
 
 <*-. 
 
 / 

 
 V N >
 
 NATALIE; 
 
 OR 
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 
 
 BY 
 
 FERNA VALE, 
 
 ANDO VER: 
 
 PRINTED BY W. F. DRAPER 
 1859.
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by 
 
 WARREN F. DRAPER, 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.
 
 TO THEE 
 
 MY DARLING HAT TIE, 
 
 I DEDICATE 
 
 WOULD THAT THIS CASKET CONTAINED FOR SUCH AS THOU, 
 A PURER GEM. 
 
 *** *** 
 
 20513
 
 PEEP AC E. 
 
 IN writing the following pages the author has 
 spent pleasant hours, which perhaps might have 
 been less profitably employed : if anything of 
 interest be found among them, it is well, and 
 should any be led to take up their Cross in meek- 
 ness and humility, searcliing out the path that 
 leads the wanderer home, it is indeed well.
 
 NATALIE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE SEA-FLOWER. 
 
 " What was it that I loved so well about my childhood's home ? 
 It was the wide and wave-lashed shore, the black rocks crowned 
 
 with foam ! 
 
 It was the sea-gull's flapping wing, all trackless in its flight, 
 Its screaming note, that welcomed on the fierce and stormy night ! 
 The wild heath had its flowers and moss, the forest had its trees, 
 Which, bending to the evening wind, made music in the breeze; 
 But earth, ha I ha! I laugh e'en now, earth had no charms 
 
 for me, 
 
 Nor scene half bright enough to win my young heart from the sea. 
 No ! 't was the ocean, vast and deep, the fathomless, the free, 
 The mighty rushing waters, that were ever dear to me ! " 
 
 ELIZA COOK. 
 
 "But the goodly pearl which the merchant bought, 
 
 And for which his all he gave, 
 Was a purer pearl than will e'er be brought 
 From under the FOAMING wave." H. F. Gotru>. 
 
 " MASSA Grobener ! Massa Grobener ! Please, 
 ear, look here! De good Lord hab left his
 
 8 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 mitest ob angels here on de beach ; and please, 
 sar, step low or de wee bit will take to its wings 
 and fly away. De good Lord be praised ! but 
 old Bingo hab found many a bright sea-weed in 
 his day, but dis am de sweetest sea-flower ob de 
 whole." 
 
 And as he spoke, the little one stretched out its 
 tiny arms toward the poor old black man and 
 gave a faint moan. Captain Grosvenor,who had 
 now come up with the negro, was no less sur- 
 prised than had been old Vingo, at discovering, 
 among the fresh, bright sea-weed, an infant some 
 eight months old. The babe was carefully lashed 
 into a large wooden trough or bowl, and a can- 
 vas firmly stretched over the top, permitting only 
 the head and arms to remain exposed, and judg- 
 ing from the dripping condition of the worthy 
 little sea-craft, it could not have been many mo- 
 ments since it had come to anchor on the smooth, 
 hard beach; probably the now receding waves 
 had borne the precious burden to this most wel- 
 come harbor " whereby hangs a tale.V 
 
 " De good Lord be praised, massa ! but dis am 
 de most curous ob all sea-ve'cles that eber trabers 
 de great waters ! I sure it must be a speint from
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 9 
 
 de great scripture ark massa read about in de 
 good book ; or may be it am one ob those old- 
 time chariots, fiery chariots, we sings about ; only 
 it so moist around here, it put de fire all out and 
 leabe de chariot. Or I tink it may be one ob 
 dose machines Bingo used to see in old slabe- 
 massa's church, hung up ober de minister's head, 
 to make de good psalms or de prayers go de right 
 way, and I do n't remember which ; old Bingo 
 always retained a bery bad memory, eber since 
 before he was a child ; but I tink dey used 
 to call it a sound board, though it was full ob 
 cracks." 
 
 Ah ! poor fellow, had you seen that heart-rend- 
 ing look of despair, mingled with sweet resigna- 
 tion, upon the face of that mother ! had you seen 
 the glistening tear in the eye of that noble father, 
 as, but a few hours before, they consigned their 
 idolized child to the mercies of the deep ; had you 
 heard that prayer to God, if it might be his will, 
 to spare their darling from an ocean-grave, your 
 great heart would have been, if possible, kindled 
 to a greater love for that helpless little one ! 
 
 Captain Grosvenor, after having carefully taken 
 the child from the grotesque looking craft, which
 
 10 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 had proved so trustworthy a sailor, and wiped the 
 drops of spray from its little face, wrapped it in a 
 large bandana, and gave it to the faithful Vingo, 
 while he took his glass and scanned the distant 
 horizon ; for well did he know, though even at 
 noon-day, that one more unfortunate bark had 
 gone down near that dread " Nantucket shoal," 
 upon which so many noble hearts have found a 
 watery grave. " I see nothing," said the Captain, 
 " nothing, not even a passing sail ; which is quite 
 uncommon at this season, when so many vessels 
 are constantly passing and repassing our island ; 
 not even the light-boat do I see, which is probably 
 owing to a fog coming in from the sea, as yet 
 imperceptible to us here. Poor fellows! I fear 
 they have gone down without a soul to help 
 them! It seems hard when there are so many 
 stout hearts and ready arms here, willing to risk 
 their lives in the attempt to save. Those shoals, 
 Vingo, are the only unkind thing there is about 
 our cherished island ; but the will of God be done. 
 Truly his ways are unsearchable." 
 
 " Den you tinks, massa, dis little sea-flower was 
 left here trough mistake, by de Lord?" 
 
 " It most assuredly was left here by the Lord,
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA- WEEDS. 11 
 
 Vingo, but not by mistake. The fact is, my boy, 
 there has been a wreck off to the east south- 
 east of the island; probably some vessel has mis- 
 taken her bearings, or, being unacquainted with 
 the coast, has run on to the shoals and gone to 
 pieces ; and this infant was made fast to the first 
 floatable object that could be found, and with a 
 mother's dying prayer for a rudder, and the hand 
 of Him who guides us all at the helm, she has 
 come to us here ; and with eyes of heaven's own 
 blue, she silently asks for that protection which 
 shall not be withheld from her so long as it shall 
 be within my power to give. And now, Vingo, 
 boy, you may turn the horse's head for the town." 
 
 " Yes, massa." 
 
 And though some fifty years had passed over 
 the old negro's head, he sprang with the agility of 
 boyhood's days; although, as the poor fellow 
 often remarked, " he had a wonderful constitution 
 for enduring rest," the thought of his good missus's 
 surprise, when she should learn of their morning's 
 adventure, gave him new life, and he fairly 
 danced about the beach for joy. Seated in the 
 spring-cart, Captain Grosvenor took the babe in 
 his arms, that had now fallen into a quiet sleep,
 
 12 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 while Vingo, perching himself first on one foot 
 and then the other, to keep his balance, gath- 
 ered up the reins, and all started for home. 
 
 " I am tinking, massa, dat my missus be quite 
 ober-much-come at de sight of dis little sea- 
 flower." 
 
 " Yes, boy ; yes, sea-flower indeed. I have 
 travelled the wide world from stem to stern, but 
 never have I met with such an emblem of inno- 
 cence before." And though the hardy sea-captain 
 had spent the greater part of his life among the 
 whales, he stooped 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."
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 13 
 
 " She will be in early to-day. Travels decently 
 fast, considering she is all out of joint. I hope 
 we sha'l 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 con- 
 tinent 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 excur- 
 sions 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 
 
 2
 
 14 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 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 sea- 
 water. " 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 Avell; 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 of an angel. 
 
 " I cannot have the heart to wish to retain her 
 child! To deprive that mother of anything that 
 can give her pain to lose. Would I could ask 
 her to forgive my cruel thoughts; forgive the 
 desire to retain this her gem. But I know she
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 15 
 
 has gone to her home in the skies ; she was too 
 pure for earth. Yes, this must be the mother, the 
 child is so like her." 
 
 " The same features, the same expression ; 
 and," said the Captain, " I will use every means 
 of finding out if there is one left of that ill-fated 
 crew to tell the tale. It will probably be reported 
 in a few days, if there are any missing vessels, 
 either from our coasts or foreign ports. In the 
 meantime I will take care to have this discovery 
 registered at head-quarters, and then if we can 
 discover no trace of her parentage we may have 
 her for our own." 
 
 " Have her for our own ! Nep, do you hear 
 that? We are to have a new sister!" shouted 
 the boy ; and Nep, as if comprehending his young 
 master's words, laid his great honest face on the 
 feet of the child, and caressed her. 
 
 " Please, missus, do n't make little Sea-flower 
 too fresh ; she be pining for de sea ;" remarked 
 Vingo, as Mrs. Grosvenor proceeded to bathe the 
 child in cool fresh water; and having brought out 
 the baby-clothes worn by Harry, she was soon, 
 by the aid of a little new milk, made comfortable, 
 and, creeping down after old Nep, sat with her
 
 16 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 hands buried in his shaggy coat, crowing with 
 delight. The lights at Captain Grosvenor's 
 burned long into the night of that eventful day, 
 of the discovery of the Sea-flower, while he 
 related to his wife how they had found the little 
 one among the sea-weeds, and in forming plans 
 for her future adoption, should nothing be learned 
 of her parentage, and no friends come to claim 
 the child. 
 
 Soon after the commencement of our story, a 
 fearful storm swept the New England coast. 
 'T would seem as if the rage of the storm-king 
 knew no bounds ; and many hearts there were 
 made desolate in that long-to-be-remembered Sep- 
 tember gale. Fragments of wrecks came ashore 
 on different parts of the island, together with 
 casks, chests, rigging, stoven boats, etc., which 
 were picked up in various places, and by vari- 
 ous characters. Some would watch eagerly for 
 these trophies of destruction, and with grasping 
 hand seize upon them, viewing the storm as 
 sent for their own particular benefit; increas- 
 ing their worldly goods, regardless of others' 
 woes. While some there were, who turned 
 away with a heart sick at the scene of devas-
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA- WEEDS. IT 
 
 tation, yet submissively bowing to His will, 
 " who holds the waters in his hand." Wreck 
 upon wreck was reported. The total loss of ves- 
 sels from all parts of the world was very great, 
 which only served to increase the mystery in 
 regard to the unknown, which went down 'neath 
 a calm noon-day sky. Days and months passed 
 on, and still no tidings ; till finally they came to 
 look upon the loved one as their own. 
 
 The child grew in strength and beauty, and 
 was a source of great amusement to them alL 
 Old Vingo would delight to make one of his 
 " squantums," as he called it, to the shore ; and 
 with master Harry, who was now taking his first 
 lessons in driving, (a point once attained, boy- 
 hood thinks to gain no higher) and Sea-flower 
 in his arms ; with Nep, who is determined to be 
 " head horse," bounding off in the distance, is 
 happiness enough for the negro, and his white 
 teeth glisten in the bright sunshine like so many 
 African pearls, as he jabbers away to Sea-flower, as 
 i f she were comprehending the whole. But 't was 
 enough for Vingo, that she in reply to his half 
 hour's remarks, would put out her hand toward 
 
 2*
 
 18 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 the blue waters, and with eyes dilated with won; 
 derment, would say. " Tee ! Indo, Tee ! " 
 
 There on the beach they would have a fine race 
 with the surf, Vingo following with the child the 
 receding wave, and then, as it came in with a 
 roar from the sea, he would run as if pursued by 
 a foe, sometimes the spray dashing up all around 
 them, much to the joy of the Sea-flower, her 
 merry laugh according strangely with the music 
 of the waters. Harry amused himself for a while, 
 throwing the bits of drift-wood into the water, 
 that he might see old Newfoundland dash in and 
 combat with the waves, to secure the prize, which 
 he never failed to do ; but wearying of this, he 
 came and took his seat by the side of his sister, 
 and commenced whittling diligently on an old 
 piece of plank. 
 
 " Vingo, do you think my father will ever go to 
 sea again?" 
 
 " I do n't know, young massa ; but why you 
 tinkobdat?" - 
 
 " O, I have often thought I would like to go 
 with rny father away over the great ocean. I 
 long to see more of the world ; and I often think 
 of the time when I shall be a man, and have a
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 19 
 
 ship of my own. I never hear of a ship arrived 
 at the bar, but it sends a thrill of delight over me, 
 and I watch the sailors as they come on shore 
 after a three years' voyage, and think how happy 
 they must be, though they look as if they had met 
 with the rubbers. O, I know I shall be a sailor 
 boy! there is something noble about the very 
 name." 
 
 " Missus be berry sorry to hear you talk so," 
 said Vingo. 
 
 " I know my mother would be very sorry to 
 have me go to sea, for I remember how sad she 
 looked for many days after father went away, 
 though I was but a little boy. And I remember 
 my father took me in his arms, and told me I 
 must be a good boy, and take care of mother 
 until he came back. But now you would be 
 here, Vingo, to see that my mother knew no 
 want." 
 
 " Yes, de good Lord be praised for sending 
 good massa Grobener to take me away from old 
 slabe massa. I gets so filled wid liberty some- 
 times, dat I mistakes myself for white man." 
 
 " Well, you are as good as a white man, any 
 day ; but tell me, Vingo, if you have ever been 
 much on the water ?"
 
 20 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 " Not a great deal ; I used to take old massa 
 wid his children out for a sail sometimes, and den 
 I hab a slight recollection ob being brought from 
 a great way off; but dat must hab been before I 
 come to be berry great. De pleasantest sail I 
 eber take was when I leabe old Berginny in de 
 good Tantalizer; and I swings my hat at old 
 slabe massa on de bank, and asks him if he do n't 
 wish he as free as dis individual. Dat was but 
 a few years ago ; den you wear little dress like 
 Sea-flower, and now you talk 'bout going to sea! 
 Well, dat am de way wid you sea-fish here." 
 
 As the three sat on the beach, enjoying the 
 morning breeze, Harry observed a gentleman not 
 far off, who appeared to be taking sketches of the 
 scenery around, and occasionally would give a 
 glance towards where our little party were sitting, 
 somewhat to the disquietude of Nep, who came 
 and stood sentinel, as much as to say, " I will 
 protect you;" but finding the stranger disposed 
 to do them no harm, he composed himself for a 
 nap. The whittling process being now finished, 
 Harry produced what he termed a " two-master," 
 the which, Vingo declared it would be no sin to 
 worship, as it was not in the likeness of anything.
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 21 
 
 " She is not a very polished looking craft, to 
 be sure, but I know she is a sailer, for all that. 
 At any rate, she shall be of some service;" 
 and he seized old Nep by the ear, and making 
 fast his dogship t6 the little ark, he carefully 
 seated the Sea-flower at the helm, and with Vin- 
 go's rainbow bandana flying from the mast-head, 
 they were soon under full headway. Either Nep 
 being proud of his charge, or the little one mis- 
 taking the thoughtful face, lit up with the glow 
 of enthusiasm, of the stranger, for a beacon light ; 
 they came up with him, who called to Harry to 
 join them. 
 
 " What is your name, my son ? " 
 
 " Harry Grosvenor, sir," answered the boy, 
 drawing himself up to his full height. 
 
 " And what have you here ? " added he. " I 
 suppose you came along as supercargo ; pray tell 
 me with what are you freighted ? " 
 
 " The Sea-flower is my only freight, sir." 
 
 " And God grant that you may always find as 
 valuable! but tell me$ is this angelic child your 
 sister ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir, my sister, and we all love her very 
 much ; we could not be without her, for we might
 
 22 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 forget to thank our Father for his kindness to us, 
 if we had no Sea-flower to remind us of Heaven." 
 
 " So young, and can appreciate so rare a gift," 
 mused the gentleman ; " childhood, indeed, is the 
 first to discover purity ; " and the eye of the stran- 
 ger grew moist, and the melancholy smile which 
 sat upon his countenance gave place to the 
 shadows of grief. " What is the child's name ? " 
 asked he. 
 
 " We call her Sea-flower, sir." 
 
 "'Tis a peculiar, sweet name; but has she no 
 other?" 
 
 " We have always called her by that name. 
 Mother says she came to us from God, and he 
 loves the little flowers ; he smiles upon each one, 
 as it holds up its little head, all shining with pearly 
 tears wept by the stars. But do you not love my 
 sister ? I did not think she could make you sad." 
 
 " Yes, yes, my son ; take good care of her, be a 
 true brother to her, ever. Many long years have 
 passed since my own little Natalie played in rny 
 arms, but they are gone ; " and the kind gentle- 
 man gathered his sketching instruments to depart. 
 
 That night, as Mrs. Grosvenor talked with her 
 children, as was her wont, of the good Father
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEAWEEDS. 23 
 
 who loves us all, Harry related the interview with 
 the stranger gentleman ; and in the prayer which 
 followed he was not forgotten. The Sea-flower 
 folded her tiny hands meekly, while from the win- 
 dows of her soul went up the love she could not 
 speak. As that faithful mother sat meditating 
 upon the story of Harry in regard to the stranger, 
 which she had related to her husband, Captain 
 Grosvenor remarked, " It is just one year to-day 
 when our dear child came to us, being also my 
 birthday ; but instead of adding a year to my life, 
 it seems to me old Father time has made a mis- 
 take, and made a deduction of a year. Just one 
 year to-day, and she is the Sea-flower still. Yes, 
 she will ever be the Sea-flower to us ; yet I sup- 
 pose she must have a name more in keeping with 
 the ideas of the world. What was the name of 
 the lost one the sad gentleman mused of?" 
 
 " He spoke of the long time ago, before his own 
 Natalie had gone." 
 
 "Poor man! Each life must have its portion 
 of bitterness. Natalie, I like the sound ; it 
 reminds me of my home on the waters. With 
 your consent, my wife, the Christian name of the 
 child shall be Natalie, for she came to us from the 
 sea.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE ISLAND HOME. 
 
 "Long may this ocean-gem be bright, 
 
 And long may it be fair, 
 In Freedom's pure and blessed light, 
 
 And Virtue's hallowed air ! 
 While still across its ocean bound, 
 Shall e'er be borne the truthful sound, 
 Our island home ! our island home ! 
 We love our island home ! " 
 
 MKS. J. H. HAXAFORD. 
 
 " And yet that isle remaineth, 
 
 A refuge for the free, 
 As when true-hearted Macy 
 
 Beheld it from the sea. 
 God bless the sea-beat island ! 
 And grant for evermore, 
 That Charity and Freedom dwell, 
 As now, upon the shore ! " 
 
 J. G. WHITTIER. 
 
 GENTLE reader, pause a little, and let us for a 
 few moments turn our thoughts toward that
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 25 
 
 Island of the sea, upon which it was the fate of 
 our heroine, through the guidance of a divine 
 providence, to find a home in the bosoms of those 
 whose hearts' beatings were of love for our 
 unknown. Yea, love ever encircleth purity. 
 
 Properly, this chapter, descriptive of the Island 
 of Nantucket, should have been our first; but 
 had that been the case, alas, for the simple tale of 
 Natalie! How many would have passed it by 
 with but one thought, and that thought invari- 
 ably, Nantucket ! pooh ! a fish story, strikingly 
 embellished with ignorance. And you may in- 
 deed discover in the feebleness of my unpre- 
 tending pen, much that is food for critics ; yet 
 give not a thought of ridicule to Nantucket's fa- 
 vored ones, for it is not for me to enlist under her 
 banner of superiority of intellect. To the many 
 questions which I know you have it in your heart 
 to ask, as touching the civilization, etc., of these 
 islanders, I do not reply, as I might be tempted 
 under other circumstances to do, that it wouhLbe 
 advisable to procure a passport before landing on 
 those shores r lest one might stand in danger of 
 being harpooned by the natives ; but rather let 
 me, in as correct a light as I may, set forth to 
 3
 
 26 NATALIE; OB, 
 
 those who have heretofore known but little of 
 those who inhabit that triangular bit of land in 
 the wide ocean, which, when we were six year 
 olds, we passed over on our maps with the thought, 
 I wonder if they have Sundays there. 
 
 Situated nearly one hundred miles, in a south- 
 easterly course from the city of Boston, and about 
 thirty miles from the nearest point of main land, 
 Nantucket lifts her proud head from out the broad 
 Atlantic, whose waters, even when lashed to mad- 
 ness, have been kind to her. And now, on this 
 oppressive July morning, let us throw aside our 
 cares, and come out from our daily round of du- 
 ties, where we have been scaling with our eyes 
 the tall brick barriers which shut out God's beau- 
 tiful blue sky and sunshine. Yes, let us off, any- 
 where, to get one glimpse of Nature. On board 
 the good steamer " Island Home," a two hours' 
 sail carries us over that distance which separates 
 Cape Cod from Nantucket. If you have not 
 passed most of your days among the Connecticut 
 hills, you pay little attention to that " green- 
 eyed monster," who considers it a part of his duty 
 to prepare the uninitiated for the good time com- 
 ing. Arrived at the bar, which stretches itself
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 27 
 
 across the entrance to the harbor, our first impres- 
 sions taUe to themselves the forms of sundry ven- 
 erable windmills, church spires and towers, repre- 
 senting various orders of architecture; but that 
 which strikes us most is the scarcity of shipping, 
 not more than a dozen vessels lying at the 
 wharves. In former times Nantucket numbered 
 as many whaleships belonging to her port, as did 
 any town on our seaboard. Indeed, she was built 
 up from the produce of the ocean, and carried the 
 palm for years as being first among the American 
 whale fisheries ; but her number has dwindled 
 away, till not^ one-fourth of those homeward- 
 bound ships are destined for the port of Nan- 
 tucket. 
 
 The town, we find, is situated on the northern 
 shore of the island, at the harbor's head. The 
 houses are compact, and most of them built of 
 wood, with little regard to beauty ; though some 
 few residences there are, of modern style, which 
 do credit to their designers ; but the greater num- 
 ber speak only of antiquity, with their shingled 
 sides ; and you will rarely see a house that has 
 not a " walk " upon its roof, \vith w r hich they 
 could by no means dispense, as in case of ship-
 
 28 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 wreck near the island, the roofs of the whole town 
 will be alive with men, women, and children, spy- 
 glass in hand. Besides the town there are but 
 one or two small villages, " Polpis," and the far- 
 famed " Siaconset," or " Sconset," as it is usually 
 termed, numbering some four dozen houses. 
 This village is seven and one-half miles from the 
 town, affording a delightful place of recreation for 
 families from town, who, as the summer holidays 
 come round, harness up old Dobbin, and prepare for 
 a six weeks' " siesta." If, by reason of the great 
 financial pressure, you find you have not sufficient 
 pocket-money to take you for a short tour to 
 Europe, come to " Sconset ;" it is a glorious place ! 
 take a stroll along that grand old beach, and 
 watch the moon rise from out the ocean ; then go 
 to your comfortable seven-by-nine lodgings, which 
 seems like a palace, draw the comfortable rug 
 about you, and fall asleep, with old Ocean for a 
 lullaby, to dream ( if your waking hours are for- 
 tunately of that bent) of some old deserted castle, 
 " Salem witchcraft," or a lone " Grace Pool," at- 
 tendant within the attic's most remote recesses. 
 
 The face of the inland is level, so much so that 
 the flat, bare commons resemble somewhat our
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 29 
 
 western prairies ; and with the exception of the 
 cliffs at the north, and Sancoty Head, there are 
 but few slight elevations. Owing to the peculiar 
 shape of the island, its two arms stretching far out 
 on either side, it does not appear to be as large 
 as it really is, being about sixteen miles long, 
 and four wide, affording sufficient elbow room, 
 however, for its eight thousand inhabitants. The 
 soil is sandy, but is cultivated to some extent; 
 and though they can boast of no extensive forests, 
 yet you may occasionally meet with an old friend 
 in the way of a noble elm, or the pensive weep- 
 ing willow. The culture of fruit trees, also, is 
 receiving much attention of later years, and as 
 widely as refinement must be separated from 
 the islanders, to be in keeping v/ith your views, 
 their love for the sweet spring flowers knows no 
 bounds. 
 
 In your walks of curiosity about town, you 
 meet with a great many of the denomination 
 termed Friends, or Quakers, and as you pass them 
 you cannot refrain from giving them the inside 
 walk, for their very garb is of humility ; and as 
 you look into the placid face of some matron, you 
 feel like uncovering yourself, for you can see the 
 
 3*
 
 30 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 innocence looking out of her eyes. You are 
 curious to know whither so many are wending 
 their way, and meeting a sailor-boy, he tells you 
 it is " fifth day," and if you follow in the wake 
 of the " slick bonnets," they will pilot you to 
 their nearest light-house ; but precious little light 
 you will get unless the spirit move some of them 
 to pick up the wick. You move on with the resl*. 
 till you come to their house of wot ship, which ap- 
 pears as humble as those who enter its doors. 
 As you contrast the plainness on all sides with 
 the richly decorated edifice in which you have been 
 accustomed to worship, you try to smile a smile of 
 contempt at the scene, but cannot, for you feel that 
 the spirit of Christ is in their midst ; and though 
 not a word is spoken during the hour and a half, 
 yet you feel that the silent worship which went 
 up to Heaven, was heard by Him who answers 
 prayer. As a signal for dispersing, the elders who 
 occupy the " rising seats," arise and shake hands, 
 and you go your way with those silent ones, feel- 
 ing that their worship was acceptable to God. 
 The Quakers of Nantucket are rapidly diminish- 
 ing in number. Formerly two-thirds, perhaps, of 
 the population, were of the Society of Friends,
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SB A- WEEDS. 31 
 
 but now not one-third are of that denomination. 
 As their children come up, they are not true to 
 the faith, as were their fathers, and they put off 
 the plain garb for the fashions of the day. A 
 Quaker in Nantucket will in time come to be a 
 great curiosity. Their places will, we fear, be 
 filled by none more upright. Heaven bless them ! 
 Nantucket of the present is not Nantucket of 
 the past. Her quaint, old-timeness has given 
 place to customs and manners more in accord- 
 ance with things common-place. Yet her origin- 
 ality has not entirely forsaken her; she has a 
 character even now, peculiar to herself. The 
 wild waves come tumbling in, their glad shouts 
 ringing through the midnight stillness with the 
 same zest as of yore ; and the same starry skies, 
 which looked down on the fair maiden of a cen- 
 tury ago, still bend over her children's children, as 
 they tread along life's rugged way. Occasionally 
 you may meet with one who has long since 
 passed the meridian of life, one, perhaps, who has 
 never been off of the island of his birth ; and he 
 will tell you of the Nantucket of the past, before 
 her peaceful shores had been invaded by the 
 stranger; when they might lay them down to
 
 32 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 sleep, without thought of bolt or bar, save old 
 ocean's faithful bands. You will learn of Nan- 
 tucket from the beginning down to the present 
 time. Then the island was big with prosperity. 
 Her sons were not obliged to leave their homes 
 for a five years' voyage, in search of the monster 
 from which they gained their chief maintenance, 
 for there were then good fishing grounds near the 
 shore, and often the whale might be seen from 
 their little island, spouting off in the distance; 
 and their ships came proudly bearing down to the 
 bar, laden heavily with the good sperm oil, and 
 all hearts were made lighter and each purse heav- 
 ier, with every new arrival of good fortune ; as if 
 they had been one great family, each one smiling 
 on another's prosperity. " But now," and the 
 face of the narrator is less joyous as he turns from 
 then to now, "things are not what they were. 
 Our island is becoming like what they tell me the 
 world at large is." And the old man will re-light 
 his pipe, and with a sad smile he will give you the 
 names of his ancestors, from his great " Grand- 
 'ther " down to more modern times, when his fifth 
 cousin Obed was a large ship-owner. Ah ! treat 
 such of other days with kindness, for the style of
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 33 
 
 that day will never come again ; their great hearts 
 of brotherly love are not of this generation, yet 
 they have left an impress upon those well-loved 
 shores that can never be entirely erased. Those 
 foot-prints of long ago, combined with the pecu- 
 liarities which will ever dwell with these children 
 of the sea, are attractions which insure to the 
 stranger on his first visit, visions of many a happy 
 hour in the future ; and he will long for the season 
 to return which shall liberate so many of the city 
 doomed artificials to a few weeks' intercourse with 
 nature. 
 
 Awakened at early dawn by the sailor's merry 
 " yo, ho," coming up from the waters with the sun, 
 you turn your eyes seaward, and what a glorious 
 sight is before you ! As' far as the eye can reach, 
 water, blue, rolling water, tinged with rising sun- 
 light in its morning purity ; the night-bird folds 
 her wings, which she has laved in the white sea- 
 foam, softening the sigh of the breakers to the ear 
 of those who slumbered; the white sails bow 
 their heads, while the old tars wonder what makes 
 them so happy. With these pleasant sunrise im- 
 pressions you go forth into the day with more 
 lenient views towards the " land of whales," sniff- 
 ing the salt air with a real gusto.
 
 34 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 Glancing up the street, you descry an object in 
 the distance which much resembles a travelling 
 dry-goods merchant, with the many fancy stream- 
 ers flying in the breeze ; but as it draws nearer, 
 you look around in astonishment for " Barnum," 
 fully persuaded if that worthy is not on the 
 ground, he has mistaken his calling for once. 
 The object in question is no less than a common 
 two-wheeled horse-cart, such as are used to do our 
 heavy carting, except this is on springs, and of a 
 lighter build ; in the vehicle are some half dozen 
 ladies, standing, their only support being short 
 ropes attached to the sides, which, however, are 
 seldom used, except by those unaccustomed to 
 this kind of exercise, and in this position they ride 
 with the greatest ease, seldom losing their bal- 
 ance, even when going at full speed. 
 
 Thoroughly initiated, and having seen most of 
 the lions of the place, you find yourself becoming 
 more and more attached, forget that you have 
 ever thought of the island as anything but attrac- 
 tive. Your one week has become the length of 
 four, and the letters to anxious friends at home 
 have been characteristic of briefness, unwilling to 
 steal a moment's time from the enjoyment which
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 35 
 
 will furnish a topic for the unemployed hours of 
 longer days to come. Of the many excursions 
 which have made short the hours of your sojourn 
 here, I will not enter into detail ; suffice it to say, 
 you have been disappointed in Nantucket and its 
 inhabitants. You have made many firm friends, 
 the memory of whom will stir the tear of unsel- 
 fish love, as you number them over, one by one, 
 in the future. They will never be forgotten. You 
 have found Nantucket is not merely an isolated 
 place, where oil is manufactured ; where the peo- 
 ple only work to eat, and eat to work. [Though 
 as some have suggested, a carriage drive connect- 
 ing Nantucket with the Continent would be a 
 great modern improvement]. As one has quaintly 
 expressed, in a little poem entitled " An Old 
 Story : " 
 
 " Before Columbus ever thought 
 Of Western World, with glory fraught ; 
 Before the Northmen had been known 
 To wander from their native zone ; 
 Before war raised a single mound, 
 The antiquarians to confound ; 
 Indeed, so very long ago, 
 The time one can't exactly know, 
 A giant Sachem, good as great,
 
 36 NATALTE; OR, 
 
 Reigned in and over our Bay State. 
 
 So huge was he, his realm so small, 
 
 He could not exercise at all, 
 
 Except by taking to the sea. 
 
 [For which he had a ticket free, 
 
 Granted hy Neptune, with the seal, 
 
 A salient clam, and couchant eel]. 
 
 His pipe was many a mile in length, 
 
 His lungs proportionable in strength ; 
 
 And his rich moccasins, with the pair, 
 
 The seven-league boots would not compare. 
 
 Whene'er siestas he would take, 
 
 Cape Cod must help his couch to make ; 
 
 And, being lowly, it was meet 
 
 He should prefer it for his feet. 
 
 Well, one day, after quite a doze, 
 
 A month or two in length, suppose, 
 
 He waked, and, as he 'd often done, 
 
 Strolled forth to see the mid-day sun ; 
 
 But while unconsciously he slept, 
 
 The sand within his moccasins crept ; 
 
 At every step some pain he'd feel, 
 
 'T was now the toe, now near the heel ; 
 
 At length his Sachemship grew cross, 
 
 The pebbles to the sea he 'd toss, 
 
 And with a moccasin in each hand, 
 
 He threw on either side the sand ; 
 
 Then in an instant there appear 
 
 Two little isles, the Sachem near ! 
 
 One as the Vineyard now is known, 
 
 The other we may call our own.
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 37 
 
 At ease, he freely breathed awhile, 
 Which sent the fogs to bless our isle ; 
 And turning East, with quickened motion, 
 The chill, bleak winds came o'er the ocean. 
 
 Ill-judging Sachem ! would that you 
 Had never shaken here that shoe. 
 Or, having done so, would again, 
 And join Nantucket to the main ! " 
 
 Having had a peep within the nest, you sigh 
 for the return of the bird, and we will on. 
 
 4
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE VOICE OF CHILDHOOD. 
 
 " Ah ! Well may sages bow to thee, 
 
 Dear, loving, guileless Infancy ! 
 And sigh beside their lofty lore 
 
 For one untaught delight of thine ; 
 
 And feel they 'd give their learning's store, 
 To know again thy truth divine." 
 
 MRS. OSGOOD. 
 
 " And now behold him kneeling there, 
 By the child's side, in humble prayer ; 
 While the same sun-beam shines upon 
 The guilty and the guiltless one ; 
 And hymns of joy proclaim through heaven, 
 The triumph of a soul forgiven." 
 
 MOORE'S " LALLA ROOKH." 
 
 " MOTHER, why does every one pass poor old 
 Quady by without giving him even a smile ? Is not 
 that the reason why he looks so sorrowful ? He 
 looked so sad when I met him this afternoon, that I
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 89 
 
 could not help holding out the daisies which I had 
 gathered for you, towards him ; and when he did 
 riot take them, but stood looking at me without 
 speaking a word, I asked him if he did not want the 
 flowers to carry to his home, and put them into his 
 hand ; and when I had come up with the school- 
 girls, who had run away when they saw him com. 
 ing, I looked after him, and he was still standing 
 by the road-side, with the flowers in his hand, 
 watching us as we went up the street. Perhaps 
 he was resting a little, for it is a long way to the 
 low home over the commons." 
 
 " Quady, my dear, no doubt feels that he is 
 alone in the world, for he is the only one that is 
 left of a large tribe of Indians ; all of his kind are 
 gone, and are buried, no one but himself knows 
 where. He does not look upon the pale faces as 
 brothers, though they treat him kindly. He feels 
 that wrong has been shown his ancestors at their 
 hands. I am glad, rny child, that you were kind 
 to the Indian." 
 
 " Yes, mother, I love everybody ; but I think I 
 love those best who look as if no one cared for 
 them. I suppose everybody loves poor Quady, 
 only they forget to let him know it."
 
 40 NATALIE; on, 
 
 " You like dat old Ingin, Sea-flower ? why, he 
 almost as black as Bingo hesef." 
 
 " Do you think I do not love you, Vingo, be- 
 cause you are black ? You are always good to 
 me, and what would I do without you to take 
 me to the shore, whenever I like to go ? " 
 
 " O, little missy, I tink you can sympetize wid 
 old black Bingo ; but den, ebry body not like you ; 
 you 's one ob de Lord's chilen hesef." 
 
 " We arc all the Lord's children, Vingo," said 
 Mrs. Grosvenor ; " and we should walk in the 
 paths of righteousness, that we may be worthy 
 of his name. You may go, now." 
 
 " What does Vingo mean, mother ? he talks so 
 strangely sometimes about my being left here by 
 the Lord, and goes on muttering something to 
 himself, which I cannot understand, and laughs as 
 if he was very happy." 
 
 " It is his way of expressing himself, my dear ; 
 the negroes are a peculiar race." 
 
 " Yes, I think they are ; I like their ways, they 
 are always so kind. Are not their dispositions 
 better than those of some white people ? I never 
 heard of a black man being cruel to any one, but 
 I have seen the prints of a whip-lash on Vingo's
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA- WEEDS. 41 
 
 neck, where he said his old rnassa used to whip 
 him ; and I asked him many times over, if he was 
 sure it was a white man who whipped him, and 
 he said yes, he was sure, for he remembers he 
 used to wish white folks were black, so they could 
 not tell which were the negroes." 
 
 " There are some very hard-hearted people in 
 the world. Vingo was brought up in slavery; 
 when you are a little older you will understand it 
 better." 
 
 " Dear mother, you know what is best for me ; 
 but often, when I am interested in what is said, 
 and ask questions, people tell me I will under- 
 stand it when I am a little older ; and when I sit 
 down by myself, and they think I have forgotten 
 all about it, I find myself wishing I was " a little 
 older," for it disappoints me so much to leave a 
 story not finished." 
 
 Mrs. Grosvenor looked at the child in silence. 
 
 " I have not displeased you, dear mother, have I? 
 I did not feel that I was saying anything wrong." 
 
 " No, darling ; I did not think you would under- 
 stand me, that was the reason why I did not ex- 
 plain to you. I am always ready to talk with 
 
 you, if you can comprehend what I am saying." 
 
 4*
 
 42 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 " Never mind, mother, I am six years old ; it 
 won't be a great while before I shall be ' a little 
 older,' and then I can realize how very good you 
 are to me, my dear mother, and how patient you 
 are." 
 
 Mrs. Grosvenor clasped the child in her arms. 
 ****** What makes little pet look so sober 
 to-night?" asked Captain Grosvenor, as taking 
 her on his knee, he pushed the dark brown curls 
 from off her forehead, and looked into her mild, blue 
 eyes. " What makes Sea-flower so quiet ? Has 
 anything happened to either of your seven kit- 
 tens ? or has some flower which has lived already 
 a week longer than nature designed, at last with- 
 ered, and gone the way of all frailties?" 
 
 " O, father, I should be very wicked if I were 
 not happy, when I have so much to make me so ; 
 but sometimes, when I hear the shore roaring so 
 loud as it does this evening, and look up at the 
 stars, as they twinkle in their homes far away in 
 the sky, there is something which comes over me 
 of sadness, making me a great deal happier ; and 
 there is one particular star which I always notice, 
 for it seems as if it was looking down at me so 
 gently, that I forget myself, and put out my hand
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 43 
 
 to touch it, as if it was not so far away ; and I 
 fancy sometimes that the star can read my 
 thoughts, for it seems to smile when I am hap- 
 piest.'' 
 
 " You are a little fanciful creature ; you must 
 learn to leave off dreaming when you are awake." 
 
 " What shall you dream about when father 
 goes away to sea again ? " asked Harry. 
 
 " I think mother will not let him go ; we cannot 
 spare him ; but if you should go, father, I shall 
 love to dream of you very often ; I will think of 
 you every day, sailing on the water with a heart 
 so light. O, it must be so pleasant to live, to 
 sleep on the water ! And you will want to see 
 dear mother and Harry, when you are so far 
 away ; you will not forget us ; " and she hid her 
 cheek in the hardy captain's bosom. 
 
 " No, no, darling, I shan't forgej; you ; but we 
 wont talk any more about it now ; 1 have not 
 gone yet." 
 
 What was it made that stout man's voice 
 tremulous, as he called for his evening paper? 
 Many a time had that stern voice been heard 
 above the hurricane's roar, giving the word of 
 command, why did it tremble now? Was
 
 44 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 it that voice of childhood which sank into his 
 
 heart ? 
 
 ********** 
 
 " Missus, de sun hab done gone, now, de chil- 
 ens hab all gone from school long ago, and Bin- 
 go's two eyes hab clean gone stretched, looking up 
 de road for de Sea-flower," remarked that worthy, 
 putting his ebony head in at the drawing-room 
 door, where sat Mrs. Grosvenor, so busily engaged 
 making those garments for her husband, which 
 she feared would be needed, alas ! so soon that she 
 had not perceived the 'hours were gliding on 
 apace, and that it was long past the time when 
 Sea-flower usually came tripping in from school 
 to receive her evening kiss, and to tell over the 
 events of the day. 
 
 " Has Harry come home yet ? she may have 
 gone up to the ,High School to meet him." 
 
 " Yes, missus, massa Harry here a long time." 
 
 " Then you had better go and see what keeps 
 her ; you will probably meet her on the way, and 
 if it is not too late you may take the horse and 
 give her a rrde." 
 
 " Yes, missus ; " and the jet pony, so many 
 shades lighter than his driver, was soon lost in the 
 distance.
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 45 
 
 The last faint shadows of the sun had died 
 away, the moon had risen in all her queenly 
 beauty, and Vingo had not returned ; neither had 
 anything been seen of the Sea-flower since she 
 had left home early in the afternoon ; and now 
 Mrs. Grosvenor really began to feel anxious, as 
 she stood looking out into the night ; for, although 
 the child was accustomed to stroll about the fields 
 in search of wild flowers, whenever she liked, she 
 had never before stayed away so long. 
 
 " Husband, had you not better go and see what 
 has become of her ? I cannot think what keeps 
 them." 
 
 " It is a mystery ; but give yourself no uneasi- 
 ness ; I '11 be bound the child has made a safe har- 
 bor somewhere. She usually has a look-out 
 aloft." 
 
 " Ah ! there they come, under a full press of 
 sail!" cried Harry, who loved well to imitate the 
 nautical phrases of his father. " Does she not 
 make a grand figure-head ! " . 
 
 " Figure-head ! " exclaimed Vingo ; " I am link- 
 ing, young massa, if dis 'ere head ob mine had 
 not been made so solid like, 'spressly for figuring, 
 dat it been a powerful time afore you cotch sight
 
 46 NATALIE; on, 
 
 ob dis bit ob fly-away again. De good Lord be 
 praised ! but if I do n't tink little missy so filled 
 wid what de angels libs on dat she make use ob 
 de shadow ob dar wings to take herself away 
 ober dose yar commons ! It make me smile to 
 tink how dat old Ingin look at Sea-flower, as if 
 de sun was puttin' out his eyes." 
 
 " Why, my child, you surely have not been out 
 to Quady's hut! it is a long way." 
 
 " Ha ! a fast sailor, always has a fair breeze ; 
 dropped anchor in the best harbor in these parts! 
 But what's this? colors half-mast?" exclaimed 
 the captain, as he caught sight of a little pouch, 
 woven together of bright colored basket stuff, 
 slung over her shoulder ; a little drab paw, dart- 
 ing from out its deepest recesses in pursuit of a 
 tantalizing curl, soon explains how matters stand, 
 and a voice of the greatest feline sweetness is 
 heard in reply to divers catlike salutations, pro- 
 ceeding from the adjoining apartment. 
 
 " This is my wallet, which Quady has made 
 for me to carry my kittens in ; and pussy has 
 enjoyed it so much! 'Tis the way Quady's peo- 
 ple used to carry their babies through these very 
 streets, only there were prettier walks here then. 
 O, he has told me so many pretty stories ! "
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 47 
 
 " How came you to have your kitten with 
 you ? and why did you go away so far, and stay 
 so late, my dear ? I have been looking for you a 
 long time." 
 
