The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-12-18

the counter "Well, sir, if you don't
mind expense what could be nicer than
watch and chain And out came drawer
of fairy time-pieees, which might have
been ma nufactered for Queen Titania
'They are beauties to them as would
dare touch EN-" said the Captain. '' and
faint the money; but she's got watch
already. besiGies he. ..e. eight-day clock and
it's my belief" continued the Captaii;s; to
himself, that she'd rather wear that old
fashioned battered watch Tom Turner left
behind him than the shiniest of them little
playthings. All! dear me !" and the Cap
tain heaved great sigh, that sent one Of
his gilt waistcoat buttons spinning across
! the store.
+" Here is a set-pin, bracelets, earrings,
and, if you like, lace collar and cuffs also.
We keep everything" And gold links,
mixed with rubies, and real Valanciennes
with brilliant ribbons intermixed, were
displayed in twinkling.
The Captains eyes sparkled. "Pd take
them in minute if l thought she'd wear
en-" he said but cane remember if
| | ever saw her in red"
Red !" calculated the girl. Bless
YOU, that isn't red! It's Magenta coler-
the fashionable coi6r this year."
Is it, indeed, miss 2" said the Captain,
regarding the counter with 1eneration'
d" But YOU see I'm afeard to take 'eni, be-
cause she mostly will wear black"
In mourning eh?" cried the girl. ooh,
you should take jet for lady that's in
mourning. Or perhaps you'ld like some
thing different There's work-box."
1t was of rosewood, velvet lined, and
| glttering inside with silver and steel and
iyory-aye, the thimble and bodkin were
of gold, so was the dainty needle-case.
"Shen like that, know" said the Cap
tain. "What's the figure, niss -
The price was named, and the Captain
spread row of bankbills on the counter.
"Pll give you your change in an instant,
sir" she said
And the Captain, blushing, replied:
Never mind the change keep it for
yourself, missp and escaped with the
dainty box beneath his arm.
Rolling in the October sunset along
Broadway, stopping now and then to gaze
into shop windows, or buy fruit of oil wo-
men on the corners, who having sharp eyes,
charged him twice as much as they did
anybody else. Eating his purchases as he
walked on, without u thought that the pro.
ceeding might not be genteel, and pausing
now and then to stare la admiration al
some fair promenader all curls and feathers
and rustling silks, the Captain wended hii
way onward, turning from the crowded
thoroughiare at last into cross street, iron
that into another plaiuer still, with shabby
grocery stores at the corners, and children
and garbage-boxes plentifully sprinkled OF
the pavement.
At one house, two story frame dwell
ling, once painted cream color, he paused
and, rapping with his knuckles on the
panels, (there was no bell, but seafarinl
men always ignore those conveniences,.
summoned verdant Hibernian female IL
a very dirty apron, who replied to his in
quiries that Mrs. 1 urner was in, and tina
he would find her on the second floor; ant
the Captain, subduing hisrough voice evel
10 this unsophsticated Bridget, entere'
and ascended the stairs over carpet darnet
: at every turning, and tapped lightly at tn
: door ot the nearest room. A lady opene'
ia fair, sweet-faced woman with darl
= blue eyes, young still, but not to young t.
: : be the mother of the rosy boy and girl VIII
. sat at the tea-table. She gave her han'
> to the Captain frankly anu with smile
ami then placed another chair at the table
winch the Captain took as matter 0
= course. A perfect giant the stalwart sea
, men looked as he sat between that tin
woman and her tiny children, none Of then
> air mouthIulls Tor moderate-szed ogre
And none but himself knew what u trial j
was to him to eat small sugar cakes G
: wafer size, and sip the amber beverage trol
the little tea-cups with lips far better use
to forums OF rum and water, and grea
l cracking sea biscuits. But, in courtesy
u the Captain would have done more tina
this besides, there was charm IN tha
. little room for him that would have turne
T. gall and wsrmwood to nectar. He did NJ
- talk much, but between sips and bites h
l, smiled, first on the children, then on the
y mother, and she smiled back upon him, q
\ she might upon some good-natured uncl
= or grandfather, with no thought in ht
y heart of other meaning in his smiles tina
huNO DOOh Al ehOoC VI poSh q Sh
. Not that he was old enough to be h'
:, grandfather, or even her father, for tl
y matter Of that, in years, but he was one
~ those men whom we seem to remember /;
y middle-aged all our lives: who are calle
;; old at forty, and are the youngest of o.
~ men thirty years after.
d Soon after the tea-things were put ava
~ ~ little eyelids grew heavy and little heat
~ nodded drowslly, and the mother led thel
ie away into another room, whence the Ca
~ tain bending his head devoutly, heard Il
words Of the Lords Prayer" lisped
as as baby tongues, guided by the older vol
Tn that was such music to his ears. Then 81
e. e. came out again and sat by the CLOWN
ne CRATE, close to him, with her needlework
" cit is your birthday, Hannah ?"
er Yes, my birthday" She smiled al
all sighed, thinking, perhaps, of differs
lg- birthdays long since past, and the CAPITA
K, arose and brought the paper-covered pare
et- from the table where he had placed it.
of UI've hrouubt won n rresent Hannah