growled--"What lady?"

"The lady with the curious name, who was down here last summer for
sea-bathing; don't you remember Miss Ruth Dotropy? It is a temperance
tract."

David Bright made a motion as though he were about to fling the parcel
away, but he thought better of it, and thrust it into the capacious
pocket of his rough coat. The brow cleared again as he left his wife,
who called after him, "Don't be hard on Billy, David; remember he's our
only one--and he's not bad, just a little thoughtless."

"Never fear, Nell, I'll make a man of him."

Lighting a large pipe as he spoke, the skipper of the _Evening Star_
nodded farewell, and sauntered away.

In another of the narrow lanes of Yarmouth another fisherman stood at
his own door, also taking leave of his wife. This man was the mate--
just engaged--of David Bright's vessel, and very different in some
respects from the skipper, being tall, handsome, fresh and young--not
more than twenty-four--as well as powerful of build. His wife, a
good-looking young woman, with their first-born in her arms, had bidden
him good-bye.

We will not trouble the reader with more of their parting conversation
than the last few words.

"Now, Maggie, dear, whatever you do, take care o' that blessed babby."

"Trust me for that, Joe," said Maggie, imprinting a kiss of considerable
violence and fervour on the said baby, which gazed at its mother--as it
gazed at everything--in blank amazement.

"An' don't forget to see Miss Ruth, if you can, or send a message to
her, about that matter."

"I'll not forget, Joe."

The mate of the _Evening Star_ bestowed a parting kiss of extreme
gentleness on the wondering infant, and hastened away.

He had not proceeded far when he encountered a creature which filled his
heart with laughter. Indeed Joe Davidson's heart was easily filled with
emotions of every kind, for he was an unusually sympathetic fellow, and
rather fond of a joke.

The creature referred to was a small boy of thirteen years of age or
thereabouts, with a pretty little face, a Grecian little nose, a
rose-bud of a mouth, curly fair hair, bright blue eyes, and a light
handsome frame, which, however, was a smart, active, and wiry frame. He
was made to look as large and solid as possible by means of the rough
costume of a fisherman, and there was a bold look in the blue eyes which
told of a strong will. What amused Joe Davidson most, however, was the
tremendous swagger in th