"Some cotton has lately been imported into Farringdon, where the mills have been closed for a considerable time. The people, who were previously in the deepest distress, went out to meet the cotton: the women wept over the bales and kissed them, and finally sang the Doxology over them."-Sectator of May 14. "PRAISE God from whom all blessings flow," We women, when afflictions come, Praise Him who sendeth joy and woe. The Lord who takes-the Lord who gives, He opens and He shuts his hand, We only suffer and are dumb. And when, the tempest passing by, He gleams out, sun-like, through our sky. Ours is no wisdom of the wise, DINAH MARIA MULOCK. ・BOAT, OAT, gentlemen? It will do you a deal of good, Mr. Fred; and you too, Mr. Wood," said old Dan, coming across the beach to where we were lying. "I can't go to-day," answered Wood. have a confounded engagement. Shall you go, Astley ?" "The beach is very full, Sir," said Dan; "and see, you are in the middle of the crowd." We were not far from the bathing machines; and on every side of us were groups of people, "I laughing, talking, flirting-all supremely merry, and not over-careful about modulating the tones of their voices. The man with the guitar appeared to be the only person on the whole beach who was not making a noise. He, poor fellow, had broken one of the strings of his instrument, and was sitting by himself, disconsolately, trying to mend it. A family of foreign minstrels "Yes, I think so," I said, looking at the sea, which, just stirred by a slight breeze, rippled and danced in the sunlight. "All right, then. I shall have to bolt in a minute. What an awful row there is this morning!" had settled themselves in front of the lapidary's shop, and the eldest boy was singing an Italian song, doing his utmost to make himself heard. He was, I own, singing under difficulties. The laughter of the bathers and the buzz of the talkers hardly conduced to render his voice the more audible; while the old bells of St. Augustine's church on the cliff above were ringing a loud wedding peal. "In the middle of the infernal regions, I should say. I never heard such a horrid Babel in my life," muttered Wood, as he stalked off, and I went to the boat. "I expected that you would come, Mr. Fred," said old Dan. He always called me Mr. Fred. We had been great friends ever since he gave me my first lesson in rowing, when I was a very little fellow. I believe I took to him then wonderfully; and since that time he had never seemed to me to have changed nor to have grown older. He always was, as far back as I could remember, the same sturdy, broad-shouldered man, with the same bronzed face, and the same clear, keen, gray eye. He had been for several years on board a man-of-war, but he was not a great talker on any subject, and never, I believe, spoke of his younger days. A superannuated, half-witted veteran, who lived in the town, declared that he was with Dan Baker on board the Etna. But the veteran knew nothing about Dan's history, and Dan himself never told it to any one. There was something in it he evidently wished to conceal, and the odd name of his boat, The Faithless Maid, was the only ground on which curious people could build. He was, in spite of his taciturnity, a great favorite with us young fellows. We had christened him Cato; he seemed to have such a kindred spirit to the great Roman censor. He was so unyielding and exact; so frugal in his diet, never drinking any thing but water, eating very little, and never smoking. He always gave one the impression, when he spoke, that he had a vast amount of knowledge in him, but which he was unwilling to impart to others. He talked very slowly, bringing out each word with the greatest deliberation, as though he chewed and digested it well mentally before uttering it. But he was a good boatman, and was much sought after by the people who were accustomed to make use of the pleasure-boats at Cliffgate. "Strange scenes in these boats sometimes, Mr. Fred," the old fellow said, suddenly, after he had pulled for some minutes without speaking. "Ah, I suppose so," I answered, carelessly, and without thinking what I said. My thoughts were just then turned upon a bet I had made, and which had happened rather oddly. It was between six of us: Ned Darwell, Wood, Lucas and one of his cousins, Andrews, and myself. And he who shook hands first with a certain young lady was to win the stakes. Ned called my attention to her as we were walking in the Rose Gardens, listening to the band. "By Jove!" he said, nipping my arm, "there's