dead, I lay,
And a ship-boy small had strength enough
To carry me away.

Oh, joy it was when sense returned
That fair, warm ship to see.
And to hear the child within his bed
Speak pleasant words to me!

I thought at first that we had died,
And all our pains were o'er,
And in a blessed ship of Heaven
Were sailing to its shore.

But they were human forms that knelt
Beside our bed to pray,
And men, with hearts most merciful,
Did watch us night and day.

'Twas a dismal tale I had to tell
Of wreck and wild distress,
But, even then, I told to none
The captain's wickedness.

For I loved the boy, and I could not cloud
His soul with a sense of shame:--
'Twere an evil thing, thought I, to blast
A sinless orphan's name!
So he grew to be a man of wealth,
And of honourable fame.

And in after years, when he had ships,
I sailed with him the sea,
And in all the sorrow of my life
He was a son to me;
And God hath blessed him every where
With a great prosperity.

_The Amulet for 1830_.

* * * * *

THE LITTLE MAJOR'S LOVE ADVENTURE.

You must know, when I was in the 18th light dragoons, I was quartered
in Canterbury; and having got some introductory letters, I contrived
to make out a pleasant time enough. One of my visiting-houses was
old Tronson's the banker's--devilish agreeable family--four pretty
girls--all flirted--painted on velvet--played the harp--sang Italian,
and danced as if they had been brought up under D'Egville in the _corps
de ballet._ The old boy kept a man-cook, and gave iced champagne. Now,
you know, there is no standing this; and Harriette, the second of the
beauties, and I, agreed to fall in love, which in due course of time we
effected. Nothing could be better managed than the whole affair; we each
selected a confidant, sat for our pictures, interchanged them with a
passionate note, and made a regular engagement for ever.

Such was the state of things, when the route came, and my troop was ordered
to embark for Portugal. Heavens! what a commotion! Harriette was in
hysterics: we talked of an elopement, and discussed the propriety of going
to Gretna; but the hurry to embark prevented us. I could not, you know,
take her with me. Woman in a transport! a devilish bore; and nothing was
left for it but to exchange vows of eternal fidelity. We did so, and
par