The Young Captives - Anonymous
A Narrative of the Shipwreck and Sufferings of John and William Doyley.
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1850.
THE YOUNG CAPTIVES.
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Here is a picture of a fine large English ship, called the _Charles
Eaton_, which was wrecked in the Southern Ocean. The crew, you see, have
made a raft of some of the spars and planks of the ship, and having all
got upon it, are about cutting loose from the wreck, with the hope that
they may reach one of the distant islands.
Poor men! they did indeed reach the island; but only to meet a more
dreadful death than that threatened them by the waves. Overcome with
fatigue and anxiety, they no sooner gained the shore, than they all,
captain, crew, and passengers, threw themselves on the earth, and soon
were fast asleep. In this helpless state, they were attacked by the
cruel and blood-thirsty savages who inhabited the island, and all
barbarously murdered, except two little boys, John and William Doyley.
These children, sons of a gentleman and lady who had been passengers
in the ill-fated ship, were kept in captivity by the savages for many
years.
At the time of the shipwreck, John was a stout lad, thirteen or fourteen
years old; but little William was a mere infant, being scarcely two
years of age! Think what a dreadful life these poor little orphans had
before them! Their kind parents cruelly murdered, and themselves
prisoners to the barbarous murderers!
At first the savages treated them harshly, and made them endure all
kinds of privation and hardship. Finally, after changing from one cruel
master to another several times, they were purchased by one more humane
than the rest, named Dupper, who took them to his home on a distant
island, and treated them with a great deal of kindness.
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Dupper taught John how to shoot with the bow and arrow, with which he
was himself very expert. He also showed him their method of spearing
fish, and taught him many other savage accomplishments. In Dupper's
family, too, the boys both learned to speak the native language, and
they soon almost forgot their own.
But they did not forget their own country; at least John did not; and as
he often talked with William about their dear parents, and the pleasant
home they had left many miles away, there was but little danger of
William forgetting it either.
Though kindly treated by Dupper and his family, and made as comfortable
as their savage mode of life would allow, yet they suffered many cruel
hardships, and severely felt the change from their former to their
present way of living. They constantly sighed for home, and were made
quite wretched by the prospect of a captivity to which they could see
no end, except in death.
But the same kind Providence who had preserved them when their parents
and the crew of the unfortunate ship were murdered, still watched over
and protected these despairing orphans. The day of their deliverance
came quite unexpectedly. An English vessel arrived at the island, and
cast her anchor near the shore. The natives immediately manned their
canoes, and flocked on board, to trade with the strangers. John was
permitted to go with the others, and when on the deck of the vessel,
he told the captain and officers all about the shipwreck, the murder
of the crew and passengers, and his own and his brother's captivity.
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The kind captain listened to his story, and then set at once about
effecting the release of the two boys, which he easily accomplished,
and William soon joined John on board of the vessel, where Dupper also
appeared, to take leave of his young friends. The kind native was quite
sad at the parting, and shed tears of regret as he bade them farewell.
But the boys were too happy in the expectation of seeing home once more,
to grieve at parting with him, although he had been more kind to them
than any of his countrymen.
The next morning early, the ship set sail, and after visiting various
places, she finally reached England in safety, where our two orphans
were restored to their surviving friends, by whom they were kindly taken
care of.
Let us hope these little boys were ever grateful to their Heavenly
Father, who had watched over and preserved them amid all their trials
and sufferings, and finally enabled them to reach their home and
friends. And let us all remember, that we can trust in Him, for He is
able to preserve us, as well in the hour of danger as in that of fancied
security and safety. Our lives are in His hands at all times, and it is
from His mercy and goodness that we are fed, and clothed, and enjoy the
many blessings which He constantly bestows upon us.