 " O, mother, I will tell you all about it. As I 
 was bidding my kittens good-bye, after having a 
 little talk with them, as I usually do before go- 
 ing to school, I missed one of the smallest, which 
 I call Charity, because she always looks up at the 
 larger ones, when they play with her too roughly, 
 in such a forgiving way. 1 looked all around, 
 and not finding her, thought she must have 
 strayed away by herself, and I ran off to school. 
 Our lesson 'for to-day was Faith, Hope, and 
 Charity ; as I read the last word I looked down, 
 and there was my own Charity peeping at me 
 from out my pocket. I explained to my teacher 
 how it happened, for I thought she would be dis- 
 pleased ; but having an errand into the next room 
 just then, she did not think of kitten, who lay qui- 
 etly sleeping again ; and when I had said all my 
 lessons, my teacher excused me, saying it was be- 
 cause I had been a good girl. And so we strolled 
 over the commons together, Charity and I, and I 
 dressed her in wild flowers, and she did look so
 
 48 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 innocent! On we went, I running after kitten, 
 and then kitten after me, when, before I thought 
 how far we had come, I espied Quady's low home 
 a little way off, and he was sitting at the door. 
 He did not see me until I stood before him, and 
 then he went into his house and brought out a 
 large pipe and gave to me ; I thought it so 
 strange that poor Quady should think a little girl 
 could smoke a pipe, but I took it to please him, 
 and then he showed me so many curious things ; 
 there was a large bow, and arrows with sharp bits 
 of iron in their heads, and he was going to shoot 
 a little sparrow which sat upon the fence, but I 
 caught his arm, and begged him not to kill the 
 poor thing. I told him God made the sparrow to 
 be happy, and he asked me if I meant the Great 
 Spirit, if my God was his God ? When I told 
 him it was, he put up his bow and came and sat 
 down by me, and taking a little paper from his 
 bosom, unrolled it, and there were the daisies 
 which I had given him so long ago ! He asked 
 if the Great Spirit made them, too, and if he 
 had sent me to give them to him; and when I 
 told him the great Spirit made all the flowers, 
 made everything, and loved everybody who
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 49 
 
 loved him, and that he would let his children all 
 come home and live with him by-and-by, the 
 tears rolled down his cheeks, and he said, ' O ! 
 me see my brothers, then ! me not be all alone ! 
 Me love Great Spirit; Great Spirit so good to 
 send little white-face to tell me how to get home.' 
 Then I could not help crying myself, mother, for 
 I thought I should like to meet Quady's brothers 
 there." 
 
 " Ah ! bress de Lord, but it am good as a small 
 bible to hear dat chile talk ; " was heard in a sup- 
 pressed voice, as it went stable-ward. 
 
 Day after day passed, and that little one was 
 often seen, attended by old Nep, or in the arms 
 of the faithful Vingo, on her way to the low home 
 over the commons, much to the horror of sensitive 
 mothers, who shook their heads and said, " she is 
 a strange child." Never was Sea-flower happier 
 than when she might be allowed to go and see 
 the Indian ; and it was indeed a strange sight to 
 see that red man, the only representative of a de- 
 parted tribe, gazing upon the little one, as she 
 talked to him of Jesus and his word. 
 
 The autumn of the year had come. It was one 
 of those soul-stirring days in October, which can- 
 
 5
 
 50 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 not fail to arouse the most thoughtless mind to a 
 sense of the wonderful works of creation. The 
 Sea-flower had gone to the " low home over the 
 commons." Hand in hand, that red man and the 
 tender child, they went their way, to where he 
 pointed out the graves of his people ; there were 
 no stones, not a mound to mark the spot. Why 
 was there need of any ? He alone knew the 
 place ; none others had cared to know, until now, 
 when the number of his days had well-nigh been 
 told, this little child, of a summer's day, had 
 breathed upon those ice-bound springs, till they 
 had broken their bands, and were gliding on in 
 the bright sun-light, smoothly on, on, forever. 
 There did the Indian lay him down, where he 
 would have them bury him ; and there, for the 
 first and last time, did he breathe a prayer over 
 the graves of the departed, to that Great Spirit, 
 whom he had been taught was the one great 
 Father of all. 
 
 " Mother, poor Quady is not so strong as he 
 used to be ; when he pounds the corn, to make 
 nice cakes for me, his hands tremble, and I notice 
 he takes all the broth which you send to him, for 
 he says he has no appetite for anything else."
 
 A GEM AMOXG THE SEA-WEEDS 51 
 
 It was a holiday. A great display of military 
 had arrived from the continent. 
 
 " Sea-flower, you will see the beautiful horses, 
 and the epaulets, the white plumes, and the shin- 
 ing swords, but they need not think to turn your 
 brain with all their splendor." 
 
 " Brother Harry, I should like to see all those 
 splendid things, but I had much rather go and see 
 Quady to-day ; it is several days since I have 
 been there, and we have such good times! I 
 love to talk with him so well." 
 
 " You strange little creature, you can go to see 
 the Indian any time." 
 
 " Yes, but some how I feel as if I would like to 
 go to-day. I know he will like to see me ; " and 
 the child was soon on her way to the " low home," 
 with Nep, who carried the pail of broth. As she 
 drew near, she saw that Quady was not sitting at 
 his door, as he usually did, to watch for her, but 
 instead, the door was closed, and everything 
 around was still; nothing was heard, save the 
 breakers as they dashed upon the shore. Open- 
 ing the door, which was never fast, she saw before 
 her, the form of poor Quady, stretched upon the 
 rude bed, and as he tossed to and fro, in an
 
 52 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 uneasy slumber, he muttered the words, "pale- 
 face gone." 
 
 " Pale-face has come ! Quady, Pale-face has 
 come to you! Look up, and take some of the 
 nice broth which I have brought." 
 
 Slowly he opened his eyes, and seeing the little 
 one was by his side, he raised his hands aloft and 
 said, " Me thank Great Spirit ; me afraid Great 
 Spirit take me home without seeing little Pale- 
 face once more. Me see my brothers soon ; a lit- 
 tle while, and Pale-face come to see us. Great 
 Spirit bless little Pale-face," he feebly said ; " she 
 make poor Quady happy." 
 
 With that dying blessing his spirit took its 
 flight. He had passed away, the last one of his 
 kind, he who had lived a life of solitude, apart 
 from the world, looking upon the white man as 
 having taken from hhn his home, his lands, and 
 the forests which would have been his if the white 
 man had not, long years ago, laid them low ; yes, 
 he had breathed a blessing, with his last breath, 
 upon the pale-face. He who had not a brother 
 left to bury him, had thanked God that the Pale- 
 face had come to close his eyes ; yes, it was the 
 voice of childhood which had made his last rno-
 
 A GEM AMONG TUB SEA- WEEDS. 53 
 
 ments happy, had pointed out the road which 
 leads the wanderer home. 
 
 It was a scene to melt the hardest heart ; that 
 little child, scarcely as high as the rude couch, 
 reaching up to close the eyes of him whom she 
 should see no more. As she sat by his side, and 
 looked around the room where she had spent so 
 many happy hours, a sense of loneliness crept 
 over her. There was the pipe which he had 
 smoked, laid away on the little chimney-piece, 
 and by the bed-side was the pail of broth with 
 which she had thought to please him so much ; 
 and at the remembrance she burst into tears, and 
 her tears fell upon the hand of him who lay sleep- 
 ing. Neptune, hearing the sad tones of his mis- 
 tress, came and looked into her face ; and when 
 she took no notice of him, he crouched at her feet, 
 and howled piteously. And thus they found 
 them, for the little one could not think of leaving 
 her dear Quady there alone. They buried him, 
 as he had wished, by the side of his brothers ; and 
 when the Sea-flower gazed into that narrow 
 house, so dark and still, she looked up and said, 
 " Mother, I shall love to look at the stars oftener 
 now, for he has gone to live among those bright 
 5
 
 54 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 and shining ones." Sadly did the child miss her 
 visits to the " low home," and when in years to 
 come her thoughts wandered over the past, her 
 love for the poor lone Indian had not diminished. 
 The stars shone brighter and brighter, even as her 
 light was " shining unto the perfect day." 
 
 " What little missy look up in de sky so much 
 for ? " asked Vingo, as he walked by the shore, 
 with Sea-flower in his arms, as was his custom of 
 a bright moonlit evening. 
 
 " O, Vingo, it is so beautiful ! I was watch- 
 ing those fleecy clouds, until they seemed to 
 be little waves in which the stars were sailing up- 
 ward, up, and as they looked back to us, their 
 smile seemed to grow purer ; and I think I can 
 see Q,uady among them. Do n't you see him, 
 Vingo 2" 
 
 " Does you mean dose little black specks in de 
 moon, missy ? " 
 
 " No, Quady is one of the bright ones now ; 
 and you will be made white, too, when you go 
 there. Do n't you want to go and be one of those 
 bright ones, Vingo ? " 
 
 " Does all de white f^'ks go uar .' 
 
 " Yes, if they love God , nen they are here ; if
 
 A GEM A.MUJCa Tliil SEA-WEEDS. 55 
 
 they are good he will take them home to be with 
 him." 
 
 " Den I do n't tink I wants to go dar." 
 
 " O, Vingo ! that is very wicked ! Why do n't 
 you want to go ? " 
 
 "'Cause, missy, dey say old slabe massa am 
 one ob de best men in de whole ob Berginny, and 
 I 's 'fraid he catch Bingo and tie him up again." 
 
 At that moment a shadow was seen in the dis- 
 tance, and Harry came bounding over the ground 
 on the wings of the wind. 
 
 " Ah ! I thought I should find you here, Sea- 
 flower, making the acquaintance of some of your 
 sisters, as they hold up their heads in the moon- 
 light. Vingo, what do you think? Father has 
 received orders to sail in a week ! " 
 
 " O, go way, massa Harry ; what you mean by 
 dat?" said Vingo, letting fall his lower jaw, 
 while the whites of his eyes looked as if they had 
 some time or other been in contact with a ghost. 
 
 " I mean that the Tantalizer will be ready for 
 sea in a week, and Father will go master of her 
 on a Cape Horn voyage. O, if father would only 
 let me go with him, how delighted I should be ! 
 But he says I am too young, that I am not strong
 
 56 NATALIE ; OK, 
 
 enough ; yet I know of boys two or three years 
 younger than I am, who have been around Cape 
 Horn, and are now making a second voyage. I 
 have often heard old Captain Wendall tell of the 
 first voyage father made, when he was but ten 
 years old, and how nimbly he ran up to the mast- 
 head, and was always the first to discover the 
 whale as she spouted, and would sing out, ' there 
 she blows ! ' equal to an old tar. I must prevail 
 on father to let me go with him." 
 
 " Dear, dear Harry, do not talk so ! Only think 
 how mother will feel to have father go ! He has 
 been at home so long, ever since I was born, and 
 how would she feel to have you both go away, 
 and no one but Vingo and myself to comfort 
 her." 
 
 " No one but you to comfort her ? You are 
 worth a dozen like me, darling!" and the little 
 manly fellow threw his arms around her neck, 
 and felt that he had the very best sister in the 
 world. 
 
 " Ah ! young massa, I tinks you hab de right 
 sort ob spirit ; you 's born to be no land-lubber ; 
 but it my 'pinion you had better stay wid good, 
 kind missus and de Sea-flower a while longer; 
 you not find a better berth, I 'in tinkin'."
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. L'l 
 
 " No, that I shall not ; let me go where I will, I 
 shall not find a mother like her ; and as for Sea- 
 flower, I do n't believe there was ever another in 
 the whole ocean like her." 
 
 " How funny you talk, Harry ; you make me 
 think of little Moses in the bulrushes." 
 
 " Ah ! there goes a gull, flying over my right 
 shoulder, headed seaward ; the sailor's omen of 
 good luck ; perhaps father may change his mind, 
 after all." 
 
 " Harry, I want you to promise me you will 
 say nothing about going to sea before mother; 
 will you promise ? " 
 
 " I never could refuse you anything, little pussy, 
 but you do not say anything about yourself; 
 would you not like to get rid of such a graceless 
 fellow ? " 
 
 " The child's sympathies had been so wrapped 
 up in her mother's grief, that it had not occurred 
 to her mind how much she should miss her dear 
 father ; and as she thought of Harry, who had al- 
 ways played so gently with her, and came every 
 night, after her mother had heard her prayers, and 
 told such beautiful stories, about the good little 
 fairies, until she fell asleep, and dreamed they had
 
 58 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 all come to be her sisters ; and was awakened in 
 the morning by the tramping of so many little 
 feet, (in near proximity to those brown curls, 
 which seemed to have been awake long before their 
 mistress), and saw fourteen blue eyes looking at 
 her, besides two roguish black ones, behind the 
 curtain, which she did not see, and would wonder 
 if it might not have been the kittens, after all, that 
 had whispered in her ear. As she thought of all 
 his kindness to her, she was silent; and as the 
 negro drew the mantle more closely about her, he 
 wondered if the little drop which fell upon his 
 hand was of dew. 
 
 Preparations for the sailing of the Tantalizer 
 were rapidly going on. She was a stout-built 
 ship of three hundred tons burthen, the pride of 
 her owners ; and why should she not have been ? 
 for many a rich cargo had she brought to them, 
 thousands and thousands of dollars had she added 
 to their possessions ; many a hurricane had she 
 outrode, and as she sat so proudly on the water, 
 she looked as if she might outlive many more. 
 Captain Grosvenor had sailed master of her upon 
 six successive voyages, making a "telling" voy- 
 age each time, until, his fortune becoming suffi-
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 59 
 
 ciently ample, he had thought to spend the rest of 
 his days on shore ; but, after a respite of seven 
 years, he had become so restless, and so longed to 
 try his fortune upon the water again, that, receiv- 
 ing a flattering offer from those in whose employ 
 he had formerly sailed, he consented, as he said, 
 " for the last time," to make a voyage in his 
 favorite Tantalizer. Mrs. Grosvenor had earn- 
 estly hoped that her husband would follow the 
 sea no more, knowing that their means were suf- 
 ficient to supply all their wants ; and since God 
 in his providence had consigned this little one to 
 their care, she had congratulated herself that 
 there was one more tie to bind her husband to his 
 home ; and, indeed, the child was as dear to him 
 as if she had been his own flesh and blood ; and 
 as those last seven years upon shore stood up be- 
 fore him, now that he was about to leave all that 
 was dear to him, as having been spent more in 
 keeping with God's laws than in any previous 
 part of his life, he felt that he was a better man. 
 Naturally of a noble, generous disposition, he had 
 gained the respect of all who knew him. Pleas- 
 ant and gentlemanly in his manners, he was no 
 less firm in his duties on shipboard, and his stern
 
 GO NATALIE; OK, 
 
 word of command was received by his men wilh 
 the same hearty "aye, aye," as when he cracked 
 a joke with them over the club-room fire. Harry 
 had kept his promise in regard to his wish to 
 go with his father; and when he looked into 
 his mother's face, and saw how mournful was 
 her smile, he felt that it would indeed be cruel to 
 think of leaving her. But when he heard 1he 
 sailors saying, as he clambered up the rigging, 
 that it was a pity such a sprightly little fello\v 
 could not go along with them, his desire to ship 
 for the voyage knew no bounds, and seeking his 
 father, in the cabin, he had a long interview 
 with him, gaining the promise that when he 
 should return he would secure for him a good lay, 
 and that he might then commence the nautical 
 career, which the captain plainly saw his inclina- 
 tions had marked out. 
 
 The day had arrived when the ship would sail. 
 Every thing had been made ready for a long voy- 
 age, should the captain not meet with his usual 
 good fortune, which was considered unnecessary by 
 her owners, so sanguine were they of her success ; 
 such implicit faith did they place in the abilities 
 of her captain, that in securing his services, they
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. Gl 
 
 looked upon the voyage as told. Ah! who can 
 tell if that proud ship may ever return? "Was 
 there not one who looked upon her thus ? Within 
 that happy home, now so desolate, sat the wife 
 of him who had just taken his leave of her, and 
 the bitterness of that hour who can tell? She 
 only who has tasted the same cup of sorrow; she 
 who has given to the mercies of the deep him 
 whom she holds most dear on earth. Such an 
 one can indeed realize what were the feelings of 
 that wife, as she sat at the window, her eye fixed 
 upon the ship which was bearing away him 
 whom she might never see more. The white sail 
 is smaller and smaller, until it appears but a 
 speck, and is finally lost in the distance. And 
 then what a sense of desolation ! Oh, might we 
 all seek for strength in time of trouble, of Him 
 who will not turn a deaf ear to the cries of his 
 children ! Who hath said, " As thy day, so shah 1 
 thy strength be." Would that all might seek for 
 comfort in the hour of trial, as did that stricken 
 one, in prayer! The Sea-flower had, with 
 Harry, accompanied her father in the ship, as she 
 was towed out by the steamer over the bar. As 
 they wore about to cast off, when the steamer 
 G
 
 62 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 should return, the father sought to bid his children 
 farewell. Turning to his boy, he bade him be all 
 that a son and brother should be. With one long 
 embrace his eye rested upon the Sea-flower; his 
 voice failed him. 
 
 " Father," said the child, " you will soon come 
 to us again ; then you will never leave us ;" point- 
 ing to a little cross which she had privately em- 
 broidered and set up in his state-room, she said, 
 "you will be happy, father, so happy, on the 
 water! But sometimes, when the stars look 
 down upon you, or the great waves break over 
 your ship, you will want to see us ; and when 
 you look at the pretty name which you gave me," 
 ( pointing out the word Natalie, which was 
 wrought upon the foot of the cross), "you may 
 know that I am thinking of you. Our hearts 
 shall be with you." 
 
 With a father's blessing upon his children, he 
 suffered them to be taken away ; and as the loud 
 huzza went up from the deck of the steamer, he 
 saw his little one gazing back upon him, from 
 amidst the waving banners, with a look which 
 sank into his heart ; her gentle words were still 
 sounding in his ear, and it would seem as if that
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. Go 
 
 voice of childhood was of riper years. Her words 
 were never forgotten. Over the spirit of the child 
 there came that which she had never known be- 
 fore ; ah ! gentle one, it is but the first drop of 
 bitterness which must be mingled with the sweets 
 in every life. May the All-Father keep thy feet 
 from hidden thorns, strewing thy pathway only 
 with the sweet flowers of innocence! He had 
 gone ; and the heart of the Sea-flower echoed, 
 " he has gone ; " the very breeze which wafted 
 him from home sighed " gone." Is there a heart 
 which never knew the tone?
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 WESTWARD HO ! 
 
 " I hear the tread of pioneers, 
 
 Of nations yet to be ; 
 The first low wash of waves, where soon 
 
 Shall roll a human sea." J. G. WHITTIER. 
 
 " Far on the prairies of the "West, 
 
 A lovely floweret grows ; 
 With glowing pen, each traveller oft 
 Describes the Prairie Rose. 
 
 " For ages there alone it grew, 
 
 The prairie's gem and pride ; 
 But now the Rose of Sharon fair 
 Is blooming at its side." 
 
 MRS. J. II. HANAFORD. 
 
 " OCH, sure, mem, and it 's meself that 's afther 
 a thinking that we shall be raching good ould Ire- 
 land, from the ither side of this great Ameriky, if 
 we kape on."
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 65 
 
 " Have patience, Biddy, we shall be there to- 
 morrow at this time ; there is nothing like keep- 
 ing up good courage." 
 
 " Cabbage! mem, and it's meself has not seen 
 a hapurth of a cabbage since we stopped the last 
 time, to get a bit to sustain hunger, sure ; I think 
 mem, they must have rolled off, when the kitchen 
 mirror and gridiron dhraped down," said Biddy, 
 desirous to atone in some way for the disappear- 
 ance of sundry heads of cabbage, which she had 
 found means of disposing of, even in its unpre- 
 pared state, while buried among washtubs, cheese- 
 presses, and churns. 
 
 " Bad luck to the likes of it, indade ! " and she 
 caught at a small dining-table just in time to set 
 it upon its legs again. 
 
 " I do n't wonder Biddy complains, mother ; it 's 
 enough to weary the patience of Job, riding so 
 slowly over these dismal prairies ; it would really 
 do my eyes good to get sight of a hill, or any 
 thing to break this continual sameness. What 
 can father be thinking of, to take us to such a 
 lonely, out of the way place ? Never mind, 
 Biddy, we shall have the pleasure of seeing where 
 the sun goes to." 
 
 6*
 
 06 NATALIE J OR, 
 
 Thus spake the occupants of a long, covered 
 wagon, moving westward, drawn by four stout 
 oxen, with as many horses and cows following in 
 the rear. 
 
 " Drive on there, Patrick," called out Mr. San- 
 ton, who was riding his own horse by their side ; 
 "drive on,' we must get to the settlement by an- 
 other night." 
 
 " Yes, sir, I am afther urging on the bastes for 
 the last piece or two ; but the crathurs have come 
 so far, they do n't know, sure, if they be jist lav- 
 ing home, or afther a raching there." 
 
 Mr. Santon had formerly been a merchant in 
 the city of Boston ; he had been doing a heavy 
 business, and had accumulated a handsome for- 
 tune, but being one of those easy sort of persons, 
 who think everybody as honest as themselves, he 
 had, in an evil hour, endorsed largely for those 
 who Avere worse than swindlers, who had not 
 even as much as thanked him for his name; and 
 he had lost nearly all in that one act. Many 
 friends he had, who knowing his worth, had 
 kindly offered their assistance, and would wil- 
 lingly have set him on his feet again, for they dis- 
 liked to lose so valuable a citizen from their
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 67 
 
 midst; but he, declining all assistance from those, 
 whom he knew gave not grudgingly, thanked 
 them with a grateful heart, and taking what little 
 w r as left to him after paying his debts, had started 
 with his wife and only child, and two servants 
 whom he had retained, for the far West, intent 
 upon leading a quiet, unmolested life, in the 
 bosom of his family. Having supplied himself 
 with all requisite tools, etc., for tilling the ground, 
 for which occupation he had always a great 
 desire, they had now, after a fatiguing journey of 
 fourteen days, arrived at the little log-house, in 
 the western part of the state of Ohio, which was 
 to be their future home. This was a great 
 change for Mrs. Santon, who had spent the most 
 of her days in the city, and had always servants 
 to call upon for her least wish, never being 
 obliged to lift a finger against her desire. She 
 was one of the best of women, with a kind word 
 for every one, and greatly did the poor, upon 
 whom she had bestowed so many gifts of charity, 
 lament her departure. In the church, the sewing- 
 society, by the bedside of the suffering, and in the 
 home of poverty, had she a place ; her worth was 
 known to all. Cheerfully did she resign all to go
 
 68 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 with her husband, to follow him, wherever it 
 might be ; with him would she be happy in their 
 home, though it might be ever so humble. Their 
 daughter of ten years was a sprightly, pretty child, 
 with dark hair, and bright, black, tell-tale eyes, 
 which looked as if they might make sad havoc, 
 when a few more years should have added to their 
 brilliancy. Resembling her mother in features, 
 her disposition was like her father ; free and easy 
 in her ways, she was happy so long as every thing 
 bent to her wishes ; but her mother could not but 
 notice with regret that her child had acquired a 
 hasty, impatient manner, which the indulgence of 
 her father in no way served to improve ; yet she 
 was a warm-hearted little creature, arid it was with 
 great difficulty that Mrs. Santon could bring her- 
 self to censure her. Still the mother must do her 
 duty toward her child, and many a prayer had 
 been offered, that she might have strength to act 
 aright. 
 
 The long covered wagon stopped at the door of 
 their new home just as the sun was going down. 
 
 There was but one house in sight of their little 
 cabin, and that was, if anything, still smaller than 
 their own ; nothing was to be seen on all sides
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. G9 
 
 but wide prairie land, and as the little Winifred 
 cast her eye around, she exclaimed : 
 
 " O ! mother, what shall we do here ? I am 
 sure I shall not like to stay ; there is no one here." 
 
 " You forget that God is here, my child," said 
 the mother ; and she commenced assisting Biddy 
 in setting up some few articles that would make 
 them comfortable through the night, while her 
 husband, with Pat, attended to the out-door 
 affairs. 
 
 " Och, and sure, mem," said Biddy, as she put 
 her emerald head in at the door of the cabin ; 
 " faith, and it 's not yesilf, mem, that 's going to 
 rest, in the same room with the likes of me." 
 
 u Yes, Biddy, I see no other way ; we shall have 
 to get used to western life. I think, by parti- 
 tioning off one Conner, here, with blankets, we 
 shall get along very well ; and then it will be 
 right handy for you in the morning to get the 
 breakfast ; you will not have the trouble of com- 
 ing down stairs." 
 
 " Yes, mem, yese makes everything so asy like! 
 but it's such strange times for yese, mem!" and 
 Biddy went flying about the room, her face 
 glowing with excitement, pulling at every uneven
 
 70 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 log in the house, fully persuaded there must be 
 some other apartment, if no more than a closet ; 
 and as she caught at a loose board, which only 
 separated them from the open air, she looked 
 through, delighted that she had discovered another 
 room, and that her mistress would not now be 
 obliged to share the same apartment with herself; 
 for as the remembrance of certain devotional exer- 
 cises to be gone through, over each bead in her 
 rosary, came to her, she had her doubts if the 
 "blissed St. Pathrick," (who, for reasons best 
 known to herself, was her favorite saint), would 
 condescend to listen to petitions offered from such 
 near proximity to the unbelieving Protestants; 
 not that she thought her mistress was not a most 
 excellent woman, but she was a Protestant, and 
 often had she called upon the blissid St. Patrick, to 
 " bring her dear lady over to the thrue faith." As 
 she bent down to look into the opening, congratu- 
 lating herself upon the discovery, a large cat 
 darted through, full into her face, and ran with 
 speed out at the door. 
 
 " Och, murther ! and may the good saints prc- 
 sarve us alive ! What will become of us at all ? " 
 and in her fright she went headlong into a pile of
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 71 
 
 milk-pans, her unwieldy arms making certain 
 involuntary revolutions, causing the air to resound 
 with a chorus, which might have done credit to 
 the first callithumpian in the land. 
 
 " Ho ! what is all this ? " cried Mr. Santon, who 
 had stepped in at the commencement of the pre- 
 lude; "what are you looking for under those 
 pans, Biddy?" 
 
 " Sure, sir, and it 's mesilf that 's afther being 
 exterpretated intirely ! The varmints! faith, there 
 was a dozen, sir, came scratching at me ; " and 
 she pointed at the aperture, as if in dread expec- 
 tation of seeing their ghosts in pursuit ; but lo ! 
 instead, there was the full, round face of Pat, 
 who, having been left to take up his night's lodg- 
 ing with the creatures, in the apology for a barn, 
 had espied the light, and not being able to resist 
 the temptation of getting one more glimpse at the 
 " swate Biddy," he had ventured to look in, and 
 catching a glimpse of her woebegone face from 
 among the shining tins, he exclaimed : 
 
 " Och, honey dear, and has it come to this ? 
 that yese obliged to make yese bed of the likes 
 of that ! And if ye '11 wait a bit it 's mesilf that '11 
 run and fetch some of the nate, saft sthraw, that ye
 
 72 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 can fill the tins, and 'twill do ye betther ; indade, 
 and it 's none but a hathen that could endure the 
 likes of that!" 
 
 " Ah ! Pathrick, is it ye ? and was ye pint up 
 in there wid the crathurs ? " 
 
 "Yes, it's mesilf that will be risting with the 
 bastes, the night," said Pat, thinking she had 
 alluded to the creatures in the barn ; " and I '11 be 
 wishing ye swate dhrames, and a plinty'of thim ;" 
 saying which he disappeared, leaving the trem- 
 bling Biddy in great anxiety of mind as to what 
 should be his fate. 
 
 As the little Winnie peeped out from behind 
 the screen, when they had all retired, and saw 
 Biddy counting her beads, with her eye still fixed 
 upon the spot where she had last seen the smiling 
 Patrick, she laughed outright, in spite of the crev- 
 ices in the roof overhead, and she laid her down 
 and looked up at the stars which came twinkling 
 in upon her, 'till those great black eyes gradually 
 diminished in size, and her little brain was busily 
 engaged among the familiar scenes of the home 
 which she had left so far away. 
 
 Cautiously did Biddy, with the first dawn of 
 day, advance toward where she had dreamed her
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 73 
 
 poor " Pathrick " was in close contact with the 
 veritable bastes, and the family was awakened 
 from their slumbers by her loud tones, lamenting 
 that " niver a vistage of Pathrick, the cats, or the 
 ante-room was left," for on looking out, the only 
 object which met her gaze was the sun, which was 
 just coming up in the east. 
 
 " What 's the time, Biddy ? " asked Mrs. San- 
 ton. 
 
 " And it 's jist about three hours afther sunrise, 
 mem." 
 
 "I think you must be mistaken, Biddy; we 
 cannot surely have been sleeping so long after our 
 usual time for rising." 
 
 " Indade, and the sun bes jist coming in sight, 
 and it must have been a powerful time travelling 
 over, sure. I 'm thinking they must be afther 
 dhrying their takettles a long time, back there in 
 ould Boston." 
 
 Time passed on, and our adventurers were be- 
 coming more and more accustomed to western 
 life. Mr. Santon had found his lands to be in a 
 very good state of cultivation, the former owner 
 having been a Dutchman, who thoroughly under- 
 stood what a good farm ought to be. Mrs. San- 
 7
 
 74 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 ton had proved herself to be one of the best of 
 housekeepers, and greatly did she pride herself on 
 her abilities for filling the station of a farmer's 
 wife. As they sat down of an evening, to their 
 meal of bacon and Indian cakes, and contrasted 
 their present circumstances with what had been 
 their former situation in life, they could not re- 
 press a smile at the change ; but they were happy, 
 contented in their humble home, and the bread 
 which had been earned by the sweat of the brow 
 was sweeter, the social enjoyments dearer, than 
 when in fashionable life they had been obliged to 
 live with an eye to the customs of society ; even 
 Winnie had found some attractions in their little 
 western home. The neighbors comprising those 
 who lived for twenty miles around, the nearest be- 
 ing a mile distant, were pleasant, light-hearted 
 people, and the civilities which were shown to 
 the new comers were without end. 
 
 A small log-house, unlike the others of the settle- 
 ment in its exterior, inasmuch as it was honored 
 with an additional door, served as their place of 
 worship; and it was with great joy that Winnie 
 looked forward to Sunday morning, when, 
 mounted upon her pony, she might ride off for *ix
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 75 
 
 miles to the church, accompanied by her father and 
 mother, each riding their respective horses. Arrived 
 at the church, they dismounted at the great horse- 
 block, leaving their hats and mantles thereon, as 
 was the custom ; and it was a pretty sight to see 
 the ladies walking into church, their cheeks g'ow- 
 ing with exercise, and the fresh, morning air. As 
 Winnie entered, her long curls composing them- 
 selves after a frolic with the breeze, many a sly 
 glance was aimed at her from the neighboring 
 JDCWS, in spite of the consciences of their owners 
 reminding them that it was holy day. It was a 
 source of great comfort to , Mrs. Santon, that she 
 was able to come so far to this place of worship. 
 The little society numbered not over forty per- 
 sons, yet those words spoken by our Saviour, 
 " where two or three are gathered together in my 
 name, there will I be in the midst of them," came 
 with renewed freshness to her mind, each time she 
 entered those doors, and she felt that she had 
 never tasted the bliss of uninterrupted love for 
 Christ, as now. 
 
 The shepherd of this little flock was a man 
 fearing God, just, and upright; his services in the 
 cause of Christ were offered voluntarily, without
 
 76 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 money, or price. Coming, as he had, in his old 
 age, to spend the remainder of his days in the 
 family of a beloved son, he had found with joy 
 that his declining years might be profitably em- 
 ployed ; that he might earn that reward which is 
 promised to those who make a right use of the 
 talents which God has given them ; that he might 
 merit those blessed words, "well done, good and 
 faithful servant." His labors among this people 
 had not proved ineffectual; many had been 
 brought to see the great mercies of their Re-, 
 deemer, souls had been converted to Christ, and 
 as the song of praise went up from beneath that 
 humble roof, the glad shouts were borne aloft, and 
 
 angels joined in the chorus. 
 
 ********** 
 
 It was a beautiful afternoon, everybody was 
 busy about the farm of Mr. Santon ; Winnie was 
 sitting at the door, intent upon her own thoughts, 
 when she caught sight of their good minister ap- 
 proaching upon his horse, his silver locks flying 
 in the wind. Biddy, learning they were to have 
 a visit from the " Protestant praste," turned first 
 pale, then red, and when the old gentleman dis- 
 mounted at the door, she let fall the shoulder of
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 77 
 
 bacon, which she was preparing for the supper, 
 and darted behind the screen, in her haste hitting 
 her foot against the lowest tin, in a pile of two 
 dozen, which brought the rest down to inquire 
 into the state of affairs. 
 
 The presence of the old gentleman served to 
 impart a cheerfulness to all who gazed upon his 
 happy countenance, and his kind tones, as he in- 
 quired for the welfare of the family, penetrated 
 the screen, reaching the ear of Biddy, who sat 
 wondering what the good father Teely would say, 
 if he knew she had so far sinned as to remain un- 
 der the same roof with a " wicked Protestant 
 praste;" but as she heard him speaking to Pat, 
 who had come in of an errand, with such a pleas- 
 ant voice, she ventured a peep out, and the form 
 of her thoughts just at that moment, might have 
 been a little, a very little, savoring of heresy. 
 Suffice it to say, when the old gentleman took 
 his departure, there was a peculiar twinkle in 
 Biddy's eye, and she had so far overcome her 
 aversion to the "imposther" as to have had a 
 few private words with him, which had by no 
 means decreased her usual flow of good spirits. 
 It was evident that Biddy " had on her high
 
 78 NATALIE J OR, 
 
 heels," for the rest of that evening. As Winnie 
 strolled over the farm, enjoying the evening 
 breeze, reflecting upon her good pastor's words, 
 her attention was suddenly attracted toward the 
 enclosure where the cows were being milked, by 
 hearing the voice of Biddy, who, as she "stripped" 
 the patient animal again, for the dozenth time, 
 was very much engaged with Pat, whose round, 
 smiling face, as he glanced at her from the oppo- 
 site side of the creature, shone with delight; and 
 as the white foam rose higher and higher in Bid- 
 dy's pail, so did the warmth of her feelings get 
 the better of her, and those tell-tale eyes of Win- 
 nie's danced with mischief, as she overheard the 
 following conversation : 
 
 " Ah, Pathrick dear, does ye think there is the 
 laste sin in it? And indade, it's mesilf that's 
 thinking the blissid St. Pathrick would be afther 
 misthaking him for a good Catholic ! " 
 
 "And what did he say, honey dear ? did he think 
 he could be afther comforting the likes of us ? " 
 
 " Thrath, and he did ; it was himsilf that said 
 niver a word when I was spaking to him about it, 
 but was afther showering a blissing upon us, the 
 dear sowl ! "
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 79 
 
 " But what will the praste say ? Biddy, sure 
 he'll be very angry, intirely." 
 
 " Faith, and it 's no longer ago than the day 
 afther yesterday, that the misthress was saying 
 if we confissed our sins with a right spirit, we 
 should be afther being forgiven ; and now, Pathrick, 
 1 'm thinking we '11 be afther getting married, and 
 then there will be a plinty of time for confissing." 
 
 " Och, honey, and that 's the thruth for ye," said 
 the assenting Pat, and together they walked 
 towards the cabin. 
 
 Winnie, putting that and that together, made 
 up her mind that Patrick and Biddy had become 
 tired of a life of single blessedness, and were seri- 
 ously contemplating matrimony, which was, in- 
 deed the case ; and Biddy, having made known 
 her desires to her mistress, who saw no just cause 
 why they should not be bound together in the 
 holy bands of wedlock, the next Wednesday was 
 set apart when Patrick and Biddy would be made 
 husband and wife. 
 
 The day arrived, and Biddy, arrayed in her best 
 snuff-color, with ribbons and laces to match, stood 
 up with him of her choice, to pronounce those 
 vows which should make them one, even though
 
 80 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 the ceremony should be performed by a Protest- 
 ant. 
 
 " Will you take this woman to be your wedded 
 wife ? " spake the reverend gentleman, in a clear, 
 distinct tone. 
 
 " Ah ! kape on, kape on ! " shouted the enrap- 
 tured Pat ; " do n't be throublin yesilf with ques- 
 tions ; dear knows it 's mesilf that 's in it ; " and 
 his smiling face was mirrored in numerous brass 
 buttons, which were hanging around his buff vest. 
 
 As soon as the old gentleman could get his 
 voice again, for the boisterous joy of Pat, he 
 turned to the trembling Biddy. 
 
 " Do you take this man to be your lawful hus- 
 band, and leaving all others, will you cleave unto 
 him alone ? " 
 
 " Indade, your Riverence ! " exclaimed Biddy, 
 " I '11 be afther claving him all the days of me life ! 
 It's not mesilf, sure, that was always born and 
 reared in the great city of Cork, that '11 be doing 
 things by halves!" and in her happiness she 
 caught Pat around the neck, giving him a smack, 
 which might have been attributed to the opening 
 of the bottle of whiskey with which Mr. Santon 
 had graced the occasion, had it not been for those
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 81 
 
 great eyes of Winnie, which would discover the 
 accident, in spite of their mistress's endeavors to 
 direct their attention elsewhere. 
 
 And now Patrick and Biddy were husband and 
 wife. Never was there a more devoted couple ; 
 the days glided pleasantly on, Biddy keeping time 
 in her endeavors to please her mistress with the 
 joys of her heart; everything went on cheerfully, 
 not a note of discontent was heard, except that 
 the little Winnie would sometimes break into 
 sighing for the pleasures of her early home. 
 Nothing occurred to disturb the quietude of this 
 home in the West, until early in the ensuing Fall, 
 when Mrs. Santon was taken with a violent a- 
 tack of Western fever, which threatening to 
 undermine her health, Mr. Santon was fearful lest 
 they should be obliged to return East ; but the 
 fever leaving her, she was again able to attend to 
 her duties, with only an occasional " shake," and 
 the discussion as to their return was for the pres- 
 ent discontinued.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE OUTWARD BOTfiO). 
 
 " Go in thy glory o er the ancient sea, 
 Take with thee gentle winds thy sails to swell, 
 Sunshine and joy upon thy streamers be ; 
 Fare thee well, bark ; farewell ! " 
 
 MRS. HEMANS. 
 
 Farewell ; God knows when we shall meet again. 
 I have a faint, cold fear thrilling through my veins, 
 That almost freezes up the heat of life." 
 
 SHAKSPEARE'S " ROMEO AND JULIET." 
 
 As the dews of heaven fall gently, lulling the 
 flowers to rest, so did the low, clear voice of the 
 Sea-flower soothe the weary spirits of Mrs. Gros- 
 venor, as she read from the evening paper the fol- 
 lowing paragraph : 
 
 " Spoken by bark Constitution, of New York, 
 in latitude 39 20', longitude 45, ship Tantalizer, 
 of Nant, Capt. I. W. Grosvenor, eighty days from 
 home ; had taken seventy barrels of sperm oil,
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA- WEEDS. 83 
 
 and was made fast to a forty-barrel right whale : 
 would sail for South Seas in a few days ; all well." 
 
 " Hurrah for father ! " exclaimed Harry ; " he 
 will be at home in less than two years, at that 
 rate, and then he promised me that I should see 
 what old ocean is made of! " 
 
 My son, you will learn full soon what a life at 
 sea is ; your bright visions may indeed some of 
 them be realized, the many dangers to which you 
 will be exposed, will not serve to mar your joys, 
 for to such a heart as yours they will pass un- 
 heeded ; but for all that, my son, you will meet 
 with many hardships, of which you little know. 
 I would wish you never to follow the sea, my 
 boy, but if you are still determined upon it, when 
 your father returns I shall have to give my con- 
 sent, though with reluctance. You will then be 
 old enough to choose your own pursuits for life, 
 and whatever they may be, remember, Harry, to 
 lead an honest, upright life, never losing sight of 
 your early instructions, and the prayers of your 
 mother." 
 
 As Mrs. Grosvenor ceased speaking she looked 
 upon her son, and could hardly realize that her lit- 
 tle rosy-cheeked Harry, who had loved to lay his
 
 8-1 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 head upon her bosom, and listen while she told 
 him of his father, who had gone away over the 
 blue water, to get such pretty things for his boy, 
 had grown to be a tall lad of fifteeen years ; and 
 well might she have been proud of her son, for the 
 nobleness of his soul was apparent in every fea- 
 ture. As Vingo expressed himself, " Young 
 massa Harry am got up ob what neber would 
 get used to de atmosphere ob old Berginny." 
 
 " Mother," said Harry, " I shall never forget 
 your teachings. I shall always hold them sacred 
 in my heart, and wherever I go, in whatever cir- 
 cumstances I am placed, I will be true to you, rny 
 mother ; " and he pressed a fervent kiss upon the 
 brow of her who was worthy the name. 
 
 As Mrs. Grosvenor returned her son's embrace, 
 she felt that perhaps she had said too much ; that 
 she had been selfish in wishing to have him al- 
 ways near her ; and she observed that he wore an 
 expression of pain, of deep emotion, which he in 
 vain attempted to conceal. 
 
 The Sea-flower had rested her head upon her 
 hand, and while her mother had been engaged 
 with Harry, a silent spectator might have won- 
 dered to what unseen object those deep oases of
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 85 
 
 love were imparting their purity. The words of 
 Harry had fallen upon her ear, "I shall see 
 what old Ocean is made of;" shall we follow in 
 the train of her musings ? they will lead us not 
 where the fallen tread. On the banks of the still 
 waters of peace, 'neath the willows, whose tears 
 are of innocence, frisk the tender lambs, who taste 
 only of the sweets of the green pasture : "I 
 shall see what old ocean is made of." Far away 
 in coral dells, where the nymphs of ocean tune 
 their harps in praise to Nature's God, the Sea- 
 flower loves to ramble, as if she had been a child 
 in time long past, and the mysteries of ocean 
 were that childhood's home. Ah, loved one, thou 
 dost not pause to find what 'tis which makes thy 
 heart to beat in unison with the murmuring of 
 the waters! perchance those restless billows are 
 but the echoings of thy soul's desire to breathe 
 that upper air, and breathing, gasp for more. 'Tis 
 not for us to tell thee that bright ones came down, 
 and bore the spirit of her who gave thee life, to 
 that better land, from hence ; nor of the dying 
 prayer, " Lord, keep my child," which was caught 
 up by each listening billow, and the supplication, 
 e'er since renewed by the voices of the deep. 
 8
 
 86 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 Why Mrs. Grosvenor had spoken thus, upon 
 this evening to her son, she could not tell; she 
 felt there was some irresistible power which bade 
 her speak that charge, " never lose sight of 
 your early instructions, and the prayers of your 
 mother." As she retired early for the night, feel- 
 ing slightly indisposed, she met the gaze of Harry, 
 which was fixed upon her, attributing its uncom- 
 mon earnestness to a determination on his part to 
 cherish her words. And he never did forget them. 
 But, ah ! fond mother, sleep on, take thy rest, and 
 gain strength for the morrow's rising, for thou 
 knowest not of the cup of sorrow which is being 
 prepared for thee. 
 
 As Harry sat watching the bright flames as 
 they went crackling up the chimney, his sister 
 came and rested her head upon his shoulder, 
 where they remained, until Sea-flower, reminding 
 him of the lateness of the hour, was about to re- 
 tire, when her brother threw his arm about her, 
 begging her to remain a little, for, said he, " I 
 shall not always have my dear sister to comfort 
 me." 
 
 " To comfort you ! Harry, do you, who are 
 always so light-hearted and joyous, need com- 
 forting ? "
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA- WEEDS. 87 
 
 " Ah, pussy, but you can make the happiest 
 heart happier. I was thinking of mother ; it is a 
 comfort to me that she has you, Sea-flower, to 
 cheer her lonely hours." 
 
 "I think mother is less sad than she has been, 
 for now she is looking forward to the time when 
 father shall come home ; and I think she flatters 
 herself that she can dissuade you from going to 
 sea, and then we shall be an unbroken, happy 
 family once more." 
 
