his last commands! 't is 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 unrevealed.

"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 from 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 sometimes 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."