God save the Queen,”
were sung in a manner expressive of the singers’ entire satisfaction in the performance. Their leader, however, thought differently, and, waiting until the last notes had ceased, he turned to his pupils a face beaming with hardly-suppressed mirth, and remarked, “Your singing sounds just like the noise made by a swarm of big flies.” He then burst into a merry peal of laughter, in which he was joined by his whole class.
In October, 1862, H. M. S. Charybdis paid a short visit to the island. It being impossible to land at Bounty Bay, the visitors went around to the west side, where the first half of the way led up a steep, high hill. But the walk was cheerfully accomplished, and a warm hospitality was extended them when they reached the little village, a substantial repast of the best that the island afforded being prepared for them. The two humble homes were made to look their best, and the carefully hoarded linen and cotton sheets were brought out and displayed upon the beds, in honor of the visitors.
The Charybdis stayed only a day, taking a good supply of all that the island produced. So fruitful was the little island at the time of their visit that the officers declared that it seemed “like a little Garden of Eden.” A printed account of the visit of the Charybdis to Pitcairn was sent to Norfolk Island. The news, when received, after the long silence of nearly five years, created an excitement among relatives and friends not to be described, and smiles and tears followed each other in quick succession as the short but interesting description of the old home and the loved ones there was read and reread to ears and hearts that seemed never to grow weary of listening.
CHAPTER XV.
THE SECOND PARTY RETURNS
TIME passed on, and again preparations were being made at Norfolk for the second return party to Pitcairn Island. Four families decided to go. These were, first, Thursday O. Christian, his wife and nine children. Mrs. Christian’s aged mother also accompanied them for the purpose of seeing again her son, Mayhew Young, who was of the first party. The old lady was Elizabeth Mills, only daughter of John Mills, of the Bounty, and the son whom she was going to see was one named in affectionate remembrance of her much esteemed and well-remembered friend, Captain Mayhew Folger, who had discovered the colony on Pitcairn Island fifty-five years before. The other families were Robert Buffett and his wife, Samuel Warren and his wife, who was the daughter of T. O. Christian. These last mentioned persons were married to each other on the eve of leaving Norfolk Island. In addition to those above mentioned were Simon Young, his mother (Hannah Adams), his wife, and eight children. The number of persons composing the second party was twenty-seven. Their friends were strongly opposed to their leaving, and did all in their power to induce them to stay.