did!" exclaimed the weeping Natalie, holding the great rough
hand of the tar within her own; "the little bark bore her in safety to a
peaceful shore, where she was received with open arms by those who have
filled the place of her natural parents. You see before you, my honest
friend, no other than the child of that gentle mother, whose parting
from her babe you witnessed."

Sampson gazed upon her with astonishment, and clapping both hands to his
head, as if to assure himself that his exterior was yet in a healthful
condition, whatever transmogrification the interior might have
undergone, he exclaimed,--"I'm not so sure, after all, that my name's
Sampson! I really begin to think that I must have gone down, with the
rest; and yet, I could swear to it that I'm a portion of that dust-heap!
If my topsails aren't shivered this time; clean gone by the board!" and
as if to verify his words, he sank deeper into his chair, and broke into
such a train of musing, as caused the little son of Africa in
attendance, to jingle his glasses right merrily, that the wild bursts of
his uncontrollable mirth might sound the less.

Mr. Alboni could scarce credit what he had heard. "And the parchment,"
inquired he, "what was the purport of that?"

The tar sat as one in a trance, but by certain gesticulations, it
appeared that his skysails were not so shattered that he did not
comprehend the drift of the question, and after much tugging and pulling
at an old waistcoat, which was worn beneath the round-about, he produced
a roll, which, from twenty years' wear, it having been his constant
companion during that time, by sea and by land, had become in appearance
of an uncertain nature, and handing it to the gentleman, he said, after
examining the miniature which Natalie put into his hand, of her mother,
"The document belongs to her, and if I'd a happened to have met her on
the sea, I might have known it, even If I hadn't seen the picture of the
noble lady, for she's the exact imitation; but I never can get the land
fog out of my eyes when I'm ashore. That's a sorry looking bit of paper,
your honor, but it's what'll buy more than one twist of pig-tail."

Mr. Alboni perused the document. He was astounded!--not so much at the
contents of that soiled bit of parchment, which was the instrument by
which Natalie, or the holder, could come into possession of a handsome
fortune; but it was at the honesty of this whole-souled sailor. Was it
possible that t