scarcely enough to buy meat, and I was often sick and had no one to cook it; but, thanks to the Lord that sent me a comforter, who, though a stranger, worked for me with her own hands, and was unto me more than a daughter.'

"Just at that moment a strong gust of wind rustled into the cottage, and seeing the old woman had already gained strength to make use of her privilege, I thrust a little money into her hand, and ran to the beach. It was a heavy squall: smash went many a hawser and jibboom, and the harbour was a scene of confusion, vessels running foul of each other in every direction.

"For my part, Harold, I see no reason why the sides of harbours should not be checquered with moorings, which would prevent many accidents.

"For a quarter of an hour, the breeze seemed to master man and ship, and then all was as

calm as a millpond. The fray completely expelled the old woman and her story from my mind till the next night, when I thought it but kind to inquire after her. It was dark when I came near the cottage; and as I heard a voice within not like the mumbling of old age, I listened for a minute, and heard words which will never leave my memory:-

And whosoever believeth in me shall never die!'

"My curiosity to know who the kind creature was of whom the old woman had spoken, which had been blown away by the breeze, now returned, and I stole gently to the casement, and there saw the good Mary reading the Scriptures to her poor old neighbour. From that moment I looked upon her as different from the rest of the world. I left the spot without going in, and returned on board the ship, dissatisfied with myself, and resolved to behave better. I now had no pleasure on shore but in going to my master's house, where every day made

me more attached to Mary, and I determined to deserve her. Her father had just been appointed to the command of a West-India ship, and George was to be first mate, and I second. After having visited my father and mother, and being reconciled to them, I joined the vessel, and we set sail for Jamaica.

"We had not been there a month, when poor George became sick. He had drunk too much and slept in the night air, and the next morning felt sick and giddy with a pain in his back. In the evening he became violently hot, and turned a dark red colour, which was succeeded by black vomiting and death. The body, although the illness was so short, seemed to be reduced to a skeleton, and became as yellow as saffron.

"We had hopes of him when the doctor*

* These periodical breezes are perhaps the best illustration we have of the Theory of Winds, if indeed theory it can be called; for it is probable navigation will be much benefited by an accumulation of well authenticated facts on this subject.

(i. e. the land wind) came off in the evening, as the height of the fever was passed; but, like many others, he died from the weakness occasioned by the severity of the complaint.

"There was scarcely a dry eye in the ship when his coffin was lowered into the boat, and his poor father sobbed bitterly, as we pulled along over the ruins of old Port Royal, which we saw at the bottom of the clear, blue water, on our way to the Palisades. It is a heartcutting thing to see an old man weep, and I thought he would have tumbled into the grave when the earth was crumbled over his son's coffin."

CHAPTER VII.

How sleep the brave, who sink to rest
By all their country's wishes blest?
When Spring, with dewy fingers cold,
Returns to deck their hallowed mould,
She there shall dress a sweeter sod
Than Fancy's feet have ever trod.

By fairy hands their knell is rung,
By forms unseen their dirge is sung;
There Honour comes, a pilgrim gray
To bless the turf that wraps their clay;
And Freedom shall awhile repair

To dwell a weeping hermit there,

COLLINS.

"THE burial of my poor shipmate being finished, we proceeded towards the boat, and on our way met several funeral processions advancing one was that of an officer of a ship of war; his coffin was covered with the union jack,