 Those words ! why had they power to make 
 that boy turn pale ? Had he not been screened 
 from the bright glow of the fire-light, the Sea- 
 flower must have noticed his agitation, as she 
 looked up for the good-night kiss ; he clasped her 
 in his arms for a moment, and then the door 
 closed upon her gentle form. 
 
 The old clock in the church tower had struck 
 eleven, and Harry heard the cry of the watch, 
 " all 's well." He still stood where he had parted 
 with his sister; as her last footfall upon the stairs 
 died away, and the house was hushed for the 
 night, the plans which he had matured long days 
 ago, for this night's execution, laid fast hold of 
 him. Can it be possible that the boy is about to
 
 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 forget those last words of his mother ? No, they 
 are still sounding in his ear ; and his promise, " I 
 will not forget the prayers of my mother." But 
 does he consider, in the step which he is about to 
 take, of the arrow which will pierce that mother's 
 heart ? He walks the room with a quick tread ; 
 he does reflect, and pities his mother from the bot- 
 tom of his heart, praying that the blow may fall 
 gently ; but he has shipped for a voyage in the 
 Nautilus, and this night, at high tide, she will sail. 
 Noiselessly he ascends to his room, and taking 
 his clothes from the drawer, where they had been 
 placed with care, makes them into a bundle, not 
 forgetting the little bible, which was given him 
 by his mother only the day before, as a birthday 
 gift. Pausing in the upper hall, he listens, if he 
 may get one last faint sound from those he holds 
 so dear ; but save the uneasy slumbers of Vingo, 
 nothing is heard. All is now ready for his depar- 
 ture ; stepping into the parlors, where hang the 
 portraits of the family, he takes a farewell of 
 each. The Sea-flower and his mother! his eyes 
 fill with tears, and his heart is swelling into his 
 throat ; he is upon the point of retracing his steps^ 
 when his eye rests upon the features of his father.
 
 A GEM AMOXG THE SEA-WEEDS. 89 
 
 The daring boldness of the expression, which the 
 artist had but too well portrayed, fires him with 
 fresh courage ; every nerve thrills with new life, 
 and kissing the inanimate canvas, as if it were 
 indeed his dear mother and sister, he tore himself 
 away from home. Walking rapidly down the de- 
 serted street, without venturing a look back, he 
 passes many an endeared object; the old white 
 church, where he has been accustomed to worship, 
 Sunday after Sunday, for many years, holds high 
 its head in the bright moonlight, and the hands 
 of the old town clock upon the tower, seem to 
 beckon him to return. He falters ; it would seem 
 as if the very doors of the church would open and 
 receive him. Throwing down the bundle, he 
 kneels upon the door-stone, and breathes a 
 prayer to heaven, to bless those who will enter 
 therein when he shall be gone. Pressing his lips 
 to the cold stone where they have trod, he rises, 
 when lo ! standing by his side, with the package 
 of clothes in his mouth, is the old house dog, 
 Nep ; and as the watch in the tower cries, " past 
 eleven o'clock, and all is well," he looks wistfully 
 into his master's face, as if he would ask, is all 
 well ? What is to be done ? in less than half an
 
 90 NATALIE J OR, 
 
 hour the ship will be towed out into the stream ; 
 there is no time to be lost, but the dog will not 
 think of leaving his master, for his experience of 
 years tells him it is a new thing for the boy to be 
 wandering from home at this unseasonable hour. 
 In vain did Harry attempt to drive the faithful 
 creature from him, for never having been an un- 
 welcome companion before, the dog did not 
 understand his master's threatening gestures ; yet 
 he could understand that something was amiss, 
 and for that reason kept close upon his master's 
 heels, to shield him from all danger. 
 
 Arriving at the wharf, the boy once more at- 
 tempted to drive the dog from him, when looking 
 around, he espied a bit of rope, with which he 
 made him fast to a post, and then clambered up 
 the ship's side. Poor Nep, keeping his eye upon 
 his master, laid him quietly down, until the lines 
 were cast off, and the ship began to recede from 
 the shore. O, Harry, could you leave the com- 
 panion of your infancy thus, made fast to a yard 
 rope, to shiver in the night air? It was his only 
 alternative, for in taking Neptune with him he 
 well knew would be robbing the household of one 
 more endearment. No sooner had the ship started
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 91 
 
 from her moorings, and Nep saw that his master 
 was being borne away, than he gave a piteous 
 howl, and with one bound parted the line which 
 held him, and plunging into the tide, made vig- 
 orous attempts to reach the ship. 
 
 " Breakers on the larboard bow ! " sung out the 
 captain, who stood laughing to see the labors of 
 the poor animal, who was becoming exhausted ; 
 " let's see who '11 have the first harpoon ! " and he 
 hurled a billet at the dog's head as he was going 
 down for the second time. Harry, seeing the 
 action, cried out, " Save him ! who will save my 
 poor Nep ? " and fell fainting upon the deck. 
 Fortunately the hard-hearted man had missed his 
 mark for once, and by the light of the moon, the 
 poor fellow was seen, just under the bows, strug- 
 gling feebly, as if about to give up, when an old 
 tar, who had heard Harry's cry for help, sprang 
 with the rapidity of thought, and seizing a rope, 
 made it into a slip-noose, throwing it over the 
 dog's head, nearly strangling him as he drew him 
 out of the water. Together they lay motionless 
 upon the deck, Harry and Nep, when the captain 
 coming along would have stumbled over them, 
 had he not caught at a halliard near by.
 
 92 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 " What in the name of things unheard of, is all 
 this?" exclaimed he, with an oath; "this indeed 
 is a curious beginning for the little land-lubber! 
 I 've the greatest mind to set him ashore, to come 
 to his senses at his leisure, and if I 'm not greatly 
 mistaken, he's but a young runaway at best; but 
 we might as well keep him now, he '11 do for test- 
 ing the strength of our cats, and as for that other 
 critter, Mr. Sampson, you may hand him over to 
 the steward, and tell him I shall want a nice over- 
 all when we get out where the ice makes an inch 
 a minute." 
 
 Mr. Sampson, who had shipped as boat-steerer, 
 the same that had rescued old Nep from drown- 
 ing, lifted Harry in his arms, and carrying him 
 below, laid him in his own hammock, where he 
 also brought the dog, who was apparently lifeless, 
 and laid him by his side. It was a long time be- 
 fore Harry was restored to consciousness, and 
 when he had gained strength sufficient to raise 
 himself upon one arm, he looked around in the 
 darkness, perfectly bewildered ; but as the remem- 
 brance of his situation slowly came to him, he 
 called aloud, in agony of spirit, "Nep! poor 
 drowned Neptune ! " tossing upon his hammock,
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 93 
 
 his arm came in contact with the creature's shaggy 
 coat. Could it be Nep ? rescued from the inhu- 
 man treatment of the captain ? but he did not 
 move ! was he alive ? Harry sprang from his 
 bed, and making his way in the darkness he knew 
 not whither, finally found himself in the captain's 
 state-room, which was unoccupied, and seizing a 
 candle, reached his hammock just as Mr. Samp- 
 son returned. 
 
 " Man alive ! where did you get that light ? " 
 asked Sampson, apparently much terrified. 
 
 " O, sir, I took the first one I could find, for I 
 must see if my poor Neptune is dead ! " and 
 he bent over him, smoothing his head, calling 
 loudly, " Neptune ! poor Neptune ! " Sampson, 
 recognizing the silver candlestick as belonging in 
 the captain's state-room, hastened io return it, 
 knowing well what the consequences would be, 
 if that dignitary discovered that any one had 
 dared to enter his room without orders ; and giv- 
 ing Harry a few friendly hints, as to what his lib- 
 erties would be, under their commander, he drew 
 out a mysterious looking bottle from his jacket- 
 sleeve, and diluting a small quantity of its con- 
 tents, gave it to Harry to drink, which in his
 
 94 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 weak condition did not come amiss. Turning to 
 the dog, the kind old tar commenced rubbing him 
 vigorously, bathing his cold limbs with the spirit, 
 glancing occasionally at the gangway, to see who 
 might darken the descent. The dog at last gave 
 signs of life, and to Harry's great joy, he looked 
 up and recognized his master, Sampson assuring 
 him, in his rough way, that the old fellow would 
 soon be as good as new. 
 
 It was the last watch in the morning, and 
 Harry, hearing loud voices on deck, ventured out. 
 It was a clear, cold morning, the moon had gone 
 down, and Venus was just rising in the east ; on 
 every side was the blue rolling water. They had 
 left Nantucket miles behind. Sampson, who was 
 on duty, seeing the boy looking out, as if he had 
 come to the conclusion that the island had been 
 submerged, shook out a reef in the line which 
 he was making fast, that he might catch the boy's 
 ear, and pointing to a dim light far down in the 
 distant horizon, he remarked, " Look well, it 's old 
 Sankoty ; I 'm thinking you'll have seen different 
 days when you make her again." 
 
 " Halloo, there, aft ! " called out the captain ; 
 " has that kitten got to mewing ? Bear a hand
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 95 
 
 there, and square your mizzen topsail," added he, 
 a tone of mockery. 
 
 The order had hardly left his lips, when Harry, 
 with a hearty " aye, aye, sir ! " sprang into the 
 cross-trees, and in a twinkling had reached the 
 masthead, calling out in a voice which brought to 
 the mind of each old tar that he had once a 
 mother, " square away it is, sir." 
 
 The captain could scarce believe his eyes ; see- 
 ing by the smile upon the face of every man on 
 deck, that he had been decidedly sold, he hailed 
 him again. 
 
 " Mast-head, ahoy ! " 
 
 " Aye, aye, sir." 
 
 " Take your bearings from the fog bank to your 
 leeward, and tell me how she heads." 
 
 The boy hesitated ; he " saw which way the 
 wind blew," and bethinking himself of a small 
 pocket compass which he had about him, sung 
 out, " East-south-east by east, sir, two points off." 
 The man at the wheel responded, " East-south- 
 east by east, two points off." 
 
 It would not do ; the captain saw that he had 
 mistaken his man, and called all hands to pipe 
 down. As Mr. Sampson passed him, he doffed
 
 96 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 his tarpaulin, remarking, " I think, sir, the young- 
 ster will do very well for trying the strength of 
 our cats." 
 
 It was evident to Harry, before he had sailed 
 many days under Captain Jostler, that he had one 
 of the most tyrannical of masters. He had been 
 a perfect stranger to him when he shipped for the 
 voyage, being a native of Canada, and from the 
 frozen condition of his heart no one would have 
 doubted it ; had he been a Nantucket man, mas- 
 ter Harry would have found it more difficult in 
 getting away so privately ; as it was, no inquiries 
 were made of him. How different was Harry's 
 situation from what it would have been had his 
 father procured for him a berth ; as it was, he was 
 doomed to no common hardships, for the captain, 
 having taken a dislike to him from the first, 
 seemed to take pleasure in making him as uncom- 
 fortable as possible ; and had it not been that he 
 was a favorite with the crew, he would have suf- 
 fered many times from exposure. Many a cold, 
 stormy night had he been ordered to take his 
 turn in the watch, upon deck, in spite of the 
 petitions of the men to fill his place ; and he 
 would walk the deck for hours, to keep from be-
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 97 
 
 coming benumbed with the cold ; but, as his 
 mother had predicted, the hardships and dangers 
 to which he was exposed did not serve to dampen 
 his spirits, and for that very reason, did the cap- 
 tain shower upon him many abuses ; for in spite 
 of his cruel treatment toward him, he never had 
 had the pleasure of seeing him look anything but 
 cheerful. At such times, when the wind was 
 howling fiercely, and the salt spray came dashing 
 over the deck, freezing upon the cheek of the 
 youthful mariner, but never penetrating that 
 heart, which was warmed by the remembrance of 
 other days, the boy would think of home, of his 
 mother, and as he uttered the name of the Sea- 
 flower aloud, those deep-toned voices of the sea 
 would appear as if the wild reechoings of the 
 tone ; and the low meanings of the wind through 
 the shrouds were of pity for that lone one on the 
 deck of the "outward bound." Could the boy 
 have had old Nep for a companion in his mid- 
 night watchings, he would have served to while 
 away the time, but that pleasure was not allowed 
 him, for Captain Jostler had threatened to throw 
 the dog overboard, if he came in contact with him 
 in any of his walks ; consequently Harry had 
 9
 
 98 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 doomed him to a life in the hold, seldom ventur- 
 ing to visit him, except to carry the food which he 
 had saved from his own short allowance ; and he 
 often wondered how the poor fellow could keep 
 alive on such short rations, not knowing of the 
 purloined bits which were bestowed upon him 
 from Sampson's commodious jacket-sleeve. 
 
 " There she blows ! there she blows ! " hailed 
 the look-out from the mast-head, as a school of 
 whales hove in sight, about three miles astern, 
 one afternoon, when they had been four months 
 on the whaling grounds. It was the first dis- 
 covery that had been made, they having been 
 thus far unsuccessful. All hands were immedi- 
 ately called up ; every man was at his post, mak- 
 ing ready for the coming scene of action ; not as 
 a man-of-war, in the charging of cannon, the 
 priming of musketry, and the brandishing of 
 swords, a battle between man and man, but the 
 boats were lowered, the harpoons were got out, 
 and everything was made ready for an encounter 
 with the monster of the ocean. Now was the 
 time when the captain would exhibit his skill as 
 a whaler ; all depends on his management as tq, 
 their success; he must be cool, and collected,
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 99 
 
 working systematically ; for not only does it re- 
 quire great skill and caution in the capturing of 
 the whale, but there are many dangers attendant 
 upon the encounter. 
 
 "There she blows!" No sooner did Captain 
 Jostler hear the report, than it seemed as if he 
 would go beside himself; every man was ready 
 to do his duty, and had they possessed the right 
 kind of commander, might have done well ; but 
 where there is no head, nothing is accomplished. 
 Everything was confusion ; the captain, springing 
 into the first boat, bade his men follow, leaving, 
 beside Harry, but two worthless fellows, who 
 hardly knew a skysail from a jib-sheet, in charge 
 of the ship. Harry kept his eye upon the boats 
 for hours ; he perceived they were evidently hav- 
 ing a hard time of it. Running aft to get a glass, 
 as they distanced him, he discovered a fog had 
 sprung up, and was shutting in heavily on all 
 sides ; he returned to mark the boats ; they were 
 nowhere to be seen ; he had lost them entirely ; 
 nothing was to be seen on all sides but thick fog 
 banks! What was to be done ? where they were, 
 how far from the boats, and in what direction, 
 they knew not. The boy was aware that they
 
 100 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 were all ignorant of the management of the ship, 
 and what was worse, should the least breeze 
 spring up, they would be borne, they knew not 
 whither. A couple of hours passed, and the fog 
 did not lift. Night was coming on, and from the 
 increased darkness, together with a low, rumbling 
 noise of the sea, it was evident a storm was brew- 
 ing. Harry anxiously walked the quarter deck ; 
 it would be certain destruction if they remained 
 in that position till night should overtake them. 
 The boy called to the men, asking what was to 
 be done ; but they in terror could do nothing but 
 lament their situation, calling out against the cap- 
 tain for leaving them in such a state. Harry 
 hesitated ; what was done must be done speedily. 
 To take in sail was his first thought ; then, with 
 the assistance of the clumsy seamen, he rolled out 
 a small cannon-piece, and for one long hour did 
 he keep up an incessant fire. The coming storm 
 was now plainly discernible ; the distant rolling 
 of thunder was heard, the sea was agitated, and 
 occasionally a flaw would shake the rattlings. 
 They were in momentary expectation that the 
 storm would burst upon them. Harry had left 
 his firing, and ascending the hurricane deck, stood
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 101 
 
 with folded arms, as if bracing himself to meet 
 the foe. It is coming in all its fury ! kind heaven ! 
 the fog lifts ! it rolls itself away as it were a great 
 scroll. The ink-black heavens are fearfully ma- 
 jestic, seen in the lightning's lurid glare. A 
 speck ! yes, 't is the boats ! do they see them ? 
 Once more the boy flies to the cannon, not paus- 
 ing to see if they are nearing the ship ; his heart 
 beats wildly ; 't is their only chance for life ! the 
 hurricane has burst upon them ! the enraged deep 
 responds loudly to the deafening roar! Once 
 again the feeble A r oice of the cannon is doing its 
 best to be heard, when lo ! the flash mingling with 
 the forked lightnings which play in the rigging, 
 reveals the men, as they come tumbling over the 
 ship's side ! They are saved ! saved by that noble 
 boy, who does not know of their approach, so in- 
 tent is he upon his exertions, until Sampson 
 clasps him in his arms, and a " God bless you ! " 
 is upon the lips of every man, save the captain, 
 who, having received a slight wound from a har- 
 poon, and irritated by their bad luck, utters a 
 curse which vies in blackness with that dreadful 
 night. 
 
 " Down your helm ! " shouted the captain ; 
 9*
 
 102 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 " hard down your helm ! " The order was hardly 
 given, when they were thrown on their beam 
 ends ; down, down they went, as if never to rise 
 again, completely engulfed in the dark abyss! 
 The boy, where is he ? down in. the hold, his arm 
 made fast to the collar of old Neptune, that they 
 may go down together ; he kneels, his mother's 
 gift, the bible, in his hand, calmly awaiting his 
 time. Nature seems terrified, yet that boy knows 
 no fear. Crash succeeds crash ; ah, who can de- 
 scribe the scene ! He alone who has stood upon 
 the frail plank, which only separates him from 
 death. Again a terrific crash, their masts have 
 gone by the board ! It would seem that the en- 
 raged billows were bent upon their destruction. 
 Still their stout bark is unwilling to give up, and 
 trembling from stem to stern, she clings to life, 
 nobly resisting the gigantic attacks of the storm- 
 king, who, having fought with terrific fierceness 
 through the livelong night, puts on a less demon- 
 like expression as his strength is well nigh spent, 
 and the gray dawn sees no traces of the despoiler, 
 who perhaps has slain thousands, save the swell- 
 ing surges, which angrily gaze as if disappointed 
 of their prey.
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 103 
 
 At the first dawn of day, Harry went on deck 
 to learn their situation. What a change had 
 been wrought in a few hours* Their masts had 
 been carried away, the decks had been swept 
 clean ; and he learned that several poor fellows 
 had lost their hold, and were not seen more. 
 
 " Well, I '11 be d d if that son of a cannibal 
 
 has n't sneaked away into some hole, and kept his 
 footing," exclaimed the captain, as he saw the 
 boy appear above deck ; " I was in hopes he had 
 found safe quarters in Davy Jones's locker! But 
 there 's no getting rid of such scalawags! " 
 
 " Captain Jostler," cried Mr. Sampson, raising 
 his hat, " it 's none of my business, and you may 
 knock me down the next minute, if you please, 
 but God knows there 's not a man aboard but 
 owes his life to that boy. I have no mutinous 
 designs, sir, but at such a moment as this I will 
 speak, sir, come what will, and thank God the 
 boy had sense enough to go below, when he knew 
 he could be of no use here." 
 
 The captain looked daggers ; he was about to 
 seize Sampson by the throat, when a voice from 
 the assembled crew was heard : 
 
 " Three cheers and long life to the boy, captain
 
 104 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 or no captain ! Hurrah ! HURRAH ! ! HUR- 
 UAH!!!" shouted the grateful tars, making the 
 welkin ring. 
 
 If Jostler had had the heart of a brave, noble 
 sea-captain, he would have fought right and left 
 till the last, ere his men should dare to show such 
 insubordination, setting his authority at defiance; 
 but he was a coward, and they were whole- 
 hearted seamen, who would not see the innocent 
 trampled upon, consequently the villain had to 
 swallow his wrath ; but he was determined to 
 have his revenge, and Sampson noticed that he 
 cast an evil eye upon the boy. 
 
 Upon examination it was found they had sus- 
 tained no injuries, besides the loss of the masts, 
 except that a small leakage had been made near 
 the bows, and that was soon repaired by the car- 
 penter, who proceeded to rig jury-masts, and it 
 was not long before they were put in a condition 
 capable of running into the islands for repairs. 
 
 About sunrise signals of distress were heard, 
 and by the glass, a dismasted ship was made 
 out, a long^way astern, apparently in a sinking 
 condition. The captain appeared to take little 
 notice of her, and as the mate ventured to inquire
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA- WEEDS. 105 
 
 if they should " 'bout ship," he answered, " Thun- 
 der ! no, we are safe ; let them run their own 
 chance." 
 
 Harry, hearing his reply, was shocked. Could 
 the man turn a deaf ear to those repeated sounds 
 of distress, when it was in his power to save 
 them ? Ah, boy, it is even so ! but he is not a 
 man. Harry could endure the thought no longer, 
 as fainter and fainter grew the reports, as they 
 bore away from them; he begged Sampson to 
 implore the captain to return, Sampson telling 
 him "it was of no use, that it would not do to 
 cross him again." 
 
 " Then I will go myself to him ; he cannot 
 have the heart to leave them to perish ! " 
 
 " Rash boy, your life will be the penalty ! you 
 must not do it." 
 
 " I will do my duty, though I should die for it ! 
 there is the least possibility of his hearing me, and 
 what is one life compared with, it may be, a hun- 
 dred." 
 
 " Stay, mad boy ! " cried Sampson ; but he had 
 gone. 
 
 Reaching the quarter-deck, upon his knees he 
 implored the captain to return. " Think, if it
 
 106 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 were your father, brother, or a son, in that hope- 
 less condition, would you not render them all the 
 assistance in your power ? " 
 
 " I have three brothers and a father upon the 
 ocean," vociferated the demon ; " for aught I 
 know it may be one of them ! but were they all 
 aboard that hulk yonder, I would not return ! 
 But who are you, sirrah, that dares to usurp my 
 power? Now, upstart, you shall know your 
 place!" and he seized him by the collar, bore 
 him aft, lashed him to a spar, called for the cat, 
 and lifting it high in air, it falls, but the cursed 
 invention of man's cruelty falls wide of its mark; 
 Ere its descent had scarred that fair brow, a rush 
 was heard from the main gangway, and old Nep- 
 tune, with a fierce growl, has fastened his teeth 
 in the monster's flesh! Quick as thought his 
 master called him off, and every man stood trem- 
 bling, as they observed the captain feeling for his 
 pistols ; but his strength failed him, the dog had 
 met his teeth in the wound received by the mis- 
 management of the harpoon, tearing the flesh 
 nearly from off his limb. It really was a pitiable 
 sight to behold. Faint from the loss of blood, he 
 was carried below, where his wound was dressed
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 107 
 
 by one of the men, having no regular surgeon 
 aboard, consequently its fatality was not realized. 
 The groans and wri things of the sufferer were 
 heart-rending ; all day long did he rave, imploring 
 Sampson, who attended him, to "take the fiend 
 away ! that he was being devoured alive ! " and 
 thus did he toss upon his bed till toward evening, 
 when a change for the worse came over him. 
 Sampson saw that the seal of death was stamped 
 upon his features, and at set of sun, with an im- 
 precation upon his dying lips, he had breathed his 
 last. O, how fearful to enter that spirit land thus 
 unprepared! to come before our Judge with a 
 soul stained in the deepest sins, trembling with its 
 burden of guilt. Lord, grant that we be not thus 
 found when thou shalt call! Give us strength to 
 overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, so 
 that at the last, we shall taste those joys which 
 exist " where the wicked cease from troubling, 
 and the weary are at rest." They buried him in 
 the deep sea. Perhaps his body lay side by side 
 with those who, through his unfeeling heart, had 
 found a watery grave ; but we trust that, unlike 
 him, they had gone to meet the reward of having 
 lived an holy life, gone to the " sailor's home," 
 in the skies.
 
 108 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 The stars shone out, one by one, in the firma- 
 ment, when the king of day had descended. 
 Calmly the night looked down, and undisturbed 
 were Harry's thoughts, as seated upon the taffrail, 
 old Neptune by his side, he once again breathed 
 the air of liberty. Not that he rejoiced that he 
 Was thus freed from him who had kept him in 
 perfect slavery, for he alone had dropped a tear 
 over the uncoffined burial of his persecutor ; but 
 his heart was filled with gratitude, as he looked 
 into the peerless night, gratitude to Him who 
 has given us a soul, that we may admire the 
 works of his hands. As Harry sat musing, turn- 
 ing from the heavenly orbs to their semblance on 
 the bosom of the placid waters, he observed, as it 
 were, a fallen star, mirrored therein, but rousing 
 his dreamy senses, he found it was a small, shin- 
 ing object, floating near them. He drew it from 
 the water; it was a block of wood, in the form of 
 an octagon, highly polished, inlaid with bits of 
 pearl, forming grotesque figures, and thickly stud- 
 ded with some bright mineral, representing stars, 
 which gave it a very handsome appearance. 
 
 " Well, if the youngster is n't picking up moon- 
 shine," remarked Sampson, examining the curi-
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 109 
 
 osity. " Some poor fellow designed that for his 
 sweetheart, likely ; but I suppose it will make but 
 little difference with her, if she hears he 's among 
 the missing, she can just as well set her colors for 
 another. These bright-winged butterflies go upon 
 the principle that ' there 's as good fish in the sea 
 as ever was caught.' " 
 
 " O, ho, Sampson," cried the jolly faced mate, 
 who had now taken the captain's berth, "you are 
 inclined to give the fair ones no quarters. I 
 should n't wonder if they had given you the slip, 
 in some of your cruisings." 
 
 "Well, sir, nothing of that kind, exactly; I 
 never had much notion for shipping under one 
 captain for life." 
 
 " A little frightened, eh ? " 
 
 " Well, between you and I, I was a little 
 skeery, for fear I should find my mate at the 
 helm." 
 
 " Yes, but you do n't mean to say woman is a 
 craft sailing without a compass, do you ? that is, 
 minus a heart ? " 
 
 " Aye, aye, but it 's hard to get in their wake. 
 I never met but one whole-souled woman in my 
 life, and she has gone where such as she do go. 
 
 10
 
 110 NATALIE. 
 
 Ah, that was a hard time ! I was the only one 
 saved of two hundred ! " 
 
 "How was that, Sampson? come, spin us that 
 yarn." 
 
 " Land ho ! land ho ! " hailed the lookout, and 
 every eye welcomed Manilla, as they ran in for 
 repairs, after cruising about for months without 
 taking a drop of oil. Harry was delighted with 
 the prospect before him, and laying the little 
 curiosity, which would remind him of a sad event 
 in his voyage, away with his bible, he entered 
 upon the duties before him with his whole heart, 
 realizing the visions of his earlier days, and gain- 
 ing a thorough knowledge of the life of a sailor 
 boy.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 , *. ' 
 
 SOME DAYS ARE BORN OF SORROW. 
 
 " The path of sorrow, and that path alone, 
 Leads to the land where sorrows are unknown." 
 
 ANONYMOUS. 
 
 " Through sorrow's night, and danger's path, 
 
 Amid the deepening gloom, 
 
 Ye children of a heavenly king 
 
 Are marching to the tomb." 
 
 H. KIRKB WHITE. 
 
 IT is a destiny, that every life be, to a greater or 
 less degree, fraught with that heart-purifying ele- 
 ment, which we term sorrow. And who would 
 have it otherwise ? Who would glide passively 
 along the bright river of smiles, without one taste 
 of that chiefest of disciplines, sorrow ? How 
 grateful should we be to Him who has permitted 
 us to drink of the same cup with his only Son !
 
 112 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 for he was a "man of sorrows, and acquainted 
 with grief." Who is so blind that will not see 
 the kind designs of our Father, in the disposition 
 of those works of his hands which he pronounced 
 good. Truly His eye is all-seeing ; the overflow 
 of his tender mercies toward the children of men 
 are unbounded. What cell of goodness is there 
 within the human heart, of which the breath of 
 sorrow cannot raise the valve? In a word, what 
 countless numbers of souls have been stayed in 
 their mad career, have been saved from eternal 
 destruction, through the chastening rod of the 
 Lord. 
 
 It was the morning after the sailing of the 
 Nautilus ; the Sea-flower had arisen with the 
 sun, and calling for old Nep, as was her wont, to 
 accompany her on her morning's walk, she tripped 
 lightly along, humming a farewell to the last al- 
 theas, as they nodded their shrivelled heads, in 
 view of their departure ; but their words of adieu 
 were made brief, by a voice as of one in distress ; 
 and coming near, it proved to be the musical 
 Vingo, trilling the wild melodies of his old Vir- 
 ginia days. 
 
 " Good morning, Vingo ; you must have been
 
 A GEM AMONG TUB SEA-WEEDS. 113 
 
 up a long time to have been away down to the 
 shore ; you must take it easier, and get more 
 sleep. Even old Nep dislikes to leave his warm 
 kennel this cool morning, for he did not come at 
 my call, and so I would not disturb him." 
 
 " Ah, missy, de old fellow am getting along in 
 years as well as de rest ob us ; and if it was n't 
 for de gray hairs, dat will keep at de top ob de 
 heap, in spite ob ebery ting, I should feel dat old 
 age am coming wid long strides, when I see dat 
 de wee bud ob de Sea-flower am almost in bloom. 
 But see here, missy," said he, holding up a fresh 
 cod which he had taken, " I 'm tinking dat make 
 massa Harry's eyes sparkle." 
 
 It was the hour for family prayers. 
 
 " Had you not better go to Harry's room, dear, 
 and see if he is ill this morning ? he is unusually 
 late," said Mrs. Grosvenor. 
 
 ' I tink de fragrance ob de salt water about dat 
 cod fetch him soon," remarked Vingo, endeavor- 
 ing to smooth his face into a proper state of so- 
 briety. 
 
 Gently the Sea-flower tapped at her brother's 
 door, but receiving no answer, she ventured in ; the 
 room was in the same order in which she had loft 
 10*
 
 114 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 it the day before, for she took great pleasure in 
 arranging the flowers upon his dressing table, and 
 no one could impart such a coziness, arranging 
 everything to his mind, as could Sea-flower. The 
 bed had not been disturbed, and the book from 
 which she had read to him, was lying thereon, 
 opened at those beautiful verses of " The Iris of 
 the Deep," which he loved so well to hear her 
 read. What could it mean ? Calmly her breath 
 came and went ; but for that she appeared like a 
 beautiful piece of statuary, her eyes turned up- 
 ward, as if seeking for strength to meet the vague 
 sense of desolation which was creeping into her 
 heart. Upon the table were two notes, one ad- 
 dressed to her mother, the other to herself, in his 
 hand-writing. With nerveless hand she broke the 
 seal; no emotion was visible, save the delicate 
 glow upon her cheek, which came and went, and 
 the playing of the muscles about her compressed 
 lips, as she read the following : 
 
 " My Sister When you read this, I shall be 
 far away, sailing over those glorious billows 
 which you and I love so well ! You will miss 
 me, for I know you love your erring brother, with 
 all his faults ; and even you, who can realize what
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 115 
 
 were my heart's desires, will hardly forgive the 
 step which brings such deep grief upon our 
 mother; yet you will think of me with kindness, 
 for I know it cannot be otherwise. There is no 
 spot within your heart of love which is not occu- 
 pied. Could I have left home with a mother's 
 blessing, I should be happier ; but she will pray 
 for her boy ; the gentle breeze which fills our sail 
 will bear her " God bless you " to the ear of him 
 who will think of the dear ones at home, until he 
 shall once more fill his place in that dearest of 
 family circles, and thank God, my mother has 
 such an one as you to lean upon. Farewell, dear 
 Sea-flower, until we meet again. 
 
 BROTHER HARRY." 
 
 He had gone ! Could it be possible ? How 
 could she speak those cruel words to her mother ? 
 Yet it must be. With steady step she entered 
 the drawing-room; the mother looked upon her 
 child. That which she would speak failed to 
 give utterance. Instinctively soul sympathized 
 with soul. 
 
 *' Mother, we will breathe our morning suppli- 
 cation to Him who ordereth all things ; " and the 
 Sea-flower, at that family altar, prayed that strength 
 might be given them, that they might be prepared
 
 116 NATALIE ; OK, 
 
 for whatever was to be their portion, and her prayer 
 was heard. Arising, Mrs. Grosyenor sank into a 
 chair ; with an agitated voice she spoke, 
 
 " My child, some dreadful thing has occurred ! 
 My son, tell me, has he gone ? for the same 
 mysterious power which bade me impress upon 
 his mind last night, the value of the instructions, 
 which, I pray God, I have not been unfaithful in 
 setting before him, tells me I shall not see my boy 
 again for many long days ! Speak, my child, is it 
 not so ? " 
 
 " You have spoken too truly, mother ; may you 
 be able to bear up under this affliction ; " and she 
 put the note into her mother's hand. 
 
 " My eyes fail me, my child ! If it is not ask- 
 ing of you too much, tell me what were his last 
 words ; they will fall more gently on my heart ; " 
 and the tones of the Sea-flower were of comfort as 
 she read : 
 
 "My dear Mother In the ship Nautilus, 
 which will sail from this port on the 20th of Octo- 
 ber, I have shipped for a Cape Horn voyage. 
 You will hardly believe what you read ; never- 
 theless, it is true. I was very much disappointed 
 that I could not go with father, and thought T
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 117 
 
 would wait patiently until his return ; but gaining 
 permission from my present captain to accom- 
 pany him, I could not resist the temptation. I 
 know I shall do very wrong in going away with- 
 out your consent, but forgive me, if you can, 
 mother ; 't is the only act in which I have ever 
 given you sorrow, or by which I ever shall. You 
 shall hear from me as often as I can get an oppor- 
 tunity of sending home, and it will not be a great 
 while before I shall be with you again. I shall 
 not forget my prayers night and morning ; and I 
 know you will not cease to pray for your son, 
 though he should fall to the lowest depths of 
 degradation. Tell father, when you write him ? 
 that I have disobeyed his word ; but ask him if 
 he cannot forgive me. It is possible that I may 
 meet with him upon the ocean, and may we both 
 be spared to make you happy, my dear mother. 
 Farewell, from your affectionate son." 
 
 "I do forgive you, my son, in this cruel step 
 which you have taken ; indeed, but how could he 
 do thus ? Oh, how could he ! " and Mrs. 
 Grosvenor,.overcome with her emotion, sank back 
 in her chair. 
 
 " De good Lord be praised, missy ! but I not 
 tink it eber come to dis. To be sure, massa
 
 118 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 Wendall often tell me, eber since dot day, dat I 
 getting too full ob laugh, dat one extreme follow 
 anoder ; but I never tink young massa take hesef 
 clean off! " and, wiping the whites of his eyes, he 
 went out to hunt up old Nep to share his grief; 
 but he soon returned, and locking the door after 
 him, proceeded to fasten every window in the 
 house. 
 
 Sea-flower, who was bathing her mother's tem- 
 ples, observing what the negro was about, was at 
 a loss to account for his movements ; but know- 
 ing he disliked to be questioned upon points 
 touching his judgment, she humored him by let- 
 ting him have his own way, till finally, he peered 
 into his mistress's face, and in a voice scarcely 
 above a whisper, said, " Dar, missy, de rest ob us 
 am safe ! he no cotch any more dis time ! " 
 
 " What is it ? Vingo, what has happened ? " 
 
 " Ah, little missy, if I was n't clean gone tuck J 
 'pears like I never shall get ober it." 
 
 " What is the matter, Vingo ? " 
 
 " Well, missy Sea-flower, I tinks it am de ebil 
 one dat has taken dem away, after all ; for dat 
 dog neber go 'way peaceably w T id anyting short 
 ob de debil; he got too much de spirit ob his
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 119 
 
 massa to be afeard ob anyting dat belong on dis 
 earth ! " 
 
 " Is Neptune gone, too, Vingo ? " 
 
 " Yes, missy, dar not eben a shadow left ob 
 him ; and, [the negro had a remarkable imagina- 
 tion], 'pears like I see de* print ob a cloben tread 
 in de soft ground, by his door; and among de 
 hay de old fellow hab lef some ob his plunder 
 trough mistake." 
 
 Sea-flower hastened to the dog's kennel, and 
 there indeed was a small parcel, folded neatly in 
 white paper, but no trace of the dog was to be 
 seen ; opening the package, there was a small 
 locket, containing the likeness of her mother and 
 herself, which had been left upon the parlor table, 
 but how it came in the dog's kennel was a mys- 
 tery. 
 
 " Oh, our faithful Neptune ! how much we 
 shall miss him ! It must be that he has gone with 
 his master ; but perhaps it is all for the best." 
 
 " I tinks eberyting should be ob de best for you. 
 missy ; 'pears like if my poor old Phillis could get 
 used to de tribilations, like you do, it help to make 
 de road easier ; but I specks she neber learn 
 how."
 
 120 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 " O, Vingo, it makes my heart bleed to think 
 that your people have no opportunities for learn- 
 ing that they may cast their burdens on the Lord. 
 I cannot imagine anything more dreadful than 
 the ignorance in which the slaves are kept." 
 
 " Yes, missy, I neber remembers much about it 
 till I leabes old Berginny ; some how or oder, I 
 finds out dat old massa's people hab a God, but 
 I neber 'spect he know anyting 'bout poor black 
 man." 
 
 Days and months passed on, as the lonely days 
 of sorrow do come, and go, and come again ; but 
 as the lengthened shades of the summer solstice 
 had again become less, another cloud had arisen 
 in the firmament of mingled joys and sorrows, 
 threatening to encompass even the bright rays of 
 hope within its gloom. 
 
 Mrs. Grosvenor had written her husband of the 
 conduct of their truant son, as Harry had wished, 
 and had in reply received his full forgiveness for 
 the boy. Captain Grosvenor had written that he 
 much regretted not having taken Harry along 
 with him, "for," said he, "a second thought 
 would have convinced me that the boy had too 
 much of the spirit of his father to remain content-
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 121 
 
 edly on shore ; he has but followed in my foot- 
 steps, for I never shall forget the night 1 stole 
 away from my father's house, when 1 was but ten 
 years old, and went to sea. Yes, tell my boy that 
 I forgive him, yet it annoys me very much that 
 you and our dear Natalie are left alone, my wife ; 
 but at the rate we have been doing, it will not be 
 long before we shall be homeward bound." 
 
 Nearly a twelvemonth had passed since this 
 letter had been received; not a word had been 
 heard of the Tantalizer for a long time ; several 
 ships had returned which had left since she had 
 sailed, but they had brought no tidings of her. 
 Over a year had passed since she was last re- 
 ported, and her owners began to look doubtful in 
 regard to her fate ; and there were rumors that 
 the Tantalizer was counted among the missing 
 vessels, yet no one dared to breathe the thought 
 to the still hoping family, while there was the 
 least possibility that she might be heard from 
 again ; and who would wish to be the first to pro- 
 nounce that gentle wife a widow ? Darker and 
 still deeper grew the overshadowing cloud, and 
 the hopes of the trusting ones less. Mrs. Gros- 
 venor would sit for whole days brooding over her 
 11
 
 122 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 sorrows, clinging to the last ray of hope, with al- 
 most the insanity of hope ; but the last spark 
 finally went out, never again to be rekindled. The 
 untiring wheels of time still went their rounds, 
 and everything moved on, as if there were no 
 hearts beating in discordant measure to the joy- 
 ous song of nature. Sympathizing friends pitied 
 the afflicted, and the world read, " A noble ship 
 lost at sea ! all on board supposed to have per- 
 ished! Ship and cargo valued at thirty thous- 
 and dollars ; no insurance ! " and they exclaim, 
 " ah, the sailor's life is indeed hard ! " But they 
 dwell upon the latter clause of the paragraph with 
 as much real pity, the words fall upon their ear, 
 conveying as much of real sadness to their minds, 
 as that many families have been called to mourn 
 the loss of one of their members. The Sea-flower 
 could hardly become reconciled to the thought 
 that she would never see her father more, yet for 
 her mother's sake she suppressed her grief, endeav- 
 oring to soothe her weary spirits by those refresh- 
 ing promises of Him who dries the mourner's 
 tear, binding up the wounds of the broken- 
 hearted. 
 
 " Dear mother, we are called upon to bear a
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 123 
 
 heavy trial ; this is indeed a bitter, bitter draught, 
 yet we must not forget 't is our Father holds the 
 cup. You have taught rne to smile upon his 
 chastening rod, but in this dark hour of trial truly 
 the flesh is weak ; yet we will rest upon the 
 strength of His arm, He will not forsake us ; and, 
 mother, His ways indeed are higher than our 
 ways. How tenderly has he dealt with us, inas- 
 much as he has so ordered that our dear Harry 
 should be spared to us ; for as I look upon the 
 past, I can see nothing but the kindly interference 
 of his will, that my brother did not share the same 
 grave with his father." 
 
 " My darling, your precious words shed light 
 over my weary pathway. I fear that I have 
 sinned in thus murmuring at God's will, for I 
 would not see his loving kindness in sparing to 
 me my boy. But it is so very hard, so dread- 
 ful, that in that hour when his spirit winged its 
 way to that better land, we might not pause from 
 our worldly pursuits, turning our eyes heaven- 
 ward, craving strength to bear our cross ; but your 
 words of love, my child, remind me of that Being 
 who is the fountain-head of loveliness, and I thank 
 God for his gift of you."
 
 124 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 " If I am a comfort to you, mother, it is through 
 your influence, for you have taught me to walk in 
 the paths of virtue." 
 
 " True, I have pointed out to you the ways of 
 righteousness, but when you looked upon that 
 bright river of life, I observed that its waters were 
 no less tranquil, and mirrored upon its bosom was 
 one more shining star ; and it has been increasing 
 in magnitude, till now its radiance illumes even 
 the bright river itself." 
 
 So did the Sea-flower gather together the broken 
 threads of this family, weaving them closer with 
 that golden thread of tender remembrance of him 
 who had gone to await them for a little in that 
 happier home above ; this family, of which she 
 had never the slightest suspicion but that they were 
 of her own flesh and blood ; and as she sat with her 
 hand clasped within that of her mother's, reading 
 from that blessed book, " Come unto me all ye 
 that are weary," Mrs. Grosvenor could not but 
 notice the striking resemblance which she bore to 
 those lovely features of the miniature, which was 
 found within the golden band. The child was 
 growing to resemble her unknown mother, and 
 were there any who had ever known the parents,
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 125 
 
 to see their child, they could not but have discov- 
 ered her descent. As the thought came to Mrs. 
 Grosvenor's mind, she shuddered ; and she asked 
 herself if it could ever be that her darling should 
 be torn from her? if another cloud would arise, 
 hiding one more cherished one from her sight? 
 But why should she tremble at the thought? she 
 well knew there could be nothing, not even the dis- 
 covery of relatives, which could lessen her daugh- 
 ter's love for her mother. Not a word had ever 
 been said to the child in regard to her mysterious 
 parentage. Captain Grosvenor had thought it 
 best not to reveal the fact until she should have 
 become of a suitable age to fully realize her situ- 
 ation. Those who had known the circumstances 
 of her discovery, had gradually come to look upon 
 her as the child of those who treasured her as if 
 she had been their own ; and the playmates of her 
 childhood days had never mistrusted there was a 
 mystery hanging about her "romantic" name, 
 Sea-flower. Harry, indeed, had never forgotten 
 his delight at having a new sister; and as they 
 had grown up together, he had often looked into 
 her dreamy eyes, and thought, " How unlike she 
 is to any one else ; she is too good to be my 
 
 11*
 
 126 NATALIE ; OH, 
 
 sister;" and as the reality came to him, he had 
 banished the remembrance, ere it had taken to it- 
 self a form. The original Vingo had never lost 
 sight of " that commentful " day, as he termed it ; 
 not a day passed but he made some allusion to 
 " dat wee gem among de sea-weeds," and the 
 Sea-flower would open wide her eyes, as from his 
 wild laugh she caught his broken sentences, and 
 would wonder why the negro's words should meet 
 with such a response within her own bosom. The 
 child's dress, together with the ornaments which 
 had been found upon her, had been laid carefully 
 away, reserved until she should have become fa- 
 miliar with her history. But Mrs. Grosvenor, 
 since the loss of her husband, had weighed the 
 question in her mind, whether she should still keep 
 the secret from her, for the child's mind was much 
 beyond her years, and she questioned whether it 
 would be for the best to permit her to grow to 
 maturer years thus undeceived ; but she reflected 
 that such had been the design of her husband, 
 and, therefore, for the present, the subject was dis- 
 missed from her mind. 
 
