Elsie at Nantucket | Page 3

were to be had.
"You will command the vessel, of course, captain?" several voices said,
inquiringly, all speaking at once.
"If chosen commander by a unanimous vote," he said.
"Of course, of course; we'll be only too glad to secure your services,"
said Mr. Dinsmore, everybody else adding a word of glad assent.
"How soon do we sail, captain?" asked Zoe. "Must we wait for an
answer from Nantucket?"
"No; I shall send word by this morning's mail, to Captain Coffin, that
we will take his cottage and two others, if he can engage them for us.
But there is no time to wait for a reply."
"Can't we telegraph?" asked Violet.
"No; because there is no telegraph from the mainland to the island.
"Now, ladies all, please make your preparations as rapidly as possible.
We ought to be off by the first of next week. I can telegraph for the
yacht, and she will be ready for us, lying at anchor in our own harbor.
"But, little wife," turning to Violet, with a tenderly affectionate air,
"you are not to exert yourself in the least with shopping, sewing, or
packing. I positively forbid it," he added, with playful authority.
"That is right, captain," Elsie said, with a pleased smile. "She is not
strong enough yet for any such exertion, nor has she any need to make
it."

"Ah, mamma," said Violet, "are you not forgetting the lessons you used
to give us, your children, on the sin of indolence and self-indulgence?"
"No, daughter; nor those on the duty of doing all in our power for the
preservation of health as one of God's good gifts, and to be used in His
service."
They were all gathered upon the veranda now in the cool shade of the
trees and vines, for the weather was extremely warm.
"I wish we were ready to sail to-day," said Zoe. "How delicious the
sea-breeze would be!"
A nice-looking, pleasant-faced colored woman stepped from the
doorway with a little bundle in her arms, which she carried to Violet.
The captain, standing beside his wife, bent over her and the babe with a
face full of love and delight.
"Isn't she a darling?" whispered Violet, gazing down upon the tiny
creature with all a young mother's unspeakable love and pride in her
first-born, then up into her husband's face.
"That she is!" he responded; "I never saw a fairer, sweeter babe. I
should fear to risk her little life and health in a journey to Nantucket by
land; but going by sea will, I think, be more likely to do her good than
harm."
"It's all her, her, when you talk about that baby," laughed Rosie; "why
don't you call her by her name?"
"So we will, Aunt Rosie, if you will kindly inform us what it is,"
returned the captain, good-humoredly.
"I, sir!" exclaimed Rosie; "we have all been told again and again that
you were to decide upon the name on your arrival; and you've been
here--how many hours?--and it seems the poor little dear is nameless
yet."

"Apparently not greatly afflicted by it either," said the captain, adopting
Rosie's sportive tone. "My love, what do you intend to call your
daughter?"
"Whatever her father appoints as her name," returned Vi, laughingly.
"No, no," he said; "you are to name her yourself; you have undoubtedly
the best right."
"Thank you; then, if you like, she shall be mamma's namesake; her first
granddaughter should be, I think, as the first grandson was papa's."
"I highly approve your choice," he said, with a glance of affectionate
admiration directed toward his mother-in-law; "and may a strong
resemblance in both looks and character descend to her with the name."
"We will all say amen to that, captain," said Edward.
"Yes, indeed," added Zoe, heartily.
"Thank you both," Elsie said, with a gratified look; "I appreciate the
compliment; but if I had the naming of my little granddaughter, she
should be another Violet; there is already an Elsie in the family besides
myself, you know, and it makes a little confusion to have too many of
the same name."
"Then, mamma, we can make a variety by calling this one Else for
short," returned Violet, gayly, holding up the babe to receive a caress
from its grandmother, who had drawn near, evidently with the purpose
of bestowing it.
"What a pretty pet it is!" Elsie said, taking it in her arms and gazing
delightedly into the tiny face. "Don't you think so, captain?"
"Of course I do, mother," he said, with a happy laugh. Then, examining
its features critically: "I really fancy I see a slight resemblance to you
now, which I trust is destined to increase with increasing years. But
excuse me, ladies; I must go and write that all-important