a jolly girl." She had very dark hair and eyes, which were rendered the more attractive by a bewitching little mauve hat, with a white veil tied behind in a bow. She was rather tall and slight, but very graceful; and her little feet as they peeped out every now and then from under her muslin dress-for the grass was rather damp, and the dress had to be held up―seemed perfection. She was accompanied by an old, soldierly-looking gentleman, and a young fellow, of about twenty-two or twenty-three years of age, was walking by her other side. "Who is she?" I asked. "I don't know," answered Ned. "Some new importation. Hullo! here's Lucas; he is sure to know. I say, Lucas, my boy, who is that dark girl with the hat?" "Oh, hang the girl with the rum-shaped hat! She's Letitia Turner. Every body knows her ugly phiz." "No; the one with the mauve hat and white veil. There! man alive! can't you see? There! just turning round at the end of the walk.” "Don't know her at all," said the other. "Do you, John?" he asked, turning to his cousin. "Never saw her before," said the cousin. "But she's awfully swell." แ Then Wood and Andrews strolled up. They. asked us the very question we were going to ask them; so we discovered that the young lady was a perfect stranger to us all. Whereupon Lucas undertook to rout her out, as he called it, and tell us. "I say, Lucas," said Ned, who was rather jealous of the ascendency Lucas had gained over us in the honor of finding out and becoming acquainted with different young ladies, "I'll bet you any thing you like that I'll shake hands with her before you will. There, Lucas, my boy, there's a fair bet for you." "Done!" cried Lucas. Then Wood chimed in. "So will I, that I'll shake hands before either of you." And then the rest came forward, each willing to make the same offer. So the bet was made; and it was about it that I was thinking when Dan spoke to me. "Very strange scenes," he said again, nodding at me over his oars. I suppose the expression had been well digested and proved wholesome, so he repeated it. "They say a cabman could tell a good deal," he continued, still nodding. "But bless you, Sir, what can they see or hear? There they sit, flogging their poor horses, while the people are behind them, shut up in a rattling, rackety thing. They can't hear, Sir. How can they? Now we, you see, Mr. Fred, when we come forward like this, we could almost kiss the people, much more hear what they say." To prove his assertion, old Dan suited his action to his words, and bent over his oars, leaning forward as far as he could. Having finished his long speech, he nodded again mysteriously, as if to say, "There, I have enlightened you quite enough for one day," and then pulled on again. "Come, old Cato," I said, "it is only to win the bet; I am not in love with the young lady. See you to-morrow. Ta-ta." As he seemed inclined to be silent, and did | looked so troubled, that I knew he was speaking not speak, my thoughts gradually reverted to from experience-perhaps from some bitter lesour bet. Lucas had told us that the young son he had learned in his youth, and which in lady was Miss Leith, that the old gentleman some way accounted for the odd name of his was Major Leith, and that they and Mr. Henry boat. Leith were living at 6 Marine Gardens. But that was not an introduction, and "I see no chance of getting one," he said to me, ruefully. All his numerous cousins had proved perfectly useless on this occasion. Among us Ned had been the most lucky. Miss Leith had bowed and thanked him when he picked up a book which she dropped upon the Parade. I came second. In passing once I was honored with a second look. The rest were nowhere; and just a week had elapsed since we made the bet. Up to the present time Miss Leith had been invincible, though we had all done our utmost to obtain an introduction. Not that any of us cared for the stakes; they were trifling enough; but there was a spirit of emulation at work within us for the honor of the first shake of the hand of the young lady. The more difficult it became the more eager we all were to win it. We had found out that nobody in the town knew her, so we were thrown upon our own resources. She went down to the beach every morning when it was fine, and walked upon the Parade in the afternoon; but was always accompanied by either her father or Mr. Henry Leith. Whether Mr. Henry Leith was her brother or her cousin, and in the latter case her lover, we could not find out. But we put him down for a brother. We had told Dan about