for the term of his natural life-第66章

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〃I　am　aware　of　that；　Major；　and　for　that　reason　have　brought　it　with　me；　that　you　may　read　it　for　yourself。　　It　seems　to　me　to　breathe　a　spirit　of　true　piety。〃

〃Let's　have　a　look　at　it；〃　said　Frere。

〃Here　it　is；〃　returned　Meekin；　producing　a　packet；　〃and　when　the　cloth　is　removed；　I　will　ask　permission　of　the　ladies　to　read　it　aloud。　It　is　most　interesting。〃

A　glance　of　surprise　passed　between　the　ladies　Protherick　and　Jellicoe。　The　idea　of　a　convict's　letter　proving　interesting！　　Mr。　Meekin　was　new　to　the　ways　of　the　place。

Frere；　turning　the　packet　between　his　finger；　read　the　address：…

John　Rex；　sen。；　Care　of　Mr。　Blicks；　38；　Bishopsgate　Street　Within；　London。

〃Why　can't　he　write　to　his　father　direct？〃　said　he。　　〃Who's　Blick？〃

〃A　worthy　merchant；　I　am　told；　in　whose　counting…house　the　fortunate　Rex　passed　his　younger　days。　　He　had　a　tolerable　education；　as　you　are　aware。〃　

〃Educated　prisoners　are　always　the　worst；〃　said　Vickers。　〃James；　some　more　wine。　　We　don't　drink　toasts　here；　but　as　this　is　Christmas　Eve；　'Her　Majesty　the　Queen'！〃　

〃Hear；　hear；　hear！〃　says　Maurice。　　〃'Her　Majesty　the　Queen'！〃　

Having　drunk　this　loyal　toast　with　due　fervour；　Vickers　proposed；　〃His　Excellency　Sir　John　Franklin〃；　which　toast　was　likewise　duly　honoured。　　

〃Here's　a　Merry　Christmas　and　a　Happy　New　Year　to　you；　sir；〃　said　Frere；　with　the　letter　still　in　his　hand。　　〃God　bless　us　all。〃　

〃Amen！〃　says　Meekin　piously。　　〃Let　us　hope　He　will；　and　now；　leddies；　the　letter。　　I　will　read　you　the　Confession　afterwards。〃　Opening　the　packet　with　the　satisfaction　of　a　Gospel　vineyard　labourer　who　sees　his　first　vine　sprouting；　the　good　creature　began　to　read　aloud：

〃'Hobart　Town；　〃'December　27；　1838。　〃'My　Dear　Father；Through　all　the　chances；　changes；　and　vicissitudes　of　my　chequered　life；　I　never　had　a　task　so　painful　to　my　mangled　feelings　as　the　present　one；　of　addressing　you　from　this　doleful　spotmy　sea…girt　prison；　on　the　beach　of　which　I　stand　a　monument　of　destruction；　driven　by　the　adverse　winds　of　fate　to　the　confines　of　black　despair；　and　into　the　vortex　of　galling　misery。'〃　

〃Poetical！〃　said　Frere。

〃'I　am　just　like　a　gigantic　tree　of　the　forest　which　has　stood　many　a　wintry　blast；　and　stormy　tempest；　but　now；　alas！　I　am　become　a　withered　trunk；　with　all　my　greenest　and　tenderest　branches　lopped　off。　　Though　fast　attaining　middle　age；　I　am　not　filling　an　envied　and　honoured　post　with　credit　and　respect。　　NoI　shall　be　soon　wearing　the　garb　of　degradation；　and　the　badge　and　brand　of　infamy　at　P。A。；　which　is；　being　interpreted；　Port　Arthur；　the　'Villain's　Home'。〃　

〃Poor　fellow！〃　said　Sylvia。

〃Touching；　is　it　not？〃　assented　Meekin；　continuing

〃'I　am；　with　heartrending　sorrow　and　anguish　of　soul；　ranged　and　mingled　with　the　Outcasts　of　Society。　My　present　circumstances　and　pictures　you　will　find　well　and　truly　drawn　in　the　102nd　Psalm；　commencing　with　the　4th　verse　to　the　12th　inclusive；　which；　my　dear　father；　I　request　you　will　read　attentively　before　you　proceed　any　further。'〃　

〃Hullo！〃　said　Frere；　pulling　out　his　pocket…book；　〃what's　that？　　Read　those　numbers　again。〃　　Mr。　Meekin　complied；　and　Frere　grinned。　　〃Go　on；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　show　you　something　in　that　letter　directly。〃

〃'Oh；　my　dear　father；　avoid；　I　beg　of　you；　the　reading　of　profane　books。　　Let　your　mind　dwell　upon　holy　things；　and　assiduously　study　to　grow　in　grace。　　Psalm　lxxiii　2。　Yet　I　have　hope　even　in　this；　my　desolate　condition。　Psalm　xxxv　18。　　〃For　the　Lord　our　God　is　merciful；　and　inclineth　His　ear　unto　pity〃。'〃　

〃Blasphemous　dog！〃　said　Vickers。　　〃You　don't　believe　all　that；　Meekin；　do　you？〃　　The　parson　reproved　him　gently。　　〃Wait　a　moment；　sir；　until　I　have　finished。〃

〃'Party　spirit　runs　very　high；　even　in　prison　in　Van　Diemen's　Land。　　I　am　sorry　to　say　that　a　licentious　press　invariably　evinces　a　very　great　degree　of　contumely；　while　the　authorities　are　held　in　respect　by　all　well…disposed　persons；　though　it　is　often　endeavoured　by　some　to　bring　on　them　the　hatred　and　contempt　of　prisoners。　　But　I　am　glad　to　tell　you　that　all　their　efforts　are　without　avail；　but；　nevertheless；　do　not　read　in　any　colonial　newspaper。　There　is　so　much　scurrility　and　vituperation　in　their　productions。'〃　