 It was the close of the third year in which 
 Harry had been from home. Mrs. Grosvenor had
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 127 
 
 received four letters from him in that time. His 
 last had stated they were doing well, that he was 
 under one of the kindest of captains, and all that 
 was wanting to make him perfectly happy, was 
 to see his dear mother, and the rest of the family 
 once more. Poor boy, he little thought that there 
 was one of its members whom he would never see 
 again, until he had passed over that sea from 
 which no navigator ever returns! Harry had 
 never written his mother of the brutal treatment 
 which he had received from his first captain, but 
 he had said that Neptune had been the means of 
 saving his life, and that the old fellow was getting 
 to be quite a sailor, inasmuch as he could take a 
 turn on the quarter-deck with as much dignity as 
 the captain himself. It had been some time since 
 Harry's last letter had been received, and now 
 Mrs. Grosvenor was anxiously looking for news 
 from him, with a state of mind prepared for re- 
 ceiving almost anything, so fraught with sad 
 events had been the last few years, when one day 
 Vingo was seen far down the street, coaxing his 
 time-wearied limbs into a run, and bursting into 
 the room, he stood panting in the middle of the 
 floor, grinning with delight, and holding at arm's
 
 128 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 length a letter, which Mrs. Grosvenor recognized 
 as coming from her son. The Sea-flower read the 
 letter aloud, and when Vingo learned that massa 
 Harry was homeward bound, he could contain 
 himself no longer ; it seemed as if he would go 
 beside himself at the thought of having his young 
 massa home once more, for everything had ap- 
 peared so different since he went away ; there 
 had been so many changes, that the fellow had 
 really had his fears that it might be his turn next 
 to be taken off, and he had often had visions of 
 his old slave massa in nearer proximity than was 
 at all consistent with his ideas of liberty. 
 
 " De good Lord be praised!" exclaimed the 
 negro, as Sea-flower ceased reading ; " dis am too 
 good news for old black man live me ! but I knew 
 de bright sunshine not be contented to stay away 
 from missy Sea-flower long. I tinks missy get 
 along better widout him, dan he can widout her; 
 but dar am some poor souls dat neber sees de 
 shine, making dem feel as full ob sing as a camp- 
 meeting!" and the negro gave a deep sigh at the 
 remembrance of his poor old Phillis, who was, for 
 aught he knew, still wearing the accursed yoke of 
 slavery.
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA- WEEDS. 129 
 
 "Poor things! poor things!" sighed the Sea- 
 flower ; " I would willingly share with them my 
 joys, were it in my power. Theirs would be a 
 lighter burden to those who have learned of that 
 glorious home, where the resplendent shining of 
 its bright ones is forever ! But they, alas, have 
 no bright future to look forward to, giving them 
 renewed strength to bear their cross ; or if they 
 ever hear of that All-Father who hears the cry of 
 the most wretched of his children, their masters 
 would have them believe that he is but the white 
 man's God! Oh, Vingo, how could you have 
 had the heart to believe that God would disown 
 his children ? " 
 
 " Dunno, missy ; but 'pears like de slabe jus' no 
 more chilen dan de oder animals ; and I tinks old 
 massa done teach de hounds about de big bible, 
 sooner dan he niggers." 
 
 " What became of vour wife, Vingo, when 
 
 
 
 father took you away ? Could you not prevail on 
 your master to let her c6me with you ? " 
 
 " O, missy, old Bingo hoe in de cotton field 
 great many long years since he sot eyes on poor, 
 torn-down Phiilis, or the young uns." 
 
 " The little ones ! and had you some children, 
 Vingo?"
 
 130 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 " Ah ! if I known how to praise de good Lord 
 in dem days, I specks I shouted for joy, when I 
 see de wee creters burstin' wid de laugh ; and 
 Phillis, she clean tuck ober, to see them fist each 
 oder wid dar little feet, 'pearing like dey hab in- 
 herit all de peruigilinations ob dar daddy ; and den 
 de little creters change dar minds, and burst into 
 de smiles again. O, dem was happy days ! and 
 I and Phillis tink we just de pleasantest creters 
 in de whole ob Berginny ; and we takes de young 
 uns out wid us to de cotton field, and after dey 
 gets use to de hot sun in dar eyes, dey crawl 
 round on de ground, snatchin' up de bits ob cot- 
 ton, like dey hab been use to it all dar days ; and 
 we not mind it much if old oberseer did gib us a 
 lash ober de head, 'casionally, when we stops to 
 cotch a bref, long as we habs de young uns to lift 
 us up a bit. But dem days not stay long, for one 
 day dar come a fierce looking man, from way 
 down in Kentuck, and as he went ober de planta- 
 tion, I oberhears him saying to massa, dat he 
 must hab just de smartest, good-looking niggars 
 dat could be scared up, fpr dar was one ob de 
 richest men in Kentuck dat was willing to pay 
 any price for dem ; but dey must be made ob de
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 131 
 
 right material, for he worked his niggars, and cut 
 dem up so, dat he hab to get in a fresh supply 
 ebery now and den. Dat was death-blow to me, 
 for I knew my Phillis was considered de smartest, 
 best looking gal on de plantation ; for many a 
 time I hear massa say, dat gal worth a dozen 
 common ones, and he spoke de truth for once, for 
 I knows dar neber was anoder like her. Well, I 
 tells Phillis dat night what I hears, and I tells her 
 to jus slack off a little, and put on her worst look 
 when de man come round next day, and perhaps 
 dey oberlook her ; but 'pears like we did n't get 
 much comfort from dat, and all night long we 
 keeps awake, for we could n't help tinking dat 
 might be de last time we eber see each oder 
 again ; for we neber hear ob de good place den, 
 \vhere we might meet when slabe massa get 
 trough wid us. De next morning, afore de broke 
 ob day, massa and de trader comes round to our 
 cabin, and seeing Phillis at de door, putting de 
 young uns to rights, and clarin' up a little, 'fore 
 we goes out to de field, de fierce man cracked his 
 whip, and jumping ober de young uns, caught 
 Phillis by de arm, and whirling her round and 
 round, called out, ' I say, mister, dis ere 's de like-
 
 132 NATALIE; OK, 
 
 list critter I've sot eyes on dis many a day! I 
 must hab dis one at any price ! Old Killall be 
 good-natured a month, when he sees dis hand- 
 some critter; but if he don't use her up in less 
 dan dat time, he '11 do what he neber done afore ! 
 I tell you, sar, it 's surprisin' to see how much 
 work he '11 get out ob his riiggars ; goes ahead ob 
 anyting you eber heard ob ; dat 's de way he 's 
 made such a power ob money. He. says he 's 
 tried it faithfully, year in and year out, and he 's 
 thoroughly convinced dat de way to make 
 anyting by dis niggar business, is to get de 
 work; if dey wont work widout de whip, 
 why, put it on! get dar steam up some way 
 or oder, and when one lot gibs out, get a 
 fresh stock ! I '11 tell you what, sir, Killall under- 
 stands it ; he '11 sell dar hides for shoe leather rad- 
 der dan let his niggars stand idle ! ' When I hear 
 dat, missy, my bery blood boil, and 'pears like I 
 could n't keep rny hands off from de villain ; but 
 I know dat if I make any resistance, it fare all de 
 worse wid Phillis, and I get sent to de whippin'- 
 place, into de bargain ; so I only grind my teeth, 
 and look on, like I did n't know any better ; but, 
 missy, did n't I wish I white man den, jus' for de
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 133 
 
 sake ob sabin' my wife and young uns ? for I lib 
 wid Phillis so long I could n't help feeling 'tached 
 to her. Ole massa, he not 'pear to like de idea 
 ob parting wid Phillis jus den, for he know right 
 well dat he not get anoder like her bery soon, and 
 so he tells de trader dat de niggar 'pear bery well, 
 but as for de real work, he got a dozen dat go 
 ahead ob her, and if de gemrnan want de real 
 work in' niggar, dey step round de oder side de 
 plantation ; but de trader, he keep his eye on 
 Phillis, like he understand de business too well to 
 be put off dat way, and he say to massa, tell you 
 what 't is, mister, dat gal may not hab de genuine 
 work 'bout her now, but if she get under old Kill- 
 all's lash, dar be no trouble bout dat, and den 
 when she good for notin' else, after de work all 
 out ob her,' she might keep a little ob her looks, 
 'nough to make her go for a hundred or so. But 
 massa, he not like to gib her up, and dey talk a 
 long time togeder, and I hears de trader say, 
 * de gal should square off all de old affair, wid five 
 hundred to boot;' till by and by massa gibs in, 
 and de bargain was closed, bery much to de satis- 
 faction ob both parties. But dey not stop to ask 
 how we like de idea ob being separated for life J 
 12
 
 184 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 dey not link dat perhaps de mother find it hard to 
 leabe her chil'en. De trader 'pear bery much 
 pleased wid his bargain, and he slipped a cord 
 round Phillis's arm, and tell her to go wid him. 
 O, missy, dat was de awfullest minute in my life ! 
 Poor Phillis look at de chil'en, den at me, and 
 wid one long, piercing shriek, dat I hear many 
 times since, she clung round my neck, begging 
 me to go wid her, to sabe her from de dreadful 
 place where dey would take her! But afore I 
 could say one word, the trader, wid a dreadful 
 curse, seize her by de throat, and in his hurry to 
 get her away, stumbled ober one ob de young uns 
 wid his great heaby boots, dat was made 'spressly 
 to kick de fractious niggars, as he called it, and 
 de chile neber breathe again ! he had step clean 
 on to its neck, strangling it in an instant! At de 
 sight ob her chile, all bleedin', and still, poor 
 Phillis become all quiet, and her eyes were shut, 
 just like good missus, when she find massa Harry 
 take hesef away. Ole massa he 'pear rather sober 
 like, when he find one ob his niggars killed, for he 
 sot a heap on de young uns dat was comin' up, 
 'cause dey be big enough soon to be ob some 
 'count ; but de trader hand ober fifty dollar bill,
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 135 
 
 to make de accident good, and took de opportu- 
 nity to get away, 'fore Phillis come to again ; but 
 dey not say anyting to me 'bout my loss, and 
 'pears like dey could not cober de great break in 
 rny heart, wid all de fifty dollar bills in Berginny. 
 Dat was de last time I eber sees my Phillis. I 
 specks by dis time dey hab got de work all out 
 ob her, and I hopes dey hab, missy ; for though 
 she neber hear ob dat place where all are made 
 bright, I know she good enough to find de way ; 
 but I hopes she not be too full ob shine, coz I 
 fraid I not know her from de white folks." 
 
 " I hope you will meet her there, indeed, Vingo ; 
 for after such a separation here, how great will be 
 your joy. I feel assured that the poor down- 
 trodden negro will not be in that day forgotten ; 
 the dreadful curse which hangs over your race 
 will then be explained, and I fear there will be 
 many called to an account for the wrongs which 
 they have done their fellow-men. But what be- 
 came of your child, Vingo ? Did you not feel 
 grateful that one of your dear ones was spared to 
 you?" 
 
 " Ah, missy, I tinks dar no place for gratitude 
 in de slabe's heart; and sometimes I specks I
 
 136 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 neber hab a heart, till missy Sea-flower spare me 
 a part ob hers. Well, after Phillis and de young 
 un tuck away, 'pears like I neber look up any 
 more ; and if it not for de little Phillis dat was 
 left, I tink I clean gib up. I takes her wid me to 
 de cotton field, and she lay and look at me all day 
 long, so strange like, as if she want to know why 
 we dar all alone ; and at night I feed her wid de 
 corn-cake, like her poor mammy used to do, and 
 at eb'ry mouthful she look up in my face, den at 
 de door, to see if its mammy not comin'. After a 
 while I gets a little used to de ache, which I hab 
 since Phillis tuck away, and all de time I not at 
 work in de field, I takes care ob de young un, to 
 keep from hearing dat awful shriek, when one 
 mornin' I wakes up, and de little Phillis nowhar 5 
 to be seen, and I 's neber seen her since, missy." 
 
 " They could not surely have robbed you of 
 your only comfort ! O, how dreadful ! " 
 
 " Yes, missy ; I inquires all round if dey see 
 anyting ob my Phillis, but I gets only a laugh 
 from one, and a curse from anoder ; for eben de 
 slabe get so used to de hard treatment ob dar 
 massa, dat dey sometimes show de same spirit 
 towards dar fellows, specially if dey happens to be
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 137 
 
 clean tuck down wid the ' blue imps,' as dey calls 
 it. At last I asks a poor, broken-down ting, dat 
 hab all her young uns sold away from her only a 
 day or two afore, if she know anyting 'bout my 
 young un, and she tells me dar hab been a sale ob 
 a dozen young uns, on de plantation, and she sees 
 massa, long afore day-broke, pack dem into a 
 wagon, and dey carried off. I knows den it no 
 use to look for her any longer, and de more I 
 grows to look down, 'pears like de more dey 
 laughs at me, and dey calls me 'dat moon-hit 
 niggar.' I gets so stupid after a while, dat massa 
 threatens to sell me way down whar dey works 
 de niggars up ; and I gets so, I do n't care how 
 much dey whips me, or anyting else, for I tinks I 
 neber be mysef again, when one day massa takes 
 me wid him down to de boats, to fotch de cotton, 
 and I hears de captain ask, what ail dat fellow 
 to look so blue, and massa tells him, I got a no- 
 tion dat I hab a right to keep my wife and young 
 uns, like I hab de feelin's ob white folks. Den de 
 captain talk' wid massa 'bout buyin' me, and I 
 got to be such a torn-down critter, massa glad to 
 let me go for most anyting, for de sake ob gettin' 
 rid ob me. When de bargain struck, my new 
 12*
 
 138 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 masa Grobener claps me on de shoulder, and says, 
 ' now, my man, come wid me, and see if we can't 
 gib a better 'plexion to matters.' Dem was de 
 first kind words I eber hears from de white man, 
 and after dat I springs right up, like de wilted 
 roses missy brought to life de oder day ; and when 
 de Sea-flower come to us, I tink she sent to 
 smooth ober de rough places, dat hab been gath- 
 ering trough de long years ob my life in slabery." 
 " Yours is a sad history, Vingo, and I am 
 happy if I have helped to make your pathway 
 pleasanter; but do not look upon your life in 
 slavery as having been unprofitably spent, for the 
 very darkness through which you have come, 
 serves to make brighter that glorious light which 
 is now shed o'er your way. Your sad tale has 
 impressed rne with renewed gratitude to our 
 Father for his mercies towards me ; and while I 
 thank him for the many blessings which I have 
 received from his hand, my heart shall also praise 
 him that with these joys have been mingled, 
 the purifying light of his chastening love.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 NATALIE. 
 
 " If ever angels walked this weary earth 
 In human likeness, thou wert one of them." 
 
 ANONYMOUS. 
 
 '"Mid pleasures and palaces, where'er we may roam, 
 Be it ever so humble, there 's no place like home ; 
 A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there 
 Which, seek through the world, is ne'er met with elsewhere." 
 
 MOORE. 
 
 " SAMPSON, Mr. Sampson ! just step this way, 
 and bring your eye to bear a little to the nothe- 
 nothe-east, and tell me what you make." 
 
 " Make, boy, make ! " exclaimed Sampson, 
 thrusting a huge piece of pigtail into his already 
 overcharged, capacious mouth, " I suppose you 
 would have me believe that you 'd made the light 
 of some sweet-heart's eyes, outshining even old 
 Sankoty itself." 
 
 " Three years ago, do you remember it, Samp-
 
 140 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 son, when I was a mere stripling, you took me 
 aside, and pointed out a dim light, away down to 
 the water's edge, and told me I would have seen 
 different days before I made it again ? Do you 
 think I can ever forget it ? I could tell its light from 
 among a thousand ! As I caught its last rays then, 
 it seemed to me the pensive, forgiving smile of 
 my mother, for, as you know, I came away from 
 home without my mother's consent; but I long 
 ago received her forgiveness, and everything will 
 be forgotten in the happiness which we shall en- 
 joy at meeting once more. And my father, he is at 
 home by this time ! How surprised they will all 
 be to see me grown almost to be a man ! I hope 
 the Sea-flower is the same little fairy still. She 
 will not always be a bud, however ; yet the open- 
 ing flower has greater charms." 
 
 "Bless my stars! boy, are you losing your 
 senses ? " asked the astonished Sampson, as Harry 
 walked the deck in raptures, talking as fast as his 
 tongue could fly, as it appeared to the old tar, in 
 riddles. 
 
 " What 's got into your head, boy ? I have al- 
 ways taken you to be the most sensible person 
 aboard, but shiver my topsails, if the fellow do n't
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 141 
 
 talk as if he expected to find old Vineyard Sound 
 turned into a flower garden, with a fairy made fast 
 to every other blossom ! " 
 
 As Sampson delivered himself of this ludicrous 
 remark, Harry burst into a loud fit of laughter, 
 and handing the tar his glass, he sang out " San- 
 koty light, ahoy!" which brought all hands on 
 deck in an instant, rubbing open their eyes, (for it 
 was but the second watch in the morning,) to 
 catch sight of the first object visible of their 
 homes. 
 
 " Three cheers for old Nantucket, and young 
 Grosvenor ! " shouted the captain ; and the ready 
 hu/za which went up, amid the waving of sundry 
 flannel shirts, old boots, and forsaken tarpaulins, 
 which had been caught up by the unshorn tars } 
 as the sound of their near proximity to home 
 aroused them from the dreamy visions thereof to 
 the vivid realities, were borne over the waters 
 which separated them from thence, deceiving the 
 red-combed heralds of the day into the belief of 
 an early dawn, judging from the signs of recogni- 
 tion which met their approach, as the first tinge 
 of red lit up the eastern sky. 
 
 Nobly the good ship Nautilus bore down to the
 
 142 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 bar, setting heavily on the water, and the good 
 twenty-five hundred with which she was laden, 
 was no less weighty than the handfuls of silver 
 which danced o'er the minds of the glad sailor 
 boys, as they neared their native shore. None 
 were more light-hearted at the prospect before 
 them than Harry Grosvenor ; not that he had be- 
 come weary of the sailor's life, for he loved the 
 ocean with the same free, wild love as when three 
 years before, it had beckoned his boyish heart to 
 brave its perils ; but his joy, as the endeared ob- 
 jects of his home, one by one, welcomed him in 
 his fancy, was unbounded, and he could not 
 realize that he should so soon greet the dear ones 
 who had been the subjects of his most precious 
 thoughts, through the many days which had sep- 
 arated them. 
 
 " Well, my boy," said Sampson, as he grasped 
 Harry by the hand, " we 've sailed under a clear 
 sky for the most of the time, and we 've held to- 
 gether about as good as the strongest, but there 's 
 no use in shedding fresh water tears over it, for 1 'm 
 thinking this '11 .not be your last voyage, and as 
 for me, there 's nothing to hinder my hanging 
 around this little sand-heap a bit longer ; and who
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 143 
 
 knows but we may try it again some day. Who 
 knows? ah, who knows that John Sampson is 
 not lying at this moment at the bottom of the 
 sea ? Who is there that cares to know ? " 
 
 " This, I know, is not your home, Mr. Samp- 
 son ; but have you not one friend ? is there no 
 spot in the wide world which is dear to you ? is 
 there not one who will welcome you home ? " 
 
 " All places are the same to me, and I can 
 truly say, there is not a person on the whole earth 
 that would ' 'bout ship ' to get a look at me. To 
 be sure, I was brought up somehow, till I was 
 able to take myself up, but by whom, or where, is 
 farther back than the story goes ; all I know is, I 
 found myself, at six years old, on the top of a 
 London dust heap, taking a survey of the great 
 metropolis. Whether I was left there by the 
 refuse gatherers, to come under the head of 
 starved dogs, or whether I was accidentally 
 dropped by my lawful owner, it do n't make 
 much difference. Well, I shook the dust out of 
 my eyes, and made for the water, and I 've lived 
 on the water for the most part ever since. But 
 there 's one comfort about it, I 've never been 
 troubled with poor relations," added he, jocosely.
 
 144 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 " Mr. Sampson, yours is a strange history, and 
 what is stranger still, that you have not, in all 
 your yarns in the forecastle, spun us this one. 
 But have you never, in all your wanderings, met 
 with those whom you can call your friends ? " 
 
 " A rough old tar like me, I must say, would 
 not be the most inviting craft to interchange sig- 
 nals with, but, thank God, I have found one, in 
 my long life of wanderings who was worthy the 
 name of friend ! but she, kind, beautiful lady, is 
 gone ; " and the rough tar drew his sleeve across 
 his eyes, and turning toward the island, mut- 
 tered, " twelve, yes, fifteen years ago this very 
 month, and I the only one saved ! I worked hard, 
 but it was of no use ; it was to be. I 'd gladly 
 have gone down to have saved her." 
 
 " Well, Sampson, I think it is you who are los- 
 ing your senses now," said Harry, as he listened 
 to his inaudible words ; " but you shall not say 
 you have not a friend so long as my craft sails the 
 ocean, for I never shall forget your kindness to me 
 and my faithful old Nep, while exposed to the 
 harsh treatment of our former captain ; and de- 
 pend upon it, you will have made other true 
 friends, when the dear ones at home shall have
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 145 
 
 heard of your generous conduct. I have one of 
 the best of mothers, Mr. Sampson, and a sister 
 who would make you a better man to look into 
 her heaven-speaking eyes ! A likeness of her was 
 among my valuables when I left home, but it has 
 been by some means mislaid." 
 
 " A better man, eh ? well, there 's room enough 
 for that! I shall have to lie under a close reef, 
 and by the help of my glass, I may get sight of 
 her some day." 
 
 The crew of the Nautilus, after having made 
 themselves as tidy as a six months' beard, and a 
 suit of three years' usage would admit, prepared 
 to go ashore. As Harry stepped upon the wharf, 
 he looked among the ships lying at the dock, for 
 the Tantalizer, but not seeing her, he concluded 
 she must have put to sea again, and taking his 
 package upon his shoulder, he whistled for Nep- 
 tune, and turned his footsteps homeward. How 
 familiar was every object as he tripped along the 
 street ! everything appeared the same as when he 
 left, and as he passed the old church, it seemed as 
 if it was but yesterday when he had kneeled upon 
 the door-stone in prayer for those who \vere sleep- 
 ing, unconscious of the sorrow which awaited 
 13
 
 146 NATALIE J OR, 
 
 them. His heart beat wildly as he drew near his 
 home, so great was his joy that he had not ob- 
 served that Nep had not accompanied him from 
 the ship. It was evident that he would take the 
 family by surprise, for not even old Vingo was to 
 be seen about the premises. Noiselessly he opened 
 the door; his mother was sitting with her face 
 from him, engaged with her sewing, and at her 
 feet sat the Sea-flower, so absorbed, reading his 
 last letter, that she was not aware of his presence 
 till he threw his arms about his mother's neck, and 
 sobbed like a child. As he turned to his sister he 
 faltered ; what a change had been wrought in her 
 in three years ! The child, whose mature mind 
 had not been in accordance with her years, had 
 come to be a fair maiden of sixteen summers! 
 The bud had indeed expanded, till now its un- 
 folding leaves were as new-born rays of love, re- 
 minding Earth of Heaven. The Sea-flower saw 
 that her brother hesitated in giving her his usual 
 salutation, and throwing herself into his arms, she 
 said, "I am the little Sea-flower still, dear 
 Harry ; I shall always be the same simple child ; 
 but how you have grown, dear brother! I can 
 hardly believe you are the little rogue who u-e\l
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 147 
 
 to hide my pet kitten, because you loved to see the 
 tears come into my eyes, and you would look at 
 me without speaking a word, till I would laugh 
 outright, and break the charm, as you said ; and 
 then the tears would come in your own eyes, for 
 fear you had been selfish. But I felt that my 
 tears were not in vain, for I usually found some 
 little stranger among the bright-eyed ones, that 
 looked up to me for protection." 
 
 " I knew I should find you the same dear sister 
 as ever! I knew you would always be the same ;" 
 and as the vague remembrance that she was of 
 other parentage flashed across his mind, he mod- 
 estly pressed her hand to his lips, and gazed into 
 her beautiful face in silence. 
 
 Harry observed that his mother had lost her 
 cheerful, happy expression, which had given her the 
 youthful look not of her years, and he feared that 
 his conduct had been a source of deeper grief to 
 her than he had supposed; but now that she 
 again looked upon her son, her pale, pensive face 
 was lit up with the smile of contentment, and a 
 heart of thanks was hers that so many blessings 
 Were yet her portion. 
 
 A. noise which strongly reminded Harry of
 
 148 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 the rattling of the rigging in a gale of wind, 
 was now heard in the hall, and Vingo pre- 
 sented himself at the door ; he looked at Harry, 
 then at his mistress, while the pupil of his eye 
 gave place to its lighter counterpart, and raising 
 both hands, he exclaimed, "De good Lord be 
 praised ! 'pears like I couldn't be ajiy fuller ob 
 laugh if I find old Phillis hersef!" and grasping 
 his master's extended hand, he laughed until it 
 seemed as if the corners of his mouth would 
 meet. 
 
 " I 's right glad to see you, young massa, 'deed 
 I is ; but where is de old fellow Neptune ? " 
 
 " Yes, yes, where is the faithful creature ? " 
 asked Sea-flower ; at our joy in seeing you, we 
 have quite forgotten him." 
 
 Just then the dog's well remembered bark was 
 heard at the door, and on opening it, the animal 
 marched in, and laying a little parcel which he 
 had brought in his mouth, upon the floor, he 
 jumped upon the Sea-flower, nearly overpowering 
 her, in his delight frisking from one to the other 
 as if he were mad. Harry was now, for the first 
 time, aware that the dog had not come with him, 
 and examining the parcel which he had brought,
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 140 
 
 to his no little astonishment he found it was the 
 identical curiously wrought block, which he had 
 found after that dreadful night of the storm. 
 Among the many gifts which he had brought home 
 to his rnothe"r and sister, he had forgotten this 
 simple one, and now he remembered that he had 
 not seen it for a long time. Why the dog should 
 have noticed so trifling a thing, was indeed sin- 
 gular. Harry related the circumstances by which 
 he had come in possession of the curiosity, and 
 from the presents of silks, crapes, fruits, etc., which 
 he had brought to the Sea-flower, she turned to 
 the mysterious little curiosity with a greater in- 
 terest, examining the grotesque figures with a fas- 
 cination, when accidentally pressing a pearl set- 
 ting, the box (for such it was discovered to be,) 
 flew open, and revealed to her bewildered gaze 
 what ? good God ! is it possible ? Neatly lined 
 is the box, and lying therein a cross ! the same 
 which the Sea-flower had wrought with her own 
 hands, and given her father when she saw him 
 last! Carved at the head of the cross are these 
 words, " You will soon come to me again ; then 
 you will never leave us ; " the child's last words 
 to her father. O, how didthey fall upon her heart 
 13*
 
 150 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 now! It seemed as -if he were speaking to her 
 from the skies, and unconsciously she looked up- 
 ward, as if she might indeed catch the tones of 
 her father's voice, bidding her come away. " We 
 will come," she softly whispered, " we shall soon 
 be with you there ; " and turning to her mother, 
 she added, " it is not far, that better land ; we 
 may hear their glad shouts, if we will listen." 
 
 Over that cross, emblematic of the Lamb who 
 was slain that we might live, was shed tears from 
 a widow's heart ; but those tears were not of 
 mourning for the departed, for through her who 
 was made but a little lower than the angels, those 
 tears had been turned into joy. The child who 
 had ever walked in that narrow way, as if it were 
 the only path in which the children of earth might 
 tread, had taught her bereaved mother, that those 
 precious words from the book of life, which she 
 had ever recognized, but had not strength to cling 
 thereto in the hour of trial, were truly Christ's 
 words of tenderness ; she could now smile upon 
 the chastening rod. Those dying words, as it 
 were of him who had gone, were as balm to the 
 heart of Mrs. Grosvenor and the Sea-flower, for 
 what could be more drefldful than that they should
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 151 
 
 never learn of his last moments ? But to Harry, 
 who had been just upon the point of asking for 
 his father, it was as the dark funeral pall to his 
 soul, and he staggered to a chair. 
 
 " Where is my father ? " he asked, in a hollow 
 voice. 
 
 " In Heaven ! " was the response of the Sea- 
 flower. 
 
 There was silence in that house. Sorrow, 
 which had reigned for a time around that hearth- 
 stone, still lingered, striving to supersede the joy 
 which must go hand in hand with purity ; but its 
 icy touch was to be of gentler mien, its cold, cold 
 breath mingling with that pf more genial spheres, 
 helping to swell the " Father, thy will be done." 
 This was a dreadful announcement to Harry, a 
 stroke which he was not prepared to receive ; and 
 now did the past come to his remembrance with 
 sickening frenzy. That terrific night ! he had, at 
 the peril of his life, implored that heartless being 
 to listen to the stranger's cry of distress, to stretch 
 out to him the hand of brotherly love ; and that 
 cry for help was now sounding in his ear with re- 
 newed freshness, for it was from his own loved 
 father !
 
 152 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 " Oh, what an undutiful son I have been ! " 
 cried Harry ; " had I known then what I know 
 now ! and yet, the fiend would not have turned a 
 hand, had it been his own father! Thank God, I 
 have his forgiveness for disobeying his last com- 
 mands! 'tis the one great lesson of my life, and 
 should I live a hundred years, I will never deviate 
 from what I think would have been my parent's 
 wishes." 
 
 ^ Natalie ! " the Sea-flower gazed upon that 
 name, the name of her father's choice, a simple 
 word, but Oh, what volumes did it speak ! there 
 seemed to be a very sacredness hanging about the 
 tone. As time sped onward, leaving far behind 
 the past, but not burying it, the sweet, child-like 
 Sea-flower was gradually putting on the gentle, 
 mystic form of Natalie ; and though the name had 
 become familiar to other ears, to her its impress 
 was as when she reverently looked upon that cross 
 of Christ, at the foot of which was traced that 
 which she could not but associate therewith. 
 The depth of her dreamy eyes spoke not only of 
 him who had left them, but they told of the soul's 
 instinct in regard to that which was as yet unre- 
 vealed.
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA- WEEDS. 153 
 
 " Well, massa, I tinks de sun make up he mind 
 to take a look out at us once more," remarked 
 Vingo, as seated astride a wood-horse, he was 
 making vigorous exertions to take the nautical 
 expression frpm his young master's boots. 
 
 " Then you have had rather a dark time of it at 
 home here, have you, Vingo? have been rather 
 lonely?" 
 
 " Yes, 'deed it has, massa Harry ; I 'fraid some- 
 times dat I lose my self-complexion entirely, and I 
 tinks you not find so much ob me left, if it not for 
 missy's bright light, dat shine along de way. 
 Dare not anoder like her, massa ; but I dunno as 
 dat 's strange, for de stars not come down to 
 bathe in de ocean ebery day." 
 
 " You are getting sentimental, Vingo," and an 
 expression of thought stole over Harry's features, 
 and he remained silent, for he could not bring 
 himself to disclose even to Vingo, his knowledge 
 of the mystery in regard to the fair creature who 
 called him brother. He could not bear to think 
 that she was not his sister; and yet, had his 
 memory not served him thus, he must have ob- 
 served how unlike she was to any member of the 
 family.
 
 154 XATALIE ; OR, 
 
 " Mother, you have looked very thoughtful for 
 the last few days. I hope that now we are to- 
 gether once more, there is nothing to disturb your 
 happiness," remarked Harry, as the two sat to- 
 gether on the little promenade ground in front of 
 the house, enjoying the beautiful sunset of a sum- 
 mer's evening. 
 
 " There is nothing which makes me unhappy 
 now, for although ' we know not what a day may 
 bring forth,' yet I have learned to smile under the 
 most trying dispensations of Providence, knowing 
 that His ways are higher than our ways ; but," 
 and her voice was hushed almost to a whisper, 
 " there has been something upon my mind of late, 
 of which I would make you a confidant, my son." 
 
 There was a pause, well did Harry judge of 
 what his mother would speak, and looking into 
 her face, he said, " Natalie, she is not my sis- 
 ter by birth, yet I shall ever claim her as such ; 
 and I know, should she learn that she was of 
 other parentage to-morrow, she would cling to 
 you, mother, as her dearest earthly friend." 
 
 " And for that reason I know she is of noble 
 birth. But tell me, Harry, can it be that you, 
 who was but a child, remember the circum- 
 stance ? "
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 155 
 
 " Yes, mother, I can well remember the infant 
 with the gold bands, and the pretty white dress, 
 all wet with salt water ; then were my first ideas 
 of innocency." 
 
 " She has proved a rich blessing to us, and I do 
 not feel that I can ever part with her; but I have 
 been thinking it was selfish, indeed, in keeping 
 her with us, to deprive her of those advantages 
 which would fit her for filling the station which I 
 can plainly see belongs to her. Not but that she 
 might finish her education at home, for our island 
 can rank among the first in her systems of educa- 
 tion, and there are many of our citizens who are 
 recognized by our most literary friends of the 
 continent, as among the first in the arts and sci- 
 ences ; but I think it would be greatly to her ad- 
 vantage to see more of the world, and my purpose is 
 to accept the urgent request of a dear friend resid- 
 ing in Boston, that my daughter should spend some 
 time in her family, where she may receive the 
 same excellent instructions with her own child. 
 Our means have been for the last year or two 
 somewhat curtailed, yet as long as we have 
 enough to be comfortable, we will share with her 
 what she most justly deserves."
 
 156 NATALIE ; or., 
 
 "Yes, mother, give my portion to 'her; I can 
 take care of myself, and you shall not want for 
 anything so long as I can help you. I do not 
 know how we can let her go, but it is for the best. 
 She will learn of this world, and they will learn 
 of another." 
 
 As- the two had been speaking, they had not 
 observed a light form, reclining under a flowering 
 currant, which only separated them from the ob- 
 ject of their conversation. It was a little arbor, 
 formed by a clustering rose, vieing with the flow- 
 ering currant in fragrance ; thither had the Sea- 
 flower repaired, and as the softest rays of a north- 
 ern sky, at sunset, sank into her soul, mingling 
 with more mellow light than is of southern 
 climes, these words fell upon her ear, " Natalie, 
 she is not my sister by birth." She paused to 
 hear no more, for she knew the. conversation was 
 not designed for her, and noiselessly gliding from 
 the spot, she sought her own room. The crescent 
 moon came forth, and beheld the fair maiden 
 gazing far out over the silver-edged billows, her 
 head resting upon her hand, her golden tresses 
 falling gracefully over her shoulders, while from 
 the deep recesses of her heart there sprung up that
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 157 
 
 which had ever been, and yet was not, and took 
 to itself a form. 
 
 " Good morning, Natalie, did I not know you 
 retired early last night, I should say you look a 
 little unrefreshed. Where are the roses of yester- 
 day ? they should not fade in a single night." 
 
 " Roses will fade, mother, and there are those 
 which await the genial rays of light before their 
 unfolding," replied Sea-flower; "but I did not 
 retire until quite late last evening, for everything 
 was so beautiful and glad, that I loved to look 
 out upon the night ; and such beautiful thoughts 
 came to my mind, that I think I must have fallen 
 asleep, and dreamed ; and yet I was awake, for I 
 was conscious of watching the water, as it spar- 
 kled in the moonlight. As the waves broke upon 
 the shore, they seemed to be striving, one with an- 
 other, to see which should venture the nearest, 
 till at last there came one, which lifted its head 
 high above the rest, and as it receded, I saw there 
 was left upon the beach a tiny, shining thing, 
 which resembled many drops of dew. Just then 
 the light clouds separated, and there looked down 
 a star, so mild, and presently there came another, 
 equally mild, and the two finally blended into 
 
 14
 
 158 NATALIE; on, 
 
 one, still hovering over the glittering one upon the 
 beach. At last there seemed to be a stream of 
 light connecting one with the other; T looked 
 again, and the tiny thing which was left of the 
 waves, had gone to be with the brighter one be- 
 yond the clouds. Presently I looked again, and 
 there were the three, but they were changed. 
 The first star which had appeared, seemed now to 
 be a lovely lady, oh, so gentle! the second was 
 yourself, dear mother, and the shining one which 
 had gone to them, appeared to be myself! The 
 gentle lady took us each by the hand, and when I 
 saw her smile upon you so sweetly, I began to 
 weep, and the lady took me in her arms, and 
 wiped my tears away. I was awakened from my 
 revery by my sobs, for it all appeared so real, and 
 my tears made me happier." 
 
 Mrs. Grosvenor listened to her child with aston- 
 ishment. " It was a most striking dream, indeed, 
 she remarked ; but fearing the Sea-flower might 
 notice her surprise, she drew her arm about her, 
 and introduced the subject which for some time 
 past had been uppermost in her mind. 
 
 " What do you think of spending a little time 
 away from home, my dear? How should you
 
 A GEM AMONG TUB SKA-WEEDS. 159 
 
 like to graduate with Boston honors ? to learn the 
 customs of city life ? " 
 
 " I shall like it much, if it is your wish that I 
 should go, mother ; but I know no life will be 
 pleasanter than the happy days which we have 
 spent here in our own quiet home." 
 
 " Perhaps you will not always think thus ; you 
 may find greater joys in the attractions which are 
 before you, yet, I trust, my child, your affection 
 for your mother will be no less, whatever your 
 circumstances may be." 
 
 " Oh, mother, how can that be possible ? Do 
 not repeat the words ! How can it be that I shall 
 ever love you less ? " 
 
 " No, my child, it will not be ; I wrong you in 
 speaking such thoughts. I cannot bear to part 
 with you, even for a little time, yet I will not 
 gratify my desires at your loss ; and in giving you 
 to the care of my most estimable friend, Mrs. 
 Santon, I shall feel that you are under the influ- 
 ence of one of the best of women." 
 
 " I shall love her for your sake, but I know I 
 shall miss the dear ones at home so much!" 
 
 The time came when the Sea-flower should 
 leave her home, to learn what 't is the world is
 
 160 NATALIE. 
 
 made of, and taking an affectionate farewell of 
 the family, (the red bandana of Vingo being 
 counted among the articles of utility,) she was 
 borne lightly over the billows, leaving her island 
 home far, far behind.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 SOFTLY STEALING AS THE EVENING VESPER BELL. 
 
 " And she was one on whom to fix my heart, - 
 To sit beside me when my thoughts are sad, 
 And by her tender playfulness impart 
 Some of her pure joy to me." PERCIVAL. 
 
 " Patience and hope, that keep the soul, 
 
 Unruffled and serene, 
 Though floods of grief beneath it roll, 
 
 I learn, when calm and pure, 
 I see the floating water-lily, 
 Gleam amid shadows dark and chilly.' 
 
 CAROLINE MAT. 
 
 THE Sea-flower arrived at her new home in 
 safety, the home of our western friends, the 
 Santons. The continued ill-health of Mrs. San- 
 ton had been the chief cause of the return of the 
 family to the east. By a favorable turn of for- 
 tune, Mr. Santon had come into possession of 
 nearly double the amount of his former wealth, 
 14*
 
 162 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 and he was now looked upon as one of Boston's 
 most prominent citizens. The selling of western 
 lands, which he had obtained for a mere trifle, 
 had been the chief source of revenue in building 
 up his fortune. The little Winifred, whom we 
 left making merry over the Erin simplicity of 
 Biddy and Patrick, had grown to be a young miss 
 of seventeen. Those black eyes of hers, which 
 had attracted the gaze of the tall western youths 
 for the last time, had in no way lost their bril- 
 liancy. Mischief still sat triumphant therein, and 
 not a day passed but some poor uninitiated was 
 brought to test the merits of that gift. Miss 
 Winnie looked upon this removal to more enlight- 
 ened regions, as a change altogether for the best ; 
 for how could such as she, at that age which 
 never comes but once in a lifetime, be content to 
 feed on air, a la prairie. She had tired of look- 
 ing at the same half-dozen raw-boned gallants, 
 and had come to the grand final decision, that her 
 charms should not be wasted thus ; and now that 
 she was surrounded by those urbane solicitors, 
 which do mingle with those of more enlargement 
 of brain in fashionable life, they, in turn, began 
 to fear lest those charms might not prove for 
 such as them.
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 163 
 
 " Mother," asked Winnie, a few days before the 
 arrival of the Sea-flower, "who is this friend 
 whom you have invited to visit us? that is, I 
 mean to ask, what is she like ? I have often 
 heard you speak of your early friend, Mrs. Gros- 
 venor, but you have never seen her daughter, and 
 who knows but she may be, well, I wont say ; 
 but you know Nan tucket is but an isolated, out- 
 of-the-way place, where fishermen live, and the 
 society in which she has moved, will probably 
 unfit her for enjoying ours. But she will be with 
 us in a day or two, so we shall have to make the 
 best of it." 
 
 " It is many years since I have seen Mrs. Gros- 
 venor ; we met when we were both young mar- 
 ried ladies, at the house of a friend of mine, in 
 New York, where she was visiting, and I formed 
 an attachment for her then, which has never 
 abated. We have kept ourselves informed of 
 each other's welfare from time to time, and think- 
 ing that the daughter might possess the same 
 amiable disposition as her mother, I thought that 
 her presence in our family might be pleasant to 
 us all, besides gaining for her, under your teach- 
 ers of music and the languages, a finished educa-
 
 164 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 tion. As for society in Nantucket, I have never 
 learned of what grade it is ; but judging from the 
 appearance of the only person I have ever met 
 from there, I do not consider them far behind the 
 age." 
 
 " Well, I hope I shall like her, I am sure ; she 
 has a sweet name, Natalie ; perhaps we shall 
 like her, after all. But Nantucket brought to my 
 mind such visions of unrefined oil, that I really 
 began to tremble, lest we might come in closer 
 contact therewith than would be at all agreeable " 
 
 " Mrs. Santon received the Sea-flower with a 
 mother's tenderness, but being weary with her 
 journey, Natalie retired early, to dream of those 
 far, low murmurings of the deep, which she had 
 so missed, in lulling her to rest." 
 
 "lam so disappointed in her, mother! she is 
 such a gentle, delicate creature ! I know I shall 
 love her ! And such spiritual eyes ! Did you no- 
 tice when you asked about her mother, what a 
 sweet expression she wore ? " 
 
 " She is a beautiful creature, and if I mistake 
 not, she has a heart to match ; but she does not 
 resemble her mother at all, in features ; I think 
 Captain Grosvenor must have been a fine-looking
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 165 
 
 man ; " and Mrs. Santon wore a complacent look, 
 as she thought of the favorable effect which their 
 guest might have upon the mind of her daughter; 
 for owing to frequent ill-health, Mrs. Santon had 
 not been able to be with her child as much as she 
 would have desired, and she feared lest those early 
 traits in her character of impatience, and a prone- 
 ness to censure others, might grow upon her, un- 
 der the influence of her father, who was blind to 
 her every fault." 
 
