GOOD-BYE TO GRENADA!

"Are you really so glad to leave us all?" said dad somewhat
reproachfully, as I could judge from his tone of voice; for, although
the stars and fireflies illumined the landscape sufficiently for us to
see our way, the light was too dim for me to observe the expression of
his face.

"Oh no, dad, not that," I cried out almost with a sob at such an
insinuation. "You know, you said I was to go to England this year to
school; and, if I must, why I would rather sail in Captain Miles' vessel
than any other."

"All right, Tom, I did not think you quite so heartless as your
exclamation implied," replied dad, still speaking in a sad tone; "but
it's only the way of the world, my boy. Young birds are always anxious
to leave the parent nest, and you are no exception, I suppose, to the
rule."

I did not make any answer to this. I could not speak, for my heart was
too full.

Presently we arrived at the entrance to Mount Pleasant, when Jake rushed
forward and opened the gate leading into the grounds, and we proceeded
up the carriage drive towards the house in silence, the moon, which was
just rising over the tops of the mountains beyond, lighting up the
garden on the terrace in front and making it look like a dream of
fairyland. The flowers and foliage shone out in relief as if tipped
with silver against the dark background of the house; while the cool
evening breeze was scented with the fragrance of the frangipanni and
jessamine, now smelling more strongly than in the daytime, in addition
to which I could distinguish the lusciously sweet perfume of the night-
blooming cereus, a plant that only unfolds its luscious petals after
sunset.

The whole scene lives in my memory now!

"Say, Mass' Tom," whispered Jake to me as he took hold of Prince's
bridle on my dismounting to lead him away to the stables along with
Dandy. "I'se heard what you 'peak jus' now to Mass' Eastman. Um railly
goin' leabe de plantashun for true, hey?"

"Yes," said I. "I am to go to England in the _Josephine_, that big ship
we saw to-day, if my mother consents."

"Den, I go too!" replied Jake impressively.

"Nonsense!" cried I, laughing at this determination of his. "Captain
Miles won't take you."

"Won't him, dough--me 'peak to him byme-by, an' you see den!"

"You can speak if you like," I replied in an off-hand way as he went
away with the horses; while I ascended the terrace steps and proceeded
into the house to hea