The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-05-05

here to say thatg' Then Stevie, who was
alwaysquick TO think, took her mp and put
her in his arms, and said, Yes, Nfsther,
this is Gods send to yon.' Then father
came to himself, and knew us all, and,
after he had rested and slept, told US
all how he came to be in such q bad
plight 1t seems that he had the mis-
fortune to fall in with French priva-
teer, and, his vessel being laden with
rich goods, the French pirate opened
fire upon him, thinking to get much
booty. Fathers vessel was unarmed,
and of course could not stand much OF
a chance in such q fight. When he saw
they could not escape, he called the men
and told each one to do as he pleased,
but rs for himself he should fight till
the last, and taking big ak he sta
toned himself by the gangway 80
when the pirates boarded the ship he
was ready with it, and struck down
several before he could be secured.
Then the pirate captain said he was q
brave man, and because he was no
coward he might trya fight with wind
and waves, and perhaps he might come
off conqueror of them. So they low
cred boat, put father in it, with no
food or water, compass or oar, and left
him to a terrible death, as they hoped
and believed. But Gods care and love
was over him even in that wild waste of
water. How long he drifted he did not
know, for the exposure, without food or
water, soon affected his brain, and he
never knew anything more until Prilly's
artless words called back his wandering
mind.
81 tell you we had happy home after
that, for father never left us again, and
we didn't get thrashed either" said
grandpa laughing.
"But, then, how about this tea-set2
You haven't told me that, grandpa"
"Well, the next year, an English man
of-war put an end to the business of the
French privateer. A breach was made
in her side, and she being well riddled
with shot began to fill with water, so they
were forced to give up all hope of towing
her into harbor. The crew rushed in to
get what they could for booty. One of
them grabbed this box from the captains
cabin, thinking from its appearance that
it must contain precious jewels. When
he opened it he was good deal surprised
and uttered an exclamation of disap-
pointment and anger which attracted the
pirate cooks attention, who imagined
what was the trouble. The sailor showed
him the box, and he knew it in an in
slant. You see, he was the steward on
board my fathers vessel when the pi
rates took it, and they, finding he could
cook, spared his life to cook fol them.
Now it CHANGED that this man was with
my father when he gave his order for
these gilt letters you see inside the
wreath, and so he remembered it in
flash, and told the sailor of it, and beg
ged him to let him have the box to take
to the family of his old captain, for of
course he thought father long ago at the
bottom of the ocean.
"One cold winters night, after we
had all gone to bed, there came loud
knock at the door, and when father went
to open it there stood the man with this
little box under his arm. well, cap
tain, said he, I've come to restore lost
though God knows l didn't
dream of seeing you, and forthwith
gave up the box. Then father wrote the
that you see and put the box
by Prilly's bed, and I supposeyo know
how glad she was when she walked up in
the morning and found it, for you are
girl yourself.
You just try me, grandpa, by letting
me have it now," said L.
"No," said he, "your name isn't
Percilla only little granddaughter by
that name can ever have it.
SO it had to go back into the big red
chest. But I'm going to have it yet,
for when 1 am woman and have
husband and house, 1 shall call my
baby Percilla, even if it's a boy, and so
get the God-send box. Christian
Union.