 " Ah, ha, miss puss," said Mr. Santon, who had 
 received a most favorable impression of the Sea- 
 flower, " you will have to look out for that fairy- 
 like creature, or even your bewitching charms will 
 be cast in the shade ! " and as he spoke he proudly 
 surveyed his idolized daughter, who was indeed 
 to be classed among the first in the brunette style 
 of beauty. 
 
 " Oh, never fear for me, father," replied "Winnie, 
 taking a satisfied survey of her full-length figure, 
 reflected in a pier-glass; "if Boston forgets Win- 
 nie Santon's black eyes, she will be perfectly re- 
 signed in gazing into the soul-speaking orbs, 
 which shall usurp her power." 
 
 Other days -than those which had been spent in
 
 166 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 sweet seclusion on Nantucket's peaceful shores, 
 now dawned upon the Sea-flower. Although not 
 a day passed in which she did not sigh for one 
 dear familiar tone from those she loved so well, 
 for her mother's fond embrace, and the free, glad 
 laugh of brother Harry, yet she was happy, excel- 
 ling in those pursuits which seemed to recognize 
 her touch ; and her soft voice, as. it were of Ital- 
 ian origin, grew to be " the sunshine of the house." 
 As Biddy often declared, " it was a great saving 
 of canary seed, to have Miss Natalie about the 
 house." 
 
 Time glided on apace with the Sea-flower, as 
 each day brought some new task, calling into 
 activity some talent which had been lying in a 
 dormant state, awaiting its time for expanding. 
 Her teacher of music, an Italian by birth, and of 
 great fame in his profession, was in raptures with 
 the progress of his two pupils, and in the extraor- 
 dinary talent displayed by the Sea-flower, was he 
 perfectly amazed ; for not only was her voice of 
 that soft, mellow style, peculiar to the Italian peo- 
 ple, but she performed those pieces which had 
 but just been introduced to an American ear, with 
 all that impassioned tenderness peculiar to that 
 nation.
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA- WEEDS. 167 
 
 " I believe you be one of my people ! " ex- 
 claimed the Signor, after listening in breathless 
 attention to a new piece which he had brought 
 for her ; her echoing tones died away, and rose 
 again with gentler pathos, softly, and with sweeter 
 tone, to fall again. 
 
 Unconsciously her eyes were fixed upon the 
 Signor as he spoke, and her thoughts were car- 
 ried back, far away ; she knew not whither they 
 would take her, but rousing from her reverie, she 
 merely replied, "I love the peculiar air of your 
 nation, it presents such a striking contrast to our 
 cold, less pathetic style ; but do not exclude what 
 Winnie terms 'the productions of the genii's 
 more sensible moments ' from my list of favorites, 
 for, as there are hours which are divided into sixty 
 distinct parts, so there are divisions within the 
 human heart, which must live each upon its own 
 native air." 
 
 " Natalie, darling, what were you talking with 
 the Signor about ? From the few words which I 
 caught, of the human heart, etc., I did not know 
 but the presence of a third person might be agree- 
 ably dispensed with;" and it was overtaxing 
 the fringed lids of the mischievous Winnie's
 
 168 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 eyes, in adding to their duties the office of sen- 
 tinel. 
 
 " Ah, you rogue, have your critic's ears been 
 listening to my feeble endeavors to repay the 
 Signer for his untiring labors ? " 
 
 " One can hear your music without listening, 
 for I was deep in thought of the time when I 
 shall come out from under the tyrannical power 
 of instructors, and can do as I like ; for rny part, 
 I am tired to death of this continual, ' Miss 
 Winifred, this piece must be executed with milder 
 intonations ; ' or, ' Miss Winifred, that chapter of 
 Spanish must be told with greater fluency.' I 
 have come to dread the very name of Professor, 
 and I never can look out of the window but I see 
 some pale-faced gentleman of the profession ap- 
 proaching, with his badge under his arm; but 
 those edifying ideas all vanished at the first strain 
 of your ' Casta Diva.' If I could produce such 
 an effect, what would I not give ; " and the beauty 
 drew her arm around the Sea-flower, and spoke 
 in a lower tone. 
 
 " Natalie, you know I shall come out on my. 
 eighteenth birthday, and that will be in a very 
 short time ; then I can do as I like ; but how
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 169 
 
 can I let all of these charming performances of 
 the celebrated Madam Forresti, whose name is 
 in every mouth, pass without hearing her? I 
 must say, I was completely nonplussed, when 
 young Montague asked me, this morning, what I 
 thought of her ! and when I told him I had not 
 heard her as yet, he was perfectly astonished, and 
 said I must hear her this very night ! " 
 
 " But you did not accept of his invitation, 
 Winnie ? " 
 
 " How could I resist such a temptation ? J 
 have been longing to hear Madam Forresti, and 
 with Mr. Montague for an escort, I do not see the 
 least impropriety in attending. I need not trouble 
 mother about it, for she is so nervous to-day she 
 will not leave her room ; and I do not think she 
 can object to my going." 
 
 " Oh, Winnie ! how could you do so ? I know 
 your mother would not wish you to appear in 
 public with Mr. Montague ! Not but that he may 
 be worthy of attention, but he is the same as a 
 stranger to us, for your father has known him but 
 a little while, and I noticed that your mother ap- 
 peared uneasy when he called last, for he has made 
 us frequent visits, on so short an acquaintance." 
 
 15
 
 170 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 " You do not surely suppose that my father 
 would introduce any one into his family, who is 
 not a fit associate for his daughter?" retorted 
 Winnie, her face flushing with excitement. 
 
 " No, I do not think so ; but you would not go 
 without consulting your mother's wishes ? " 
 
 " And why not ? Mother will never be the 
 wiser for it, and I cannot see that she can reason- 
 ably object ; besides, am I always to be a child ? 
 I must some time or other act for myself." 
 
 " Dear Winnie, do not talk so ! You have one 
 of the best of mothers, and she will not deprive 
 you of any pleasure, unless it is for .your own 
 good. But do not be displeased with me for 
 speaking my thoughts, for I love you as a sister, 
 and cannot bear to have you do anything that 
 would not be right." 
 
 Winnie was about to give way to those pas- 
 sions which an indulged child invariably pos- 
 sesses, and being naturally of a very sensitive na- 
 ture, she could not sit easy under those opinions 
 from others, which were in opposition to her own 
 views, and trembling with rage, she turned to the 
 Sea-flower, but the fire of her eye was subdued, 
 her tongue did not give utterance to the bitter,
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 171 
 
 cruel words, which would have sounded so 
 strangely upon an ear that had never known such 
 tones ! she gave one look at the gentle, submissive 
 face of the Sea-flower, and burst into tears. 
 Such tears, from the high-spirited Winnie Santon, 
 was a strange sight. Her proud, rebellious spirit 
 had for once been conquered, and what was not 
 such a lesson worth ? 
 
 " O, Natalie ! " she exclaimed, " how I wish I 
 could be like you! I was just upon the point of 
 saying what I know I should have repented ! I 
 am so glad you have come to be with us ! " 
 
 Nothing more was said about going to hear 
 Madame Forresti, but when evening came, Win- 
 nie, after leaving a message with Biddy for Mr. 
 . Montague, that she must be excused, sought her 
 mother's room, where she found Sea-flower, who 
 was reading to the invalid, and the rich tones of 
 her voice conveyed far more happiness to her 
 heart, than would have been hers, had she listened 
 to the far-famed songstress T with a conscience 
 speaking of undutifulness. Natalie was reading 
 from the " Christian's Hope," and as she read, 
 ever and anon cast her eye toward Winnie, who 
 appeared unusually thoughtful. The nervous
 
 172 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 state, however, of Mrs. Santon would admit of 
 but little excitement, and as Natalie closed her 
 book, and rose to bid her good-night, she ob- 
 served that she looked unusually happy, and tak- 
 ing her dear children by the hand, she thanked 
 them tenderly for their devoted attention to her, 
 and drawing close to Winnie she whispered in 
 her ear, " It is such a comfort to me, dear, that 
 you prefer your mother's sick room to more at- 
 tractive society ! " Had she known of the strug- 
 gle which had been going on in her daughter's 
 heart, through the influence of the gentle one 
 whom she looked upon as a well-loved child, her 
 eye could hardly have been brighter than it was, 
 as her child pressed a kiss upon her forehead, and 
 said, " I shall always love best to be with you 
 mother." 
 
 That night Winnie retired with a determination 
 to strive to overcome her sinful ways, and as she 
 heard the voice of the Sea-flower at her evening 
 devotions, (their rooms adjoining,) she spoke 
 aloud, " I will try to be more like her." With 
 this resolve, she fell asleep ; but as the rising sun 
 peeped in at her window, there were to be found 
 no traces of her evening resolutions! If any-
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 173 
 
 thing, mischief looked out upon the new day with 
 renewed earnestness, and Winnie Santon was the 
 same gay, reckless creature as ever. 
 
 " Ah, ha, miss puss, so your bow is new strung 
 again, is it?" said Mr. Santon to his daughter, 
 as the door closed upon one of the mustached 
 upper ten, who frequently found their way to the 
 elegant mansion of Mr. Santon. 
 
 " ' New strung ' with an old string, father ; if 
 these exquisites are foolish enough to burn their 
 fingers a second time, they must suffer the conse- 
 quences." 
 
 Mr. Santon laughed, and merely said, " Oh, 
 you cruel beauty ! " returning to his paper again ; 
 but, seated in the bay-window was one, who 
 could not thus lightly look upon the conduct of 
 the coquettish Winnie, for it was evident she was 
 a sad coquette. Often had Natalie observed her, 
 as she received each admirer with the same be- 
 witching smile, impressing him with the belief 
 that he of all others was the favored one, and he 
 would depart, to return again as early as the rules 
 of propriety would admit, considering the fair one 
 was not yet out. 
 
 " Natalie," asked Winnie, as she seated herself 
 15*
 
 174 NATALIE ; on, 
 
 at her embroidery, " why did you not deign to 
 give Mr. Redfield one of your winning smiles ? 
 You are so reserved, and take so little notice of 
 the gentlemen, that I shall begin to think your 
 charms are doomed to fade beneath the convent 
 veil." 
 
 " I was not aware that I did not receive Mr. 
 Redfield with cordiality." 
 
 " Yes, but the absence of that fascinating air, 
 which you know would bring the most unyielding 
 to your feet, is what I am lamenting. Had Mr. 
 Redfield been my only admirer, I should have 
 been jealous of the glances which he cast at you ; 
 but I do n't know as there would be any occasion 
 for that, for you, whose heart is made for love, 
 seem to be in no danger at present of losing it." 
 
 " I certainly respect the gentlemen who visit us, 
 but as for having a preference for one more than 
 another, I have not ; and, Winnie dear, just ask 
 yourself if you ever give one thought to any one 
 of those who deceive themselves by thinking that 
 they, of all others, are preeminent in your regards." 
 
 " I must acknowledge that I do not give them 
 a thought, after the door once closes upon them ; 
 poor, deluded creatures ! " 
 
 " But do you trfi nk it right to deceive them thus ?"
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 175 
 
 " Natie, darling, if you were not the most ro- 
 mantic creature that ever was, I should call you 
 Miss Matter-of-fact ! But really, I do n't know 
 as there is anything very criminal in helping such 
 people to open their eyes ; they find out, sooner 
 or later, that I am of the opinion, " there are as 
 good fish in the sea as ever was caught." 
 
 The Sea-flower said no more, for she feared her 
 words might be worse than useless ; but such are 
 never idle words, and though Winnie appeared to 
 give them little heed, yet many times afterward, 
 in the midst of her gaiety, did she remember the 
 Sea-flower's question, " is it right to deceive 
 
 thus? ' 
 
 ********** 
 
 " Eighteen years old to-day ! Mother, just 
 eighteen to-day!" shouted "Winnie, as she came 
 into the breakfast room, her cheeks vieing with 
 the red of the rose; "how happy I am!" and 
 casting a look of contempt at the hot rolls and 
 coffee, as if such things were hereafter to be 
 classed among the necessities of the past, she 
 went bounding away to find her father. Opening 
 the door of the boudoir, she paused ; arranged upon 
 the table were her birth-day gifts, and Mr. Santon
 
 176 NATALIE ; OK, 
 
 had spared no pains to make the collection as rare 
 as possible. In the centre of the table was a 
 set of diamonds for the hair, and as Winnie 
 clasped them about her dark tresses, she laughed 
 outright, exclaiming, " They are so handsome! 
 papa, I cannot wait for night to come! But what 
 is this? " she asked, drawing from a case a string 
 of pearls, and holding them up to the light. In 
 the centre of the collection was one curiously 
 wrought pearl, so formed as to represent a star, 
 and the sparkling of several diamonds from within, 
 produced a very brilliant effect. Examining it 
 closely, she discovered the initials, " N. G.," 
 wrought upon the setting. 
 
 " It is for you, Natalie ! " she exclaimed to the 
 Sea-flower, who stood enjoying Winnie's delight. 
 " I thank you, father, for remembering dear 
 Natalie." 
 
 " Is it for me ? " asked Natalie, hesitating to re- 
 ceive the gift. 
 
 " Yes, take it," said Mr. Santon, putting the 
 treasure into her hand ; " keep it as a memento of 
 our high esteem for you ; and," added he, " I, for 
 one, shall petition, after you have finished your 
 studies, to have you remain with us another
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 177 
 
 season, that we may then have more of your 
 society." 
 
 Natalie expressed her sincere thanks, but the 
 mention of remaining another season brought to 
 her remembrance her mother's last letter, which 
 spoke of her return, and how delighted they 
 would all be to have her in their little home once 
 more. 
 
 The long wished-for time, when Winnie should 
 appear in public, as the accomplished Miss Santon, 
 at length arrived. Several hundred cards had been 
 issued for the occasion, and to Winnie's delight but 
 few regrets had been received ; " for," said she, 
 " what is the use of doing things by the halves ? " 
 Mrs. Santon's health had for the last few days been 
 much improved ; so much so, that Winnie had 
 gained from her the promise to fill her station for 
 a part of the evening. The brilliant lights al- 
 ready streamed from every window in the man- 
 sion, and the finishing touch, (if such a thing can 
 be said of a lady's toilet,) had been made by 
 Winnie's attendant, much to the satisfaction of 
 all concerned ; for although the beauty was willing 
 to submit to all the tortures of hair-dressing, etc., 
 etc., yet before she was quite converted into a
 
 178 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 " Parisian belle," she positively declared she would 
 suffer none of those officials to come into her 
 presence again for a month. Surveying herself 
 with an air which would have done credit to a 
 queen, she proceeded to the Sea-flower's apart- 
 ments, thinking to banter her a little in her en- 
 deavors to make perfection perfect ; but instead 
 of finding her still in dishabille, she had long ago 
 dismissed her attendant, and was quietly engaged 
 in reading her bible, before she engaged in those 
 scenes of gaiety which had less attractions for 
 her. 
 
 " Why, you charming creature ! " exclaimed 
 Winnie, " I can't help comparing you to a fairy, 
 preparing for a camp-meeting!" and her wild 
 laugh was heard reechoing from hall to hall, Na- 
 talie smiling at her ludicrous comparison. 
 
 " Why do you look at me with such a bewil- 
 dered gaze, Winnie ? Is my simple dress not to 
 your fastidious taste ? " 
 
 " You could not have found anything more be- 
 coming, Natie dear; you will eclipse us all!" and 
 Winnie, taking both her hands in hers, gazed into 
 her face as if spell-bound. 
 
 " I have seen some beautiful picture, some-
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 179 
 
 where," she exclaimed, " which is like you ! but 
 where, I cannot tell ; and yet, when I look at you, 
 the association is so fresh in my mind ! Yes, you 
 will be our evening star." 
 
 " Venus is morning star now," said Natalie, 
 glancing at the brilliant dress of Winnie ; " yet 
 for all that, she will favor us with her presence 
 this evening." 
 
 As the two descended to the boudoir, they were 
 met by Mr. Santon, who, shutting his eyes, ex- 
 claimed, "Bless me! I have looked upon the 
 glorious morning, in the beauty of its freshness, 
 and the gentle evening, so pure, but to see them 
 approaching, hand in hand, is too much for any 
 ' live man ! ' " 
 
 Escorting the fair ones to Mrs. Santon's side, 
 he proudly gazed upon their dazzling beauty, 
 beauty in its perfection sitting upon each coun- 
 tenance, and yet, such a contrast! Winnie was 
 arrayed in a rich attire of delicate blue, her bod- 
 dice wrought about with silver threads, represent- 
 ing the light of the crescent moon, her skirt inter- 
 woven with numerous lesser lights, as it were, 
 stars of various magnitudes, producing a splendid 
 effect in the flood of gas-light; and (he set of dia-
 
 180 NATALIE; OK, 
 
 monds bound about her dark tresses, which fell in 
 rich profusion about her finely arched neck, set- 
 ting off her dark complexion, her cheeks roseate 
 with health, to great advantage ; and as she 
 moved among her guests ; her tall, slender form, so 
 full of dignity, she was the " observed of all ob- 
 servers." Her winning smile, so dangerous to 
 those gallants in attendance who had never real- 
 ized the true sense of coquetry, was unusually 
 fascinating, and every one who had been honored 
 by Miss Winnie's notice, pronounced her decid- 
 edly the belle of the season ; but as they turned 
 to the gentle creature at her side, their thoughts 
 gradually assumed a different cast, uncon- 
 sciously the mind wandered to other scenes than 
 are usually of a fashionable evening entertain- 
 ment. It were absurd to call her a " belle," for 
 the word seemed void of expression. 
 
 The Sea-flower wore a simple dress of white 
 blonde, with no other ornament than the band of 
 pearls, which had been the gift of her well-loved 
 friends. The little star, which was formed by the 
 glittering of the diamonds through ihe delicately- 
 wrought pearl, which being the centre of the col- 
 lection was worn upon her forehead, sparkling
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA- WEEDS. 181 
 
 like tiny drops of dew ; and as she glided with 
 unstudied grace among those who sought to 
 know more of her, she gained the name of " the 
 gentle star." 
 
 It was yet early in the evening. Sauntering 
 along one of the principal streets were two young 
 men, engaged in conversation. We will listen 
 awhile, for we may be interested. 
 
 " Do you go to Santon's to-night, Delwood ? " 
 asked the younger of the two, who was far less 
 prepossessing in appearance than his companion. 
 
 " Umph, yes," replied the other, in a more 
 reserved tone. " Do you make one of the num- 
 ber?" 
 
 " You do n't know Dick Montague if you think 
 he would miss of such an occasion. Wit and 
 beauty do not hold forth every night. Old San- 
 ion has but one daughter, you know." 
 
 Mr. Delwood made no reply to these coarse re- 
 marks, for nothing could have been in greater con- 
 trast, than the refined, gentlemanly nature of Mr. 
 Delwood, to that of young Montague, whom we 
 recognize as the same gentleman (if such young 
 men who wear two faces, putting aside the deco- 
 rum of intelligent society, for the rude jests and 
 16
 
 182 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 unrefined manners of other associates, can be 
 called gentlemen,) who had attracted Mrs. San- 
 ton's notice by his frequent visits to her daughter. 
 Before proceeding farther, we will give our pa- 
 tient reader a little insight to the history of these 
 two personages, whom we consider of sufficient 
 note in our simple narrative, for inducing us to 
 tear ourselves away, for a little while, from the 
 attractions at Santon Mansion. 
 
 Clarence Delwood belonged to one of the most 
 aristocratic families in Boston. He was an only 
 son, upon whom had been bestowed all of those 
 advantages which are to be derived from a 
 princely fortune. At the early age of twenty-two 
 he had graduated at one of the first institutions 
 in Paris, where he had been placed by his 
 haughty, overbearing father, who looked upon 
 things American as low and vulgar. The son 
 had not inherited that proud, unyielding spirit of 
 his father, yet he was like him, inasmuch as he 
 possessed the same dignified, reserved manner, 
 the which, having called forth the startling decla- 
 ration from manceuvering mothers, and languish- 
 ing daughters, that " Mr. Clarence Delwood would 
 look farther than Boston for a bride." So they
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 183 
 
 had folded their gossamer wings with resignation, 
 receiving his polite attentions with pleasure, yet 
 never being able to penetrate the reserve which 
 hung around him. To say that our hero was 
 handsome, would be saying but little, for one 
 often meets with such ; but with the almost femi- 
 nine pensiveness which characterized his manly 
 features, we meet seldom. Tall and commanding 
 in his appearance, his dark, glossy hair, and finely 
 curved mustache, gave a fine effect to his noble 
 countenance, the peculiar light of his eye speak- 
 ing volumes. 
 
 Such was the character of our friend Delwood, 
 whom we shall shortly usher into the presence of 
 Miss Winnie Santon, that we may find what suc- 
 cess those penetrating eyes, which grew big with 
 mischief even in a prairie home, shall have in lift- 
 ing the veil which concealed in a measure the 
 true sentiments of a noble heart from the world 
 at large. 
 
 We give our readers an insight to the character 
 of Richard Montague at once, when we say that 
 h^ was what is commonly termed " a young man 
 about town." By some means, a mystery, even 
 to himself, he had gained a foothold among the
 
 184 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 upper classes of society, artd by dint of strict ob- 
 servance of the manners of others, he had been 
 thus far enabled to retain his position. What his 
 prospects in regard to pecuniary affairs were, no 
 one was able to say ; suffice it, that there had 
 been rumors of an old bachelor uncle, who was 
 much increased in this world's goods, whose trem- 
 bling hand held the desired treasure over the 
 young man's head ; and as this report had not 
 been corrected by Montague, he not being over- 
 burdened with many scruples of conscience, it is 
 not surprising that there should have been those, 
 who looked upon him as a desirable match for 
 their dowerless daughters ; but he, having real- 
 ized the desolation which empty pockets can pro- 
 duce, was now living upon the hope that he 
 might build upon his fortune, which never had 
 foundation, by introducing himself among the fair 
 ones of upper-tendom, as a candidate for matri- 
 mony. For some time he had had an eye to the 
 well-filled purse of Winnie Santon, and he had 
 looked forward to this night, when she should 
 make her debut, with as great interest as had Win- 
 nie herself. Could he once get initiated into her 
 good graces, he had no fears for the rest; and he had
 
 A- GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 185 
 
 already visions of what he was pleased to term, 
 "Old Santon's chest of gold." The attentions 
 with which Winnie had received him, on former 
 occasions, had served in no way to lessen his con- 
 fidence as to his success, and with this end in view, 
 his steps were bent towards the scene of gaiety. 
 Reasons best known to himself, forbidding him 
 to pass Mr. Delwood, whom he overtook on the 
 way. 
 
 "Quite an affair to-night! I'm thinking," re- 
 marked Montague, as he observed Delwood's cool 
 indifference, and endeavoring to draw him into 
 conversation, he added, " there 's a young protege 
 of Santon's, staying with his daughter, who, I 
 hear, hails from down east. Nantucket, I believe, 
 perhaps we may get a little information on har- 
 pooning!" 
 
 " Ah?" said Delwood, mechanically. 
 
 " Yes, the boys will have some sport I'm think- 
 ing; perhaps some of them maybe induced to 
 ship as mate, for a down east voyage ! I remem- 
 ber of sailing by Nantucket many years ago, on 
 my return from Liverpool, (he did not add that 
 he had worked his passage) and though some 
 twenty miles distant, we fancied that we got a 
 16*
 
 186 NATALIE ; OR, . 
 
 whiff of the hump-backs. Our captain was a 
 jolly sort of fellow, and would have us land-lub- 
 bers believe that his experienced eye could see 
 half across the ocean, but he found we were too 
 smart for him, when he told us he could see a 
 church-steeple looming up on the island, for of 
 course we knew that such things were not raised 
 there." 
 
 Much to Mr. Delwood's relief, they had now 
 arrived at Mr. Santon's residence. As the name 
 of Delwood was announced, all eyes were turned 
 toward him, for his presence was considered a 
 great acquisition to any circle, and many a fair 
 one envied Winnie Santon, as he claimed her 
 hand for the first dance. The Sea-flower stood 
 by Mrs. Santon's side, that she might attend to 
 her least wish, when young Montague, disap- 
 pointed that he had not been the first to secure 
 the hand of Winnie, in an obsequious manner, 
 solicited the pleasure of Miss Grosvenor's com- 
 pany, to complete the set, but she politely declin- 
 ing the honor, the young man, by the aid of the 
 brass which constituted no small portion of his 
 composition, begged leave to remain by her side, 
 that he might make some few inquiries in regard
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 187 
 
 to her enchanting home, which place he always 
 had a great desire to visit. 
 
 " The islanders I suppose are mostly fishermen, 
 yet," added he, glancing rudely into her face, 
 " there are some persons of intelligence among 
 them, are there not?" 
 
 Natalie looked at him for a moment, as if in 
 doubt whether ignorance or some meaner motive 
 had prompted the question, when she remarked, 
 " you evidently have never learned of the great 
 dangers attendant upon a stranger's visit to Nan- 
 tucket." 
 
 " Ah, indeed, I shall be under great obligations 
 for the information," said he, his eyes wide open 
 with curiosity ! " pray, what are those dangers?" 
 
 " The islanders, as you have imagined, being so 
 unlike the inhabitants of civilized lands, have 
 such a natural propensity for wielding the har- 
 poon, that should a person differing from their 
 kind appear amongst them, they might be liable 
 to capture him, mistaking the object for a new 
 species of land-shark ! " 
 
 At this piece of information, delivered in such 
 a calm, pleasant manner, the smiles w r hich had 
 been visible, on the faces of those who listened,
 
 188 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 grew into a hearty laugh, in which the chagrined 
 Montague joined, as being the safest way of re- 
 treat, and although piqued by the ludicrous posi- 
 tion in which he had been placed, he could not 
 but look with admiration upon the gentle crea- 
 ture, whose pleasant repartee had been in self-de- 
 fence. 
 
 Natalie followed with her eye the graceful form 
 of Winnie, as she threaded her way through the 
 dance, occasionally interchanging a witty remark 
 with her handsome partner, and as he lead her to 
 a seat, Natalie observed to Mrs. Santon, " how 
 beautiful dear Winnie is to-night ! I do not know 
 who can help loving her!" So enthusiastic was 
 she in her praises, that she had not observed the 
 two contemplating her, and ere she was aware of 
 their approach, the bewitching Winnie had taken 
 her hand, and presenting Mr. Delwood, she mis- 
 chievously remarked, " Now, Miss critic, it is for 
 you to perform a la perfectione. and depend upon 
 it, you shall be dealt with according to your own 
 measure ! for you have not once taken those eyes 
 off from me through the whole course!" 
 
 Before Natalie could say a word in her defence, 
 the music had commenced, and ere she had hardly
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA- WEEDS. 189 
 
 realized it she had taken Winnie's place by the 
 side of Mr. Dehvood. Other eyes than Natalie's 
 had looked upon Winnie with admiration, as she 
 had leaned upon the arm of Delwood, but now, as 
 he led forth " the gentle star," the suppressed mifl> 
 mur of applause must have been apparent to the 
 fair one herself had she not been engaged with 
 other thoughts. For several successive figures it 
 so happened that Natalie was the partner of the 
 reserved Mr. Delwood, who never was known to 
 appear a second time upon the floor, and it also 
 happened, how, or at what moment was a mys- 
 tery, that the two had sought to dispel fatigue, by 
 the conservatory's soothing influences, whither 
 the eye of Winnie wandered ever and anon, as 
 with Mr. Montague she vied with her competitors 
 in the giddy waltz. Miss Winnie's brain was 
 capable of containing two thoughts at the same 
 time, and no one would have suspected, absorbed 
 as she appeared to be with the attentions of Mon- 
 tague, who was playing the agreeable to the best 
 of his knowledge, that her curiosity was at work, 
 wondering what the subject of the truants, tete-a- 
 tete might be. " They are discussing the rare ex- 
 otics, sent to us from the South," she thought
 
 190 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 within herself, and indeed, what other could in- 
 terest the cold-hearted Delwood? who, it was 
 thought had never dreamed of love this side of 
 the Atlantic ; and as for Natalie, many a private 
 lecture had she received from Winnie, in regard 
 to her indifference toward the gentleman ! though 
 those discourses had been invariably of the same 
 termination, " for all that, Natalie, your heart is 
 made for love." 
 
 From the first moment that Clarence Delwood 
 had set his eye upon the Sea-flower, an interest 
 which he had never known before had been awak- 
 ened within him. It may be said that it was a 
 weakness, that he had always looked upon women 
 as mere butterflies, but owing to early circum- 
 stances, he having been bereft of his mother in 
 infancy, never having known the blessings of a 
 sister's society, he was not to be condemned for 
 the impressions which a gaudily attired attendant 
 had left upon his mind as he grew up into boy- 
 hood. But as he listened to the Sea-flower, as 
 she told him of her home in the sea, of the music 
 of the glorious billows, companions of her child- 
 hood, filling the very soul with nature's beauty 
 and sublimity, he looked upon her, as if fearful
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 191 
 
 she might prove an " Undine," and he would not 
 have been taken by surprise had her spiritual face 
 faded calmly from beneath his gaze, to join her 
 sister nymphs of ocean. 
 
 " And you will soon return to your island 
 home?" he asked, as a thought of the warmth 
 with which she had expressed herself to a stran- 
 ger, bade her pause in her enthusiasm with down- 
 cast eye. 
 
 " Yes, I shall soon return," she answered joy- 
 ously, " and yet I shall remember Boston with 
 feelings of pleasure, for I have spent happy hours 
 here." 
 
 As she said this, their eyes involuntarily met ; 
 a silent spectator would have noted the contrast 
 of the moistened blue, to the deep black of sterner 
 make, but as it was, that contrast was not discov- 
 ered, each felt that the other was reading the 
 thought, which had but then sprung up within 
 the soul. Natalie withdrew her gaze, while Del- 
 wood, stooping to pluck a moss rose-bud from an 
 urn at her feet, placed it within his diamond fast- 
 ener, and the two retraced their steps to join their 
 friends again. Montague was still at Winnie's 
 side, and though the unusual flush upon Natalie's
 
 192 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 cheek was a sad tell-tale of the state of affairs, 
 yet she observed Winnie as she listened with a 
 ready ear to Montague's remarks, and an unpleas- 
 ant feeling rose in her heart ; she could not bear 
 to have her dear friend on such intimate terms 
 with him, whom, as by a natural instinct she 
 shunned. 
 
 All things must have an end ; and the cheerful 
 lights, which houseless ones had watched as the 
 bright beams fell across the pave, one by one had 
 faded. Formal adieus had been said, kind wishes 
 interchanged, and the last sound of rumbling 
 wheels had died away. Excess of excitement 
 bade the blooming Winnie seek repose, and quiet 
 reigned triumphant at Santon Mansion ; yet there 
 was one who seemed to have forgotten that the 
 morning follows so close upon the evening. The 
 Sea-flower had lingered among the last to say 
 adieu, and now, in her own apartment, she had 
 sunk into a chair, the delicate pearls still encir- 
 cling her sunny tresses, vieing in purity with her 
 fair complexion ; her eyes were fixed on vacancy, 
 and she was not aware that the morning was 
 peeping in upon her, till started from her reveries 
 by her own gentle sighs.
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 193 
 
 And what spell is this that so usurps the calm, 
 usually characteristic of her nature ? We have a 
 vague suspicion as to what it may be, yet she is 
 all innocent of the source from which these new 
 feelings have sprung ; even the last low words of 
 Delwood, which are still sounding in her ear, do 
 not lead her to mistrust, and we leave her, as the 
 fringed eyelids at last droop in repose, to take 
 a peep at our hero, who is only distant a few 
 squares from the gentle one, who, he feels, as he 
 sits by the gas-light, made pallid by the dawn of 
 day, is all the world to him. 
 
 If Delwood possessed the cold heart, of which 
 the world gave him the credit, its fetters had at 
 last yielded to the genial sunshine. Sleep was 
 most remote from him, and pacing his room with 
 a quick tread, he uttered, in a sarcastic tone 
 " Love ! Clarence Delwood in love ! Love at 
 first sight ! I never would have credited it ! " his 
 voice softening, he added " I feel confident that 
 she of all others, is the only one who could have 
 wrought this change! No, I cannot look upon 
 this as weakness! I must see more of her; she 
 is an angel of purity, too good for such as I. Can 
 she think favorably of me ? and what will my 
 17
 
 194 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 father say, if he learns that his only son will sue 
 for favor in the eyes of it may be a maiden of 
 low birth ! It matters not ! Should he disinherit 
 me, I will seek her society ! I must love her even 
 though she look upon me coldly. I will see her 
 again this very day !" with these resolves he threw 
 himself upon his couch, if he might get a little 
 rest, before he again went forth into the busy day } 
 with feelings how changed ! 
 
 Natalie was awakened from her late slumbers, 
 by a kiss from Winnie, whose merry voice made 
 the apartment ring. " So, ho ! Miss Natalie," she 
 exclaimed, "you have been holding late revels 
 with the water nymphs by moonlight! and now, 
 when the stronger light of the sun bids us mor- 
 tals awake, you have made good your retreat, and 
 are enjoying Morpheus's protecting care! but I 
 can guess from whence the smiles came, as you 
 slept ! never fear, darling, I '11 tell nobody of whom 
 you dreamed!" 
 
 " Why, Winnie dear," -exclaimed Natalie, en- 
 deavoring to free herself from the kisses which 
 that crazy little body was lavishing upon her, 
 " have I slept so late? and what has turned your 
 head so early this morning? I do not know what
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 195 
 
 will become of us all before the day is ended, if 
 you go on thus." Opening her eyes, she looked 
 about her, endeavoring to collect her senses. Her 
 eye fell upon a bouquet, of the finest, most delicate 
 flowers, in a vase, upon her toilet table ; it had 
 evidently been placed there since she had retired? 
 as she did not remember of seeing it before. 
 " You are very kind, Winnie, in being so thought- 
 ful of me," she said, " but where did you get those 
 beautiful varieties 9 they are not from our conser- 
 vatory." 
 
 " O, you innocent rogue! you think to make 
 me believe you know nothing of them, do you ? 
 they certainly came from some one who was 
 thoughtful of your well-being ! but come, make 
 yourself look as charming as possible, for there is 
 a friend awaiting us in the drawing room, who it 
 is, I '11 not say, for ' haste makes waste,' you 
 know!" 
 
 Natalie blushed, for there came at once a rush 
 of thoughts to her mind. She but then remem- 
 bered the pleasures of last evening. Winnie giv- 
 ing her a knowing look, left her to her own reflec- 
 tions. Banishing all other thoughts from her 
 mind, Natalie kneeled at her morning devotions,
 
 196 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 her low voice went up in thanks for the many 
 blessings which were hers, not forgetting to ask 
 for greater favors for her dear mother and brother, 
 whom she expected so soon to meet, in two short 
 weeks, at the time which had been fixed, when 
 she would return to her home. 
 
 A simple morning dress of pink delise, edged 
 with white, set off her light figure to a charm ; 
 her snowy collar fastened with a cross, and taking 
 a lily of the valley from the mysterious bouquet, 
 she placed it in her hair, and half-hesitating, lest 
 Winnie had been playing off one of her mischiev- 
 ous tricks, she descended to the drawing-room. 
 Seated upon an ottoman, was no other than Clar- 
 ence Delwood, who arose as she entered, taking 
 her proffered hand with some little embarrass- 
 ment, which was soon dispelled by the adroit 
 Winnie, who took a seat at the piano, and with 
 a rich full voice sang the last opera. " Your 
 friend, Miss Santon, has an enviable voice," re- 
 marked Delwood to Natalie, regarding the lily 
 buds which he recognized as of the bouquet which 
 he had ordered his servant to place in the hands 
 of her attendant, giving no name of the donor. 
 
 " Yes, I love to listen to her voice, it is so full
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 197 
 
 of feeling; she has a peculiar style! The Signer 
 tells me her voice is of great talent." 
 
 " I need not ask of your own voice," remarked 
 Delwood, " for your tone betrays you." 
 
 " Yes," cried Winnie, who in spite of the music 
 had an ear alive to the conversation, " it is moved 
 and seconded that Miss Grosvenor shall give us a 
 benefit, and if she fails to entertain us with her 
 first attempt, she will lay herself open to be called 
 upon again." 
 
 " She may rest assured that your sentiments, 
 however expressed, will be truth in regard to the 
 matter! for you are far from being a flatterer," 
 said Mr. Santon, as entering the apartment he 
 welcomed Mr. Delwood to his house. Natalie 
 chose a simple piece "The Wanderer's Home." 
 and as the sound of her voice died away, there 
 was not a dry eye in the room. Winnie was the 
 first to break the spell, and smiling away a tear, 
 she exclaimed, " I had forgotten to caution you 
 against too great success in charming your listen- 
 ers, therefore the encores of your audience will 
 not permit you to retire without feeding the flame 
 which you have excited." 
 
 " Remember you were not to flatter me," said 
 17*
 
 198 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 Natalie, glancing at Delwood, who was silently 
 contemplating her. 
 
 " Flattery or no flattery, you must repeat that 
 to please me," said Mr. Santon, making manifest 
 exertions to clear his throat, and looking for his 
 handkerchief, as if suddenly seized with a cold. 
 The piece was repeated with greater effect, and it 
 was not till Winnie began to rally him that Del- 
 wood was aware of his negligence in escorting 
 the fair songstress to a seat. " Pardon me, Miss 
 Grosvenor," he said, " but the first tone of your 
 voice carried me far back, to when I was a child 
 of five or six years. It was in Italy, where my 
 father spent some time, after my mother's death, 
 and it so happened that I was permitted to ac- 
 company him to an entertainment given by an 
 Italian lady of note, who, in the course of the 
 evening, favored the company with a song. I 
 was engaged with some sweetmeats as she com- 
 menced, but as she proceeded, gradually they fell 
 from my hands, and when she had finished, I had 
 found my way to her side, and clinging to her 
 dress I burst into tears, begging her to take me 
 to that beautiful place again! It is years since I 
 have thought of the circumstance, and I trust you
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 199 
 
 will pardon my enthusiasm, when I say that your 
 " Wanderer's Home," has produced a similar ef- 
 fect!" 
 
 Natalie expressed her thanks for the compli- 
 ment, with blushing modesty, and as Del wood 
 bade them good morning, after having made ar- 
 rangements for testing their courage with his iron 
 grays, on the following morning ; so long did his 
 eye linger upon her, who had full command of his 
 every thought, that he did not observe miss Win- 
 nie, who was trembling lest her fresh supply of 
 mischief should come to an unendurable crisis, 
 before he should depart. 
 
 It was soon rumored that the lion had been 
 tamed, that the beautiful Miss Grosvenor had 
 found her way to the heart of Clarence Delwood. 
 Boston beauties sighed, and those who had been 
 unsuccessful in what is sometimes termed " set- 
 ting their caps," looked on with interest, but none 
 who had seen the favored one, could find it in 
 their hearts to wish her other than a life of 
 joy. And thus time passed on, scarcely a day 
 sped, but Clarence Delwood was seen ascending 
 the steps of Mr. Santon's hospitable mansion. 
 As Winnie expressed herself "the affair was
 
 200 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 coming on bravely ; " she had now found for whom 
 Natalie was reserving that heart, which in spite 
 of her caution, would impart to others its only 
 element. The time was also drawing near, when 
 Natalie was to have made glad her mother's 
 heart by her presence. Old Vingo had desired 
 his Massa Harry to write to young Missy, " dat 
 eben de breakers gettin' impatient to see her once 
 more, and dat he walk alone now, on de beach in 
 de moonlight, but he neber 'speck to find anoder 
 Sea-flower." 
 
 In a few days the Santon family were to part 
 with Natalie. It was in vain they had urged 
 upon her to remain with them another season, for 
 as much as she had become attached to them all, 
 she longed to see her home once more. Even 
 Winnie failed to keep time with her usually joy- 
 ous spirits, and there was one to whom this part- 
 ing was not to be thought of. Mr. Delwood had 
 as yet received no positive assurance, that his un- 
 mistakable sentiments towards Natalie were re- 
 ciprocated, and yet he was confident that she re- 
 garded him with no common interest. He had 
 read it in her soul, but he would hear from her 
 own lips if happiness or misery was to be his
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 201 
 
 through life, and it was with a nervous step that 
 he wended his way on this last evening of her 
 stay in Boston, that he might hear his fate. As 
 he drew near the house, he observed, though early 
 in the evening, but one dim light gleaming from 
 an upper apartment, and as he reached the gate it 
 was fast, and a porter stood within, who, to Del- 
 wood's hurried question if all was well, as he 
 threw him a gold-piece, replied in a sad tone 
 " kind sir, my orders are to receive no one, as my 
 mistress is dying, or you should have admittance 
 at once ; but I know that you, of all others, could 
 serve to lighten the blow to my master, and if 
 you take the responsibility, you shall be admit- 
 ted." 
 
 " Leave that with me," he replied, " you shall 
 not be censured, and with assumed calmness of 
 manner, he entered. Noiselessly he opened the 
 outer door, proceeding to the upper drawing-room, 
 which opened to the room of the dying one. Mr. 
 Santon sat with his face buried in his hands, sob- 
 bing aloud. Mr. Delwood took him tenderly by 
 the hand, and whispered a few words in his ear, 
 which seemed to rouse him from the dreadful 
 state of mind to which he had yielded. " You
 
 202 NATALIE ; on, 
 
 find here a house of mourning," he said, "but 
 your presence is most welcome." 
 
 "What can Ido for you in this trying hour ? " 
 asked Delwood ; " can I be of any assistance ? " 
 
 " There is nothing to be done but to submit to 
 the will of God," he answered, " and I pray that 
 I may have strength so to do." The door of the 
 chamber of death was opened, and the physician 
 summoned Mr. Santon to his dying wife's bed- 
 side. Delwood stood in the door ; pale, but not 
 emaciated were the features upon which death 
 had set his seal, her last moment was near, but 
 she had strength and consciousness supported by 
 the Sea-flower, to say a few parting words; with 
 one hand in that of her husband, the other upon 
 the head of her grief-stricken daughter, she said : 
 " farewell, my dearest husband ; it is but a little 
 parting; you will meet me there at last." Turn, 
 ing to the Sea-flower, with her hand still upon 
 the head of her daughter, she added, " my child 
 will^soon be motherless ; through you, she is what 
 I could wish to see her ; and when I am gone, will 
 you never lose sight of her ? make her to be like 
 yourself!" In a feeble voice she continued, " thank 
 God that we may see heaven upon earth ; the gen-
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 203 
 
 tie spirit is pointing me to my rest ; " a slight trem- 
 bling of her weary frame, and she had gone to be 
 with the "just made perfect;" a smile was upon 
 her features, and they smoothed her limbs as for a 
 night's repose. The father mingled his tears with 
 those of his child, who was all that was left to 
 him. The Sea-flower, leaning upon the arm of 
 him who thought it not unmanly to weep over 
 the scene he had witnessed, retired, leaving the 
 afflicted ones to weep away the anguish in their 
 hearts, ere they might look upon the loving kind- 
 ness of Him, whose ways are all perfect.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 BEHIND THE CLOUDS THE SUN IS SHINING. 
 
