Year: 1862

ting. She was once the belle of famous an, quaint old Sea town, full of fortunes made il foreign trade, prize-money, and kinds of tratf thought honorable enough some years ago, bu now held in such reproduction, that I prefer no to mention it.

 My aunt was very little. When was tel years old, was the biggest. We'll I might be for man could span her waist with his two hands, and she was more like a marvellous doll or a stray fairy. than mortal woman. He feet and ankles were past all comprehension fo littleness and elegance. Perhaps she did no wear nice shoes and stockings, and maybe sh, did not hold up her black brocade dantily o, the least provocation. An! but her hands how small, and white and delicate they were with rosy-tipped, tapering fingers. She looked all the more petite and wonderful in her delicate prettiness, for always dressing in black, whicl brought out Ter pale, Ely-like beauty and blonde hair with great distinctness. Her deep blue eyes seemed to look through things and people All this made me little in awe Of Aunt Calista though loved her with the romantic, ,reverentla love of boyhood, as if she were lovely prin cess, enchanted, or otherwise.

 childless widow, my Aunt Calista had lived with us since could remember She was older than my mother, but no one could have told hel age from her looks, for her singular beaut, seemed to have in it no element of decay. w. lived inland among the hills, and all knew oi the ocean was from my books of geography and the pictures and voyages in Aunt Calista's room and Robinson Crusoe. But dreamed much of the sea, built mimic shrsand waited with mach impatience until should be old enough to run away like the aforesaid Robinson, who, has, per haps, done more to help Britannia rule the forgot-there was another source of infor. nation better than all the rest. My Aunt Ca sta had been born in sight of the sea. She had seen the great ships sail in and out of the harbor of her native town. She had picked up beautiful shells and pebbles on the beach, and sometimes she helped me to sail my little squad

 

 story she had heard orrcad.

 Aunt Calsta,' said 1. one day, when we were sitting under the willows by the watersde watching my last achievement in naval architec- ture, as it danced oyer the bl!ows-the pillows of the duck pond-'were you ever 0" the great blue sea, with only the sky and clouds above you. and the water all round out of sight of land - noIhn, but the ship in tie middle of the sea

 A shadow passed over her a e and lovely face. as she said, with soft tenderness

 Yes, dear, have been at sea, where the ship was the only thing Tn sight and the center of the great circle of the horzon where the blue sky and blue ocean n,ingie on every side

 'Oh, how grand! 1 exclaimed, with my boyish enthusiasm Do, dearest aunt, tell me all about your voyage?'

 She did not answer for a moment, and won tlered what could be the matter with my ever cheerful Aunt Calista. But the sadness passed away, and she said:

 Yes, will tell you all about it. Your grand father was merchant. and owned several ships He sent them to the West Indies, to the East Indies, and sometimes to China. 1 loved the sea and the ships. My father used to allow me to go on board with him, when they were about to sail, or had come in from long voyages. Isome- times took such little presents on boarda sailors Ike, and they said 1 would give them lucky voyage. They did not forget me, but brought me many nice present from beyond the sea.

 One day We visited a new ship, and found Il new captain, whom had never seen before. thought him very handsome, but young for such a trust-but found that he was good and hon. orable. He had been in the navy. A great misfortune to his family had made it necessary for him to leave the s-rvce, and accept the high CT pay of merchantman. After one or two voyages we became acquainted. and he came to love me better than all the world. But my father did not love him so well as an other person dd-at least, he did not wish me to love him. It was only in the intervals of long voyages that saw him, and when the time for

 

 richly freghted, was due, spent many hours in the observatory on the top of our house, sweep ing the line of the horizon with a long spy glass and watching for the little signalling that alone knew of, and would tell me he Was coming So you see. my dear, that was we'll acquainted with the sea.

 One day this brave, good captain. who hac won my heart, asked my father for my hand. H, could have nothing against him. There coult not be a better or braver man. He was nobil ity itself-but was my fathers pet and pride and he was ambitious. l think nothing less that a lord would have satisfied him for son-in law.

 Capt Walter came and told me, with som' bitterness the result of his interview with m, father. l knew that he was poor, but knev that this was the only reasonable objection tha could be made to him, and laid my hand in hi la strong, manly hand strong and true-an said:

 Be patient--I am yours and l will never b any ones but yours, while this world stands He went away upon long voyage. and Yer important one--for my father liked him as captain of his ship, and knew we'll that he couI trust him to the last drop of his blood to protet the ship and cargo.

 s When he came home next time. I had rt fected much, and determined upop what ouel