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broad and bluff enough; but there's only three on

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they had much confidence in the gifts of the islanders.

"Well, I'll go too," said Vivian, growing more and In another moment Davy and his mates were more excited. "I could pull an oar with any man." running to the Nancy Baker, had cast off her

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hurriedly explained to the mayor what was wanted. The fishermen, the women, were all crowding on them, chatting, praying, pointing. The mayor turned to them, and began leisurely, and with a sort of dramatic gesture, to address them :

"Messieurs

"Faith, sir! I took off my hat, and prayed like a trooper !"

Some one gave a cry, and they were all on their feet again. The boat had been struck, as if by the fin of a whale, by a huge wave, and had filled. Here was an oar gone; one of the Frenchmen beaten nearly senseless; Davy waving his arms, the others stooping and trying to bale out the water. Again are the wistful faces and stooped figures bent forward. "They are lost! O, mon

But the Englishmen interrupt him bluntlyDavy with the oath of his country, and Vivian with: "Encore deux places!" And he pointed below Dieu! they will never accomplish it." They are to the boat.

at work again, now going forward a foot, now

There was a death-like stillness, not a motion beaten back a dozen yards, whilst Davy, who has nor a sound.

"You are brave Frenchmen ! we are four English about to try and save your countrymen. We cannot do it alone. You will help us, I know?"

become coxswain, watched to give notice of the coming waves. They were not taking the direct course for the wreck. Again were there cries, "They will miss her; they will be carried out to sea; they have lost control." But an old French salt saw what Davy's plan was-to get to leeward

There was another pause, a fresh stillness. "Cowards!" said Davy from the boat. “I of the wreck. At last, after about an hour's hard thought they were better men." work, they succeeded.

"Then we go alone,” said Vivian, and turned to descend.

It had grown dark, lanterns were brought down; but the spectacle was one of such absorbing inBut they were not cowards. A dozen fishermen terest that, had it lasted till midnight, the lookershad rushed forward.

on could never have tired. The "Phare," faithless and theatrical guide, was blazing away, as if to

Vivian felt a light hand on his arm, and looked mock the poor lost victims. As the heavy boat round, astonished.

"You here?" he cried.

A gentle face, its veil blown about by the gale, was looking up into his. It was very pale and wistful.

"I would not stop you. Not for the whole world! It is indeed noble of you. I heard it all. God will watch over you and protect you."

“Ah,” said Vivian, "if you were to know how happy and confident I feel! We shall do better now that you are looking on. Now! Come, friends, take your places. Davy, you pull stroke. I sit next you. You direct us."

Was it not like a blissful ray of the sun, and a sudden lulling of the winds and waves, as the hapless figures on the wreck saw the little black speck emerge swiftly from the piers? But how many perils were before them! what chances! for all the cruel imps of death were between them, floating like sharks.

Lucy, her hands all but clenched together, and, indeed, not so much thinking of her friend as of the superb devotion and splendid sacrifice of the whole, stood following them with her eyes, and a little gasp on her lips every time they sank down in the waves. Turning round for a minute, she found herself all but alone; for the whole crowd was on its knees apart, at the foot of the great crucifix. With a swift flutter she had joined them, and poured out her little soul in the most passionate entreaties. Even Captain Filby was heard to say, later:

was carried within a few yards of the wreck, they were called on to throw themselves into the water, and were thence dragged out by hair, or hand, or any way.

Three were lost, but five got safely into the boat. It was so dark, those on shore could not tell what was going on, and indeed presently lost sight of boat and all. Then agitation rose. But they had to wait an hour more for the return. And th! when there was a rush of lanterns to the pier, and the clumsy craft, crowded with figures, came suddenly out of the darkness, and swept by on the top of a great green wave like a hill, actually on a level with the top of the pier, a shout was raised that reached to the back streets of the town. The rare, gallant English sailors! Though a thousand stupid things be associated with the English abroad, a thousand such heroic deeds as this have redeemed them.

If there were prayers and gesticulations before, what was there now, as the noble fellows, drenched and beaten out of all human shape, staggered up? But the two who came last had to drag up an insensible figure, the slightest and tallest. A girl in a black silk dress, pale with cold, terror, and anxiety, stooping forward in the crowd, as he was laid on the ground, saw that it was what she dreaded, and gave a cry of despair and agony. "The poor child," said a tender-hearted fishwife; "it is her sweetheart! But what is that to those who have lost brothers, fathers, and husbands on this terrible night?