 " I am armed with innocence, 
 Less penetrable than the steel-ribbed coats 
 That harness round thy warriors." 
 
 MADDER'S THEMISTOCLES. 
 
 " That one so formed in mind and charms to grace, 
 The brightest scenes of life, should have her seat 
 In the shadow of a cloud ; and yet 't is weakness. 
 The angels watch the good and innocent, 
 And where they gaze it must be glorious." 
 
 MRS. KALE'S " ORMOXD GROSVENOR." 
 
 MY gentle reader will pardon the long stride of 
 time which here intervenes, disclosing nothing of 
 those in whom we feel an interest. Nearly a 
 year of moments had sped since that in which 
 Mrs. San ton had passed away. Winnie had seen 
 her loved mother laid in that narrow, silent house, 
 which is prepared for ihe dead, and ner tears had
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 205 
 
 watered the green grass which groweth so si- 
 lently, upspringing everywhere, even in the 
 lonely places of burial, a fit covering for those 
 who slumber, emblematical of the life beyond 
 the tomb. The joyous mirth which abode in 
 Winnie's nature had superseded, in a measure, 
 days of deep mourning; yet this first taste of 
 earth's sorrow had left an impress upon her mind 
 never to be erased; and though thoughtless ones 
 perhaps observed no change in her young, elastic 
 spirits, there was one, gentle and youthful, who 
 had been to her as a mother in her bereavement, 
 the Sea-flower. She could see that the death 
 of a loved one had wrought a good work upon 
 the heart of her friend, as it may with us all, if we 
 will lie passive in the hands of the workman. 
 
 It was a disappointment to Natalie that her 
 intention of returning home had been frustrated; 
 yet it was with cheerfulness that she resigned her 
 hopes, when she saw that duty pointed out an- 
 other way. Mr. Santon, on the sudden death of 
 his wife, which occurred on the very evening be- 
 fore Natalie was to bid them farewell, had him- 
 self written a very touching letter to Mrs. Gros- 
 venor, begging, if it were not asking of her too 
 18
 
 20G NATALIE; OR, 
 
 much, that she would spare her daughter to them 
 a little while longer, as it had been the last wish 
 of Mrs. Santon that their daughter might be with 
 her who had proved such a blessing to them all ; 
 and so, in pity for the dear ones of her friend, of 
 whose death she was pained to learn, Mrs. Gros- 
 venor had consented to another year's separation 
 from her child, though it was indeed asking of her 
 a great sacrifice. Old Vingo, who had wondered 
 if his young missy would take. him by the hand, 
 as she used, when he heard that another long 
 year must pass before he would see her again, 
 cried like a child ; but no one was more disap- 
 pointed than Harry, who had counted the days 
 for months, when she would come home ; but his 
 patience was not to be tested thus. He had vis- 
 ited his sister in Boston, and had received so 
 favorable an impression of city life, or it may be 
 that he had received a more favorable impression 
 of a certain pair of black eyes, which were con- 
 stantly fixed upon him, when he had accidentally 
 glanced towards a certain young lady, whom, re- 
 port said, (Mr. Montague being among the fore- 
 most to give credit thereto,) was the " greatest 
 catch" in town. Whether it was actually the
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 207 
 
 lady's beauty in question which had dazzled scores 
 of disengaged young men, or whether they had 
 seen visions of a well-built money-chest, we do 
 not pretend to say ; but this much we can per- 
 ceive, that a beautiful young heiress, left to her 
 own discretion in the choosing of a partner for 
 life, stands in a critical situation, and if these 
 innuendoes refer to Miss Winnie Santon, we are 
 foremost in wishing our young nautical friend 
 success in the great game of hearts, for we can 
 see too much of worth in her character, for her to 
 be thrown away on a worthless dandy, whose 
 money, for the little time that it keeps him com- 
 pany, is his god. Be all this as it may, Harry 
 Grosvenor had found several opportunities for 
 visiting his sister, and upon each visit he was re- 
 ceived, not only by the Sea-flower, but by Winnie 
 herself, with a warm welcome. 
 
 But Winnie, as we have discovered, has been a 
 sad coquette. Another year, however, has been 
 added to her age since we saw her in society last, 
 and this last year, so different from any other of 
 her sunny life, has brought with it the knowledge 
 and experience of many. Perhaps the Sea- 
 flower's influence, which fortunately she has been
 
 208 NATALIE; on, 
 
 under, may have had its effect upon her character, 
 which is now forming itself; and yet her bewitch- 
 ing smile, which Harry loved to dwell upon, 
 when he had returned to his island home, as sec- 
 ond only to his matchless sister's, was very like 
 those which she had bestowed upon many an 
 elated gallant. 
 
 Natalie had not failed to notice the seeming 
 pleasure with which her brother had listened to 
 Winnie's brilliant conversation, and she had asked 
 herself if it were possible that Winnie could be so 
 heartless as to impress her brother with erroneous 
 views in regard to her sentiments. She would 
 not believe that she had the heart to do it ; and 
 yet, through habit, and a perfect thoughtlessness 
 of the consequences, she might be led to do so. 
 
 It was evening, and the two sat folded in each 
 other's arms, gazing at an autumn sunset. Win- 
 nie was still in her black habiliments, for it was 
 not quite a year since Mrs. Santon had died. 
 Harry had left them the day before, and had 
 bade them both a warm farewell. Winnie had 
 been silent for some moments, when Natalie re- 
 marked, " What new scheme are you planning 
 now, Winnie ? you are very thoughtful to-night."
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 209 
 
 Winnie roused herself, and blushingly replied, 
 " I do not wonder that you note my thoughtful 
 moments, I am such a gay creature; but, dear 
 Natalie, there are times when even / can be se- 
 rious, though there are few who could credit my 
 words." 
 
 " I can believe you, Winnie, for I know you 
 have a good heart ; but what can have occurred 
 of sufficient importance to banish those dimples 
 from your cheek ? Come, rogue, make me your 
 confidant, or I shall begin to think you are at 
 your old tricks, after all." 
 
 " If I did not know your forgiving spirit, I 
 should hesitate to place myself in your power, for 
 fear you might repay me with interest, in making 
 you, and your particular friend Mr. Delwood, the 
 subjects of my merriment." 
 
 Natalie looked calmly into her eyes; the truth 
 flashed across her mind at once, and she was 
 about to clasp her in her arms, calling her by the 
 name of sister, when a well-known voice from be- 
 hind them repeated the name, " Sea-flower," and 
 Mr. Delwood was by her side. 
 
 " Where did you learn the name by which I am 
 called in my island home?" asked Natalie. 
 
 18*
 
 210 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 Why did you never tell us that you have a 
 name in keeping with your character ? " he 
 asked, taking the seat by her side which Winnie, 
 who had retired to hide her blushes, had vacated. 
 
 " 'T is the name by which my father loved to 
 call me, and I associate it with his sacred mem- 
 ory," she replied ; and a tear, which Delwood 
 looked upon as also sacred, fell upon the hand 
 which clasped her's as with reverential fervency. 
 
 " Your brother told me of the name," he replied, 
 " and will you permit me to associate with that 
 name all that is of purity ? May I not call you 
 by that name ? Can you give one thought to 
 him whose very happiness for life is dependent on 
 you ? " 
 
 There was a pause. Delwood had never until 
 this night, declared to her his love, in so many 
 measured words, which were but coldness in com- 
 parison with the love for her which filled his soul. 
 A year ago would have sealed his doom, but that 
 night witnessed another scene. Death had claimed 
 it for his own. The hand which he held was not 
 withdrawn, neither did a simper mark her reply. 
 With eyes meekly turned upward, she answered 
 in a calm, low voice, " My dear father is in
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 211 
 
 heaven ; if he is looking down, I feel that he will 
 smile upon me, when, with rny mother's consent, 
 she shall give me away to you. I have long ago 
 given myself to Christ, and if you recognize him 
 as your Saviour, we will together serve him as du- 
 tiful children, praying one for the other that we 
 may not fall." 
 
 " I am not like you," he replied ; " I can never 
 be as pure as you are ; neither am I what the 
 world calls a Christian ; but by God's help, I 
 pledge myself to be one of Christ's followers ; and 
 of one thing I am confident, I shall never be if I 
 grope my way alone through the world, as I must 
 if I lose you, what I shall be if I have you for a 
 guide ! " 
 
 " It is enough ; you depreciate your own mer- 
 its," she said, glancing proudly upon him ; " go, 
 when I return, and with your own lips ask my 
 mother, if she can find a place in her noblest of 
 women's hearts, for him who is all too worthy of 
 her daughter's love." 
 
 He folded her to his heart, and the rich harvest 
 moon had sunk far below the horizon, ere these 
 two kindred spirits had wearied of the glorious 
 night"
 
 212 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 Mr. Santon had not felt the utter desolation, 
 after the first overpowering sense of grief had 
 passed, after his wife's death, that he would have 
 felt had he had no one upon whom to have leaned. 
 As it was, his home was not desolate, for he 
 cherished his daughter as the " apple of his eye," 
 and he had come to be like himself again. Happy 
 faces met him as he came in wearied from his du- 
 ties " on 'change," and he had again assumed his 
 easy, jocose manners. Natalie was still continu- 
 ing her studies, making unprecedented progress, 
 to the rapturous delight of the Signor ; while 
 Winnie enlivened the whole household. 
 
 As mistress of the mansion she had new duties 
 to discharge, though they were not so arduous as 
 to deprive her of entertaining the young aspirants 
 to her hand, who if they did not throw themselves 
 at her feet, it was only for the want of an oppor- 
 tunity. And thus was everything going on har- 
 moniously at Santon Mansion, when, to the no 
 little surprise of every one, it was rumored that 
 the wealthy Mr. Santon was about to introduce 
 to his domains a new mistress. No one was 
 more taken by surprise than were Winnie and 
 Natalie. They could hardly credit their senses,
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 213 
 
 when Mr. Santon congratulated his daughter on 
 the prospect of having a new mother. 
 
 Poor Winnie ! she tried to smile, and she tried 
 to make one of her most brilliant remarks, as she 
 congratulated her father on his happiness ; yet it 
 was not like herself, and Natalie could see, what 
 Mr. Santon in his blindness of joy did not dis- 
 cern, there was no heart in his daughter's me- 
 chanical tones. Winnie had not as yet seen her 
 intended mother-in-law ; she might be all that 
 could be desired of one standing in that peculiar 
 relation, and she might be otherwise ; it was not 
 that which had quelled the buoyant spirits of the 
 heiress, it was that she shrank from the thought of 
 any one so soon filling her own dear mother's sta- 
 tion, and she hid her face in Natalie's golden 
 tresses, as her father left the room, and burst into 
 tears. 
 
 " Dear, dear Natalie," she exclaimed, " you will 
 think me so wicked ! But I wanted no other 
 mother than you ! Though you are younger than 
 myself, I have learned to look up to you, as a 
 valuable bequest left me by my mother, who 
 smiled even in death, when you promised never 
 to forget me. We are happy now ; why need a
 
 214 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 stranger come among us? Oh, Natalie, I never 
 can part from you ! " 
 
 " Hush! hush! dear Winnie, you must not think 
 thus ! you may come to love your new mother, 
 filling the most sanguine wishes of your father's 
 heart, who would be wretched, if his daughter 
 were not reconciled to her who will stand in the 
 nearest relation to him." 
 
 And thus the Sea-flower endeavored to prepare 
 Winnie's mind for receiving her new mother, who 
 would so soon take her place at the head of this 
 once unbroken family, as became a meek and du- 
 tiful child ; but she did not tell her of the trem- 
 bling within her own heart, lest this new tie 
 should prove a source of sorrows, sowing her 
 youthful heart with seed which might be produc- 
 tive of bitter among the sweets ; neither did she 
 know of the prayers of the innocent maiden, that 
 hers might be a thornless path. 
 
 The lady in question, whom Mr. Santon had 
 deemed worthy of his hand, and its consequent 
 honors, was of a family of lower standing than 
 his own as far as much of this world's goods go to 
 give caste; but if, aside from depth of purse, she 
 was his inferior, we have yet to learn. The mar-
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 215 
 
 riage ceremonies were attended with little dis- 
 play, in deference to Mr. Santon's wishes, and 
 the day at length arrived, when the bride, who re- 
 sided in a neighboring city, was to be received in 
 her new home. 
 
 She came, and congratulations were exchanged 
 between mother and daughter, first impressions 
 were made, and the hour arrived which should 
 liberate each one to the night's repose. Winnie 
 flew to her room ; she had seen her whom she was 
 to call " mother," and from the few hours which 
 she had already passed with her, her superior dis- 
 cernment of character had judged of her aright: 
 
 v O O / 
 
 she never had cause to vary from the opinion which 
 she had from the first formed of her ; she choked 
 back the tears, so strange to see within her eyes, 
 and kneeling, she repeated the very first prayer 
 her mother had ever taught her, an exercise which 
 from the example set before her for the last two 
 years, she now never failed to observe. Arising, 
 she endeavored to dispel the mountain of anguish 
 which was creeping into her soul, in sleep. 
 Poor Winnie! we can pity you; 'tis but life's 
 lesson taught. 
 
 The impression which Natalie had received of
 
 216 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 the second wife of Mr. Santon's choice, though 
 she would not bring herself to realize it, were by 
 no means prepossessing. She had schooled her 
 own, and Winnie's heart to love her under any 
 circumstances, but when she saw with what frig- 
 idity she received Winnie's warm welcome, think- 
 ing not of the condescension with which she had 
 taken her own hand, her tender heart was pierced 
 as Winnie looked toward her, as if for strength, 
 and she had returned her look with a smile which 
 could not fail to prove to her a ray of sunshine. 
 
 Why is it that it is of so frequent occurrence, 
 that a man who has been blessed with peculiar 
 loveliness of character in a wife, if he be called 
 upon to part with her, finds, alas ! too late, in a 
 second partner, an extreme opposite ? It was 
 thus in Mr. Santon's experience, as he but too 
 soon was obliged to acknowledge to himself, 
 though he would not that others should have a 
 suspicion of the fact ; yet it was evident to his 
 nearest friends that he was not the happy man he 
 once was ; the few sprinkles of gray, which had 
 reflected honor upon the raven black of his hair, 
 had increased ere the honey-moon was hardly 
 ended.
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 217 
 
 Early the next morning after the arrival of 
 Mrs. Santon, Winnie was awakened by an atten- 
 dant, whose sense of propriety were a question, if 
 placed in a balance with that of her new mistress, 
 which were the weightier. The woman apolo- 
 gized for disturbing " her leddy-ship," but the new 
 mistress would like to see Miss Santon in the 
 drawing-room as soon as possible. 
 
 " You can go," was Winnie's reply, " and tell 
 Mrs. Santon that at my convenience, I will see 
 her ! " but recalling the servant, with her next 
 thought, she added, " merely say to my mother, 
 that I will soon be with her," and hastily making 
 her toilet, she repaired to the drawing-room. 
 
 Mrs. Santon was alone, for it was a full hour 
 before the family's usual time for arising. Win- 
 nie bade her mother "good morning," and was 
 about to ask if she had rested well in her new 
 home, when she was interrupted by her, and in 
 an imperative tone she said: 
 
 " This may be earlier than you have been ac- 
 customed to 'rising, Miss Santon, but my habits 
 for early rising are proverbial, and of course my 
 household will conform to my wishes in regard 
 to matters which you will at once see are for the 
 19
 
 218 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 best. What I wished to speak with you more 
 particularly about this morning, is in regard to 
 the keys ; you will please produce them, as I shall 
 have a thorough overhauling at once, and if I 
 mistake not," said she, glancing at Winnie's neat 
 morning attire, " the sooner the better, for I think 
 those jewelled hands have not troubled themselves 
 much about such things. I wonder that you have 
 hot been brought up to something beside killing 
 time ! " 
 
 " Madam ! " vociferated Winnie, her face crim- 
 soned with the insult which she had received, but 
 she paused, though still trembling with rage, her 
 eye had rested on a gentle form, standing within 
 the open door it was the Sea-flower. With one 
 finger upon her lip, her brow calm as the new day> 
 she gazed upon Winnie, till gaining her eye, un- 
 observed by Mrs. Santon she glided away. In- 
 stead of the rage Winnie would have poured 
 forth, she merely said, " I will send you the keys," 
 and left the room. Despatching a servant with 
 the keys, which she had intended to have put 
 into her hands at the earliest opportunity, thereby 
 acknowledging her superior claim at once, she 
 nought Natalie, whom she found seated in the
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 219 
 
 conservatory, enjoying the Indian summer breeze, 
 which stole softly in among the fragrant plants, 
 which were the particular objects of her care 
 Each knew what was uppermost in the other's 
 mind, but Winnie's heart was too full to speak. 
 
 " I have been thinking, Winnie," said the Sea- 
 flower, " how thankful we should be, that we have 
 so many friends to love us. I think I have never 
 realized it until now, and," she spoke in a lower 
 tone, " dear Winnie, should you ever receive other 
 than the kindly treatment to which you have 
 always been accustomed, let it serve to increase 
 your gratitude that you have so many with whom 
 you can trust your affections." 
 
 "Yes, Natalie, I will strive to do aright. I will 
 try to do as I think you would have done, but I 
 fear I shall not have your strength. O. it is so 
 hard ! if I only had a mother to love me, I could 
 endure anything else ! " and her excitable nature 
 getting the better of her, she burst into tears. 
 Natalie threw her arm about her neck, and, her 
 own voice tremulous with the pity which she felt 
 for her, she tried to soothe her spirits ; " you shall 
 have a mother ! My mother shall be your moth- 
 er ! for are you not to be my sister ? and she will
 
 220 NATALIE ; OR 
 
 love you as did your own gentle mother! but 
 Mrs. Santon will yet become reconciled to you, 
 for when she finds what a good heart you have, 
 she cannot but treat you with kindness." 
 
 At this juncture the door opened, and Mrs. San- 
 ton brushed rudely in; "welladay! is this your 
 usual morning's occupation ? Miss Grosvenor, I 
 think you should have more wisdom than to be 
 petting a spoiled child ! I imagine that I shall 
 have as much as I shall care to undertake, to 
 undo the mischief which is already too apparent. 
 It has been as much as I could do for the last 
 two hours, to get things a little in order ; but I 
 suppose I need not look for assistance here," she 
 scornfully said, and turned to leave the room. 
 Winnie had it upon her tongue's end to reply, 
 " My father employs his servants to keep his 
 house in order, and they have never failed to give 
 satisfaction," but biting her lip, the thought died 
 away. Natalie arrested Mrs. Santon's steps, say- 
 ing, " Winnie and myself will consider it a pleas- 
 ure to assist you, and whatever we can do at any 
 time for your enjoyment, we shall be most happy 
 to do it." The hard-hearted woman quailed a 
 little, at the Sea-flower's proffered assistance, and
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 221 
 
 Natalie accompanied her to the upper drawing- 
 room, wondering much what could have given 
 offence to her ideas of a well-regulated house ; for 
 under the housekeeper's scrupulous care, every- 
 thing was kept in the nicest order. Desiring Na- 
 talie to assist her in the disposal of some articles, 
 she directed Winnie to find some out-of-the-way 
 place, and to stow away the rubbish which she 
 would find in the next apartment, pointing to the 
 room which had been her mother's, and which 
 Winnie had not permitted any one to disturb, 
 since her death. Everything had been left just as 
 she had left it, even some withered flowers had 
 not been removed, and the book from which she 
 had read, had been left opened at the place her 
 eye had last looked upon. This room had been 
 kept as a place sacred to Winnie's heart, and 
 indeed the very servants passed it by with a bles- 
 sing on their departed mistress ; and it was now 
 with trembling steps that Winnie, hardly realiz- 
 ing what had been said to her, followed in the di- 
 rection which the cruel woman had pointed. She 
 opened the door, and sank fainting into a chair! 
 In the middle of the floor were the very clothes 
 which her mother had worn, with other articles 
 19*
 
 222 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 thrown together in a pile ! her mother's portrait 
 had been removed, and the room was otherwise 
 in disorder. Natalie ran to Winnie's assistance, 
 bathing her temples, and smoothing back her long 
 tresses with tenderness. Just at that moment Mr. 
 Santon entered the room ; he looked at his daugh- 
 ter! at the disordered apartment of his buried 
 wife, which he had never held more sacred, and 
 he looked at Mrs. Santon ! Without speaking a 
 word he left the room. Poor Winnie ! this is in- 
 deed life's lesson ! but thou art learning to " suffer 
 and be strong." 
 
 Had the character of the mother-in-law been in 
 accordance with her exterior, Santon Mansion 
 might still have resounded with joy, for hers was 
 a face by no means forbidding. On the contrary, 
 a stranger would have pronounced her to be deci- 
 dedly good-looking, considering that she was a 
 woman of nearly fifty years, and those good looks 
 were the secret of Mr. Santon's unfortunate con- 
 nection with her. From the first, the woman had 
 taken a dislike to Natalie ; it seemed as if she was 
 determined to spite her in every way possible. 
 Why she should have felt thus toward her, was 
 certainly unaccountable, as there was no trait
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 228 
 
 more unlovable than innocency, about her char- 
 acter ; but this very gentleness of nature, in con- 
 trast with the iciness, seldom found in woman's 
 heart, would, as an unavoidable result, serve to 
 widen the two extremes. 
 
 The Sea-flower would, as time advanced, have 
 sought refuge in her own home, from this mist of 
 unrest, which had by degrees spread itself around, 
 but when she had spoken of the thing to Mr. 
 Santon, he had grasped her by the hand, as a 
 drowning man would catch at a straw, saying, if 
 she would not entirely sever the golden thread 
 which was once bound around their home circle, 
 she would defer her departure, for at least, a little 
 time ; and she had seen the tear, which was as 
 molten lead, welling up from the strong man's 
 heart. Then she said, " It is my duty ! I will 
 remain with you! I feel there is something which 
 bids me stay ; some mysterious power controlling 
 my destiny." 
 
 " May you have your reward ! " was Mr. San- 
 ton's reply ; and we heartily respond, " May she 
 have her reward ! " 
 
 Never a word did Mrs. Santon receive from the 
 Sea-flower, in return for her ungenerous treat-
 
 224 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 ment of her, other than tones of kindness ; and 
 Natalie was happy under this new dispensation, 
 for she said within herself, "I am but bearing 
 a part of the burden which would crush dear 
 Winnie's heart;" and so she sang and played 
 with her usual glad spirit, gliding about the house 
 with simple dignity, with a cheering word for 
 every one, and, as Biddy said, " she was an es- 
 caped ray of light, too bright for the darkness to 
 hide." 
 
 As we may foresee, this very light-heartedness 
 of the Sea-flower only served to incite the ire of 
 Mrs. Santon, who saw that every new indignity 
 which she had cast upon her, was returned with 
 more meekness of spirit. If Natalie had resented 
 such conduct, giving " measure for measure," the 
 stern woman could have borne it better ; but as it 
 was, it enraged her, that she could not come 
 within her sphere ; and, if the truth were known, 
 her senses were not so steeped in the waters of 
 insensibility, but that in her very heart she felt her 
 great superiority over herself. 
 
 " I will put her down, yet ! " she said to herself, 
 after another return, through the Sea-flower, of 
 " good for evil." " She shall yet feel my power !
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 225 
 
 and why Mr. Santon will persist in her staying 
 with us, is more than I can tell. But that is the 
 way with these men ! they will get strange no- 
 tions into their heads, which nobody can account 
 for ; even a wife's wishes are looked upon as of 
 little consequence, in comparison with their lordly 
 commands. I should not be surprised at any 
 time if Santon should withhold a favor fro'm me 
 to lavish upon her! But I'm thinking that he 
 will before long find out what I am made of, if 
 he thwarts my wishes. To be sure, his daughter 
 has become attached to her, but what of that ? 
 She must learn that she cannot have every whim 
 gratified ; she is a spoiled child at best, and will 
 not be likely to improve under her skim-milk dis- 
 cipline. Leave me alone for managing affairs. 
 I 've got the staff in my own hands, and all they 
 can do wont make me anything but the Honor- 
 able Mr. Santon's lady! though I'm greatly mis- 
 taken if he do n't look with evil eyes on the day 
 that made me his bride ; but that 's not of the 
 slightest consequence, as I used to tell my first 
 husband. Poor fellow ! I suppose I was rather 
 hard upon him once in a while ; but I knew he 
 was waiting patiently for the day which should
 
 226 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 separate us. He little thought he would go first," 
 and the woman laughed aloud, as she thought 
 how she had crept into the good graces of her 
 present husband. " Leave me alone for playing 
 my part," she said, as seated in her own apart- 
 ment, she listened to the voice of Delwood in 
 the drawing-room. " It is evident that her very 
 life is*wrapt up in Mr. Delwood, and it is really 
 quite a pity that so fine a fellow should be de- 
 ceived ; and lest she should follow my illustrious 
 example, I might as well interfere in their arrange- 
 ments ; and if I can see aright, she has talked the 
 enviable heiress into the helief that her brother is 
 a very paragon of perfection, for she knows right 
 well that a good bag of money would be no seri- 
 ous objection to his fishermanship. How they 
 ever raised two such likely looking specimens of 
 humanity down there in the land of whales, is a 
 mystery ; but they '11 find they cannot take the 
 precedence with Boston gentry. If I can avail 
 anything, my particular friend Montague shall try 
 his luck in securing that portion of the heiress's 
 estate which I shall be pleased to leave her." 
 
 With these plans matured, she ushered herself 
 into Delwood's presence, and in her blandest man-
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 227 
 
 ner made him welcome, initiating herself as far as 
 possible into his good opinion, which was no dif- 
 ficult task, inasmuch as he had been accustomed 
 to look upon a character so spotless, that he was 
 not prepared for the detestable machinations of 
 one who was not worthy the name of woman. 
 It had been far from the Sea-flower to breathe a 
 suspicion that there was aught amiss in the char- 
 acter of the flattering mistress of Santon Mansion. 
 Her high esteem for Mr. Santon had not per- 
 mitted her to speak of the sad change, even to her 
 mother. 
 
 " My dear," said Mrs. Santon, turning to Na- 
 talie, " in the pleasure which we must ever find 
 in Mr. Delwood's society, you have forgotten your 
 engagement with the destitute family, which you 
 have taken under your especial charge, and poor 
 Mrs. Brown's child is so ill, I fear a few hours' 
 delay in taking the necessary restoratives recom- 
 mended by our physician, may cause the poor 
 thing to suffer; I would despatch an attendant, 
 but I fear there may be some mistake made, and 
 I know your very presence will impart comfort to 
 the poor woman." 
 
 "Oh, no, I had not forgotten them, : ' replied
 
 228 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 Natalie; "but the physician said any time this 
 afternoon would do, as the little sufferer's disease 
 is about turning, and we must await the result." 
 
 " Yes, but I have such an anxiety about them, 
 for in their ignorance they may act contrary to 
 orders, and so be the means of the little fellow's 
 death. It will be a great relief to my mind if you 
 will just step around and look in upon them, as it 
 is but a step, and I know Mr. Delwood will ex- 
 cuse you for a few moments, and I will promise 
 to do my best to supply your absence." 
 
 Natalie prepared to depart on this errand of 
 mercy, and Delwood would have taken his hat to 
 accompany her, but Mrs. Santon held him fast by 
 commencing a brisk conversation, from which he 
 could not with politeness take himself away. 
 
 " Miss Grosvenor excels in her performance of 
 the latest style, which the Signer has introduced," 
 remarked Mrs. Santon, endeavoring to draw him 
 out, when the Sea-flower had departed. 
 
 " I am perfectly amazed at her original render- 
 ing of the Italian," replied Delwood, " and I think 
 I can safely say, that among all my sojourn ings 
 among their people, I have never met with one 
 whose style is more pure than that of Miss Gros-
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 229 
 
 venor's. 1 should certainly say that she is of 
 Italian birth, though she tells me that she has 
 never crossed the Atlantic." 
 
 " She is evidently captivated with their people, 
 or perhaps I may more properly say, with the 
 only person she has ever met of that nation," said 
 Mrs. Santon, with a mysterious manner. 
 
 " To what or whom do you refer? " asked Del- 
 wood, in an altered tone of voice. 
 
 " Mr. Delwood, I feel that it is my duty to in- 
 form you of a matter, which has been a source of 
 no little uneasiness, not only to myself, but to 
 every member of my family ; and as you have 
 shown a manifest interest in Miss Grosvenor, it is 
 not well that you should remain in ignorance of 
 what so deeply concerns your welfare." 
 
 " Speak ! what can it be ? " asked Delwood, 
 pale with emotion. 
 
 " Do not allow yourself to be thus moved, I 
 pray you ; but what I have to say is, that three 
 months ago, we gave the Signor notice that we 
 should require his services no longer, as we had 
 reason to believe his visits were becoming some- 
 thing more than mere professional calls, and to 
 our great consternation, we found that Miss Gros- 
 20
 
 230 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 venor was not entirely indifferent to his marked 
 attentions. I was the last to believe that Miss 
 Gro.svenor could so lose her self-respect and stand- 
 ing, as to look upon a poor professor, who gains 
 his bread by his own exertions, as a favored com- 
 petitor for her hand, and it was not until I saw 
 with rny own eyes, that I could credit what I had 
 heard. I was satisfied in time, that his rapt 
 admiration as he gazed upon her, was something 
 more than enthusiasm that she had excelled even 
 his most ardent expectations; and the expression 
 of her beautiful face, as she concluded, might have 
 been the envy of a greater than the Signor. We 
 dismissed the Signor, but he still continued his 
 visits, under the plea that it was his custom to 
 give a few additional lessons at the close of a 
 course, and if he might be allowed, he should con- 
 sider it a valuable acquisition to his own musical 
 powers, to continue for a time his exercises under 
 Miss Grosvenor's superior talent." 
 
 As Mrs. Santon paused, Delwood, in a state of 
 frenzy, exclaimed, 
 
 " It cannot be ! I will never believe that she is 
 false to me, even though she should declare to me 
 with her own lips, that another's claims upon her
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 231 
 
 affections were paramount to my own ! Excuse 
 me, madam, but I think there must be some 
 dreadful misunderstanding in regard to the facts 
 which you have stated. No ! I would scorn my- 
 self if I had a doubt of her innocence ! and if such 
 a thing might be possible, I would die rather than 
 be forced to believe it! I will tell her this very 
 day what I have heard, but I will not degrade my- 
 self, or forfeit her trust, by asking her if it can be 
 so!" 
 
 " Be calm, my dear friend," said Mrs. Santon ; 
 " compose yourself, I pray you, and take my ad- 
 vice in the matter. Say nothing of what you 
 have heard to any one, but come here to-morrow 
 morning at ten, when the Signor will make his 
 appearance, and from a private window, opening 
 from the conservatory, you may, unknown to any 
 one, witness for yourself the truth of what I have 
 said." 
 
 "I will follow your-advice, inasmuch as I will 
 reveal to no one what I have heard, until I be- 
 come like myself," said Delwood, endeavoring to 
 compose himself as he heard the light step of Ihe 
 Sea-flower in the hall ; and as she entered, he 
 arose to depart, pleading a slight indisposition as 
 an apology for his abruptness.
 
 232 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 The calm, spiritual eyes of Natalie looked out 
 upon him, as he walked rapidly down the street, 
 for she could not but notice an estrangement in 
 his manners ; but she did not mistrust that an 
 arrow, poisoned by sin in its vilest form, had been 
 aimed at his heart. 
 
 The starry heavens of that night told that an- 
 other day had gone to be with the past, and inno- 
 cence laid her head upon her pillow and slept, 
 unmindful of plots of guilt, engendered of sin, 
 which might prove for her a draught of bitterness. 
 
 At. an early hour the following morning, Clar- 
 ence Delwood bent his steps towards the residence 
 of Mr. Santon. " Come here to-morrow, and you 
 shall see for yourself," those words still sounded 
 in his ears, and, as he drew nearer the house, it 
 seemed as if they grew louder and louder, till his 
 brain was nearly distracted. But would he pri- 
 vately watch her ways, whom of all others in the 
 " wide, wide world," he had looked upon as near- 
 est perfection ? No, he would not thus debase 
 himself. 
 
 It was at a much earlier hour than that which 
 Mrs. Santon had named, that Delwood presented 
 himself, and handsomely feeing the porter who
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 233 
 
 answered his summons, he asked to see Miss San- 
 ton ; " and, James," said he, " you need mention 
 my presence to no other,member of the family, as 
 my business is strictly private, for Miss Santon's 
 ear alone." 
 
 " Yes, sir," replied James, twisting his face into 
 a most knowing wink, as he smiled upon the yel- 
 low ore, " I 've been there before." 
 
 Winnie soon made her appearance with no lit- 
 tle astonishment pictured in her countenance, that 
 Mr. Delwood should have honored them with 
 what she termed " a sunrise call ; " and that he 
 should have asked for her in particular, was a 
 matter more mysterious. His manners, so unlike 
 himself, served to check at once her flow of spirits, 
 which, in spite of the weight of oppression which 
 had marked the last year, would find vent, if not 
 in a witty remark, in the expression of her speak- 
 ing countenance was it visible ; but she was not 
 slow to discern that some serious subject was 
 upon his mind, and became serious also. 
 
 In a few words he informed her of what he had 
 learned from Mrs. Santon the day previous, but 
 what was his astonishment to find her totally ig- 
 20*
 
 234 NATALIE; on, 
 
 norant of the circumstances, not hesitating to de- 
 clare the whole a base falsehood. 
 
 " I had not a doubt of the falsity of the report," 
 said Dehvood ; " but what can have given rise to 
 such a statement? Surely, your mother would 
 not wish to injure my feelings, by repeating what 
 may have originated, without foundation, among 
 the servants, and which she could not have herself 
 credited ! " 
 
 Winnie saw the truth at once, knowing as she 
 did the character of her, whom, if she had ever 
 looked upon as a mother, must from this moment 
 forfeit every claim upon her feelings, unless it were 
 that of utter contempt. 
 
 " Mr. Delwbod," said she, raising herself to her 
 full height, her slender fingers clenched together, 
 every nerve 'roused to action, " if you would 
 not insult' me. never again call the woman who 
 has had the heart to cast such a slur upon the 
 character of her whom we know is innocent, my 
 mother! It is not to injure your feelings that she 
 has invented such a vile scheme, but it is by in- 
 juring Natalie's character in your eyes, she may 
 banish from her heart all future happiness. Nay, 
 do not start at such a strange declaration from
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA WEEDS. 235 
 
 my lips ; you are the only person, out of my 
 father's household, who has a suspicion that our 
 happiness is not what it once was; but since it 
 has corne to this, I will, at the risk of disclosing 
 to the world what it were wisdom to conceal, 
 establish the innocent; and rest assured that what 
 I say is true, this originated not among the 
 servants, for there is not one but would kneel and 
 kiss the very ground upon which our dear Sea- 
 flower treads." 
 
 Delwood was thunderstruck. 
 
 " Indeed, I never could have mistrusted Mrs. 
 Santon's character was so vile ! " said he ; " but I 
 can sooner believe this than that darkness is born 
 of light. And has Miss Grosvenor suffered the 
 ill-will of this cruel, cruel woman, and never 
 lisped a word but should lead others to respect 
 her? Noble girl that she is! thrice noble have 
 these very evil designings proved her! 'Tis use- 
 less for intrigue to cope with purity." 
 
 " And she bade you come and see for yourself. 
 What meaning is there in that ? " asked Winnie ; 
 for surely such an act would go to prove her in- 
 nocence." 
 
 " If Mrs. Santon can stoop to the deed, which
 
 236 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 fortunately has been disclosed in time to pre- 
 vent the affair from coming to Miss Grosvenor's 
 knowledge, she would not hesitate to do a meaner 
 thing, favorable to the furtherance of her plans ; 
 and it is my opinion there is more to be learned 
 in regard to this matter. I will foil her by follow- 
 ing her own advice, and at the appointed hour 
 will station myself as desired, not as a spy upon 
 her ways, but that I may sift this affair to the bot- 
 tom." 
 
 Accordingly, at the hour which Mrs. Santon 
 had mentioned, Mr. Delwood's summons were 
 answered by the mistress of the mansion in per- 
 son, who smilingly drew him to the conservatory? 
 which overlooked the drawing-room, where he 
 could, unobserved by any one, notice every move- 
 ment of her whose very being was dearer than 
 his own. Natalie was performing his favorite air, 
 and as he listened, he gradually lost sight of the 
 object of his visit, engulfed in the ocean of 
 bliss which her impassioned tones had spread be- 
 fore him, when he was recalled to a sense of out- 
 ward circumstances by the voice of the Signor, 
 who, as the bird-like trill of her voice died away, 
 sprang to his feet, and in a voice hoarse with
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 237 
 
 passion, exclaimed, "Never!" and was about 
 to leave the house, when Delwood intercepted 
 him in the hall, and taking him by the collar, de- 
 manded to know the cause of his strange con- 
 
 i 
 
 duct. The Signer, in his peculiar dialect, replied, 
 " Do not detain me, sir ! it were far better that 
 none should ever know of the temptation which 
 well-nigh made me a villain ! " 
 
 " You do not leave this house, sir, until you dis- 
 close to me what may concern my welfare ! And 
 do not, I pray you, sir, force me to treat you as 
 other than a gentleman, for if I mistake not, you 
 are yet worthy of respect." 
 
 "You do me proud, sir; but I would much 
 prefer to keep my own tongue ; for should it come 
 to the ear of madam that her secret is a secret no 
 longer, I fear it may prove an injury to my pro- 
 fessional duties." 
 
 " Remember that I have said, sir, you do not 
 leave this house until you have given me an ac- 
 count of your strange conduct ; but in doing thus, 
 if I find you undeserving of censure, it shall be no 
 sacrifice to your reputation. I will pledge myself 
 that you lose nothing." 
 
 "Since you are determined, sir, I will make a
 
 238 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 clean breast of it," said the Signer, dashing sev- 
 eral pieces of gold upon the floor, " there, sir, 
 is indeed the root of all evil ! that gold was placed 
 in my hands by a woman, who would make me a 
 tool for the carrying out of designs, which I have 
 not the heart to perform." 
 
 Well." 
 
 " Madam, for some cause, has an under current 
 of thought, which does not appear to be in keep- 
 ing with the more open sentiments of this family; 
 for that amount of gold she connived with me to 
 express such sentiments toward Miss Grosvenor, 
 as should fire you with a belief of her inconstancy, 
 and an attachment for myself. It was some time 
 before I could be bought with gold, but she, doub- 
 ling the amount, I at last yielded to what, thank 
 God, I have not had strength to perform. Had it 
 been other than Miss Grosvenor whom I was to 
 injure, I tremble for my weakness in resisting so 
 great a temptation ; but she reminds me too 
 strongly of the tear which I have seen in my 
 mother's eye, when she prayed for her baby boy. 
 No, sir, thrice that paltry amount should not 
 tempt me now to such degradation!" 
 
 " You have done well, sir," said Del wood,
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS 239 
 
 calmly, as he placed double the amount of Mrs. 
 Santon's bribe in the Signer's hand ; " you have 
 done well, sir ; and mark my words, gold can 
 never relieve a guilty conscience ! Go, sir, and 
 see that you lisp not a syllable of this to any one." 
 
 Mr. Delwood was about to take his leave, when 
 he was met by Winnie, who tripped lightly in, 
 fresh from a morning walk. He grasped her hand 
 and pressed it to his lips, saying, "You have 
 helped to do away with the sinful impressions 
 which did their best to fasten themselves upon 
 me. You will never be forgotten by me, and I 
 know you will do your best to protect her from 
 the wiles of this hard-hearted woman, of whose 
 deeds the world shall through me be none the 
 wiser." 
 
 " I should be iron-hearted, did I not strive to 
 make her happy ; for it is in pity for my father 
 and his motherless child, that she consents to be 
 separated from her own loved family." 
 
 Mrs. Santon had never the impudence to in- 
 quire in what way this matter terminated, but 
 she could see that her machinations had been 
 foiled, as day after day brought Mr. Delwood a 
 welcome visitor to the house ; yet this defeat did
 
 240 NATALIE. 
 
 not subdue her bitter feelings towards the Sea- 
 flower ; they only slumbered, to break out afresh 
 on the first occasion that might present. Natalie 
 had observed the Signer's abrupt departure ; she 
 knew that something must be amiss, and ques- 
 tioning Winnie in the matter, she disclosed to her 
 what never came to the ear of Mr. San ton. 
 
 " I forgive her," said the Sea-flower, " and I caii 
 pity her; for perhaps she has never had dear 
 friends who might teach her how to love."
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE MADONNA AND CHILD. 
 
 "Pure and undimmed, thy angel smile 
 
 Is mirrored on my dreams, 
 Like evening's sunset girded isle, 
 
 Upon her shadowed streams ; 
 And o'er my thoughts thy vision floats, 
 Like melody of spring-bird notes, 
 When the blue halcyon gently laves 
 His plumage in the flashing waves.' 
 
 PARK BENJAMIN. 
 
 " PLEASE, miss, a letter for you," said the post- 
 boy, handing Natalie a letter, which she was not 
 long in discovering, was from her dear mother. 
 
 " I thank you, most heartily," said she, in her 
 low, musical voice, which caused the youthful 
 sprig of Uncle Sam's department to leave incom- 
 plete the angle of forty-five degrees, which he had 
 been in the habit of considering as^of no little im- 
 
 21
 
 242 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 portance in the perfecting of his duties, as he went 
 his daily rounds. 
 
 " Zounds ! " said he to himself, as he went 
 whistling up the street, " if I do n't hope they '11 
 send down another document to her soon ! " and 
 his eyes wandered up to the little patch of blue 
 sky which was to be seen between the tops of 
 brick walls. 
 
 The Sea-flower perused the letter, and sat, ap- 
 parently buried in deep thought. 
 
 " Why, Natie, darling," exclaimed Winnie, as 
 she came bounding into the room, " what has 
 given you such a wise look this morning? A let- 
 ter, eh ? good news, I trust ; far be the day which 
 shall bring to you aught but happiness." 
 
 " Thank you, thank you, Winnie, for your good 
 wishes; but I cannot well conceive of any other 
 than pleasure coming from my gentle mother's 
 pen." 
 
 Winnie ran her fingers lightly over the keys of 
 the piano, and Natalie did not suspect, as she lis- 
 tened to her sprightly air, that there was a bright 
 tear glistening in her eye at the holy name of 
 mother. 
 
 " But you are unusually thoughtful to-day, Na-
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 243 
 
 talie," said Winnie, running her taper fingers 
 through the sunny tresses of her friend, " did I 
 not know it were an impossibility, I should say 
 you had lost your best friend ; " and putting her 
 dimpled mouth close to her ear, she whispered 
 some mysterious words so softly, so very softly, 
 that were we disposed to turn listener, we could 
 only have distinguished that one word, "Del- 
 wood;" but we might have seen the delicate 
 tinge of pink, which, tell-tale like, overspread the 
 face and neck of the Sea-flower. Be that as it 
 may, there was a thoughtful look lingering about 
 those expressive features, which could even be 
 traced, when at night-fall, a well-known step was 
 heard, echoing with no unpleasant sound along 
 the corridor, and a hand, which, though of fem- 
 inine delicacy, could have been fired with suffi- 
 cient nerve to have wielded a giant's weapon, at 
 the invader who should come between him and 
 the gentle being, whose hand was not withdrawn 
 as he held it reverently within his own. 
 
