Year: 1864

And while these thoughts again passed
through his mind, bright eyes were watch
Iing him from over the waJ, peeping out
of a corner Of the blind, half sly, half
shy-her heart as ready to romp as sver.
it vas, but its wild Auttering reined back
by mRidon modesty; her merry laughter
as ready to leap out of her as when, in
his rough play, be tore the froek from
her shoulders, but withheld by woman
ily seriousness, which seemed to have
deepened since bis Eetarn. And now
Jack S mother joins him in the garden,
and tells him all about hsr--hOW she at
tended her in a long illness, and was like
daughter to her, sitting up By night
and watching over her by day and her
eyes ill as she clasps bis tar,stained hand,
adding:


But for her, Jack, should have been
laid beside your father in che green church
yard. She has been like daughter to
me, as we'll as a loving nurse. have
sent for her to come and take tea with
you; but she's turned so shy all at once
that can't get her to come over


Passing his hand across his eyes, while
a smile chased away the momentary sad
ness, Our Jack says he'll try what he can
do to persuade her; and over the way he
goes, carrying with him rich shawl for
his mother, and curious pipe and real
foreign tobacco foT her father. He stays
long time, and his dear mother begins
to grow fdgoty in watching for them at
the window. At last they come; he
brings her home his prize; arm in arm
they comel Happy Jack happy maid
Ten! joyous old motherl There was some
difficulty in getting her to come down
stairs; the mother tried, and the father
tried in vain, and it was only through
Jack coming to the stair-iCot at last, and
saying, Come, Mary, I can't go to sea
again without bidding you goodbye
that she came. As she put her little,
honest hard working hand in his, and
SAID, I'm glad to see you back again,
aud just raised for a ;4cment her timid
eyes, he caught something Of the old ex-
preston of their squeaIing, romping days,
whsn they fous,iit and nadeit up again--
a little Of the oi@, arch, harmless wicked
ness which was ereu then endeariug. as
showing her bold and fearless spirit.
There we're traces Of tears in her eyes
after the interview; but never were they
followed by So soft, SO sweet, SO sunny !
smile, as when she came out of the par
lor hanging on his arm, and he in his
honest, blunt, sailor-like way said to her
parents:


She's consented to be my partner in
the cruise through life, If you'll allow
it.


They understood enough of his nau-
teal imagery to give their consent and
he led her home 20 his mother, trium-
phant.
Then he inquired after his old school
fellows and playmates, and sighed over
the memory of those that we're dead; and
the next morning he stood alone in the
village churchyard, having cleared the
lew wall with stride and step, and


giving his trowsers hitch, paced about
with folded arms and rocking gait a,
when he walked or the deck at sea. And
as he thought Of those who lay there
and of the messmates he had seen lower.
ed into the deep-and abeve all, Of the
! tarry topman who was his sworn brother
and whose eyes he had closed-tears stood
, in his eyes, as if at loss which way tt
, flow along those hardy, sun tanned cheeks


which neither fear nor danger could fur
row. He promised to visit the mother o
his dead shipmate, and will, no matter
how remote the distance, or great tn,
cost, bear to her his dying wishes; 70
the promise made to his messmate is sa
t cred in the eyes of Our Jack.