our bet, and he had promised to help us if he could. That, perhaps, was the chief reason why I seized the opportunity of having him to myself for an hour. "Seen Miss Leith, Dan ?" The old fellow shook his head. "Heard she was fond of pulling, though," he said, after a short time. "Oh, indeed!" I answered, as a thought struck me. "I say, Dan, I shall want your boat for two or three hours a day for the next week or so." Now Dan had been in the habit of lending me his boat, because he knew that I could pull and manage it properly. I did not anticipate any trouble in getting it, so I was surprised when he appeared to hesitate. "What are you going to do with it, Sir, may I ask ?" "Never you mind, Dan. You lend me the boat. What I do with it is nothing to you; that is, as long as I don't damage it." "You are right, Sir. You shall have it." He smiled as he spoke, and I could easily see that he guessed for what purpose I wanted the boat. However, he said nothing till the hour was up. Then, as I was getting out, he called me by my name, and said in a low tone: "I have known you now for a long time, Mr. Fred. Do mind what you are about, Sir. Young women are changeable creatures. should not like you to be taken in.” I The next morning, according to our agreement, Dan brought the boat round to the part of the beach nearest to my house. I did not live in the town, but some ten minutes' walk from it, along the cliff; and there was a path from the house down to the beach. He found me there, dressed in an old boating-suit, with my face hid as much as possible by a large slouching hat. I was then twenty-four, but looked a little older, and I meant in this disguise to lay siege to Miss Leith. "Be careful, Mr. Fred," were the only words he said as we exchanged places; and then I pulled leisurely to where the visitors generally resorted. How all this would help me to obtain an introduction I was not quite clear; but I was, to tell the truth, jealous of her having spoken to Ned, and I thought that, at any rate, I should be able, in my capacity of boatman, to get a word from her. I had also a hazy idea that I might possibly give her hand a little shake as I helped her out of the boat, if ever I were fortunate enough to persuade her to come in. I thought that it would be extremely agreeable to sit opposite to her for an hour, hearing her talk, and almost near enough to kiss her, as Dan said, whenever I leaned forward. "Boat this morning, Sir?" I said, as I pulled past the place where Miss Leith and her brother were sitting. ed. "Not this morning, thank you," he answer Lucas had heard me, and looked up, but did not seem to recognize either me or my voice, and that emboldened me. Then the Major came down with his paper, and Mr. Leith left them for his morning bath. I saw him plunge in and swim out to sea; and as I wanted to follow his example I determined to pull home and change my clothes. "Well, I will have one more try," I thought, as I have to pass the Major. Perhaps he may like to go." When I came up to him he had put down the paper, and was watching his son through a field-glass. Miss Leith was sitting at his feet, sketching and talking to him. "I am afraid Harry is going out too far, Helen," I heard him say. "But he is such a capital swimmer, papa. Where is he now?" She then closed her sketchbook and stood by his side, looking across the sunny water for her brother. "There! That little black speck is his head. He is coming back now." "Oh, what a way he is out! Oh, papa! what is the matter?" she said, as a strong cry His voice was so sad, and his old bronzed face from Mr. Leith reached her ears. "Nothing, nothing. Keep still, girl," he said, beckoning to me. In a minute he had scrambled into the boat, and we had left the beach. "Pull, man! He has got the cramp! A hundred pounds if you reach him before he sinks! Harry! Harry!" he bawled out, "keep up. Oh, my boy! for God's sake keep up! Pull with your left. Now you are straight. Pull both. Hard!" I have often rowed in a race, but I never pulled with such a will as I did on that day. The boat was the best in Cliffgate; and it seemed to fly over the water as I put all my strength and weight into each stroke. I have just a dim recollection of seeing crowds upon the beach running about, while the Major stood in the stern, without moving or speaking, watching his sinking son. "Oh, my God, he is down!" burst from the old gentleman as he sank backward upon the seat and covered his face with his hands. recognize me. I had left my slouching hat at home, and