 " Ah, Miss Sea-flower," said Delwood, as he gazed 
 deep into her eyes, " you are far away among 
 the invisible sprites of ocean to-night, are you? 
 not one thought for us poor unfortunates, who are
 
 244 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 so ungenial to those translucent ones, as never tv. 
 have been initiated to their fairy haunts. Really^ 
 I must get up a little smile at your expense, for 
 you could not better please an artist, in the com- 
 posing of your features, if you were sitting for 
 your picture. By the way, have you seen the 
 famous Madonna, whose great beauty is the 
 theme of all conversation? I am told it is a 
 master-piece, by some gentleman who appears 
 not anxious that his brilliant artistical powers 
 shall be published, as his name never accompanies 
 his works, and the piece in question was but by 
 accident, brought to public view. It hangs, among 
 others, in his fine gallery of paintings, and is hung 
 with a heavy drapery of black, which was by 
 chance removed by a gentleman, a friend of mine, 
 who offered a handsome fortune at once for the 
 prize ; but his rich offer was declined by the 
 owner, who, to the gentleman's earnest desire that 
 he might become its possessor, replied, 'sir, 
 that bit of inanimate canvas is all upon which 
 my weary life feeds ! were you to offer me the 
 wealth of the world, I would not part with that 
 one small picture ! neither can I be wrought upon 
 to produce a copy of the same, without violating
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 245 
 
 feelings which are sacred.' Whether this is a 
 fancy piece, or if it bears the semblance of some 
 one of his kindred, rny friend did not inform me, 
 as he said his very tongue clave to the roof of his 
 mouth, as the sad artist spoke those few deep- 
 toned words. I have not myself seen this won- 
 der, and whether I might be thus warm in my 
 praises is a question, as you know I am insensible 
 to female beauty, if I may judge by remarks which 
 from time to time have come to my ear, in past 
 years, from estimable mothers, whose beautiful 
 daughters ought to have called forth my glow- 
 ing sentiments ; ' but that which is wanting can- 
 not be numbered,' " said he, stealing an arch 
 glance at Natalie. 
 
 " I have not seen this painting," replied Nata- 
 lie, her countenance lighting up with a new 
 thought, "but I have several times visited the 
 artist's rooms, though I have never been so fortu- 
 nate as to get sight of the mysterious connoisseur. 
 Those who have met him, describe him as being 
 a middle-aged gentleman, of foreign birth, very 
 marked in his polite, graceful manners ; yet there 
 appears to be a great mystery hanging about him, 
 and some have ventured to remark that his is no 
 
 21*
 
 246 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 common history, that he is not merely what he pre- 
 tends, an obscure artist ! there is that about his 
 bearing which denotes high birth. I have admired 
 his talent displayed, and must see this remarkable 
 production ; for you know I am a great admirer 
 of female beauty." 
 
 That night, Natalie mused over the events of 
 the day, the contents of the letter which she 
 had received, were first in her mind. Her mother 
 had expressed an earnest desire to see her child 
 once more ; among other things, she had briefly 
 made mention of a matter in regard to their pe- 
 cuniary affairs, quite a little sum of the com- 
 fortable fortune which Capt. Grosvenor had, by 
 dint of the many perils at sea, accumulated, had 
 been lost in a recent bank failure ; a failure, as 
 Mrs. Grosvenor stated, which had proved a source 
 of poverty to many a family, upon their little is- 
 land ; many a widow had been obliged to part 
 with the last dollar, which had been earned by the 
 seafaring husband, who had never returned to 
 share the benefit of his labors ; Their whole com- 
 munity had been more or less affected by this 
 failure. As to Mrs. Grosvenor's own loss, she 
 had said it was not heavy, or, at least, she had
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 247 
 
 spoken of it as not -resting heavily upon her 
 spirits ; why then should the Sea-flower's thoughts 
 dwell thus upon the matter? she still mused 
 " I fear this may have been a heavier loss, than 
 the gentle words, so characteristic of my mother's 
 tenderness for me, may imply ! she would not, if 
 it were in her power to prevent, have me feel that 
 I must curtail my expenses in the least, and I 
 know that my necessary expenses here, must be 
 a great tax upon her income ; to be sure Harry 
 has often said, that our dear mother shall never 
 know what it is to want ; but for all that, I feel 
 that I might do something to repay my mother 
 for all that she has done for me. Yes ! it is my 
 duty ! and it certainly would be a duty of pleas- 
 ure, if I could do anything to assist her." This 
 it was, which had caused the thoughtful expres- 
 sion of the Sea-flower ; this which had called forth 
 the ever ready wit of Miss Winnie had de- 
 tained Delwood's gaze ! But what would be the 
 sentiment of uppertendom, when it should be 
 rumored that the beautiful young creature, of the 
 proud Clarence Delwood's choice, had stooped so 
 low, as to maintain herself by her own hands ? 
 How would Mr. Delwood himself receive such an
 
 248 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 announcement? such thoughts did not occur to the 
 mind of the noble hearted girl ; her every thought 
 and act were of good, and she did not for once 
 1 hi tik, that there were those, who could sneer at 
 good motives. Ah ! Natalie, this is a cold, unfeel- 
 ing world, at best ! as experience of long years doth 
 confirm. Thy little day hath not yet taught thee, 
 that the world is born of sin, for thou only look- 
 est on the human face as divine. How Natalie 
 was to render assistance to her mother, by reliev- 
 ing her of any incumbrance, of which she, her- 
 self, might be the cause, had not yet been matur- 
 ed, until Delwood had spoken of the popular pic- 
 ture-gallery, of the unknown artist ; when as we 
 have said, her face was lit up with a new 
 thought. " I will seek this gentleman, and it may 
 be that he can be induced to bring out the dor- 
 mant powers, which I am persuaded are in exist- 
 ence ; for my love for his department of the fine 
 arts, knows no bounds ! To-morrow I will visit 
 him. This veil of mystery would seem a barrier, 
 yet perhaps it is of sadness, and I can conceive 
 that such are of the tender hearted, alive to 
 another's wants." 
 
 " Want ! " she repeated aloud ; it sounded
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA- WEEDS. 249 
 
 strangely upon her ear; and indeed, we cannot 
 couple the thought with such as she ! Can such 
 fair ones of earth, meet with the chilling breath 
 of adversity ? Yes, we may meet with them 
 in our wanderings ! Let us deal with them ten- 
 derly ; for it may be one of heaven's sensitive 
 flowers. Stranger still would that word have 
 sounded to Mrs. Grosvenor and her son, in con- 
 nection with their Sea-flower, yet it was remotest 
 from their minds, that such thoughts would find 
 their way to her heart. Mrs. Grosvenor's circum- 
 stances were indeed more embarrassed than she 
 had expressed to Natalie, yet she had sufficient 
 left, wherewith they might by retrenching a little, 
 live very comfortably. Accordingly, that Natalie 
 might not feel this change, she had dismissed her 
 only servant (if we may do honor to old Vingo, 
 by dubbing him with a more elevated appellation), 
 making some other restriction sin her domestic af- 
 fairs, for the sake of the child, whom she knew was 
 not her own by kindred, doing away with what she 
 persuaded herself were but unnecessary indulgen- 
 ces. Faithful mother ! thou wilt have thy reward. 
 Natalie arose the next morning, refreshed by 
 the sweet repose which innocence only knows,
 
 250 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 and although the day was ushered in with clouds, 
 and an occasional rain-drop, she proceeded to put 
 into execution the plans of yesterday; she had 
 made no one a confidant of her designs, not even 
 Winnie ; and when that little lady met her in the 
 hall, all armed and equipped as the weather di- 
 rected, she exclaimed, " where now ? Miss Snow- 
 wreath ! are you going to temper your indissolva- 
 ble charms to an April shower? or is it to hunt 
 up some poor little refugee ; who is so unfortu- 
 nate as to be minus an umbrella, that you are so 
 bereft of your senses, as to venture out, afoot and 
 alone, this disagreeable morning? " 
 
 " Neither the one, nor yet the other, my fair 
 sister," joyously replied the Sea-flower, and she 
 tripped down the steps, smiling upon the little 
 frightened rain-drops, which fell lightly upon her, 
 from the skies, not offering to treat them with such 
 indecorum, as the spreading of her umbrella, and 
 when Winnie called to her to come back, or if she 
 would venture forth, to take the carriage, she was 
 far out of hearing. Arrived at her point of des- 
 tination, Natalie was so lost in admiration of the 
 noble illustrations of the infinite mind of man, 
 that she had lost sight of her object, in visiting
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA- WEEDS. 251 
 
 the unknown artist, until she was awakened from 
 her revery, by a voice near her, and looking 
 'round, she discovered a poor, dejected looking 
 old negro woman, kneeling with her hands clasp- 
 ed together, and her eyes fixed upon Natalie 
 followed in the direction it must be the beauti- 
 ful Madonna! of which she had heard. Invol- 
 untarily she assumed the position of the negress ! 
 What visions filled her soul ! flitting to and fro. 
 The past, the present, and the future rushed in 
 mingled indistinctness through her mind ! and 
 over the chaos there floated a calm, which gradu- 
 ally took the form of recollections which now 
 caused her heart to beat loudly with the uncer- 
 tainty, fraught with reality. That night ! came 
 fresh again to her memory, when she had over- 
 heard her brother's words, " she is not my sister 
 by birth ! " The same holy passions filled her 
 soul, and she gazed upon that face, the semb- 
 lance of which, she had many a time, ere now, 
 looked upon in dreams! might they not have 
 been waking dreams? 
 
 " God grant dat such as she, neber know what 
 it am to be torn from her childer!" groaned the 
 black woman, with a deep-drawn sigh.
 
 252 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 " Ah, rny poor woman," said Natalie, her eyes 
 still fixed upon that spiritual face, " I trust such 
 has never been your lot." 
 
 " Bress you ! missy, dem is de only kind words 
 I hear dis many a day, since dey take me way 
 from my poor ole man, and de young uns ! but I 's 
 not sure now but you 's de spirit ob dat pure cre- 
 tur, (pointing to the Madonna) dat 's speakin a 
 few words, jus to cheer me like." 
 
 " And where are your children now ? and your 
 poor old man ? " 
 
 " O ! missy," said the woman, drawing a par- 
 cel from her bosom, carefully unfolding it, and 
 holding a large red handkerchief up to view, 
 " if I tinks I eber find de mate to dat, I 'specks I 
 die wid de joy ! but it am a long story, missy, it 
 begins way back, a long fore your sweet eyes see 
 de light ob dis wicked world." 
 
 " Do not call it a wicked world ; it is a beauti- 
 ful world, which God has given us to live in ! " 
 
 " Ah, missy, if oder white folks like you, I 
 'specks it be jus no world at all ; it be all one great 
 heaben ! " 
 
 " But what is this mark upon the handker- 
 chief?" asked Natalie, for she had seen a fac-
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 253 
 
 simile of the little device, upon old Vingo's ban- 
 danna, which he used to lend her when she was 
 a child, and she had handled it so carefully, be- 
 cause he had told her that it was the most val- 
 uable thing he owned in the world, beside his 
 Bible, and she had looked up into his face, with 
 her great blue eyes, and asked him what the two 
 little crooked marks were made to represent ; and 
 he had told her they were to represent himself 
 and his poor Phillis, for they were bent with the 
 sorrows of the world; and now, here were the 
 same crooked marks, wrought upon the corner 
 of this black woman's handkerchief, which she 
 seemed to treasure so much! What could it 
 mean ? Natalie looked upon it in astonishment. 
 
 " Where did you get this ? " she asked. 
 
 " My poor ole man gabe it to me, de last time 
 I sees him, and he takes anoder like it, and say, 
 ' Phillis, we will keep dem ; dey 's not quite as 
 'spressive as de garultypes ob missus's, but when 
 you sees dat, you may know dat old Bingo am 
 tinking ob you." 
 
 " And do you ever think to meet him again ? " 
 asked Natalie, without betraying her emotion at 
 such a discovery. 
 
 22
 
 254 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 " Oh, missy, if he know anyting about heaven, 
 I might 'speck to meet him dar ; but we not know 
 anyting 'bout dat good place den, and I 'specks 
 he am clean used up by dis time ; clean gone, 
 widout eber hearin' ob de good Lor' ! " 
 
 "And your children, you have never forgot- 
 ten them ? " 
 
 " No, missy, I neber forgets dem, and though 
 dey brack as dar mammy, I lub dem as much 
 as dat pure creter dar ; and I takes dem in my 
 arms, and press dem to my heart de same, but I 
 rudder be called to part wid dem, dan dat such as 
 she hab to gib up her chilen, for 'pears like I can 
 bear it better, cause I 's brack." 
 
 " My good woman, you have a forgiving spirit 
 for your oppressors, and, thank God, I have it in 
 my power to make two of my fellow mortals 
 happy. What should you say, if I were to tell 
 you where you may find your husband ? " 
 
 The woman looked at her, without speaking a 
 word. 
 
 " Your husband is alive and well ; and faithful 
 old Vingo is at this moment in my mother's fam- 
 ily, where his wants, spiritual and temporal, are 
 cared for ; and he has often told me, if he could
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 255 
 
 but once again see his wife, Phillis, he should die 
 happy. 
 
 The woman gave one long, piercing cry, and 
 sank upon the floor. At this instant the artist is- 
 sued from an adjoining apartment, and stood gaz- 
 ing upon the scene. 
 
 "My God! what do I see?" exclaimed the 
 gentleman, in a voice which instantly riveted the 
 Sea-flower's attention upon him. 
 
 " Tell me ! in mercy tell me who thou art ! " 
 and he leaned against a column for support. 
 
 Had Natalie been heir to that weakness which 
 is somewhat characteristic of the gentler sex, she 
 might have been terrified at such deep, impas- 
 sioned language from a perfect stranger, trembling 
 with the certainty that she stood face to face with 
 a lunatic ; but no such fear was hers. Advancing, 
 she bowed low, in honor to his superior age, say- 
 ing, " pardon me, if I am an intruder here ; yet, 
 sir, an apology is needless, for who can resist the 
 grace and beauty which is here displayed ? My 
 presence, sir, has evidently disturbed you, and 
 if you will permit me to ask one question, I will 
 retire ; the Madonna, that face of an angel, is 
 she the pure production of your own soul, or can
 
 256 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 it be that such as she has indeed been amongst 
 us?" 
 
 "She has been, and has passed away! has 
 passed away," he repeated to himself; " I never 
 thought to meet her again until the dark river had 
 been crossed ! but what do I see ? " and he passed 
 his hand over his eyes, as if to assure himself that 
 he were not dreaming. 
 
 No, it was no dream ; a gentle, living form 
 stood before him who had sorrowed for his only 
 child nearly twenty long years, and was devoutly 
 regarding those inanimate features to which his 
 soul had clung, as if it were of life ; and his eye 
 now wandered from the animate to the inani- 
 mate, the beauteous countenance of the Ma- 
 donna. It was not unlike that of the Sea-flower; 
 the features were the same. Regaining his com- 
 posure, the artist proceeded, in a peculiarly mel- 
 low tone of voice 
 
 " Dear lady, you will pardon my seemingly ill- 
 mannered reception of you, I know, when you 
 have heard what has never yet passed my lips to 
 any mortal! Near twenty years have expired 
 since I left my cherished home, on the other side 
 of the Atlantic, and came to America. I met
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 257 
 
 with sorrow at an early age ; the young wife of 
 my choice was taken from me, and I should have 
 been overwhelmed with grief, had not the precious 
 boon left to me by her, claimed my heart-felt love ; 
 the beautiful babe smiled upon me, and I felt re- 
 buked in spirit that I should thus murmur at 
 God's will, when in his loving kindness he had 
 spared to me this, her very likeness, and I came 
 to smile again. I could then smile upon his 
 chastening rod, but," and a deep shudder thrilled 
 his frame, " I have since been led to ask myself 
 if there is a God ! O ! can a good God thus af- 
 flict his children ? " 
 
 " Pause, sir, I beseech you, ere you give utter- 
 ance to such dreadful thoughts! Think of the 
 countless mercies which you have received at his 
 hand, weigh them well in a balance with your 
 sorrows, whatever they may have been, and you 
 will find the measure of your blessings tenfold." 
 
 " Your words are as balm to my calloused 
 heart ; yet listen to me, and judge if my cruel fate 
 would not engender a dark distrust in a purer 
 heart than mine. My child grew in strength and 
 beauty, grew to be like her who had left us ; 
 she was the pride of my luxuriant home, the 
 22*
 
 258 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 main spring of my life! Yes, I could realize it 
 then, while I could yet gaze upon her face and 
 dream of heaven ; but other days drew near. It 
 was in her twentieth year when my Natalie 
 knelt before the altar a bride. She had given 
 her hand to a noble-hearted American gentle- 
 man, upon whom I looked as being worthy of 
 my darling's choice ; and as she placed one hand 
 within his, she took the hand of her father with 
 the other, and whispered, ' you now give your 
 daughter to another, yet it shall only serve to bind 
 me still closer to my father.' I was happy then ; 
 and when two years later, I pressed my daughter 
 to my heart, and bade her adieu, for the first time, 
 without a thought that it might be the last, I was 
 happy ; and when I pressed a kiss on the cheek 
 of her infant child, and grasped the hand of my 
 noble son, her husband, I was happy ; for so full 
 was my cup of joy, that I had forgotten the drop 
 of bitterness which I had tasted therefrom. But, 
 alas ! it was not so full to overflowing that there 
 was not room for the draught that was to be my 
 portion. They sailed for America, to visit his 
 home, when, after the settlement of his estate in 
 this Western world, they would return to make
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA- WEEDS. 259 
 
 glad their father's home ; that day has not yet 
 come ! A year elapsed, and 1 had no tidings of 
 them, yet I would not permit the thought to 
 dwell with me that I should never hear from them 
 more, and another year passed on before the 
 despair entered my soul, which has been to me a 
 burning flame ever since. I gave my possessions 
 to the keeping of another, and left my native 
 Italy, to cross the deep, if I might learn of the fate 
 of my children. I went to the place he had told 
 me was his home, but I met with only strangers 
 there. I inquired for the noble vessel in which 
 my child had sailed ; she had not belonged on this 
 coast, and thus were my earnest inquiries re- 
 pulsed, day after day, with a heartless ' we can 
 give you no information.' I travelled from place 
 to place, in hopes to get some clue to the mystery 
 which hung around my lost ones ; but, alas, that 
 was not to be ! I sought in vain. It was then a 
 change came over me ; I hardly knew myself. I 
 concealed my name, and lived a recluse, never dis- 
 closing to any one the history of my sorrows. But I 
 could not live thus, and I endeavored to divert my 
 mind from this state of frenzy, by making use of the 
 talent, for which, in my heart of stone, I would not
 
 260 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 thank my God for bestowing upon me ! And so 
 I have lived, as you find me, 'the unknown 
 artist.' It is needless to add, the beautiful Ma- 
 donna, which was never designed for the rude 
 gaze of public curiosity, is the likeness of my 
 child ; and though I had no other than the impress 
 of her features upon my heart, to guide my trem- 
 bling hand, yet 1 have got a soul upon that can- 
 vas ! Sometimes I have fancied that some good 
 angel had not forgotten me, and had breathed her 
 soul into those pure eyes ! " 
 
 " And the child ? " asked Natalie, in a sup- 
 pressed breath, scarcely above a whisper. 
 
 " Her child was but a tiny babe ; her features 
 were not sufficiently developed to leave its mem- 
 ory on my mind ; yet they told me the little crea- 
 ture was like her mother. This, the Madonna's 
 child, is from life. In my wanderings I visited 
 the island of Nantucket. I spent some little time 
 there, as I found the great hearts of those people 
 more congenial to my weary spirits, than the chill- 
 ing air of avarice, which, in a measure, marks this 
 western world. One morning, as I strolled along 
 the shore, looking out upon the sea, depressed in 
 spirits, I observed a pretty sight not far from me ;
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 261 
 
 an old negro sat upon the beach, and by his side 
 an infant, some eighteen months old, with her 
 arms clasped about the neck of a large Newfound- 
 land dog, while her eyes, which were of the blue 
 of heaven, were fixed upon the waves which rolled 
 and broke in harmless ripples at her -feet. She 
 was a beauteous child. I have never seen an- 
 other upon whom I could look, as the little angel 
 that had gone. I traced her beautiful features, as 
 I was so fortunate as to have pencil and paper by 
 me, and was about to pass on, when I observed 
 the brother of the child approaching ; he was a 
 noble little fellow, with the air of a young prince, 
 and I never shall forget his proud answer, when I 
 asked him of his sister, ' We call her Sea- 
 flower, sir, for she came to us from God, and he 
 smiles upon each little flower, as it lifts up its 
 head, all trembling with dew.' I breathed a bless- 
 ing upon them both, for they had drawn a tear 
 from my heart of stone." 
 
 " Sir," said Natalie, as he paused, " Nantucket 
 is my home ; often have I listened to rny dear 
 brother, as he has told me the pretty story of the 
 sad gentleman whom he met, when I was but an 
 infant, and how he spoke to me so tenderly, and
 
 262 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 sighed for his own Natalie. I had no other name 
 then but Sea-flower, and I have been called by 
 that name ever since ; yet after that day, my 
 Christian name was Natalie." 
 
 The artist gazed upon her, and pointing to the 
 Madonna, exclaimed, " Thou art the child ! 
 you are like the Madonna! Can it be that I 
 have unconsciously restored to the mother her 
 child ? None other than her own could thus re- 
 semble her ! " 
 
 " In my innermost heart there has ever dwelt a 
 mystery, which I can find no language to de- 
 scribe ! In my dreams I have had sweet visions 
 of a beauteous being, who has smiled upon me, 
 and made me happy. The Madonna awakens 
 all those pure feelings, and I cannot but look 
 upon her as in some way connected with my be- 
 ing; yet my own mother lives, and my affection 
 for her is as for no other being upon the earth." 
 
 " She is in heaven," mused the artist. 
 
 At this moment the door opened, and who 
 should enter but Clarence Delwood, who was 
 much surprised to find Natalie thus unattended, 
 in earnest conversation with the mysterious artist. 
 She arose as he entered, and presented him to the
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 263 
 
 gentleman, but she had not yet learned his name. 
 The artist presented his card to Delvvood, as- 
 suming the same frigid manner which had become 
 his nature. Delwood gave one glance at the Ma- 
 donna. 
 
 " How is this, sir," asked he, in an excited man- 
 ner, " that you have made use of this lady's face 
 to attract the notice of a vulgar public to your 
 works ? Who gave you authority for such assur- 
 ance as this, sir ? " 
 
 " Calm yourself, Clarence," said the Sea-flower, 
 mildly, " the gentleman had never seen me, to his 
 knowledge, until this morning. It rather be- 
 comes us to apologize for this intrusion upon 
 the sacred memory of his child." 
 
 Mr. Delwood listened with astonishment to the 
 information which we have just learned, and his 
 eyes wandered from the beautiful Madonna to the 
 no less beautiful being, whom he hoped, at no 
 distant day, to call his own, while a thought filled 
 his soul with delight, and he said to himself, " I 
 knew that she was infinitely above me, though 
 outward circumstances would make her of no par- 
 ticular distinction." 
 
 ' Yes, there is a meaning in this, a mystery to
 
 264 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 be solved. Who is she ? this pure being. And 
 your mother still lives," mused the artist; "do 
 you resemble her ? " 
 
 " I am unlike any one of my family, so much 
 so that strangers have noted it." 
 
 " And your father ? " 
 
 " Is in heaven." 
 
 " Truly," mused the gentleman, " and your 
 sainted mother likewise." 
 
 " Permit me to ask your address, gentle lady," 
 said the artist, as his visitors prepared to retire. 
 
 " And in return you will allow me to come 
 every day, and look upon this dear face ? " 
 
 " You are the only person whom I have bade a 
 welcome to my presence for years ; " and bidding 
 them a " good morning," the artist retired to 
 brood over other than his sorrows. 
 
 It was then that Natalie remembered the poor 
 black woman, though not a thought of the object 
 of her own visit thither, crossed her mind. The 
 woman was silently contemplating the Sea- 
 flower, as if she were an angel of mercy. 
 
 " Where do you live, my good woman ? " in- 
 quired Natalie. 
 
 " One spot am not my home more dan anoder,
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA- WEEDS. 265 
 
 missy ; de wide earth am my home. But tell me, 
 missy, did ole Phillis hear you straight, or arn she 
 so warped troughout, dat she not get de right 
 comprehensions ? " 
 
 " What I have told you, you may rely upon ; 
 come here in a day or two again, and you shall 
 hear farther." 
 
 " Bress de Lor' ! bress de good Lor', for send- 
 ing de bright angel ! " shouted the woman, as she 
 ran out of the house, throwing about her long 
 arms, (now freed from slavery's chains,) and mak- 
 ing sundry other uncouth manifestations of her 
 joy, so characteristic of her race, which caused a 
 policeman to realize the dignity of his station, by 
 actually opening one eye, and puffing diligently 
 at the cloud of tobacco smoke which encircled the 
 other. 
 
 A week later, and Natalie received a letter 
 from her mother, in reply to her account of her 
 visit to the mysterious artist. It ran thus : 
 
 " MY DEAR DAUGHTER, It . was with joy, 
 mingled with a shade of sadness, that I perused 
 your last. Not that you, my innocent child, 
 could impart other than pleasure to the meanest of 
 weak mortals, yet it brought afresh to my mind 
 
 23
 
 266 MATALIE; OR, 
 
 a subject, which, though it marks one of the hap- 
 piest moments of my life, owing to peculiar cir- 
 cumstances, the memory of my dear husband 
 being closely associated therewith, brings to 
 my heart, also, a shadow of grief. That which I 
 would say has to do with yourself, my daughter, 
 yet I cannot commission my pen to the revealing 
 of this long-buried secret. I would tell you with 
 my own lips, of the mystery which hangs around 
 your birth, for I would seal the tale with a 
 mother's kiss, looking upon my foster-child for an 
 assurance of love undiminished. You must now 
 come home to us. I can bear this separation no 
 longer. The time has come when our dear little 
 Sea-flower, for so many years the sunshine of our 
 home, shall test the strength of her affection for 
 those who will ever regard her a blessing from 
 that heavenly shore. Say to the author of the 
 Madonna and child, that I would earnestly wish 
 that he may accompany you home, as he may be 
 informed of that which so nearly concerns his 
 happiness. Adieu, my daughter, until I shall see 
 you once more. From your affectionate mother." 
 
 Natalie folded the letter, and repeating aloud, 
 "can I ever love my mother less ? " she leaned her 
 head upon her hand, and wept. 
 
 The day drew near when the Sea-flower,
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 267 
 
 accompanied by Mr. Alboni, (for such was the 
 name of the gentlemanly artist,) and Clarence 
 Delwood, should seek her island home. This was 
 anything but a pleasant anticipation for Winnie, 
 for since her mother's death she had learned to 
 lean upon Natalie, though younger than herself, 
 and had received from her in times of trial, such 
 sweet counsel as would sink into her heart, giv- 
 ing her new strength, making her a wiser and a 
 better being. In the time which Natalie had 
 been in the Santon family, there had been a per- 
 ceptible change in the character of the beautiful 
 coquettish heiress. Those blemishes which the 
 faithful mother had discovered, upspringing in 
 her daughter's youthful heart, marring her other- 
 wise lovable character, had been erased ; not that 
 she had lost in any degree that gay, cheery open- 
 ness of heart which we love so well to meet, 
 she was yet the Winnie Santon of days which 
 had known no lowering skies, the singing bird of 
 a June morning, save that an occasional plain- 
 tive note, breathed out upon youth's freshness of 
 life's realities. 
 
 It was the last night in which these maidens, 
 Winnie and Natalie, might pour out to each
 
 268 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 other the fulness of their hearts. The last, did 
 we say, the last? distance would separate them 
 ere another sunset, and ocean would intervene ; 
 yet we have said, the last. Folded in each 
 other's arms, they sat in the pale moonlight, each 
 reading within the other's soul, an appreciation 
 of this holy hour. Holy hours are they indeed, 
 which lead our thoughts far up beyond this mor- 
 tal sphere, pointing us to other than earth's vani- 
 ties. Beautiful, yet so unlike, they were ; and ah, 
 what is more beautiful than maiden purity? 
 Woman, she fell, yet her name will ever stand 
 foremost in the ranks of all that is exalting. 
 
 " And who will there be to love me, when you 
 are gone ? Who will talk with me so gently, and 
 keep my feet from the dangerous paths which sur- 
 round me?" asked Winnie, as the discordant 
 tones of Mrs. Santon's voice stole in upon their 
 quietude, from an adjoining apartment. 
 
 " If there is anything in this beautiful world of 
 ours which can make me sad, it is the parting 
 from those whom I love ; yet I know it is but for 
 a little while. Dear Winnie, can you realize how 
 kind our Father is, that he has given us the prom- 
 ise of a home where there will be no more part-
 
 GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 269 
 
 ing, never a farewell? and he will guide your 
 footsteps; make him your friend, and though all 
 others should forsake you, you will be happy. 
 He will be a better friend to you than ever I have 
 been, and remember, Winnie dear, when I am 
 gone, should sorrow come to you, or bitter trials 
 mark your way, go to our Father for counsel, and 
 he will give you sweet rest." 
 
 Thus did the Sea-flower endeavor to leave 
 upon Winnie's heart that which should prepare 
 her for meeting the trials which she but too 
 plainly foresaw would be her lot, from the un- 
 motherly spirit evinced by Mrs. Santon. Bless- 
 ings on thee, noble girl ! would there were more 
 like thee to be found in this sinful world below! 
 But what is a blessing craved by the lips of frail 
 mortal, compared with the seraph blessings show- 
 ered upon thy gentle head, from her who is look- 
 ing down upon her child, as thy voice is raised in 
 prayer to the God of this motherless one, that she 
 may find refuge beneath the shadow of his wing. 
 
 The last farewell was spoken by poor Winnie, 
 with an aching heart, Mr. Santon had pressed the 
 Sea-flower's hand, with a tear in his eye, as if re- 
 luctant to let her go, lest the severing of one of 
 
 23*
 
 270 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 the last ties which bound him to happy clays, 
 should be too much for his sorrowing heart, 
 and she had gone, leaving her impress upon the 
 hearts of all who had met and loved her. Her 
 spirit was the spirit of love, forgiving as she hoped 
 to be forgiven, her sins, which, had it not been 
 said of man, " not one is perfect," we should 
 have looked upon as of no deeper stains than are 
 of the newly washen lambs, gambolling in fresh 
 pastures of innocence. Even to Mrs. Santon's 
 unpardonable slight, in not giving her a parting 
 salutation, pleading one of her timely headaches 
 as an excuse for her non-appearance at the hour 
 of separation, the Sea-flower had left for her 
 a kind farewell. 
 
 After an absence of nearly three years, Natalie 
 stood once again upon the shores of her island 
 home. Everything was as when she had left, for 
 the bustle and change of the outer world does not 
 disturb the quiet of this sea-girt isle. Her mother 
 received her with tears of joy, that fulness of joy 
 which only the mother can feel, who, after a long 
 separation from the child whose beauty of char- 
 acter sheds a halo of honor around the household 
 name, holds her to her heart again, where she
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 271 
 
 knows her to be safest from the world's con- 
 tumely. Harry welcomed his sister home, with 
 the wild delight of his boyish days, regardless of 
 the presence of strangers in their family circle ; 
 while old Vingo, who had been beside himself for 
 a week past, with the prospect of at last actually 
 beholding his missy face to face, capered about 
 the room, as if he were not so near his second 
 childhood. The Sea-flower pressed his bony, 
 black hand to her lips. 
 
 " Ah ! I know dat you neber change, missy ; I 
 know you always be de same ! I tells mysef dat, 
 dese long years past, and bress de Lord, poor old 
 Bingo hab one friend as long as he hab a hope ob 
 libin' ! " 
 
 " Yes, my good Vingo," said the Sea-flower, 
 " you may truly rely upon one friend, that best 
 of friends, he will never forsake you ; but," and she 
 spread out the veritable handkerchief, so precious 
 to the poor black woman, before his wondering 
 eyes, " you are deserving of the rich blessings of 
 earthly friends ; for had I been tried, as it has 
 been the will of an overruling providence that 
 you should be, I doubt if I had borne my cross 
 \viih the submissive spirit which you have mani-
 
 272 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 fested. Tell me," added she, pointing out the 
 crooked marks in the corner of the handkerchief, 
 " do you recognize that ? " 
 
 Vingo drew forth the bandanna, which always 
 accompanied him in his wanderings, and laid it 
 by the side of the other. They were just alike ; 
 there were the two crooked marks upon each, 
 speaking as accurately as the most highly finished 
 ambrotype of the day. 
 
 "Praise de Lord foreber!" shouted the negro; 
 " I neber 'speck to see dat sight, while I not'ing 
 but ole brack Bingo ! I can lib to de end ob my 
 days wid joy at de sight ob dat! it am next to 
 finding poor Phillis hersef. Pray, missy, did you 
 find dat in some accidental cotton bag ? or am 
 Bosting only the Christian name for wicked old 
 Kintuck ? I should n't tinlc dat angels could lib 
 in dat cannibal hemisphere!" 
 
 It was with difficulty that those who witnessed 
 the fellow's ludicrous movements, could refrain 
 from a smile ; but when, at a summons from Na- 
 talie, the door opened, and the black woman, so 
 nearly allied to the human family as to have man- 
 ifested an appreciation of the beautiful, stood be- 
 fore them, there was not a dry eye in the room.
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 273 
 
 It was an affecting sight, to witness the meeting 
 of this man and wife, who had been separated for 
 so many long years, and under such trying cir- 
 cumstances. To be sure, they were poor igno- 
 rant negroes, who are looked upon by a large por- 
 tion of the world, as only fit to be ranked with 
 dogs and other dumb animals: yet they have 
 souls, hearts which had been given to Christ, and 
 the meek and lowly Jesus, were he now upon the 
 earth, would not be ashamed to take this down- 
 trodden race by the hand and lift them up. God 
 looks down from his throne above with pitying 
 eye ; he pities his children ; we grow strong in the 
 assurance of his tender mercies ; but let us re- 
 member, he will avenge with a powerful arm, 
 the wrongs inflicted upon his feebler ones ; for he 
 hath said, " My children, love ye one another, 
 even as your heavenly Father loveth you." 
 
 This meeting of old Vingo and Phillis, was 
 enough to have softened the heart of the vilest 
 " Legree ; " but probably, had one of those gen- 
 tlemen, whose highly respectable occupation it is 
 to deal in the traffic of buying and selling man, 
 been present, they might have been led to remark, 
 " The silly creatures seem to imagine they have 
 some feeling."
 
 274 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 The evening shades descended. The night 
 was wild, and the voices of the breakers rose 
 loud, as if responding to the angry aspect of na- 
 ture ; yet peace sat beneath the roof of Mrs. Gros- 
 venor's dwelling. The evening lamps were lit, 
 and as Mrs. Grosvenor produced a small casket 
 and laid it on the centre-table, she thought within 
 herself, it was much such a storm only a few 
 days after our dear one came to us. Mr. Alboni 
 sat with bowed head, as the mother proceeded to 
 bring forth evidences which should identify her 
 darling child as being of the descent and lineage 
 of another line of ancestors than hers ; while the 
 Sea-flower, her hand clasped within that of him 
 who had found favor in the mother's eyes, pre- 
 pared herself to receive any information in regard 
 to her destiny, which it should be the will of a 
 just God to decree. The tiny lace dress, which 
 the infant had worn, when she was first placed in 
 her foster-mother's arms, was held up to view. It 
 was of a costly fabric, embroidered heavily with 
 needle-work, evidently the production of the in- 
 dustry of some lone sister of convent life. The 
 casket, the contents of which had been so long 
 treasured as things sacred was opened and the
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 275 
 
 bands of gold placed in Mr. Alboni's hands. He 
 examined them closely; there were no initials, 
 not the least mark whereby he might learn of that 
 which was of such vast interest to him, when lo ! 
 he pressed the spring which had before yielded to 
 Mrs. Grosvenor's touch, and behold ! the same 
 features which he had looked upon day by day, 
 for twenty years, were revealed to him, the fea- 
 tures of his Madonna his child! 
 
 " My God ! " exclaimed he, " I thank thee that 
 thou hast brought me from darkness to light, not 
 only that I may acknowledge thy supremacy, but 
 to bless thee during the brief remainder of my days ; 
 if I may atone for my deep sin in living so long 
 without thee, even doubting thy existence ! This 
 is truly a convincing proof that thou art ah 1 in all. 
 I here vow, that should the gracious Lord see fit 
 to chasten his servant, by taking away this, my 
 last support, it shall only serve to increase my 
 faith in the love of my most precious Redeemer! " 
 and with tearful eyes the old gentleman held his 
 grand-daughter to his heart. 
 
 " And is it really thus ? " asked Natalie ; " can 
 it be that my mother has been looking down upon 
 me, from her home in the skies?"
 
 276 NATALTE; OR, 
 
 " Your sainted mother is in heaven . " spake 
 Mr. Alboni. 
 
 The Sea-flower glanced towards her from 
 whom she had ever received a mother's tender- 
 ness; there was a smile upon her countenance, 
 yet Natalie observed, though she would fain be 
 happy that her loved one was restored to her kin- 
 dred, undoubtedly an advantageous discovery in 
 every point of view, it was like an arrow to her 
 heart ; for was she not her child ? Natalie arose, 
 and giving one hand to her mother, the other to 
 him whom she would henceforth look upon as a 
 father, she said, " Yes, my own mother has 
 gone to her home ; she is an angel there, where I 
 shall meet her at the last; but you, my mother, 
 can never be less dear to me ; I must always look 
 upon you as my mother! " and throwing her arms 
 about Mrs. Grosvenor's neck, she exclaimed, 
 "though others shall claim me by the ties of 
 kindred, they never shall part me from you ; your 
 child will never forsake you ! " 
 
 It was enough ; the widowed mother was not 
 " written childless." Then it was that Mrs. Gros- 
 venor related every minute particular in regard to 
 the child's discovery, and how she had been a
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 277 
 
 blessing to them all, repaying them doubly for 
 their care. It was a long and interesting story, 
 to which this little circle listened, regardless of the 
 raging elements without, with the exception of 
 the Sea-flower, who drank in every note of na- 
 ture's mighty chorus, scarcely thinking of the 
 perils to which those who were riding at the 
 mercy of the waves, might be exposed ; for her 
 young heart shrank not from ocean's awe ; she had 
 always looked upon an ocean grave as a hallowed 
 place of burial. 
 
 " And your daughter's name was Natalie," re- 
 marked Mr. Delwood ; " it is a singular coinci- 
 dence that the child should be named for the 
 mother." 
 
 " It is all a miracle," said Harry, " and some- 
 times I have thought old Vingo not far out of the 
 way, when he declared ' Missy Sea-flower to have 
 been left upon the beach by no other than the 
 Lord.'" 
 
 Gradually Mr. Alboni came to be like himself 
 again. He was a remarkably handsome man, his 
 countenance denoting his generosity of heart. 
 His delight in the society of the Sea-flower, as she 
 pointed out to him each day, some new attraction 
 
 24
 
 278 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 about her island home, knew no bounds. It was 
 now that Mr. Alboni directed his attention to his 
 unsettled affairs in Italy. Had he lived out his 
 days as the unknown artist, without discovering 
 an heiress to his vast estates, he would probably 
 never have given the subject a thought, and 
 strangers, or some public institution, would have 
 realized a handsome legacy ; but his every nerve 
 thrilled now with new life for her ; every advantage 
 which wealth could procure would be hers. But 
 it was not only to look after his pecuniary affairs 
 that he laid the question before Mrs. Grosvenor, 
 if her child should accompany him to the land of 
 her birth, but that she might become acquainted 
 with the position in life which she was every 
 way capable of filling. And so it was arranged 
 that Natalie, with her grandfather, should make 
 the tour of the eastern world, whither Mr. 
 Delvvood should accompany them. After dis- 
 posing of Mr. Alboni's estates, and visiting the 
 lions of the East, they would return, to make 
 America their home ; and it being left for Natalie 
 to decide what spot should be chosen as their fu- 
 ture home, she said, stealing a glance towards 
 Clarence Del wood, " we will return to my
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 279 
 
 mother's peaceful island home, for we can be 
 happy here." 
 
 Accordingly the day was fixed when they 
 should depart, but the very evening before they 
 would sail, brought news to Mr. Delwood of the 
 dangerous, and probably fatal illness of his father. 
 It was with a sad heart that he looked upon such 
 a separation from his betrothed, for he would 
 necessarily resign the pleasure which he had 
 anticipated, in escorting her to countries which he 
 had visited, and which had become dear to him. 
 It was a great disappointment also to Natalie ; 
 yet she sought to persuade him it was for the 
 best ; " she would soon return, and the separation 
 would bring a thrice joyful meeting." 
 
 It was a glorious evening ; the soft moonlight 
 kissed the white sea-caps, as each strove to lift its 
 head above its fellows, as if to gaze upon night's 
 purity, or, mayhap, they would beckon that 
 gentle one, who smiled upon their wild joy, as she 
 reclined upon her lover's breast, to join them in 
 their revellings. Upon the broad bank of the old 
 South Shore they sat, a favorite resort of the 
 youth and maidens of this little island of a mid- 
 summer's eve, old Sankoty to the eastward,
 
 280 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 lifting high his head, imparting a flood of ra- 
 diance in pity to thousands, who watch with an 
 intensity, to make the well-known light, rejoicing 
 no less when they have left it far behind, for well 
 do they realize that they have passed one of the 
 most dangerous shoals to be found on the Ameri- 
 can coast. Behind them, distance about three 
 miles, is the town ; there is no din and bustle 
 borne on the night air to their ears, naught is 
 heard but the moaning voice of the night wind, 
 mingled with the ceaseless roar of the ocean. 
 Here, far from the world's contumely, no eye to 
 see, no ear to hear, save that of Him who is omni- 
 present, were those vows of love renewed, and 
 registered above. Many a fair maiden has here 
 since plighted her faith, here given her hand to the 
 loved one of her choice, (heaven bless the union 
 of Nantucket's fair ones !) yet the night has never 
 since looked down upon two of more perfect one- 
 ness of heart, than those of whom this serene 
 night bore witness. 
 
 " And will you still retain your foster-name ? " 
 asked Delwood, " or will you travel under your 
 grandfather's Italian name ? By the way, I have 
 not heard the name of your father."
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 281 
 
 " Paul Sunderland was my father's name." 
 
 "Sunderland! the Lady Sunderland! I have 
 seen your mother, Natalie ! " exclaimed he. " It 
 was none other than she, the kind, beautiful lady 
 who sang to me when I was but a child, in Italy ; 
 she whom I begged to take me to that beautiful 
 place again! Ah, it comes to me now, in no 
 dream, but a reality; I have always thought, 
 since I first beheld you, that I had somewhere, at 
 some unknown time, seen a picture which was 
 like you ; but, strange, it was none other than the 
 mother of my own dear Sea-flower ! " 
 
 " And your eyes have looked upon my mother, 
 Clarence," said she, gazing into his very soul, 
 " and she has smiled upon you ? Oh, I shall love 
 you with a holier love for this ! " and the young 
 girl paused and trembled, as he held her to his 
 heart, for the thought came rushing into her 
 soul, "Oh, what a fearful thing is this, this 
 depth of fervent love ! " 
 
 The morrow came ; came to all of our friends 
 who were gathered around the hearthstone of the 
 widow Grosvenor, with joy, for genial rays, other 
 than of a May morning's sun, were in their hearts ; 
 yet those indescribable tones, which under any 
 24*
 
 282 NATALIE. 
 
 circumstances hang around the word farewell, 
 were gradually, unawares, jarring, jarring those 
 gentler notes of peace, even before spoken. 
 
