Laura E. Richards

“ But in winter, matters were different. All the laughing lips of ripples, all the white tossing crests of waves, must content themselves with the ice-bound rocks, till spring should bring them their child-comrade again ”

“ Strong man--hearty--live twenty years yet--like's not thirty! Uncle o' mine--Punksquid--hundred and three--peart's chicken."
Captain January puffed at his pipe in silence for some minutes. "Bob," he said, presently, "it ain't always as it's given to a man to know his time. ”

“ And Cap'n Nazro he takes the _Huntress_ in, and then goes straightway and sends a telegraft to the lady and gentleman, sayin' as Cap'n January has sailin' orders, and they please to come and take the child, as lawfully to them belongs. And you, Bob,--" the old man's steady voice faltered a little, as he laid his hand on the other's arm,--"you'll do all you can, well I know. For she'll take it hard, ye see. She has that depth o' love in her little heart, and never nobody _to_ love 'cept me since she were a baby, that she'll take it cruel hard. ”

“ Yer old Daddy's gittin' lazy, and it's comf'tabler settin' here in the sun, than scramblin' round the rocks."
And Star would fling herself on his neck, and scold and caress him, and then go off with a half-sense of disappointment to her play. Very, very careful Captain January had to be, lest the child should suspect that which he was determined to keep from her to the last. Sometimes he half thought she must suspect, so tender was she in these days; so thoughtful, so mindful of his lightest wish. But "'tis only the woman growin' up in her," he decided ”

“ It was full of tender and loving words, wishes for Christmas cheer and New Year blessing, and with it was a photograph of the beautiful face, with its soft and tender eyes, which Star remembered so well. On the back was written, "For Little Star, from Aunt Isabel." And the box? Why, that was quite as wonderful in its way. For it contained a most beautiful pipe for the Captain, of sweet brier-wood, mounted in silver; and oh! oh! such a doll! Other children have seen such dolls, but Star never had ”