uty to exercise it on all occasions; but salvage comes into
charity all the same as into any other interest. This schooner will ruin
me, I fear, and leave me in my old age to be supported by the town!"

"That can hardly happen, uncle, since you owe nothing for her, and have
your farms, and all your other property unencumbered. It is not easy to
see how the schooner can ruin you."

"Yes, I am undone"--returned the deacon, beating the floor with his foot,
in nervous agitation--"as much undone as ever Roswell Gar'ner's father
was, and he might have been the richest man between Oyster Pond and
Riverhead, had he kept out of the way of speculation. I remember him much
better off than I am myself, and he died but little more than a beggar.
Yes, yes; I see how it is; this schooner has undone me!"

"But Roswell sends an account of all that he has paid, and draws a bill
on you for its payment. The entire amount is but one hundred and sixteen
dollars and seventy-two cents."

"That's not for salvage. The next thing will be a demand for salvage in
behalf of the owners and crew of the Sea Lion of Humses' Hull! I know how
it will be, child: I know how it will be! Gar'ner has undone me, and I
shall go down into my grave a beggar, as his father has done already."

"If such be the fact, uncle, no one but I would be the sufferer, and I
will strive not to grieve over your losses. But, here is a paper that
Roswell has inclosed in his letter to me, by mistake, no doubt. See, sir;
it is an acknowledgment, signed by Captain Daggett and all his crew,
admitting that they went into Beaufort with Roswell out of good feeling,
and allowing that they have no claims to salvage. Here it is, sir; you can
read it for yourself."

The deacon did not only read it--he almost devoured the paper, which, as
Mary suggested, had been inclosed in her letter by mistake. The relief
produced by this document so far composed the uncle, that he not only read
Gardiner's letter himself, with a very close attention to its contents,
but he actually forgave the cost of the repairs incurred at Beaufort.
While he was in the height of his joy at this change in the aspect of
things, the niece stole into her own room in order to read the missive she
had received, by herself.

The tears that Mary Pratt profusely shed over Roswell's letter, were both
sweet and bitter. The manifestations of his affection for her, which were
manly and frank, brought tears of tenderness from he