onder that his mother was anxious on his account, thinking
she would never live to see him again. It seemed so terrible to her as
she stood on the railway platform, surrounded by all the bustle and
preparation of the train about to depart, to fancy, as she gazed with
longing eyes at her brave and gallant Eric, with his lion-like head and
curling locks of golden hair, that she might never look on her sailor
laddie's merry, loving face any more; and, tears dropped from the
widow's eyes as she drew him towards her, clasping him to her, as if she
could not bear to let him go.

"Come, mother," said Fritz, after a moment's interval. "Time is up!
The guard is calling out for the passengers to take their seats. Eric,
old fellow, good-bye, and God bless you! You will write to the mother
and me from every port you touch at?"

"Aye, surely," said the boy, a sob breaking his voice and banishing the
mannish composure which he had tried to maintain to the last. "Good-
bye, Fritz; you'll take care of mother?"

"Don't you fear, that will I, brother!" was the answer in those earnest
tones which Fritz always used when he was making a promise and giving
his word to anything he undertook--a word which he never broke.

"And now, good-bye, mutterchen, my own darling little mother," said
Eric, clasping his mother in a last clinging hug; "you'll never forget
me, but will keep strong and well till I come back."

"I will try, my child, with God's help," sobbed out the poor lady.
"But, may He preserve you and bring you back safe to my arms! Good-bye,
my darling. You must never forget Him or me; my consolation in your
absence will be that your prayers will ascend to heaven along with
mine."

"You may trust me, mother, indeed you may. Good-bye, little mother!
God bless you, mutterchen! Good-bye!" cried out the sailor lad from the
carriage window; and then, the train moved off, puffing and panting out
of the station, leaving Fritz and his mother standing on the platform,
and waving their handkerchiefs in farewell to Eric, who was as busily
engaged gesticulating, with his hat in one hand and in the other a
newspaper that his brother had brought him, shouting out, `Lebewohl!'--a
sobbing farewell it was--for the last time, and still waving adieux when
his voice failed him!

"Never mind, my mother," said Fritz softly, giving his arm to the heart-
stricken lady, and leading her away with tender care from the railway
station to their now