A PARENTAL ODE TO MY SON, AGED THREE YEARS
AND THREE MONTHS.

[By THOMAS HOOD.]

HOU happy, happy elf!

With pure heart newly stamped from Nature's mint-

(But stop-first let me kiss away that (Where did he learn that squint ?)

tear)

Thou tiny image of myself!

(My love, he's poking peas into his ear!)

Thou merry, laughing sprite!
With spirits feather-light,

Untouched by sorrow, and unsoiled by sin-
(Good heavens! the child is swallowing a pin !)

Thou little tricksy Puck !

With antic toys so funnily bestuck,

Light as the singing bird that wings the air

Thou young domestic dove!

(He'll have that jug off, with another shove!) Dear nursling of the Hymeneal nest! (Are those torn clothes his best?) Little epitome of man!

(He'll climb upon the table, that's his plan!) Touched with the beauteous tints of dawning life(He's got a knife)

Thou enviable being!

(The door! the door! he'll tumble down the stair) No storms, no clouds, in thy blue sky foreseeing,

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[From "The Doctor's Dilemma." By HESBA STRETTON.]

WFULLY fast the time sped away. over to Sark to see Olivia once more.

As soon as

"When shall we have another run together, Captain Carey ?" I asked.

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It was the second week in March II was married I would tell Julia all about her. passed in Sark; the second week in But if either arm or ankle went wrong for want May came upon me as as if borne of attention I should never forgive myself. by a whirlwind. It was only a month to the day so long fixed upon for our marriage. My mother began to fidget about my going over to London, to pay my farewell bachelor visit to Jack Senior, and to fit myself out with wedding clothes. Julia's was going on fast to completion. Our trip to Switzerland was distinctly planned out. Go I must to London; order my wedding suit I must.

But first there could be no harm in running

'Any day you like, my boy," he answered; "your days of liberty are growing few and short now, eh? I've never had a chance of trying it myself, Martin, but they are nervous times, I should think. Cruising in doubtful channels, eh? with uncertain breezes? How does Julia keep up?"

"I can spare to-morrow," I replied, ignoring

his remarks; "on Saturday I shall cross over to England, to see Jack Senior."

"And bid him adieu?" he said, laughing, " or give him an invitation to your own house? I shall be glad to see you in a house of your own. Your father is too young a man for you."

"Can you take me to Sark to-morrow?" I asked.

"To be sure I can," he answered.

It was the last time I could see Olivia before my marriage. Afterwards I should see much of her, for Julia would invite her to our house and be a friend to her. I spent a wretchedly sleepless night; and whenever I dozed I saw Olivia before me, weeping bitterly, and refusing to be comforted.

From St. Sampson's we set sail straight for the Havre Gosselin, without a word upon my part; and the wind being in our favour, we were not long in crossing the channel. To my extreme surprise and chagrin, Captain Carey announced his intention of landing with me, and leaving the yacht in charge of his men to await our return.

"The ladder is excessively awkward," I objected, "and some of the rungs are loose. You don't mind running the risk of a plunge into the water!"

"Not in the least," he answered, cheerily; "for the matter of that, I plunge into it every morning at L'Ancresse. I want to see Tardif. He is one in a thousand, as you say; and one cannot see such a man every day of one's life.”

There was no help for it, and I gave in, hoping some good luck awaited me. I led the way up the zig-zag path, and just as we reached the top I saw the slight, erect figure of Olivia seated upon the brow of a little grassy knoll at a short distance from us. Her back was towards us, so she was not aware of our vicinity; and I pointed towards her with an assumed air of indifference.

"I believe that is my patient yonder," I said; "I will just run across and speak to her, and then follow you to the farm."

"Ah!" he exclaimed, "There is a lovely view from that spot. I recollect it well. I will go with you. There will be time enough to see Tardif."

Did Captain Carey suspect anything? Or what reason could he have for wishing to see Olivia? Could it be merely that he wanted to see the view from that particular spot? I could not forbid him accompanying me, but I wished him at Jericho.

her very nearly. The sun shone upon her glossy hair, every thread of which seemed to shine back again. She was reading aloud, apparently to herself, and the sounds of her sweet voice were wafted by the air towards us. Captain Carey's face became very thoughtful.

