't shun a drink o' water just now if I could get it," whisperedBobby to his friend, "for I'm uncommon thirsty."

  At this point the whole band were permitted to disperse in the woods,where they went about climbing and skipping like wild squirrels, forthese novel sights, and scents, and circumstances were overwhelminglydelightful after the dirt and smoke of London.

  When pretty well breathed--our waifs were grown too hardy by that timeto be easily exhausted--the Guardian got them to sit round him and singthat sweet hymn:

  "Shall we gather at the river?"

  And tears bedewed many eyes, for they were reminded that there were yetmany partings in store before that gathering should take place.

  And now the remnant of the band--still a goodly number--proceeded in thedirection of the far west. All night they travelled, and reachedBelleville, where they were received joyfully in the large housepresented as a free gift to Miss Macpherson by the Council of the Countyof Hastings. It served as a "Distributing Home" and centre in Canadafor the little ones till they could be placed in suitable situations,and to it they might be returned if necessary, or a change of employerrequired it. This Belleville Home was afterwards burned to the ground,and rebuilt by sympathising Canadian friends.

  But we may not pause long here. The far west still lies before us. Ourgradually diminishing band must push on.

  "It's the sea!" exclaimed the boy who had been named little Mouse,_alias_ Robbie Dell.

  "No, it ain't," said Konky, who was a good deal older; "it's a lake."

  "Ontario," said the Guardian, "one of the noble fresh-water seas ofCanada."

  Onward, ever onward, is the watchword just now--dropping boys likeseed-corn as they go! Woods and fields, and villas, and farms, andwaste-lands, and forests, and water, fly past in endless variety andloveliness.

  "A panoramy without no end!" exclaimed Tim Lumpy after one of his longgazes of silent admiration.

  "_Wot_ a diff'rence!" murmured Bobby Frog. "Wouldn't mother an' daddyan' Hetty like it, just!"

  The city of Toronto came in sight. The wise arrangements for washing inCa
nadian railway-cars had been well used by the boys, and pocket-combsalso. They looked clean and neat and wonderfully solemn as they landedat the station.

  But their fame had preceded them. An earnest crowd came to see theboys, among whom were some eager to appropriate.

  "I'll take that lad," said one bluff farmer, stepping forward, andpointing to a boy whose face had taken his fancy.

  "And I want six boys for our village," said another.

  "I want one to learn my business," said a third, "and I'll learn him asmy own son. Here are my certificates of character from my clergyman andthe mayor of the place I belong to."

  "I like the looks of that little fellow," said another, pointing to BobFrog, "and should like to have him."

  "Does you, my tulip?" said Bobby, whose natural tendency to insolencehad not yet been subdued; "an' don't you vish you may get 'im!"

  It is but justice to Bobby, however, to add, that this remark was madeentirely to himself.

  To all these flattering offers the Guardian turned a deaf ear, until hehad passed through the crowd and marshalled his boys in an empty room ofthe depot. Then inquiries were made; the boys' characters andcapacities explained; suitability on both sides considered; the needs ofthe soul as well as the body referred to and pressed; and, finally, theparty went on its way greatly reduced in numbers.

  Thus they dwindled and travelled westward until only our friend Bobby,Tim, Konky, and little Mouse remained with the Guardian, whoseaffections seemed to intensify as fewer numbers were left on which theymight concentrate.

  Soon the little Mouse was caught. A huge backwoods farmer, who couldhave almost put him in his coat-pocket, took a fancy to him. The fancyseemed to be mutual, for, after a tearful farewell to the Guardian, theMouse went off with the backwoodsman quite contentedly.

  Then Konky was disposed of. A hearty old lady with a pretty daughterand a slim son went away with him in triumph, and the band was reducedto two.

  "I do believe," whispered Bob to Tim, "that he's goin' to let us sticktogether after all."

  "You are right, my dear boy," said the Guardian, who overheard theremark. "A family living a considerable distance off wishes to have twoboys. I have reason to believe that they love the Lord Jesus, and willtreat you well. So, as I knew you wished to be together, I havearranged for your going to live with them."

  As the journey drew to a close, the Guardian seemed to concentrate hiswhole heart on the little waifs whom he had conducted so far, and hegave them many words of counsel, besides praying with and for them.

  At last, towards evening, the train rushed into a grand pine-wood. Itsoon rushed out of it again and entered a beautiful piece of countrywhich was diversified by lakelet and rivulet, hill and vale, with richmeadow lands in the hollows, where cattle browsed or lay in the eveningsunshine.

  The train drew up sharply at a small road-side station. There was noone to get into the cars there, and no one to get out except our twowaifs. On the road beyond stood a wagon with a couple of spanking baysin it. On the platform stood a broad-shouldered, deep-chested,short-legged farmer with a face like the sun, and a wide-awake on theback of his bald head.

  "Mr Merryboy, I presume?" said the Guardian, descending from the car.

  "The same. Glad to see you. Are these my boys?"

  He spoke in a quick, hearty, off-hand manner, but Bobby and Tim hatedhim at once, for were they not on the point of leaving their last andbest friend, and was not this man the cause?

  They turned to their Guardian to say farewell, and, even to their ownsurprise, burst into tears.

  "God bless you, dear boys," he said, while the guard held open the doorof the car as if to suggest haste; "good-bye. It won't be _very_ long Ithink before I see you again. Farewell."

  He sprang into the car, the train glided away, and the two waifs stoodlooking wistfully after it with the first feelings of desolation thathad entered their hearts since landing in Canada.

  "My poor lads," said Mr Merryboy, laying a hand on the shoulder ofeach, "come along with me. Home is only six miles off, and I've got apair of spanking horses that will trundle us over in no time."

  The tone of voice, to say nothing of "home" and "spanking horses,"improved matters greatly. Both boys thought, as they entered the wagon,that they did not hate him quite so much as at first.

  The bays proved worthy of their master's praise. They went over theroad through the forest in grand style, and in little more than half anhour landed Bobby and Tim at the door of their Canadian home.

  It was dark by that time, and the ruddy light that shone in the windowsand that streamed through the door as it opened to receive them seemedto our waifs like a gleam of celestial light.