ion, and we very
soon became fast friends.

"She is a beauty," whispered Jack to Aunt Deb; on which Aunt Deb nodded
and smiled, as much as to say, "Indeed she is."

We were soon discussing with Uncle Boz the programme for our summer
amusements. We were to have salt-water fishing and fresh-water fishing,
and shooting, and boating, and egg hunting, and shells and other
curiosities were to be looked for on the seashore, and long walks were
to be taken; and then we were to have bathing, and to learn to knot and
splice, and to cut out and rig a ship; indeed, every moment of our time
would be fully occupied.

Somebody wishes to know about the owner of those blue eyes. I first saw
them, on the evening of the wreck, watching Aunt Deb performing certain
culinary operations at the drawing-room fire. There is a sad story
connected with the beautiful little owner of which I have not liked
before to speak. I mentioned a lady in one room, and a gentleman in
another, and a little baby in a basket. They all now lay at rest in the
burying-ground of the church we went to that memorable Christmas
morning.

We little thought at the time that there would be soon so many fresh
occupants. The lady soon sank under the effects of her exposure on the
stormy ocean that bitter winter's day. Her baby followed, and her
husband did not survive many days. Katty alone of the family remained.
She was too young to know the extent of her loss, or feel it long; and
had Aunt Deborah been her mother's dearest friend, instead of a total
stranger, she could not possibly have more tenderly cared for the little
orphan. This event formed a melancholy termination to those Christmas
holidays, and excited the warmest sympathy in our hearts for Katty
Brand. We knew well, however, that she was in good hands while Uncle
Boz and Aunt Deborah had charge of her. We were not disappointed. Hers
was a happy life, and a brighter or sweeter little rosebud never was
seen.

It may easily be supposed that she was a pet among us boys in the
holidays, and each one of us would have gone through fire and water to
serve her. Jack, who was somewhat emphatic in his assertions, declared
that he would swim through hot pitch and burning sulphur, or sit on the
top of an iceberg in the coldest day of an arctic winter, if so doing
would give her a particle of pleasure. He was very safe in making the
offer; for as she was the most sensible, amiable little creature in
exist