"Yes, Sorrow," sais I; "don't you see him?" and as they turned round, they both exclaimed: Why, it's only a nigger!"

"Yes, but his name is Sorrow, and he is the bearer of bad news, I know.”

"Captin," said the darkie messenger, "Massa Pilot say, please, come on board, Sar; tide is all right fer crossin' de bar, if der is de leastest mossal of wind in de world."

"Well that is provokin'!" said Lucy.

"Well I do declare, that is too bad!" said Eunice."

Thinks I to myself, "Ah, sorrow," as dear old Minister used to say, and he was a book of poetry himself, he was full of wise saws, "Ah, sorrow, how close you tread on the heels of enjoyment! The rose has its thorn, the peach its worm; and decay lies concealed in the chalice of the flower. All earthly things are doomed to pass away. The feast ceases; the day expires; the night wears out at last; joys depart when most enjoyed. cord snaps in twain, and is parted for ever. Life is not a dream, 'tis but a gleam. The sunny spot of the mornin', is the shady side of the evenin'. We have no abidin' place; we must move with the changin' scene, or it leaves and forgets us.

The

How well I remember his very words, poor dear old man!

How mysterious it is, he used to say, that in the midst of gaiety, serious thoughts like unbidden guests, should intrude where they are neither expected nor wanted. All however are not affected alike. The hearse and the mourner pass unobserved in the crowd, one contains a dead body and the other an aching heart, while all around is noise, frivolity, or business. Poor old soul, nobody talked like him I do believe. "Yes it is a sudden partin', but it is better that it is so, Lucy," thought I, "for we haven't had time to be quite foolish, and the knowledge of that makes even nonsense agreeable."

THE wind came in slight puffs and died away, sportin' about here and there, just rufflin' the surface in places, but not heavy enough to raise a ripple. The sailors called those spots cats'paws. It continued in this way until the tide had ebbed so far as to obstruct our passage over the bar, and we were compelled to remain where we were until the mornin'. While walkin' up and down the deck with the Captin, talkin' over the events of the day, we observed a boat put off, and steer for the Black Hawk.' There was no mistakin' the man in the stern; it was Phinny, the daugertype-man.

"Who in the world is that feller?" said the

Captin.

"A countryman of ourn,” I said.

"And no great credit to us either, I should think," he replied. "It takes a great many strange fellows to make a world; but I wish ours would stay at home, and not make us ridiculous abroad. No sensible man ever dressed that way, and no honest man would like to publish himself a rogue. What does he want?"

"I'll soon find that out," said I; "for tho' I wouldn't care to be seen talkin' to him ashore, I should like to draw him out now we are alone, for he is a character. Such critters look well in a pictur', tho' there is nothin' to admire in themselves."

He handed up a small carpet-bag and his goldheaded cane, and mounted the deck with surprisin' agility.

"What

"How are you, gentle-men ?" said he. port do you hail from, Captin ?" And without waitin' for a reply went on rapidly from one question to another. "Walked into the Bluenoses to-day, Mr. Slick, to the tune of four hundred dollars, between sales of prints and daugertypes. Can you set me ashore bymeby, or shall I make this Dytcher wait for me? I'de

rather he should go. Fellows who have no tongues are often all eyes and ears."

"All right," said the Captin.

"Now, gentle-men," said Phinny, "suppose we go below?" The Captin larfed at his free-andeasy manner, but continued pacin' the deck, while Mr. Phinny and myself descended to the cabin. "Which is your state-room, Mr. Slick?" said he, and takin' his carpet-bag in his hand, he entered and closed the door after him.

I returned to the deck, and advised Cutler to swaller his disgust, and come and hear the feller talk. What was our astonishment at findin' another person there, as unlike the one who came on board as it was possible for any two people in the world to be! The enormous black beard and whiskers were gone; the velvet coat was exchanged for a common jacket; and the gold chains and satin waistcoat were superseded by a warm, grey, homespun vest.

"Do you know me now, Slick?" said he; for a feller that don't respect locks don't mind handles, in a general way. "Do you mind Jaamin Phinny, or Jawin' Phinny, as they used to call me?"

"Yes," said. I, with a strong revoltin' feelin' of dislike, mixed up with great curiosity, for he