A few steps nearer brought us in view of Tardif, who had spread his nets on the grass, and was examining them narrowly for rents. Just at this moment he was down on his knees, not far from Olivia, gathering some broken meshes together, but listening to her, with an expression of huge contentment upon his handsome face. A bitter pang shot through me. Could it be true by any possibility--that lie I had heard the last time I was in Sark?

"Good day, Tardif," shouted Captain Carey; and both Tardif and Olivia started. But both of their faces grew brighter at seeing us, and they at once sprang up to give us welcome. Olivia's colour had come back to her cheeks, and a sweeter face no man ever looked upon.

"I am very glad you are come once more," she said, putting her hand in mine; "you told me in your last letter you were going to England, and might not come over to Sark before next autumn. How glad I am to see you again!"

I glanced from the corner of my eye at Captain Carey. He looked very grave, but his eyes could not rest upon Olivia without admiring her, as she stood before us, bright-faced, slender, erect, with the folds of her coarse dress falling about her as gracefully as if they were of the richest material.

"This is my friend, Captain Carey, Miss Olivia," I said, "in whose yacht I have come to visit you."

"I am very glad to see any friend of Dr. Martin's," she answered, as she held out her hand to him with a smile; "my doctor and I are great friends, Captain Carey."

"So I suppose," he said, significantly—or at least his tone and look seemed fraught with significance to me.

"We were talking of you only a few minutes ago, Doctor Martin," she continued; "I was telling Tardif how you sang 'The Three Fishers' to me the last time you were here, and how it rings in my ears still, especially when he is away fishing. I repeated the three last lines to him : 'For men must work, and women must weep; And the sooner it's over, the sooner to sleep. So good-bye to the bar, with its moaning.' "I do not like it, doctor," said Tardif; "there's

What is more stupid than to have an elderly no hope in it. Yet to sleep out yonder at last, on man dogging one's footsteps? the great plain under the sea, would be no bad thing."

I trusted devoutly that we should see or hear Tardif before reaching the knoll; but no such good fortune befell me. Olivia did not hear our footsteps upon the soft turf, though we approached

"You must sing it for Tardif," added Olivia, with a pretty imperiousness, "and then he will like it."

My throat felt dry, and my tongue parched. I subdued voice. "I cannot walk far yet, and my could not utter a word in reply.

"This would be the very place for such a song," said Captain Carey. "Come, Martin, let us have it."

arm is still weak; but I think I am quite well. I have given Dr. Martin a great deal of trouble." She spoke in the low quiet tones of a child who has been chidden unreasonably. I was asking

"No; I can sing nothing to-day," I answered, myself what Captain Carey meant by not leaving harshly.

The very sight of her made me feel miserable beyond words; the sound of her voice maddened

me alone with my patient. When a medical man makes a call, the intrusion of any unprofessional, indifferent person is unpardonable. If it had

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me. I felt as if I was angry with her almost to | hatred for her grace and sweetness; yet I could have knelt down at her feet, and been happy only to lay my hand on a fold of her dress. No feeling had ever stirred me so before, and it made me irritable. Olivia's clear grey eyes looked at me wonderingly.

"Is there anything the matter with you, Dr. Martin?" she inquired.

"No," I replied, turning away from her abruptly. Every one of them felt my rudeness, and there was a dead silence among us for half a minute, which seemed an age to me. Then I heard Captain Carey speaking in his suavest tones. Are you quite well again?" he asked. "Yes, quite well, I think," she said, in a very

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been Suzanne, Tardif, or mother Renouf who was keeping so close beside us, I could have made no reasonable objection. But Captain Carey !

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"Tardif," I said, "Captain Carey came ashore on purpose to visit you and your farm."

I knew he was excessively proud of his farm, which consisted of about four or five acres. He caught at the words with alacrity, and led the way towards his house with tremendous strides. There was no means of evading a tour of inspection, though Captain Carey appeared to follow him reluctantly. Olivia and I were left alone, but she was moving after them slowly, when I ran to her, and offered her my arm, on the plea that her ankle was still too weak to bear her weight unsupported. "Olivia!" I exclaimed, after we had gone a few

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