JOHN FLETCHER. CHAPTER I. THE EARLY LIFE OF FLETCHER. Nativity. JOHN Adventurous Spirit. OHN WILLIAM DE LA FLECHERE, or, as he is more generally known by his English name, John Fletcher, was born in 1729, at Nyone, not far from Geneva, in Switzerland. From his earliest childhood he exhibited remarkable traits of character. He was active, sprightly, and talented. Like other bright and spirited children, he was bold in enterprise and daring in adventure, knowing nothing of fear, and reckless of danger. He was often thus led into acts and scenes of danger, from which his escape seemed wonderful. When but a child he ventured, with his brother, to row, in a boat, out into the Lake of Geneva. They rowed on, unsuspicious of danger, till the last line of shore faded from sight, and the illimitable expanse of water was spread around them. It Lake Incident. Feat at Swimming. was a cloudy day, and, having no compass they knew not, when once out of sight of land, the way back. Intending to return, they rowed on, but could not tell whether they were approaching home, or receding, with every stroke, farther from land. Night was rapidly coming on-night, starless and dark, with clouds portending storm. As the tired brothers were resting, for a moment, in gloomy anxiety, on their oars, they heard the sound of the evening bells of Geneva. They could see no sign of land, but they knew well those sounds, and turning their boat in the direction, whence the chime bound over the waters, they arrived safe, though late, at the city.. When a youth, he undertook, with three or four companions, to swim to a rocky island in the lake, some five miles from shore. With much exertion he reached the place, but found the rocky shore so steep and smooth as to afford no means of climbing up. He swam around and around, till nearly exhausted, when he found a place where, with much difficulty, he effected a landing, and aided his companions to get on shore. He once went alone to swim in deep water. A ribbon, with which his hair was bound up, The Rhine. Strange Adventure. became loose, and by some means became wound about his legs. For a long time he strove in vain to disentangle himself. When he had become nearly exhausted the kink gave way, and released him from danger. He passed some time, in his youth, near the Rhine. The river, at that place, was broad, and extremely rapid. He was accustomed to trust himself often on its waters, but was careful to keep near shore, lest the rapid current should overpower him. Once, being less careful than usual, he was drawn into mid-channel, and borne along the rapid current. Having sustained himself as long as he could, he cast about for a landing-place, but found the shores so rough and rocky, and the current so rapid, he could not land without the risk of his life. He, therefore, suffered himself to be borne along, till he saw a fine, smooth creek, into which he was carried by a powerful current. This creek proved a mill-race. He was borne on amidst the piles, on which the mill stood. Striking violently one of the timbers, he was rendered senseless and borne on below the mill, and thrown ashore in an eddy, where he recovered without serious injury, or even much fa |