and men, stared with astonishment, to see the round little personage, in her striped cotton jacket, short thick petticoats, and high heeled shoes, hugging their first lieutenant (dressed in full uniform) round the neck; and many began to laugh: but the working of nature cannot be suppressed; the lieutenant felt it no disgrace to be born of honest, though poor parents, and the rich feeling of filial love flowed without restraint. That moment was, perhaps, one of the happiest of his life. He thought only of his mother, and repaid her caresses with interest. The scene was truly affecting. The rising laugh was entirely subdued, and many a furrowed cheek was moistened by a tear. It taught an useful lesson to the young officers, who witnessed the affectionate emotion of the parent, and the dutiful conduct of the son. Peace be to their memory! The diamond will sparkle however rough

ly set; livion one example worthy of imitation be meritorious-but there, 'tis only my duty, and I arn't much skilled in simperthetics. The lieutenant was worthy of his teacher, for never was there a nobler soul than

and if to snatch from ob

Ned's. He was a great favorite with Nelson (and died in the Victory on the selfsame day), though the hero was more attached to Sykes than any of us, and mayhap he deserved it.

to

Now for Sam Spritsail: Poor Sam was a light-hearted easy going blade, never without a smile-indeed, they said he was born laughing. Blow high, blow low, 'twas all the same to him; but he didn't stop long in the ship; he was picked out for the long-shore party that was bush-fighting with the French. Well, d'ye see, one of the officers of the C, not knowing the cut of his jib, and unaccustomed to see a man always happy under every privation, took it into his head one day that Sam was ridiculing him, and so he ordered the boatswain's mate to give him a starting with a

go

rope's end. This almost broke his heart. "Twas the first blow he had ever received in a man-of-war; and the deep indignity so preyed upon his mind, as almost to stupify him. A day or two afterwards the party received orders to storm a fort near Capua, and Sam prepared to do his duty; but there was a listless indifference in his manner that ill accorded with his former spirit. They advanced to the attack, and a very smart scrummaging took place; but a fresh body of troops poured in, and the boarding party were compelled to retreat. The lieutenant (the same as had ordered the punishment) behaved most gallantly, and kept in the wake of his men, while they were retreating. On turning an angle of the battery, the enemy opened upon 'em with a long 24pounder that did very great execution, and Mr. at the second

fire, fell. Sam, in an instant, hove

all aback. He saw the officer fallhis daring intrepidity returned and he rounded to, to pick him up. He did not know who it was at first; but, when he looked on his face, re

sentment for a moment deadened the feelings of generosity and humanity, so that he returned several paces after his shipmates. The French were close upon them. In a few minutes the wounded man would have been in their power. Again Sam looked round, rushed back to the spot, and, stooping to raise the lieutenant from the ground, received a mortal wound in the chest and fell upon him. The last effort of struggling nature roused him up; he sprang upon his feet, lifted the offi cer in his arms, and ran towards his companions, who faced instantly about, resolved either to succour him or perish. He reached their centre, gently laid his burden down. faintly uttered "I have done my duty," and expired. The whole detachment paused for an in then came to the charge, dro their pursuers, and in and hour the British union wa

ramparts of the fort. Where could there be a death more glorious, and if this memorial should meet the eye of any who were present on that day, they will shed a tear of grateful remembrance, and glory in poor Sam. After he left us bis birth was filled up by Jack Junk, a sly old codger, with a comical nose, a half squint with one eye, and a whole squint with the other, so that he could see half a dozen ways at once. He was a famous hand to look out for a fleet, and none could beat him at making signals;-why, he could use two spy glasses at once. Jack had been shipmate along with Billy C, him as played Lord Hthe trick with the goose-and that warn't the old one. At the short peace. Billy (who always messed with the admiral when at home) axed leave of absence from the house to go and visit some of his family relations that lived down to the northward. Now Lord H-'s moorings were very near Portsmouth; so the old gemman, in the goodness of his heart, granted his request, and gave him a liberty ticket for fifty pounds, and a fine clean going, neat rigged, bay horse to carry him. Away posts Bill for London, intending to stop only one night, and then haul his wind for Yorkshire; but some how or other he fell asleep and forgot it, for not a step did he start from London while a guinea was left. He made all sneer again as long as it lasted, and then away went the bay horse, (shoved up the spout, as they call it) and Billy carried on the war like a Trojan, but his time and his cash nearly expired together; so he takes his place outside the Portsmouth coach, and leaves bay horse to pay damages. Well, just as they got to Post-down hill he 'lighted, and seeing a grey beast at pasture, in a field, he gets a piece of two-inch rope, whips it over the neck, and

rode home to his lordship's stables. "Well, Mr. C-, I hope you found all your friends hearty, eh?" "Quite so, my lord, quite so."" And how's the bay horse? I hope you have behaved well to him?" Yes, my lord, he's the first of his family that ever fared so well; but there's a wonderful fun-nonny-me happened to him. Would you believe it, my lord, that he took fright at a bunch of turnips that was flung over a hedge, and, after running over a chimney-sweep, turned as grey as a badger?" "Wonderful," cried his lordship, "I must see him immediately" and off they set for the stables." Well, I declare, this is astonishing, Mr. C-! the creature is indeed grey; but," said his lordship, adjusting his spectacles,

but there is something more sur prising yet Mr. C--; why such a thing was never heard of before! I protest, as I am a living man, the fright has been so great, that it has turned the bay horse into a grey mare!"

