feelings
with the thought that I would seek to repay her love for her child with
gold, but as an expression of her daughter's filial affection; and not
only will I reward this honest man with the half of this sum, but he
shall have the pleasure of presenting with his own hand this offering to
my mother."

To this latter proposition Sampson acquiesced with pleasure; he was
delighted with the prospect of once more seeing his young shipmate,
whose mysterious allusions to the Sea-flower he could now comprehend;
but as to himself receiving so liberal a legacy, he was not prepared to
look upon the proposition as favorably.

"Take it, my good fellow," said Mr. Alboni, "it is rightly your own; and
should you ever have anything to spare, you cannot do better than to
make the investment which you had purposed."

They parted,--the honest tar to take his way to Columbia's happy land,
while Mr. Alboni and the Sea-flower would prolong their visit for a
little here, then depart to feast their eyes upon Italian skies. Sampson
looked long after the gentle form of the Sea-flower, as he left them,
for when might he see so fair a sight again?

* * * * *

"And this was the home of my mother," mused Natalie, as arrived in
Florence, our tourists entered the arched gateway, which led to the
broad domains of the long absent master, just as the sun was sinking to
rest, his soft lingering rays kissing the fleecy clouds, o'er which a
blush came and went, now deepening as the rose carmine, giving place to
the most delicate tinge that e'er sat upon a maiden's cheek,--born of
pure modesty. The scent of the delicate jasmine perfumed the air, while
the pensive strains of some fair one, soft and clear as the tones of a
wind-harp, was borne on the stillness of evening to the ear of the
lovely Sea-flower, who, reclining upon the bosom of her father, her
sunny tresses mingling with the silvery locks, which told that he had
seen many winters, whispered in words low and musical,--"My angel
mother,--I can feel her presence near; she has breathed this blissful
air; can it be more heavenly there?" With her eyes still upturned, as if
their mildness might pierce the veil of azure, her lips moved, as they
had ofttimes done before, in praise and thanksgiving for the wondrous
beauty which our Father, in his boundless love, hath set before his
children. As Mr. Alboni gazed upon each familiar object, surrounding his
beautiful villa