〃That's　for　your　benefit；　Frere；〃　said　Vickers；　with　a　smile。　〃You　remember　what　was　said　about　your　presence　at　the　race　meetings？〃　

〃Of　course；〃　said　Frere。　　〃Artful　scoundrel！　　Go　on；　Mr。　Meekin；　pray。〃

〃'I　am　aware　that　you　will　hear　accounts　of　cruelty　and　tyranny；　said；　by　the　malicious　and　the　evil…minded　haters　of　the　Government　and　Government　officials；　to　have　been　inflicted　by　gaolers　on　convicts。　To　be　candid；　this　is　not　the　dreadful　place　it　has　been　represented　to　be　by　vindictive　writers。　Severe　flogging　and　heavy　chaining　is　sometimes　used；　no　doubt；　but　only　in　rare　cases；　and　nominal　punishments　are　marked　out　by　law　for　slight　breaches　of　discipline。　So　far　as　I　have　an　opportunity　of　judging；　the　lash　is　never　bestowed　unless　merited。'〃　

〃As　far　as　he　is　concerned；　I　don't　doubt　it！〃　said　Frere；　cracking　a　walnut。

〃'The　texts　of　Scripture　quoted　by　our　chaplain　have　comforted　me　much；　and　I　have　much　to　be　grateful　for；　for　after　the　rash　attempt　I　made　to　secure　my　freedom；　I　have　reason　to　be　thankful　for　the　mercy　shown　to　me。　Deathdreadful　death　of　soul　and　bodywould　have　been　my　portion；　but；　by　the　mercy　of　Omnipotence；　I　have　been　spared　to　repentanceJohn　iii。　I　have　now　come　to　bitterness。　　The　chaplain；　a　pious　gentleman；　says　it　never　really　pays　to　steal。　〃Lay　up　for　yourselves　treasures　in　Heaven；　where　neither　moth　nor　rust　doth　corrupt。〃　Honesty　is　the　best　policy；　I　am　convinced；　and　I　would　not　for　？；000　repeat　my　evil　courses　Psalm　xxxviii　14。　　When　I　think　of　the　happy　days　I　once　passed　with　good　Mr。　Blicks；　in　the　old　house　in　Blue　Anchor　Yard；　and　reflect　that　since　that　happy　time　I　have　recklessly　plunged　in　sin；　and　stolen　goods　and　watches；　studs；　rings；　and　jewellery；　become；　indeed；　a　common　thief；　I　tremble　with　remorse；　and　fly　to　prayerPsalm　v。　　Oh　what　sinners　we　are！　Let　me　hope　that　now　I；　by　God's　blessing　placed　beyond　temptation；　will　live　safely；　and　that　some　day　I　even　may；　by　the　will　of　the　Lord　Jesus；　find　mercy　for　my　sins。　　Some　kind　of　madness　has　method　in　it；　but　madness　of　sin　holds　us　without　escape。　Such　is；　dear　father；　then；　my　hope　and　trust　for　my　remaining　life　herePsalm　c　74。　I　owe　my　bodily　well…being　to　Captain　Maurice　Frere；　who　was　good　enough　to　speak　of　my　conduct　in　reference　to　the　Osprey；　when；　with　Shiers；　Barker；　and　others；　we　captured　that　vessel。　　Pray　for　Captain　Frere；　my　dear　father。　　He　is　a　good　man；　and　though　his　public　duty　is　painful　and　trying　to　his　feelings；　yet；　as　a　public　functionary；　he　could　not　allow　his　private　feelings；　whether　of　mercy　or　revenge；　to　step　between　him　and　his　duty。'〃

〃Confound　the　rascal！〃　said　Frere；　growing　crimson。

〃'Remember　me　most　affectionately　to　Sarah　and　little　William；　and　all　friends　who　yet　cherish　the　recollection　of　me；　and　bid　them　take　warning　by　my　fate；　and　keep　from　evil　courses。　A　good　conscience　is　better　than　gold；　and　no　amount　can　compensate　for　the　misery　incident　to　a　return　to　crime。　Whether　I　shall　ever　see　you　again；　dear　father；　is　more　than　uncertain；　for　my　doom　is　life；　unless　the　Government　alter　their　plans　concerning　me；　and　allow　me　an　opportunity　to　earn　my　freedom　by　hard　work。

〃'The　blessing　of　God　rest　with　you；　my　dear　father；　and　that　you　may　be　washed　white　in　the　blood　of　the　Lamb　is　the　prayer　of　your

〃'Unfortunate　Son；　〃'John　Rex　〃'P。S。…Though　your　sins　be　as　scarlet　they　shall　be　whiter　than　snow。〃〃　

〃Is　that　all？〃　said　Frere。

〃That　is　all；　sir；　and　a　very　touching　letter　it　is。〃

〃So　it　is；〃　said　Frere。　　〃Now　let　me　have　it　a　moment；　Mr。　Meekin。〃

He　took　the　paper；　and　referring　to　the　numbers　of　the　texts　which　he　had　written　in　his　pocket…book；　began　to　knit　his　brows　over　Mr。　John　Rex's　impious　and　hypocritical　production。　　〃I　thought　so；〃　he　said；　at　length。　　〃Those　texts　were　never　written　for　nothing。　It's　an　old　trick；　but　cleverly　done。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　said　Meekin。　　〃Mean！〃　cries　Frere；　with　a　smile　at　his　own　acut