my hair and whiskers were not then plastered to my face with water. I also found out that nobody had noticed me in the morning. So I determined to play on my new character of boatman. Whereupon, the next day assuming the old disguise, I went forth again in search of fresh adventures. "Oh! there he is, papa," Miss Leith said, as I passed. "Ah! so he is. for a pull to-day. Here, my man, we will go How are you this morning? Caught no cold yesterday, I hope?" "By Jove! I don't know how to thank you," said Mr. Henry, shaking my hand as soon as he was in the boat. "But I want to have a jaw with you some time." Then the Major, muttering some thanks, held out his hand; and Miss Leith gave me her brightest smile, which I prized more than all. "How strange, papa!" she said, reading the name of the boat. "You know Miss Hemery I can remember dropping the oars and tear-old us to have this one before we came." ing off my hat and boots. As I turned round I saw, scarce six yards from the head of the boat, a hand rise, then a head-it was his last struggle and then both went down together. A moment afterward I was in the water, catching hold of something large and white, and rising with it to the surface. How I found it I don't know; but I knew that it was the young man. I felt his arms cling to my neck and his weight pull me down. I could swim well; and as my head rose above the water, and I saw the glorious bright sun, my love of earth seemed so strong, and the thought of death so terrible, that I struggled hard to keep afloat. But my clothes were thick and impeded my limbs. His arms were tightly clasped round my neck, and his dead weight was pulling, for ever pulling me down. "Bless me, yes! I have heard a good deal about you, Mr. Baker. I heard that you were very sober, and very respectable, and all that sort of thing. It seems to me, too, that you were not always a boatman," he said, glancing at my hands, which were rather whiter than the flippers of the sons of Neptune usually are. "So, if you like to give up this sort of life, why, I'll take care that you always have a snug roof over your head." Then something dark came between me and the light; and the old boat, with the Major in it, glided past almost at arm's-length. I made a clutch-a rope was trailing in the water-and as I caught it and pulled myself with my burden to the side I heard the shout from the beach, and felt the Major's hand unclasping his son's arms from my neck. "I'll hold him; you get in at the other side. Come, that's well done," he said, as we lifted Mr. Leith into the boat. "Now you row in, and I'll soon bring him to." It was not the first time, as I afterward learned, that the Major had helped to resuscitate a half-drowned person. He knew exactly what to do; and under his skillful treatment his son opened his eyes before we reached the shore. "I must dress him before I can convey him home," said the Major. So I took them to the young fellow's machine, and then pulled away, partly to change my clothes and partly to avoid being known. I succeeded in the latter, even better than I had hoped; for when I met the Major and his daughter on the Parade in the afternoon they did not but I told him I thanked him very much; that I liked my life very well. In fact I was fairly stumped as to what to say. I felt half inclined to laugh at being taken for old Dan; and yet I felt that the Major ought not to be allowed to continue in his mistake. "You seem very young to be such a hermit. Come, you must marry. I will find you a wife, and keep her well too.' "Yes, you must forget the Faithless Maid now," said Miss Leith, smiling again. I suppose she had heard some of the conjectures about Dan's life. "I do not mean to be inquisitive," the Major said, "but I can not bear to see a young man like you, and one, too, who is so superior to this sort of work, settling down to such a life. Remember what we owe to you. Will you not tell me your trouble? I may be able to help you; and I swear I won't spare money or trouble to make you happy." Although, of course, I did not want any pecuniary help, his kind way in offering it, and the fatherly manner in which he put his hand upon my shoulder as I bent forward, made me ashamed of the trick I had played upon him. He must sooner or later find it out; and I wondered within myself, as I leaned over the oars, looking down, with his hand upon my shoulder, whether he would then be so kind as now. "I should like to see you privately to-mor row, Sir," I said, putting off the time as long as I could. |