 " Farewell ! " the mother strained her child 
 to her heart again, and again put her from her, to 
 embrace her more closely. Farewell, came well- 
 ing up from that proud brother's heart, with the 
 same breath, thanking God for giving him a sis- 
 ter. Broken sobs measured the bitterness of the 
 parting of those down-trodden ones, who, " by an 
 angel of mercy," had been lifted up, to taste one 
 drop of that bliss upon earth, which the white 
 man holds within his power to give or withhold. 
 Farewell! was it not that one word, which 
 marked the parting of those two, whose hearts 
 had been united above ? " Adieu to my island 
 home," said the Sea-flower, and the wild waves 
 whispered, "we are lonely."
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 WE ARE GOING HOME. 
 
 " The sounds that fall on mortal ear 
 
 As dew-drops pure at even, 
 That soothe the breast, or start the tear, 
 Are Mother, Home, and Heaven. 
 
 " A home, that paradise below, 
 Of sunshine and of flowers, 
 Where hallowed joys perennial flow, 
 By calm celestial bowers." 
 
 ANONYMOUS. 
 
 TIME wore heavily on with Winnie Santon, 
 after Natalie had left them. Left as she was, 
 much in her unnatural mother's society, who 
 seemed to be never more pleased than when she 
 might thwart her designs, or in some manner act 
 so as to make those about her uncomfortable, it 
 was not to be wondered at, if she did sigh for 
 other days, and a confidant, to whom she might
 
 284 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 unburden her heart. Her father spent but a small 
 portion of his time at home ; on the contrary, he 
 rather sought to avoid the fireside, which had 
 once been so dear to him. His feelings, what- 
 ever they might have been, were kept locked up 
 within his own breast, yet Winnie could read the 
 look of sympathy which he bent upon her, as he 
 grasped her by the hand, ere he hurried away to 
 banish painful recollections by duties "on change." 
 When difficulties, which Natalie had foreseen, 
 caused Winnie's heart to ache, she would school 
 herself to meet the injustice as she knew she 
 would have done ; and the timely advice of the 
 Sea-flower proved to the lone girl a valuable leg- 
 acy. She had heard from Natalie, through the 
 correspondence which for some time she had kept 
 up with our friend Harry Grosvenor, the which 
 letters were anticipated and perused with no com- 
 mon interest; indeed, her happiness, scarcely 
 realized by herself, was closely allied therewith. 
 Mrs. Santon looked upon these ever punctual let- 
 ters, which appeared so frequently among the 
 post-boy's morning deposits, with an evil eye, yet 
 they did not serve to banish the schemes of her 
 invention in regard to Mr. Montague, as a favored
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 285 
 
 competitor for the hand of the heiress; and it was 
 his unwelcome visits, which were not nnfrequent, 
 that counted among the numerous trials which 
 weighed more and more heavily upon her spir- 
 its. Poor Winnie ! each life is made of joys and 
 sorrows. 
 
 The death of Mr. Del wood was a deep afflic- 
 tion to his son, for although he was an austere 
 man, forbidding in his manners, he had always 
 manifested a spirit of tenderness for his only re- 
 maining relative, and Clarence now sought to dis- 
 pel the loneliness which was creeping over him, 
 by directing his attention to his father's unsettled 
 estates, which was no light task, as Mr. Delwood 
 had been a gentleman of great property. The 
 life-like specimens of artistical skill, executed by 
 Mr. Alboni, known only to Boston lovers of the 
 fine arts as " the unknown artist," were disposed 
 of by Clarence Delwood, in accordance with the 
 wishes of Mr. Alboni, who, in entrusting the Ma- 
 donna to his keeping until his return, placed 
 not only the likeness of the mother before him, 
 but it possessed him of a correct likeness of his 
 betrothed. 
 
 The noble steamer Atlantic, after a most favor-
 
 286 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 able passage of twelve days, carried our friends 
 safely to the desired port of Liverpool. As Na- 
 talie stood once again upon terra firraa, she could 
 hardly credit that over three thousand miles of 
 ocean separated her from her home, that the 
 same waves which washed the shores of her 
 cherished island, broke upon the shores of this 
 Eastern world. 
 
 Mr. Alboni was in the happiest frame of mind 
 as they made the tour of England and Scotlandj 
 for from thence they would repair to his own 
 loved Italy. Over the mind of the tourist, visit- 
 ing the Old World for the first time, countries 
 where have transpired thrilling events recorded in 
 history, what an immensity of thought and feel- 
 ing sweeps ! It was thus with Natalie ; she could 
 
 not realize that she was treading in the footsteps 
 
 
 of royalty, who living in long past days, had held 
 
 sway over this land, had looked upon this land of 
 " rnerrie England " as their home. London, like 
 a mighty Babel, rose before them, her gigantic 
 towers telling of man's greatness, while the re- 
 splendent shining of the sun, reflected from a 
 million turrets, proclaimed that there was one 
 above all. St. Paul's, with its dome of grandeur,
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 287 
 
 reflecting not only honor upon her world-renowned 
 architect, Sir Christopher Wren, but standing a 
 living memento that Christ hath built his church 
 upon earth. 
 
 Westminster must be visited by every stranger. 
 As Natalie roamed over this vast structure, in it- 
 self a world of curiosity, like so many small 
 churches roofed in by one great canopy, she lin- 
 gered in the south transept, in what is called the 
 Poet's Corner. Here are the tombs of many of 
 the most famous poets of England. Chaucer, 
 Edmund Spencer, Francis Beaumont, and others, 
 have tablets here erected to their memory, while 
 in other chapels are monuments erected in mem- 
 ory of sovereigns, who have long since gone to 
 render an account of their deeds done here, to the 
 one great Sovereign of the universe. As the eye 
 of Natalie rested upon the tomb of the gentle 
 Mary, Queen of Scots, the history of whose brief 
 life, and the many cruel indignities which were 
 heaped upon her, rushing to her memory, she 
 stood as if riveted to the spot, when a voice near 
 her attracted her attention, and a rough-looking 
 old sailor, tarpaulin in hand, threw himself at her 
 feet, exclaiming, "Bless. the memory of old
 
 288 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 England! She is more sensible than I ever 
 thought for. They couldn't have done a nobler 
 thing than to have placed her likeness here ! " and 
 thus the jolly fellow's tongue flew, as if he would 
 re-spin all the forecastle yarns of his lifetime, much 
 to the discomfiture of the eagle-eyed guide, who 
 bade the intruder begone ; but our nautical friend, 
 deigning to give this polite invitation to depart 
 no further notice than he would have given to the 
 juvenile whales, as they were taking first lessons 
 in spouting of their maternal protector, the guide 
 seized him by the shoulder, and was about to 
 show honest Jack what virtue there was in " force 
 of arms," when Mr. Alboni interfered, saying, 
 let us at least hear what the honest fellow would 
 say for himself." 
 
 " Your honor," exclaimed Jack, whose very 
 countenance spoke as plainly as a nose which ap- 
 peared as if it had been imitating the feathered 
 tribes, in their efforts to satisfy thirst, for so long, 
 that its tendency had become upward in sympathy, 
 and eyes which it were difficult to follow in the 
 direction of both at the same time, could speak, 
 that he who had been accustomed to guiding his 
 bark by stars of the first magnitude, all his days,
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 289 
 
 would not now, at this age of life, be guided by 
 this "star" of diminutive light. "Your honor," 
 said the astonished tar, as he discovered the beau- 
 tiful form before him to be actually possessed of 
 life and breath, and was no senseless piece of 
 statuary, " shiver my topsails, but if I did n't take 
 the lady to be her representation, my name 's not 
 John Sampson!" 
 
 " Sampson ! " exclaimed Natalie, actually tak- 
 ing him by the hand, " Are you John Sampson ? " 
 
 " I 'm Sampson the world over, my lady," re- 
 plied the tar, "and why shouldn't I be? I've 
 come all the way from Yankee America, to visit 
 my native dust-heap, which never produced, be- 
 side its daily growth of what might be known the 
 other side of the water, as nature's own pie-plant 
 and sausage-improver, but one Sampson ; but," 
 added he, in a subdued voice, " may I ask who 
 can take enough interest in a poor fellow, who 
 never belonged to nothing, as to speak his name ? 
 If I had not seen her go down with my own eyes, 
 I should say that the noblest lady that ever lived 
 was standing before me; but she's gone where 
 only her kind do go ; " and the rough man drew 
 the sleeve of his jacket across his eyes. 
 25
 
 290 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 " I am the sister of a little sailor-boy, whom you 
 once rescued from imminent peril, perhaps 
 death ; and I rejoice that fortune has favored me 
 with a sight of your honest face, that I may repay 
 in part, at least, the debt of gratitude which we 
 owe to you, Harry Grosvenor, do you remem- 
 ber him ? " asked she, placing her well-filled purse 
 in his hand. 
 
 " Ah, that noble little specimen of young Amer- 
 ica ! a young hero! could have jumped over 
 two Johnny Bulls, although my dust-heap hap- 
 pened to be this side of the water. Well do I re- 
 member him! and you are the sister that he used 
 to talk about, till I really thought the fellow had 
 got into a lunatic's overall?" 
 
 " Yes, I am his sister," said the Sea-flower, and 
 she might have added, your name has never 
 been forgotten in my prayers ; but this was no 
 place for the illiterate, though good-hearted sail- 
 or's ludicrous expressions, and having doubly feed 
 the guide, who did not witness a scene like this 
 often, within these walls, which .were looked upon 
 as sacred by other than his eagle eye, our friends 
 sought the Adelphi, -whither, at Mr. Alboni's re- 
 quest, Sampson joined them ; for there was some-
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA WEEDS. 291 
 
 thing in the words which he had uttered, that 
 struck upon that gentleman's ear; and yet, what 
 it was, was not clear to his mind. 
 
 " You have spoken of some noble lady," re- 
 marked Mr. Alboni ; " pray tell me if you have 
 never met with but one whom you could distin- 
 guish by that title, in all your travels ? " 
 
 " And for a very sensible reason ; there never 
 was but one like her ; or, that is, I have always 
 thought so until to-day," replied the tar, glancing 
 toward Natalie ; " for my old eyes have seen 
 pretty much everything they have got in this little 
 world. Ha ! I should like to see the inch of land 
 or water that my foot has n't measured." 
 
 " Let us hear a little of your history, my good 
 fellow : begin with the beautiful lady," said Mr. 
 Alboni, proudly contemplating his grand-daughter. 
 
 " It 's a yarn, your honor, that has n't been spun 
 to every jack tar that 's sailed the seas, for I 've a 
 sort of feeling about me, that her memory should 
 n't be used to gratify common curiosity ; and, sir, 
 it 's only through the lady's sweet face, so much 
 like her, that I am induced to tell the story, word 
 for word. Ye see, it was about twenty years ago, 
 come September, and I shipped for a voyage to
 
 292 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 America in the De De , well, never mind the 
 name ; those Frenchmen always spile their crafts 
 with a jaw-breaker of a name. Well, we had a 
 fair time of it, till we got pretty well on to the 
 American shores ; and as for me, I never expect 
 to enjoy myself again, as I did the first part of 
 that voyage. We had quite a crowd of passen- 
 gers, and among them was a gentleman, with his 
 lady and child ; if that was n't the handsomest 
 couple that I ever sot eyes on, then I 've missed 
 rny reckonings ! The lady, why, your honor, it 
 t fairly dazzled my eyes to look at her! She al- 
 ways had a kind word for everybody ; even us old 
 tars she would talk with, as if she was n't the best 
 lady in the world; there wasn't one of us but 
 would have gone to the mast-head feet first, to do 
 her a favor; and as for gold, she wasted a young 
 fortune on our ugly selves. We were within a 
 couple o' days sail of New York, when one of 
 those moist fogs came up, such as will make a 
 fellow lose a whisk of his patience, if he happens 
 to have any. Well, we kept on, as we thought, 
 in the same course, for about twelve hours, when, 
 like a clap of thunder, we struck fast upon a rock! 
 It was as calm as any day I ever saw, but our
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 293 
 
 sails were all set, and that with the run of the sea, 
 gave us no small shock ; but our captain hoped 
 we might not have received any serious damages, 
 and set the carpenters to work to find what our 
 situation was. Well, your honor, it was n't ten 
 minutes after we struck, afore we began to settle 
 down. I knew I 'd sailed the ocean longer than 
 our captain, and when I found that we were go- 
 ing down, I ran below, and found the gentleman 
 and his lady, and told them just how matters 
 stood with us, and offered to stand by them till 
 the last ; for we had but two boats aboard, and I 
 knew there 'd be a scene. When the lady heard 
 this, she turned to her husband, and said, 'I 
 arn prepared to share whatever is to be your fate, 
 Paul ; but God in mercy save our child ! " We 
 went aloft to the hurricane deck, and such a sight 
 I have never seen since ! every man, woman, and 
 child that we met there, was looking for some- 
 thing, if no more than a straw, to save them- 
 selves. We had now settled down even with the 
 water, when J, 'spying a large trough floating 
 near, made for it, and the gentleman taking the 
 babe from its mother's arms, spread a few clothes 
 in it, and lashed the little thing into this curious 
 25*
 
 294 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 looking craft ; both gave it one last kiss, and it 
 was launched on the wide ocean. At this instant 
 the lady drew from her pocket a roll of parch- 
 ment, and handing it to me, said, ' You may 
 be saved ; if you ever hear from my child again, 
 put this into safe hands for her ; but if you should 
 never hear of her, keep it for yourself, and may 
 God be with us all.' At that moment we were 
 carried down, and as I rose again, I caught at a 
 spar which was floating near, and looking after 
 my friends, I saw them rise far to leeward ; they 
 were still clasped in each other's arms. I would 
 willingly have gone down if she might have been 
 saved ; but that could not be, and I was borne far 
 out to sea. The fog lifted, but I was not able to 
 make my whereabouts, and in this condition I 
 was left for two days, when I was picked up by a 
 vessel bound to Liverpool direct. I told the cap- 
 tain my story, and found that we had missed our 
 bearings, that our vessel had been wrecked upon 
 the Nantucket shoals. Our voyage proved to be 
 a long and stormy one, for the September gales 
 took us on to the coast of Africa ; and when a 
 year after I shipped for New York, I heard noth- 
 ing of the child, and have always supposed her 
 little bark took her to a better land."
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 295 
 
 " And so it did ! " exclaimed the weeping Na- 
 talie, 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 arras 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 gen- 
 tle mother, whose parting from her babe you wit- 
 nessed." 
 
 Sampson gazed upon her with astonishment, 
 and clapping both hands to his head, as if to as- 
 sure himself that his exterior was yet in a health- 
 ful 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 are n'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.
 
 296 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 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 be- 
 neath the round-about, he produced a roll, which, 
 from twenty years' wear, it having been his con- 
 stant 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 \vhich Natalie put 
 into his hand, of her mother, " The document be- 
 longs to her, and if I 'd a happened to have met 
 her on the sea, I might have known it, even if I 
 had n'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 '11 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
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 297 
 
 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 pos- 
 sible that this poor fellow, who gained his bread 
 by dint of hard labor, having a fortune within his 
 grasp, which he conscientiously could have called 
 his own, had not disturbed a farthing thereof? 
 choosing rather to reap the fruits of his own in- 
 dustry, treasuring this rich legacy, as sacred to the 
 memory of a friend. 
 
 Is there indeed such honor to be found in the 
 breast of fallen man? Aye, 'tis the heart of the 
 noble sailor that beats with a heroism like this ! 
 To him who goeth down to the great waters in 
 ships, such honor is due ! 
 
 " And you have had this in your possession for 
 more than twenty years," said Mr. Alboni, " and 
 yet have never helped yourself to a cent of that 
 which was rightly your own ? Pray tell me, how 
 would you have disposed of this wealth at last, 
 had you never heard of an heiress to the estate ? " 
 
 " D' ye see, sir, I have n't travelled this world 
 over so many times, without making a beacon 
 light occasionally. Now there 's a difference in 
 light-houses, yer honor. There 's the revolving
 
 298 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 light, and many other kinds of light, but the 
 brightest of all is that steady light which shines 
 into the darkness of the poor sailor's soul. I first 
 made that light, sir, at the Seamen's Home, in 
 New York, and it was there I made up my mind 
 that I would lend this money to the Lord, for I 
 was convinced that that would be the most prof- 
 itable investment ; and I 've been thinking of it 
 more and more, for these last few days, if I had n't 
 better settle this on the Home, for you know these 
 iron frames will give out after a while ; men do n't 
 live to see nine hundred years nowadays, though 
 I 'm named after the strongest fellow that ever 
 handled a harpoon." 
 
 Mr. Alboni read the document to his grand- 
 daughter, the effect of which was, that certain 
 
 sums of specie, deposited in the bank of , by 
 
 the Honorable Paul Sunderland, could by the 
 bearer of this instrument, be withdrawn at sight. 
 
 Sampson's tongue was still flying with rapid- 
 ity, as if his auditors had not been void of a num- 
 ber, while Mr. Alboni and Natalie were holding a 
 consultation aside. 
 
 " You are right, my child ; you will never miss 
 this from the wealth, which I thank God I have
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 299 
 
 it in my power to place in your hands Let it be 
 as you say, divide this sum between your pro- 
 tectors." 
 
 " I thank you, my dear, generous- father," said 
 Natalie, imprinting a kiss upon the cheek of her 
 relative ; " you have made me happy. I will send 
 this most acceptable gift to my dear mother, not 
 paining her 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 pros- 
 pect of once more seeing his young shipmate, 
 whose mysterious allusions to the Sea-flower he 
 could now comprehend ; but as to himself receiv- 
 ing so liberal a legacy, he was not prepared to 
 look upon the proposition as favorably. 
 
 u 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."
 
 300 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 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 lit- 
 tle 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 do- 
 mains 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
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 801 
 
 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, he was greatly surprised to find everything 
 in the same state of preservation as when he had 
 last beheld his home, once so dear ; instead of an 
 air of desolation, everything falling to decay, as 
 would be a natural consequence attendant upon 
 the long absence of the family, the scrupulous 
 care and attention of some interested one, was 
 apparent on all sides. Even the little ivied bovver, 
 which Mr. Sunderland had arranged with his own 
 hands, when he first smiled upon his beautiful 
 bride, was still in existence ; and here did Natalie 
 dream away many a happy hour, during her stay 
 in dear Florence. 
 
 The old man and his frugal wife, to whose 
 keeping the premises had been entrusted, and who 
 occupied a small tenement upon the grounds, 
 
 26
 
 302 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 could not have been more surprised if one had 
 appeared to them from the dead, than were Ihey 
 \vhen Mr. Alboni stood in the door of their cot- 
 tage. 
 
 " I told you his honor would come again ! " 
 said the woman, turning to her husband ; " but I 
 was really afeared it mightn't be in our time; 
 and as we 've no one to leave in our shoes, I 'rn 
 of the 'pinion that the place would 've dropped 
 off to some stranger." 
 
 " Ha, yes," replied the husband, " my old wo- 
 man 's never far out o' the way, though she does 
 sometimes talk as if she expected to become ex- 
 tinguished; but for all that, she's equal to two 
 common ones. But I 'm particularly glad you 've 
 come home, on a good many 'counts, for if the 
 place must go into any other hands than an Al- 
 boni, I 'm not over anxious to witness the change 
 in the coat of arms." 
 
 Mr. Alboni received this compliment as it was 
 intended, and as one motive in visiting his native 
 land again was to dispose of this estate, he now 
 directed his attention to the future comfort of this 
 most worthy couple ; for the domestics who had 
 served in the family of Alboni, must not suffer
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 803 
 
 from want. Accordingly a comfortable cottage, 
 adjoining these lands, was obtained for their use, 
 and an annual income, sufficient to supply their 
 wants, settled upon them for life ; and so with the 
 estate of the Albonis, whose last representative of 
 the name would soon depart, for a memorial of 
 days past, this aged couple hoped to spend in 
 contentment the residue of their days. 
 
 Amid all the splendor and gayety of fashionable 
 life in Italy, the Sea-flower was never so happy 
 as when seated in the ivy bower, which looked 
 out upon a little lake, the same which had been 
 her mother's favorite place of retreat, where she 
 might watch the ever-changing face of the mellow 
 skies, or roaming through those ancient halls, she 
 might feast her eyes on the many antique sur- 
 roundings ; but most of all, she loved to linger in 
 the great reception hall, whose walls were hung 
 with the portraits of her mother's family, for many 
 
 i 
 
 past generations. Some of those countenances 
 denoted men of much strength of character, 
 amounting almost to a fierceness, but in nearly 
 every female face Natalie discerned that same 
 gentleness of spirit, which, unknown to herself, 
 was the expression of her own spiritual counten-
 
 304 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 ance. Beneath the portrait of the last Mrs. Al- 
 boni was a place reserved for that of her child, 
 the Lady Sunderland ; but by some circumstance 
 it had never been placed there. During the pe- 
 riod of our heroine's stay in Italy, she spent much 
 of her time in the home of her ancestors, to which 
 she became greatly attached; but once having been 
 introduced to an admiring Italian assembly, it was 
 no easy matter to remain in seclusion. This new 
 star, so mild, yet brilliant, was the theme of pres- 
 ent conversation. She never appeared in public, 
 but the blessings of high and low marked her 
 way; and as she knelt in public worship, meekly 
 bowing at the name of Christ, there was not one 
 who looked upon her, but this passage of Scrip- 
 ture was brought to their minds, " If the right- 
 eous scarcely are saved, where shall the ungodly 
 and the sinner appear ? " 
 
 But all times come to an end ; passing away, 
 is written upon everything pertaining to earth ; 
 and the time when our friends should return to 
 their island home, drew near. 
 
 It was the day before they would bid adieu to 
 pleasant scenes here, to journey to Liverpool, for 
 business led Mr. Alboni to sail for America from
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA- WEEDS. 305 
 
 that port. The sun had gone down, the last 
 sunset which the Sea-flower would look upon 
 here, the last sunset! Pause, dear reader, 
 when will that same sun set to us for the last 
 time ? It may be soon, it may be later ; yet it is 
 the same, for all time is present with God. The 
 evening shades began to claim their reign, regard- 
 less of the smiles and entreaties of lingering day, 
 that he would delay his approach, fit symbol of 
 sunny youth, who would banish from his pres- 
 ence death's unrelenting grasp. And yet, who 
 does not love night with earnest tenderness ? and 
 has no one a smile for death ? 
 
 Natalie still lingered beneath the ivy trellis, her 
 feet drawn upon the cushions, for she would not 
 crush the gentle flowers, which told to her their 
 love in the rich perfume of the air; and yet, if 
 trodden under foot, the flowers, with their dying 
 breath, the beauteous flowers, do, with their rich- 
 est perfume, breathe forgiveness. 
 
 Her eye was fixed upon the lake, its glassy 
 ripples a striking contrast to the giant waves upon 
 which she had ever looked with delight. Ah, who 
 may divine her thoughts, as she muses thus ? A 
 faint smile plays with the dimples around her 
 26*
 
 306 NATALIE; on, 
 
 mouth, and but for the words she whispers, one 
 might indeed think her intent upon the ripples 
 which kiss the shore at her feet ; but no, she is 
 transported to where the breaker's roar is heard, 
 and a proud, noble form she sees, his piercing 
 eye bent upon the sea. Full well she knows for 
 whom his heart thus wildly beats ; " dear, good 
 Clarence," she whispers, and starting from her 
 revery, she kneels in prayer. " My Father, God, 
 thou art merciful unto the weakest of thy frail 
 ones, keep thou my heart to thee alone ; may I 
 have no other gods before thee; cast out all idols, 
 if any there be, and breathe thy spirit within my 
 soul ; and may thy will be done." 
 
 " Amen," was the response of bright ones, of 
 upper spheres, and may we receive strength to 
 say, ' ; Thy will be done." 
 
 " Adieu, dear home of my childhood," spake 
 Mr. Alboni, as the dim outlines of the land of his 
 nativity at last faded in the distance ; and bury- 
 ing his face in his hands, he gave himself up to 
 his own reflections, from which Natalie would not 
 recall him. 
 
 Arrived in Liverpool, the steamer in which they 
 were 1o have embarked had sailed; consequently
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 807 
 
 a few more days were added to their sojourn there ; 
 but when at length their proud steamer left her 
 pier, accompanied by many heartfelt good wishes 
 that she might be attended with all success, that 
 her voyage might prove most favorable, the Sea- 
 flower wept tears of delight, that she might once 
 more listen to those voices of the deep ; and 
 calmly gazing upon the countenance of Mr. Al- 
 boni, she said, 
 
 " Father, we are going home." 
 
 Her words fell upon the ear of an officer of the 
 ship, a gentleman of that nobleness of soul which 
 alone constitutes a true man ; one whose kind 
 and gentlemanly consideration of the comfort and 
 pleasure of those who have, from time to time, 
 crossed that three thousand miles of ocean which 
 separates Liverpool from New York, have before 
 been publicly mentioned, and will long be remem- 
 bered by those who have before corne under his 
 guidance. "We are going home," the officer 
 raised his hat as he passed the Sea-flower, invol- 
 untarily repeating her words, words which 
 many times have been idly spoken, but how full 
 of meaning. 
 
 As that gallant steamship made her way over
 
 308 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 the rolling billows, like a thing of life," as if in- 
 deed she recognized the course o'er which she had 
 so many times borne aloft her proud head, in sea- 
 sons of tempest as well as of sunshine, there was 
 not one who walked her decks, but looked upon her 
 gigantic form as an ark of safety, rather than the 
 frail plank which only separated not far from 
 three hundred immortal beings from an ocean 
 grave. Several days' sail left " merrie England " 
 far behind, and as they drew nearer the American 
 shores, many an eye was deluded with the belief 
 that it had been the successful one, in being the 
 first to make the outline of the nearest shore of 
 this land of the free. There was the eye of youth, 
 lit up -with the light of innocence, which when 
 riper years should have left their impress, might 
 have given place to more of guile ; while hand in* 
 hand, along her peaceful decks, roamed old age 
 and infancy, alike joyous in the air of cheerfulness 
 which reigned with all around. 
 
 It was near the hour of mid-day, weather 
 favorable, with the exception of a fog which had 
 suddenly sprung up. Occasionally the signal bell 
 sounded, that if any vessel were in their neighbor- 
 hood, she might know of their whereabouts. The
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 309 
 
 fog as suddenly lifted as it had shut in upon them, 
 but to close down again heavier than before. 
 Natalie had not, as most of the ladies, gone 
 below, but stood, intent upon those new thoughts 
 which the veil of fog, which had shut out all sight 
 and sound, save an occasional tone of the bell, 
 had inspired, when, a crash, which shook their 
 vessel from stem to stern, caused every one to 
 look upon the countenance of his fellow, there to 
 read the words which he had no power to utter. 
 A propeller was at that instant seen moving 
 athwart their bows, and from the severity of the 
 shock, it was thought that the smaller vessel must 
 have sustained serious damage. Accordingly a 
 boat was lowered from the steamer, under com- 
 mand of the first officer, to render the unfortunates 
 such assistance as was in their power, believing 
 their own damages to be but slight ; but the boat 
 had not been long gone, when word was passed 
 to their captain that they were in a sinking con- 
 dition. Upon examination it was found that a 
 large breakage had been made, directly under 
 their bows, and the sea was rushing in terrifically. 
 All was now a scene of confusion ; some ap- 
 plied themselves diligently to the pumps, and
 
 310 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 others sought to diminish the leak by stretching a 
 sail across the gap, while the passengers hurried, 
 some one way, and some another, as if in a state 
 of frenzy. To seek assistance from the propeller, 
 even if she might not be in as disastrous a condi- 
 tion as themselves, was out of the question ; for 
 both vessels being under full headway at the mo- 
 ment of the collision, she was now again envel- 
 oped in fog. Oh, God ! must it be thus ? no es- 
 cape for these three hundred beings? What an 
 awful moment of suspense ! Still the steamer 
 settles down ; what is done must be done speed- 
 ily. The captain is without his first officer, with 
 whom he might consult, his absence necessarily 
 detracting from the number of boats ; but had the 
 boats been suffered to remain unmolested, for the 
 benefit of the passengers, it were doubtful if they 
 could have contained so large a number. Where 
 now are those gladsome little children, those aged 
 men and women, who, listening to those voices 
 of childhood, would fain have believed themselves 
 young again ? Ah! where are they ? Wringing 
 their hands in wild despair ! clambering over the 
 sides of the ship,endeavoring to save themselves on 
 rafts, spars, or articles affording inferior protection.
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 311 
 
 The Sea-flower, where is she? where is her 
 aged protector? Upon the deck of that ill-fated 
 steamer the Sea-flower kneels, with eyes meekly 
 turned heavenward. She asks that peace may be 
 shed upon the hearts of that agonized throng; 
 that they may fitly receive this will of divine dis- 
 pensation. Never was her countenance more se- 
 rene. Just then a voice was heard at her side, 
 " we are going home ; " it was the voice of the 
 noble officer, who had before noted her words. 
 
 " I was happy," replied Natalie, " when I said 
 we are going home, but I did not realize we 
 would so soon meet the loved ones in that celes- 
 tial home, where we shall part no more forever; 
 and I am happy now ; yet this terrible cry of an- 
 guish incites my deep, deep sympathies." 
 
 " Thank God for this presence of an angel, to 
 shed light over my last hour!" said the officer; 
 " I now go down through that dark valley of 
 death, unattended by that gloom which had seized 
 upon my soul. My God, in mercy wilt thou sus- 
 tain my wife and children, when they shall look 
 for my coming, and I shall never return to them 
 more ! and may they soon meet me there." (He 
 knew not that the youngling of his flock would
 
 312 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 so soon join him in singing the songs of the 
 redeemed.) 
 
 He said no more ; they were going down ; a 
 life-preserver was in his hands, which he would 
 have secured about the Sea-flower, but she waved 
 her hand to him, saying, " Take it to yourself. 
 Farewell." 
 
 Supported by her grand-parent's arm, she gazed 
 upon the waters ; they were not angry. Peace- 
 fully sighing, they met her touch, as if they would 
 welcome her home. " Mother," she breathed, 
 with her last of mortal breath; was it a fare- 
 well to that loved one of earth, or did she joyfully 
 greet her sainted mother, who awaited the com- 
 ing of her child to her home in the skies, where 
 "the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne 
 shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living 
 fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all 
 tears from their eyes ? " 
 
 The blue waves rolled on, in their untiring 
 way, and the sun went calmly down upon this 
 day, the twenty-seventh of September, eighteen 
 hundred and fifty-four, a day long to be remem- 
 bered, both in the Eastern and Western world, 
 for in it was the sundering of many mortal ties,
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 313 
 
 Many a family circle wept as they looked upon 
 the familiar places, which would know their lost 
 ones no more ; but ah, chide me not, kind reader, 
 in thus leading you adown to the coldness of 
 death, in setting before you that which causes 
 your tender heart to shudder. Mourn not for 
 these departed ; for would we not wish to meet 
 them there, when, ere long, this mortal shall have 
 put on immortality? Grieve not because that 
 gentle one has passed away ! say not that she 
 met with an untimely end, when in her summer 
 of life all was pleasantness before her. Think of 
 her not as one gone far away, never to be on earth 
 more ; cast her not from your heart, where, dur- 
 ing her little day here, in innocence she entwined 
 herself within its recesses. Oh, no, for she is 
 nearer to us now ; she is not dead, but has passed 
 from death to life ; and may her memory remain 
 with us, in freshness as the ivy green, which loves 
 best the churchyard's place of holy quietude, 
 and by her influence may we in spirit come to be 
 more Christ-like. 
 
 27
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 ALONE. 
 
 " Shall I not listen to the sea-shell's moaning, 
 
 That strangely vibrates like the swelling sea, 
 And fancy it an echoed storm, intoning 
 A solemn dirge in memory of thee ? " 
 
 Miss MARY M. CHASE. 
 
 A LONE man walks the shores of Nantucket ; 
 his noble form is slightly bent, and with the raven 
 of his hair is blended the faintest tinge of gray, 
 though he is evidently a man to whom the merid- 
 ian of life is yet far in the distance ; his fine coun- 
 tenance is sad, yet as he gazes far out o'er the 
 sea, deep in his piercing eye is a subdued look of 
 resignation, shedding light over his features, which 
 a stranger might attribute to a mind of happi- 
 ness ; and yet that look of sadness is oftenest tri- 
 umphant, leading those who meet him for the first 
 time to ask from whence he came, for his coun-
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 315 
 
 tenance betrays that his has been not the com- 
 mon lot of man. Ah, who is he, on whom 
 young men and maidens look with pitying eye ? 
 to whom the old man lifts his hat, and little chil- 
 dren cease from their sports as he passes, and 
 quietly slip the innocent daisy, or the sweet- 
 scented arbutus into his hand, which they have 
 culled from the wide commons, where, they have 
 been told, the good Sea-flower loved to stray. 
 
 It is Clarence Delwood ! his has been a bitter, 
 bitter draught ; yet its dregs have in a measure lost 
 their power, for he has learned that 't is his Father 
 holds the cup. Little did he think, as they sat 
 together there on that high bank, which overlooks 
 the sea, upon that last evening spent with his 
 cherished one in her island home, that it was to 
 be the last forever ! that her voice would no more 
 be heard in glad response to nature's shouts of 
 joyousness. Yet, as alone he sits beneath the 
 silent night, there where she last told to him her 
 love, he fancies that the stars in pity smile upon 
 him, and as one more gentle than the rest, leaves 
 its place in the heavens and slowly descends, 
 drawing nearer and nearer, finally resting upon 
 the bosom of ocean, he listens, for the music of
 
 316 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 her harp strikes upon his soul, and in the crested 
 billows which play at his feet, a shining form he 
 sees, her robe all sparkling with the pearly drops 
 of the sea. He would fain go to her, as she 
 smiles upon him, as was ever her wont, but a voice 
 he hears, saying, " not yet," and the bright one 
 recedes from his view. 
 
 Reader, you may visit Nantucket's sea-girt isle, 
 you may walk those peaceful shores where she 
 loved to roam ; you may meet there that lone 
 man on the shore ; you will approach him with 
 feelings of deep regard, not unlike reverence ; but 
 do not hesitate to inquire of him for the grave of 
 the Sea-flower. With eyes fixed upon the ocean's 
 blue, pointing with his finger heavenward, he will 
 direct you to a grassy mound, at whose head is a 
 weeping willow, upon the broad trunk of which 
 is wrought in letters of pearl, " The Sea-flower 
 awaits for thee." With a tear you turn away, 
 with the resolve in your heart that you will hence- 
 forth so live, as that when this mortal life is ended, 
 you may "attain everlasting joy and felicity, 
 through Jesus Christ, our Lord." 
 
 You will seek the fireside of the widow Gros- 
 venor, where from a mother's lips, you will be as-
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 317 
 
 sured of the blessings which accompany a dutiful 
 child. That fireside is not desolate, for the mem- 
 bers of the household have been led to say, 
 " Thy will, O Lord, not mine, be done." Mrs. 
 Grosvenor, though somewhat advanced in life, 
 still retains that peculiar freshness of her earlier 
 days ; and as she proudly glances upon the young 
 man by her side, calling him " my son," you can 
 hardly recognize in his athletic form the little 
 sailor-boy of other days ; yet it is none other, al- 
 though he has arrived to the dignity of captain, 
 and as Sampson prophesied, a smarter man never 
 sailed the ocean. But who is this witching 
 beauty at his side, who would fain impress you 
 with a belief that that mischief which will not re- 
 main concealed for the briefest period, is not her 
 entire composition ? Do you not mistrust? who 
 other than Miss Winnie Santon ? she who having 
 tired of the gallants of the wild West, or rather 
 of their numbers, came to the wise conclusion 
 that a city life was designed for such as she ; she 
 the coquettish heiress, who once stood very much 
 in doubt as to the state of civilization among 
 these " poor fishermen." 
 
 Yes, it is our Winnie, and she is now the wife 
 27*
 
 318 NATALIE; OR, 
 
 of Capt. Harry Grosvenor. And is she happy in 
 this her choice ? Ask her if she would exchange 
 her brave husband for one of those superfine nice- 
 ties, who suing for favor at her feet, had at the 
 same time lined their vows of love and constancy 
 with the yellow dust, which had they known 
 the strong chest to have been at their backs, 
 while in this humble posture, it were uncertain to 
 which might have been made an apology, the 
 fair lady or her dowry. 
 
 But what is the cause of that little commotion 
 among sundry flowered blankets, juvenile coun- 
 terpanes, etc., etc., which you have but this mo- 
 ment discovered in a neighboring niche ? Is it 
 old Nep who has ensconced himself in this dainty 
 little nest ? No, for you left him sleeping under 
 the shade of the weeping willow. Surely, those 
 seven kits, with fourteen blue eyes, have not lived 
 to this green old age ! Ah, the mystery is solved, 
 by the presence of a tiny hand, which elevates it- 
 self above the little heap of whiteness, and a smil- 
 ing baby face has contrived to work its way into 
 the no less smiling sunlight, the which baby must 
 not partake of too freely ; consequently the owner 
 of said property appears, to alleviate the diffi-
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 319 
 
 culty, which is done by giving miss baby a toss 
 into mid-air, and with a ringing laugh, not unlike 
 those wild bursts of merriment which were wont 
 to be heard reverberating through the halls of 
 Sunton Mansion. 
 
 Yes, it is Winnie's child ; and she tells you, 
 while a more thoughtful look sits upon her coun- 
 tenance, that the name of the little one is " Nata- 
 lie ; " although she adds, " as earnestly as I love 
 my child, I know there can never be another like 
 her" and pointing to a portrait, draped in 
 white, she presses her child more closely to her 
 heart. 
 
 You look long and earnestly upon that counte- 
 nance of the Madonna, the one face representing 
 mother and child. The portrait is the property 
 of Clarence Delwood, he who is now known as 
 ' the lone man of the shore ; ' and while you are 
 yet gazing upon it, he enters, and pressing his lips 
 to the canvas, he takes a bible from the case and 
 reads. You accidentally observe the fly-leaf, 
 upon which is written, " To the Sea-flower, 
 from her mother, on her second birthday ; " and 
 as he reads a smile lights up his countenance, for 
 it is there written, "thou shalt labor unto the
 
 320 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 Lord," and a more cheerful expression is his ; for 
 it is through his ready pen that the alms chest of 
 the poor receives its liberal supplies. 
 
 Ere you depart, you inquire as to the fate of 
 Mr. Sampson, learning that through his agency 
 the widow Grosvenor has come in possession of 
 a handsome fortune, the daughter's gift to her 
 mother, so that now she is enabled to make com- 
 fortable many a cheerless fireside, where poverty, 
 through the loss of a husband and father, as he 
 went down to do business on the great deep, had 
 reigned. Honest Mr. Sampson, after so many 
 years spent upon the ocean, has concluded to live 
 the remainder of his days on shore ; and in the 
 darkest night, when the hurricane roars, and the 
 waves break high, the brilliant light entrusted to 
 his care, may be seen for many miles around, by 
 the voyager who may be sailing in the neighbor- 
 hood of old Nantucket. Capt. Harry Grosvenor 
 has also bade adieu to his much-loved home on 
 the sea; for together with Winnie's entreaties, 
 and the goodly amount of wealth, which she 
 declares as rightly belonging to her husband 
 as to herself, he has been induced to give his
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 321 
 
 little wife the promise that he will sail the seas 
 no more. 
 
 But there is one, who is no unimportant mem- 
 ber of this happy family, for whom you have for- 
 gotten to inquire, so intent are you, as you pass 
 out from them into the silent night, upon what 
 you have seen and heard ; but you are minded of 
 this negligence by a voice near, and a negro, 
 tottering from beneath the weight of years, whom 
 you recognize at once as old Vingo, stands before 
 you. His mind is much impaired, for he has at- 
 tained his second childhood ; yet from his discon- 
 nected remarks, it is evident that he still retains a 
 pleasant remembrance of the past. 
 
 " Old Bingo neber want noting more," he re- 
 plies to your question of what you can do for 
 him ; " nobody neber can do noting more for 
 Bingo; for Missy Sea-flower hab gib Bingo, 
 Phillis, and gib him Heaben, and what more does 
 he want ? " 
 
 " And where is your mistress's home ? " you 
 ask. 
 
 "Dar," said the negro, pointing to the skies, 
 " dar is Heaben, dar am my missus's home ; and 
 dat is whar she tell me dat she wait for me if she
 
 322 NATALIE ; OR, 
 
 go home first. If it had n't been missy dat tole 
 me, I could n't beliebe dat such an ole brack fel- 
 low like me, go to dat white place ; but I be- 
 liebes it now, for since missy gone home I 's seen 
 a new star up dar ; and I knows it am her, for 
 did n't she say she look down to me, jus' like ole 
 Massa Grobener and dat poor brack Injin look 
 down upon her! Yes, I know dat I shall meet 
 her dar, and what am better, Phillis am going dar 
 too ! only sometimes she get skeered like, when 
 she remember what her ole cotton massa tell her ; 
 for he tells her dat de hounds go to dat bright 
 place, afore good for notin' niggar like her get 
 dar ; and she 's afeared dey remember dar ole 
 habits and hunt* her up, for she run away from 
 her ole massa, and gets sabed in dese free states, 
 whar de folks do n't mistake poor niggar for some- 
 ting else dan a man." 
 
 " Farewell, faithful Vingo, and may the remain- 
 der of your days shed peace along your way. 
 Thy portion here has not indeed been to sit in 
 " kings' courts," yet thou hast so used the one 
 talent lent unto thee, that at the last, when every 
 " island shall have fled away, and the mountains 
 shall not be found," thou shalt have a place at
 
 A GEM AMONG THE SEA-WEEDS. 323 
 
 the right hand of that glorious throne, whose 
 king is our God; thou shalt hear those blessed 
 words, "well done, good and faithful servant,' 
 and the morning star shalt be thine ; and there 
 thou shalt again find that pure gem, who, in her 
 little day on earth, led thee to the bright river of 
 life, where thou hast sought and found that " pearl 
 of great price." 
 
 The blue waves have not yet tired of their un- 
 ceasing sports ; they still chase each other in mad 
 glee from far over the sea, each striving to out-do 
 his fellows, as they come tumbling in with deep- 
 toned voices. The beaming beacon still keeps 
 vigil over Nantucket's peaceful slumberers, while 
 her little ones, in their gladsome dreams of 
 childhood, wander up and down those shores, 
 intent upon their search for the most delicate 
 sea-mosses, exclaiming with each new found 
 treasure, " See ! I have found a gem among 
 the sea-weeds." 
 
 Gentle reader, you are weary, and I will here 
 seek to bid you adieu, with many thanks for 
 your kind attention ; and great is my joy, if 
 haply any have been impressed in spirit with 
 that meek and holy submission which shall lead
 
 324 NATALIE. 
 
 them to say, " Thy will, O Lord, not mine, be 
 done ; " and when loved ones shall be borne 
 away from us, may we take up our cross with 
 renewed love for Him who gave, and hath taken 
 away, and say, "blessed be the name of the 
 Lord," forever.
 
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