Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-05-13

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shall stay there and learn to play the
piano, and talk French and paint pic
lures. and grow up pretty young
lady"
"And shall have silk dresses and
lots of pictures and story books!"
Peace asked, with interest.
Heaps Of 'em. Peace! And nice lit
tie girls to play with, and music. and
dancing, and everything beautiful all
the day long"
Peace clapped her hands-that
would be lovely. So. by-and-by, when
Philadelphia was reached. the captain
OF the Lovely Lass consigned his little
girl-a willing captive-into the hands
of Mrs. Lee. Not but that she shed a
few tears at parting. too. and chung to
the sailors neck, and was very sorry
when 1t came to the last, and the good
by kiss was given.
"There-there, my little Peace!"
Captain Storms said, unclasping the
clinging arms; you mustn't cry like
that; 1t will redden your eyes and swell
your nose, and make you look ugly.
Keep up heart, little Peace; will come
back in year or two with CARLOAD
of lovely presents for my little girl.
Kiss me again, and let me CO."
Captain storms imprinted sound
ing smack on the wistful little tear
wet face, and unwound the clasping
arms and walked off, and straightway
was whistling cheerily along the deck
of the Lovely Lass, and quite forgetfrl,
/ am afraid. of his little Peace and her
grief.
Dear, good guardian thought
Peace; hes so kind and SO good-na-
tured; and 1t was nice playing on the
deck of the Lovely Lass; but, for all
that, l had rather be here and wear
pretty dresses, and play with Mrs. Lees
boarders, and never he afraid of ship
wrecks any more"
Captain Storms sailed for New Zea-
land; and on windy nights, when the
doors and windows ratified, and great
soughs came down the chimneys,
Peace lay awake, and thought of him
on the terrible ocean, and said her sim
pie child's prayers for his safe keeping.
Two years went by, and Peace had
just one letter from "guardy" GUARD
lam in all that time, and that one to
say he was coming back. She was
tall, rather awkward looking school
girl Of twelve now, with preternatur-
ally long limbs, that were always in
her way; high shoulders, and promin-
ent cheek-bones. And so Captain
Storms found her when, more bearded
and sunbrowned than ever, he walked,
with his sea-swing, into Mrs. Lees
prim parlor.
Peace sat at the piano singing, MY
Willie's On the Dark-Blue Sea-" and,
with shrill cry of joy, she jumped up,
and flung herself headforemost into
his blue pilot-coat.
"Oh, guardy! dear, darling guardy!
I'm so glad to see you again! So glad
so glad"
And so am l, little Peace. Don't
choke me with those long arms, my
girl Heads up, and let us see you"
Peace lifted her flushed face and
kissed him ecstatically.
why, how my little woman's grown,
getting as tall as the mainmast, by
George! and as thin as shadow. Don't
they give you enough to eat Peace?"
Plenty, guardy; but growing girls
are always thin-Mrs. Lee says so. And
now, what have you brought me from
New Zealand?"
Bushels Of things, Peace. They'll
be here by-and-by. How does the
learning progress? Let us hear you
at the piano."
Peace sat down and ratified off polkas
and waltzes.
And l can read French. guardy,"
whirling gayly round on the stool,
"and draw pencil drawing, you know,
and do fancy work. / like everything!
And, guardy, when l grow up and am
a young lady, and my education is fin
ished want you to fit up the cabin of \
the Lovely Lass with a Brussels carpet,
and piano, and heaps of new novels,
and take me to sea with you all the
time until I'm an old woman, won't
your"
OF course, Captain Storms devoutly
promised, and rose up to take his leave.
I'm going to China this voyage"
he said, pulling her long, brown braids.
"If l see papa, I'm to give him his lit
tie girls love, suppose?"
"Ah! If you only would see him."
Peace cried, clasping her hands. Oar
ling papa! Guardy, he used to be in
Hong Kong, l know. Try If you can
find him for me when you go there"
Captain Storms promised this also
and departed. Peace chung to him Sob
bling at the last.
You'll write to me often this time,
won't you, dear guardy? You only sent
me one little stingy letter last time,
you know"
"All right, Peace" the captain said.
"I'll try. / never was much of scribe,
but this time I'll 40 my best"
So once again the captain of the
Lovely Lass left this little girl to sail
merrily over the world; and once more
Peace went back to her horn-book and
fancy work.
But the months strung themselves
out, and the years rolled slowly back
ward, and Captain Storms, sailing to
and fro in golden eastern and southern
climes, never came to take this little
girl from school. His letters were few
and far between, despite his promises,
only six in six long years, and in ans
wers he had at least received sixty.