ir love in the rich perfume of the air; and yet, if trodden under
foot, the flowers, with their dying breath, the beauteous flowers, do,
with their richest perfume, breathe forgiveness.

Her eye was fixed upon the lake,--its glassy ripples a striking contrast
to the giant waves upon which she had ever looked with delight. Ah, who
may divine her thoughts, as she muses thus? A faint smile plays with the
dimples around her mouth, and but for the words she whispers, one might
indeed think her intent upon the ripples which kiss the shore at her
feet; but no, she is transported to where the breaker's roar is heard,
and a proud, noble form she sees,--his piercing eye bent upon the sea.
Full well she knows for whom his heart thus wildly beats; "dear, good
Clarence," she whispers, and starting from her revery, she kneels in
prayer. "My Father, God, thou art merciful unto the weakest of thy frail
ones, keep thou my heart to thee alone; may I have no other gods before
thee; cast out all idols, if any there be, and breathe thy spirit within
my soul; and may thy will be done."

"Amen," was the response of bright ones, of upper spheres, and may we
receive strength to say,--"Thy will be done."

"Adieu, dear home of my childhood," spake Mr. Alboni, as the dim
outlines of the land of his nativity at last faded in the distance; and
burying his face in his hands, he gave himself up to his own
reflections, from which Natalie would not recall him.

Arrived in Liverpool, the steamer in which they were to have embarked
had sailed; consequently a few more days were added to their sojourn
there; but when at length their proud steamer left her pier, accompanied
by many heartfelt good wishes that she might be attended with all
success, that her voyage might prove most favorable, the Sea-flower wept
tears of delight, that she might once more listen to those voices of the
deep; and calmly gazing upon the countenance of Mr. Alboni, she said,--

"Father, we are going home."

Her words fell upon the ear of an officer of the ship, a gentleman of
that nobleness of soul which alone constitutes a true man; one whose
kind and gentlemanly consideration of the comfort and pleasure of those
who have, from time to time, crossed that three thousand miles of ocean
which separates Liverpool from New York, have before been publicly
mentioned, and will long be remembered by those who have before come
under his guidance. "We are going home,"--the officer raised