The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-12-22
) sV111si oAVTAlN,S EaETURN.

aHp6 play with the girls and boysp
IA yabsIsf --1Ls-ss-
aA ~ T1H1E CAPTAIN'S RETURN.
A long, low catch, Of LAM, shelving
down gradually to the waters edge. CO.
vered with shining shells, and glittering,
when the sun shoneS on 1t, with white
sand left there, by the receding sea-
waves, as they crept softly and insidi-
ously upward, or sung in the summer
SUN their monotonous chant, tossing
their White crisp waves ioyously In the
sistlesaf fnTys when hunted by Che sweep
ing hurricane, up. up, till they lashed
themselves into snowy Foam on the rocky
projection Of Eagle Crag, which stood,
when the SzateIqWas, at lowEtide, mile
and half from ahore. Upon the top Of
this point, known to the villagers by the
name of Eagle Cfag, stood o cottage, a
vefitable little nest, in fairy-like proper
tione, around which o garden bloomed
and blossomed like q paradise in q
desert, " y. q, - ~ ... = ',:lNA =
.ssWhere shall / build little cage to
hold yon till 4 come back?" asked brown
and1esolute John Danforth, the sailor,
as he looked on the bright face of the
newly-nade Mrs. Danforth, with all the
lovers fondnesssh in his honest face
and fearless eyes, Transforming the hard
lines OF his weather-bronzed face into
positive tenderness.
''Atthe Eagle Drag, g,nn3answered Robi-
nj. DanfQrth, usually known among her
aSanalal as M j lceds by s9te pet name of
"In: that bleak gplacep' said John, in
his establishment. "'Why, birdie, you
would die of hpme-sickness in a week. I"
sob, John please" eoaxed the little
woman, who, practical and housewifely to
the last degree, hid beneath it all q vein
of romance, none the less strong for be-
ing hidden. Gin my lonely life before
you found me, John, o silly thing as I
am"-here the lustrons eyes grew bright
er-"before you, with your experience.
me to be your foolish little wife, and ac-
tually stopped to fall in love with me, O
mere school girl, I used to 81 long for a
home, dear. Next to the longing for q
father and mother and sisters to love and
care for me, the other longing for q
home was the strongest; and after I saw
you. John"-here bright flush stained
the clear brown of her sun-burnt cheek
-'I used TO think if the longing over
grew to be reality, and the little home,
whose picture grew brighter every time
Unused upon It, should ever be mine
ours, mean"-with another litsle blush
-"how happy. how very happyI should
be. saw the place where it should
stand, this little home of ours, on high
point, overlooking the ocean, where we
could watch the white ships sail along
the CLASSY water, or ride fearlessly upon
the bounding waves. I saw the roses
and jasmine twine tenderly their wealth
of bloom around the little porch, and I
have heard thousand times the hum of
birds, that darted in and out among the
vines and blossoms"
wines and blossoms!' burst forth
from honest John, in his amazem ent;
'.ittle woman, ars you crazy? should
like to see the vine or blossom that would
flourish within half league of Eagle
Crag, the most arid, barren waste con.
ceivable.''
go, John! is this true?" was all she
said; but the smothsred sigh attested the
depth Of her disappointment.
John made NO reply; but, stimulated
by the sound of that thalf-smothered sigh,
and the glimpse of glistening tears
twinkling hastily from the curling brown
lashes. fell to studying ways and means;
and the result was the pretty cottage, set
while vines and flowers fourished and
grew In the artificial soil spread over the
small enclosure which defined the boun-
Diary Of his purchase.
Perched mp there, like q mountain
birds nest, one could see from the porch,
which was on the North side. the village,
with the fishermen's cottages; the long,
winding, steep road, whose tortuous de-
scent of two miles must be traversed ere
one could gain the village; while, from
the West and South, one looked upon
the sea from height which almost made
the gazer giddy. Roses and climbing
plants adorned the trellises; beds of
crimson verbenas, purple pansies, and
snow-white daises made the little garden
redolent Of perfume. By the second