"Make, boy, make!" exclaimed Sampson, thrusting a huge piece of pigtail
into his already overcharged, capacious mouth, "I suppose you would have
me believe that you'd made the light of some sweet-heart's eyes,
outshining even old Sankoty itself."

"Three years ago, do you remember it, Sampson, when I was a mere
stripling, you took me aside, and pointed out a dim light, away down to
the water's edge, and told me I would have seen different days before I
made it again? Do you think I can ever forget it? I could tell its light
from among a thousand! As I caught its last rays then, it seemed to me
the pensive, forgiving smile of my mother, for, as you know, I came away
from home without my mother's consent; but I long ago received her
forgiveness, and everything will be forgotten in the happiness which we
shall enjoy at meeting once more. And my father, he is at home by this
time! How surprised they will all be to see me grown almost to be a man!
I hope the Sea-flower is the same little fairy still. She will not
always be a bud, however; yet the opening flower has greater charms."

"Bless my stars! boy, are you losing your senses?" asked the astonished
Sampson, as Harry walked the deck in raptures, talking as fast as his
tongue could fly, as it appeared to the old tar, in riddles.

"What's got into your head, boy? I have always taken you to be the most
sensible person aboard, but shiver my topsails, if the fellow don't
talk as if he expected to find old Vineyard Sound turned into a flower
garden, with a fairy made fast to every other blossom!"

As Sampson delivered himself of this ludicrous remark, Harry burst into
a loud fit of laughter, and handing the tar his glass, he sang out