Alboni interfered,
saying,--let us at least hear what the honest fellow would say
for himself."
"Your honor,", exclaimed Jack, whose very countenance spoke as plainly
as a nose which appeared as if it had been imitating the feathered
tribes, in their efforts to satisfy thirst, for so long, that its
tendency had become upward in sympathy, and eyes which it were difficult
to follow in the direction of both at the same time, could speak, that
he who had been accustomed to guiding his bark by stars of the first
magnitude, all his days, would not now, at this age of life, be guided
by this "star" of diminutive light. "Your honor," said the astonished
tar, as he discovered the beautiful form before him to be actually
possessed of life and breath, and was no senseless piece of statuary,
"shiver my topsails, but if I didn't take the lady to be _her_
representation, my name's not John Sampson!"
"Sampson!" exclaimed Natalie, actually taking him by the hand, "Are you
John Sampson?"
"I'm Sampson the world over, my lady," replied the tar, "and why
shouldn't I be? I've come all the way from Yankee America, to visit my
native dust-heap, which never produced, beside its daily growth of what
might be known the other side of the water, as nature's own pie-plant
and sausage-improver, but one Sampson; but," added he, in a subdued
voice, "may I ask who can take enough interest in a poor fellow, who
never belonged to nothing, as to speak his name? If I had not seen _her_
go down with my own eyes, I should say that the noblest lady that ever
lived was standing before me; but she's gone where only her kind do go;"
and the rough man drew the sleeve of his jacket across his eyes.
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