The officers, crew, and passengers, were all taken prisoners, and carried into a British port, where they were confined until the close of the war. Benjamin said he would gladly pass over all he suffered, both mental and physical, in the prison into which he was thrown, for the bare recollection of those scenes chilled him with horror; and he would spare his friends the gloomy description of the manner in which he was forced to live for nearly eighteen months. When he was released from his confinement, finding himself destitute and depressed, he regretted having left the parental roof, yet a feeling of pride forbade him to return, in his present condition. So he at once determined to remain abroad, until he could procure employment of some kind, which might enable him to earn a sufficient sum to carry him home respectably. I never could, after leaving my mother with such feelings as I did,' said he,' send to her for funds; therefore, as I was favored to meet a person with whom I had been acquainted in the vicinity of home, I ventured to inform him of my circumstances; and without being obliged to ask the favor, he very kindly proffered me the loan of money sufficient to purchase wearing apparel, by means of which my appearance was respectable.' 'This gentleman, too, was a friend in helping me to obtain an eligible situation in a counting-house, in one of the principal cities in the Southern states.' Being an excellent book-keeper, and proving himself worthy of confidence by his strict integrity and unremitting attention to business, he had not been two years in the mercantile house in which he first engaged, ere he was taken into partnership with his employer. This firm was signally fortunate for many years, and at the time Benjamin wrote to his mother, he had himself accumulated quite a handsome property. The house traded extensively in cotton, which they had in part cultivated upon their own plantations. Benjamin said in his letter- I intend to visit you, my dear mother, as soon as I become rich, that I may benefit you. Sometimes. I am obliged to think you are no longer living, for I have addressed, within the last two years, several letters to the place where you resided when I left home, but not having received any answer, am led to conclude that you either feel too much hurt by my conduct to notice me, or are no longer an inhabitant of earth.' It hardly need be said, that the young man had misjudged in regard to the silence of his mother. He had not written until after she removed from Roxbury, consequently, his letters never reached her, except the last, which was noticed in a list of advertised letters by a friend of Mrs. Nelson's, who kindly forwarded it to her. When Salina had read this letter, it was sometime ere her mother became composed, as she was quite overcome by the intelligence it contained. She requested her daughter to write a reply immediately, that the anxiety of Benjamin might be relieved as soon as possible. In compliance with the wishes of Mrs. Nelson, Salina sat down, without delay, and wrote a long letter, stating all that was calculated to interest a son and brother, respecting the family from which he had so long been absent. She did not fail to give him an account of the painful absence of Simon from his friends, expressing, at the same time, a hope that Benjamin might be led to make some exertions to learn, if possible, something concerning his destiny. Not many weeks after this letter was sent, another arrived, from the same individual, of a character calculated to embitter the future days of his doting parent. He stated that owing to some adverse circumstances he had thought it expedient to remove to a place far distant from that at which his first letter had been dated, and change his name. He desired the last-named fact to remain a secret, lest the discovery should greatly injure him. This letter was closed by entreating his mother not to feel disquieted on his account. He then bade her an affectionate, though abrupt farewell, saying, 'You will never hear from me again!' This singular communication filled the before sad heart of Mrs. Nelson with heightened sorrow. Suspense was now added to the pain of lengthened separation, and she was left to conjecture the reasons why he should so soon alter all his plans. 'O,' said she one day to Mrs. Foster, if he had told me the cause of his strange conduct, I should have been satisfied. Even to know the worst of anything we dread, is better than being kept in doubt and perplexity. Scmetimes,' continued this broken hearted mother 'I fear he has been led to the commission of crime; but I cannot, will not give place to such an idea. It is too distressing. I will hope better things; and, spite of the dark cloud which at present overspreads my horizon, will watch and wait, hoping, at length, to be enabled to discern light breaking forth amid this intense gloom. Mrs. Nelson could not believe that she was always to O,' she often be deprived of the sight of both her sons. said, with emphasis, it cannot be that God will forbid me ever again to behold those dear objects of my love, and yet continue them on earth, while I know not where they are! O, for support under so heavy a chastisement.' When she saw friends who enjoyed the society of sons at home, she was often tempted to repine at the allotment of heaven in regard to herself, while she envied the happiness of those whom it pleased a just God to favor with the blessings of which she had been deprived. Her will was not yet subdued. She would not, could not, as she then thought, feel reconciled. From Loraine she heard frequently, and as often learned that he was happy and prosperous. The effect made upon his mind by what occurred after he was wounded in battle, was permanent; and, ever after those events, he gladly acknowledged the interposing hand of his merciful Creator. His letters were a source of great comfort to Mrs. Nelson; as was also the society of Salina and her younger children. Perhaps one reason of this was, that she had avoided some of the errors into which she had fallen in the training of her elder children. Though she understood not the spirituality of the Bible, at this period, she admired its precepts, and strove to make her children acquainted with its interesting pages. The reader may have inferred, ere now, that Mrs. Nelson had already suffered as much or more than generally falls to the lot of one of the children of men. The inference is in accordance with the experience of the multitude; still, it is true, that this lady was, after this time, called to |