Greenwich Hospital.

THE PHANTOM HAND.
I see a hand you cannot see,
Which beckons me away.

In a lonely part of the bleak and rocky coast of Scotland, there dwelt a being, who was designated by the few who knew and feared him, the Warlock Fisher. He was, in truth, a singular and a fearful old man. For years he had followed his dangerous occupation alone; adventuring forth in weather which appalled the stoutest of the stout hearts that occasionally exchanged a word with him, in passing to and fro in their mutual employment. Of his name, birth, or descent, nothing was known; but the fecundity of conjecture had supplied an unfailing stock of material on these points. Some said he was the devil incarnate; others said he was a Dutchman, or some other "far-away foreigner," who had fled to these comparative solitudes for shelter,

from the retribution due to some grievous crime; and all agreed that he was neither a Scot nor a true man. In outward form, however, he was still "a model of a man," tall, and well-made; though in years, his natural strength was far from being abated. His matted

black hair, hanging in elf-locks about his ears and shoulders, together with the perpetual sullenness which seemed native in the expres sion of features neither regular nor pleasing, gave him an appearance unendurably disgusting. He lived alone, in a hovel of his own construction, partially scooped out of a rock was never known to have suffered a visiter within its wallsto have spoken a kind word, or done a kind action. Once, indeed, he performed an act which in a less ominous being, would have been lauded as the extreme of heroism. In a dreadful stormy morning, a fishing-boat was seen in great distress, making for the shore-there was a father and two sons in it. The danger became imminent, as they neared the rocky promontory of the fisherand the boat upset. Women and boys were screaming and gesticulating from the beach, in all the wild and useless energy of despair, but assistance was nowhere to be seen. The father and one of the lads disappeared for ever: but the younger boy clung, with extraordinary resolution, to the inverted vessel. By accident, the Warlock Fisher came to the door of his hovel, saw the drowning lad, and plunged instantaneously into the sea.

For some

minutes he was invisible amid the angry turmoil; but he swam like an inhabitant of that fearful element, and bore the boy in safety to the beach. From fatigue or fear, or the effects of both united, the poor lad died shortly afterwards; and his grateful relatives industriously insisted, that he had been blighted in the grasp of his unhallowed rescuer. Towards the end of autumn, the weather frequently becomes so

broken and stormy in these parts, as to render the sustenance derived from fishing extremely precarious. Against this, however, the Warlock Fisher was provided; for, caring little for weather, and apparently less for life, he went out in all seasons, and was known to be absent for days, during the most violent storms, when every hope of seeing him again was lost. Still nothing harmed him he came drifting back again, the same wayward, unfearing, unhallowed animal. To account for this, it was understood that he was in connexion with smugglers; that his days of absence were spent in their service-in reconnoitring for their safety, and assisting their predations. Whatever of truth there might be in this, it was well known that the Warlock Fisher never wanted ardent spirits; and so free was he in their use and of tobacco, that he has been heard in a long and dreary winter's evening, carolling songs in a strange tongue, with all the fervour of an inspired bacchanal. It has been said, too, at such times he held strange talk with some who never answered, deprecated sights which no one else could see, and exhibited the fury of an outrageous maniac.

It was towards the close of an autumn day, that a tall young man was seen surveying the barren rocks, and apparently deserted shores, near the dwelling of the fisher. He wore the inquiring aspect of a stranger, and yet his step indicated a previous acquaintance with the scene. The sun was flinging his boldest radiance on the rolling ocean, as the youth ascended the rugged path which led to the Warlock Fisher's hut. He surveyed the door for a moment, as if to be certain of the spot; and then, with one stroke of his foot, dashed the door inwards. It was damp and tenantless. The stranger set down his bundle, kindled a fire, and remained in quiet possession. Inn few hours the fisher returned. started involuntarily at the sig

the intruder, who sprang to his feet, ready for any alternative. "What seek you in my hut?" said the fisher.

"A shelter for the night-the hawks are out."

"Who directed you to me?"
"Old acquaintance."

"Never saw you with my eyesshiver me! But never mind, you look like the breed -a ready hand and a light heel, ha! All's righttap your keg !"

