The World of Waters | Page 8

the
surface of the water, with some of their tentacula extended at their sides,

while two arms that are furnished with membranaceous appendages
serve the office of sails. These animals raise themselves to the surface
of the sea, by ejecting the sea-water from their shells; and on the
approach of danger, they draw their arms, and with them a quantity of
water, which occasions them to sink immediately. By possessing this
power, they are but rarely taken perfect, as the instant they are
disturbed they disappear. They are more frequently caught in the nets
of fishermen than any other way, or found left dry on rocks.]
"I used to sit by his hammock for hours talking and reading to him;
when one day, as I closed my book to leave him, he said with a sigh,
while tears filled his eyes, 'I am very grateful to you, madam, for your
kindness to me: you have been a friend when I most needed one; how
my dear mother would love you if she knew what you had done for her
boy. But I do not deserve that any one should love me; I have been
wilful and disobedient, and my sorrows are not half so great as, in
justice for my wickedness, they ought to be; but every day proves to me
that God is long-suffering and merciful, and doeth us good continually.
I have thanked him often and often for making you love me, and I feel
so happy that in the midst of my trials, God has raised me up a friend to
cheer me in the path of duty; to teach me how to correct my faults; and
to sympathize with me in my daily sorrows. God will bless you for it,
madam,' he continued: 'he will bless you for befriending the orphan in
his loneliness; and my mother will bless you, and pray God to shower
his mercies thick and plenteous on you all the days of your life.' He
paused, and, burying his face in the scanty covering of his bed, he wept
unrestrainedly. I was hastening away, for my heart was full, and the
effort to check my tears almost choked me; when he raised his head,
and, stretching his hand towards me, said, 'I want to tell you something
more, madam, if you will not think me bold; but my heart reproaches
me every time I see your kind face; I feel as if I were imposing upon
you, and fancy that, did you know more about me, you would deem me
unworthy of your interest and attention. May I relate to you all I can
remember of myself before I came here? It will be such a comfort to
have some person near me, who will allow me to talk of those I love,
without ridiculing me, and calling me "home-sick."'

"This was the very point at which I had been for some time aiming, as I
did not wish to ask him for the particulars, not knowing whether the
question might wound his feelings; but now that he offered to tell me, I
was delighted, and readily answered his appeal, assuring him nothing
would give me greater pleasure than to hear an account of himself from
his own lips: 'But,' I added, 'I cannot wait now, for they are striking
"eight bells:" I must go in to dinner: after dinner I will come to you
again, and listen to all you have to say; so farewell for the present, my
dear boy, in an hour's time I will be with you.'
"As soon as dinner was over, I returned to Frederic: he looked so
pleased, I shall never forget the glow that overspread his fair face, as I
entered the berth, for he was really handsome; his eyes were bright
hazel, his hair auburn, and waving over his head in the most graceful
curls, while his complexion was the clearest and most beautiful I had
ever seen. I found a seat on a chest near his hammock, and, telling him
I was ready to attend to his narrative, he began:--
"'The first impression I have of home was when I was about five years
old, and was surrounded by a little troop of brothers and sisters, for I
can remember when there was seven healthy, happy children in my
"boyhood's home." We lived at Feltham, Middlesex, in the pretty
parsonage-house. It was situated at the end of a long avenue of
elm-trees whose arching boughs, meeting over our heads, sheltered us
from the mid-day glare. Here in the winter we used to trundle our
hoops; and in the summer stroll about to gather bright berries from the
hedges to make chains for the adornment of our bowers. But death
came to our happy home,