d down and pressed his lips to the
brow of the unconscious sleeper.

"Luff off there a little, Vingo; keep to the right; these bare commons
are not the easiest grounds to ride over, though with a light
spring-cart like this one can navigate with some degree of comfort. The
broad ocean is the place, after all. Give me the old ship Tantalizer,
and I am at home. Take the glass, Vingo, and see if you can make out
whether the steamboat is in sight or not."

"Cannot eben make de staff, massa. Ah! now I sees him; de flag is up,
old Massachusetts am in sight."

"She will be in early to-day. Travels decently fast, considering she is
all out of joint. I hope we shall get a new steamer some day; then we
may keep posted with what is going on in the outer world."

"Yes, massa, people tink we a piece ob de continent den."

An hour's ride brought our worthy captain to his own door, where stood
Mrs. Grosvenor, with her son Harry, their only child, of seven years,
awaiting him.

"You have made a long stay at the shore this morning, my husband; but if
these little excursions will deter you from making a longer voyage, I
will not complain."

"Yes, wife, yes; but for a peace offering I have brought to you a gem
from among the sea-weeds."

"My dear husband, where can you have found this child?" and tears were
in the eyes of the lady as she received the little unknown from
his arms.

"Is it for you? to be yours, mother? Mother, may it stay with us here?"
asked Harry; and in his delight he stumbled over old Neptune, who was
stretched at full length upon the floor, and the two went rolling over
and over, first one up and then the other, till finally the boy came off
victorious, seated astride the animal's back, who marched up to Mrs.
Grosvenor's side, where they both remained, eyeing the little stranger
in silence.

"The child's dress denotes no common birth," remarked the Captain, as
his lady disrobed it of its rich lace dress, saturated with the salt
seawater. "And the gold bands; are there no marks?--nothing, by which we
may gain the least clue of its history?"

"I see nothing; and it is well; for my heart already yearns towards the
little creature, and in my selfish human nature, I can't but hope that
we may be able to keep her for our own." And as she spoke she pressed
the clasp of the band, and, behold! the miniature likeness of a lady was
brought to view. The foster mother gazed upon those features, as if it
were the face