No sooner said than done. The keg was broached, and a good brown basin of double' hollands was brimming at the lips of the Warlock Fisher. The stranger did himself a similar service, and they grew friendly. The fisher could not avoid placing his hand before his eyes once or twice, as if wishful to avoid the keen gaze of the stranger, who still plied the fire with fuel and his host with hollands. Reserve was at length annihilated, and the fisher jocularly said

"Well, and so we're old acquaintance, ha?"

"Worse-may be-worse!" muttered the fisher, sinking into abstraction, and glaring wildly on the flickering embers before him.

66

Why, how's this?" said the stranger. "Are your senses playing bo-peep with the ghost of some pigeon-livered coast captain, eh!" Come, take another pull at the keg. to clear your head-lights, and tell us a bit of your ditty."

The fisher took another draught, and proceeded :

"About five-and-twenty years ago, a stranger came to this hutmay the curse of God annihilate him!".

"Amen to that," said the young

man.

"He brought with him a boy and a girl, a purse of gold, and the arch fiend's tongue, to tempt me! Well, it was to take these children out to sea-upset the boat -and lose them!".

"And you did so!" interrupted the stranger.

"I tried-but listen. On a fine evening I took them out: the sun sunk rapidly, and I knew by the freshening of the breeze, there would be a storm. I was not mistaken. It came on even faster than I wished. The children were alarmedthe boy, in particular, grew suspicious; he insisted I had an object in going out so far at sun-set. This irritated me, and I rose to smite him, when the fair girl interposed her fragile form between us. She screamed for mercy, and clung to my arm with the desperation of despair. I could not shake her off! The boy had the spirit of a man, he seized a piece of spar, and struck

me on the temples. How, you villain!' said he, your life or mine!' At that moment the boat upset, and we were all adrift. The boy I never saw again—a tremendous sea broke between us--but the wretched girl clung to me like hate! Damnation!-her dying scream is ringing in my ears like madness! I struck her on the forhead, and she sankall but her hand, one little white hand would not sink! I threw my self on my back, and struck at it with both my feet - and then I thought it sunk for ever. I made the shore with difficulty, for I was stunned and senseless, and the ocean heaved as if it would have washed away the mortal world-and the lightnings blazed as if all hell had come to light the scene of warfare! I have never since been on the sea at midnight, but that hand has fol. lowed or preceded me; I have Here he sank down from his seat, and rolled himself in agony upon the floor.

never

"Poor wretch!" muttered the stranger, what hinders now my long-sought vengeance? Even with my foot-but thou shalt share my murdered sister's grave!"

"A shot is fired-look out for the light!" said the young man.

The fisher went to the door; but suddenly started back, clasping his hands before his face.

"Fire and brimstone! there it is again!" he cried.

"What?" said his companion, looking coolly round him.

That infernal hand! Lightnings blast it!-but that's impossible," he added, in a fearful under-tone, which sounded as if some of the eternal rocks around him were adding a response to his imprecations- that's impossible! It is a part of themit has been so for years-darkness could not shroud it-distance could not separate it from my burning eye. balls!-awake, it was there-asleep, it flickered and blazed before me !it has been my rock a-head through life, and it will herald me to hell!"

So saying, he pressed his sinewy hands upon his face, and buried his head between his knees, till the rock beneath him seemed to shake with his uncontrollable agony.

"Again it beckons me!" said he, starting up-" ten thousand fires are blazing in my heart-in my brain! where, where can I be worse? Fiend, I defy thee!"

"I see nothing," said his companion, with unalterable composure.

"You see nothing!" thundered the fisher, with mingling sarcasm and fury-look there!" He snatched his hand, and pointing steadily into the gloom, again murmured, "look there! look there!"

At that moment the lightning blazed around with appalling brilliancy; and the stranger saw a small white hand, pointing tremulously up

wards.

"I saw it there," said he, "but it is not hers! Infatuated, abandoned villain!" he continued, with irrepressible energy, "it is not my

sister's hand-no! it is the incarnate fiend's who tempted you, and who now waves you to perditionbegone together!"

He aimed a dreadful blow at the astonished fisher, who instinctively avoided the stroke. Mutually wound up to the highest pitch of anger, they grapled each the other's throat, set their feet, and strained for the throw, which was inevitably to bury both in the wild waves beneath. A faint shriek was heard, and a gibbering, as of many voices, came fluttering around them.

Chatter on!" said the fisher, "he joins you now!"

"Together-it will be together!" said the stranger, as with a last desperate effort he bent his adversary backward from the betling cliff. The voice of the fisher sounded hoarsely in execration, as they dashed into the sea together; but what he said was drowned in the hoarser murmer of the uplashing surge! The body of the stranger was found on the next morning, flung far up