Howard_One_Summer.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
been pretty, , -
hegan, 's , and au , and they al.-:o
graciously approve of even , names,
however unpronounceable, being always charming ; but
no words can express their contempt and loathing for
poor . . remarked that he pre-
sumed or
would be more likely to find favor with the sickly,
morbid fancy of certain persons he could mention, but
that for his part he admired hugely.
was a good substantial, sensible, honest name, and
patriotic, moreover, as it commemorated the national
dish of , pumpkin-pie, and he wished
he had some.
records this speech, not because he regards
it as in the least amusing or instructive, but merely as
an illustration of the heartless, he mignt say sinister
style of comment in which . and .
have taken incredible delight during the whole
voyage.
, 2.
a quiet day at anchor here, not because we
were afraid we would be drowned and made into a
tract to frighten small boys if we should continue our
course on , but because the ladies say the
is too lovely to leave. is like a great, calm, broad
river, and the mainland opposite us has a well-cul-
tivated look, and the soft green of the turf and foliage
is pleasant to look upon.
248 .
ungodly men, and , , took the
small boat and went off to the ledge with guns.
returned with three coots, and were not recognized by
the respectable members of the party. sent them
to for the remainder of the day.
, 3.
all men by these presents, that , being duly
sworn, do testify, that, in the judgment of the whole
company on board the , , the third day
of , 18 , . did then and there
eat, beside the regular courses, at dinner, of soup, meats,
and vegetables,
olives,
box of sardines,
sandwiches,
cocoanut-pies,
loaves of cake,
bottle of chow-chow, and
cups of coffee ;
and for so doing was awarded the first prize, having
distanced all competitors.
() .
:
. .
.
.
, , being host, feels that courtesy forbids
him to testily.
out of , the fertile look of
the country vanishing, and the bleak, wild, out-at-sea
aspect increasing more and more as we left the large
and sailed among numerous white, ledgy
islands, and soon approached the promontory of
. 249
, the southern point of . sailed
past it, into for the superb view, and
saw the hills rising grandly before us,
while 's , that wonderfully pretty sheet of
water, its calm clear blue contrasting with the " tumul-
tuous sea" outside, " the rough green plain that no
man reaps," ran, straight and narrow, far into the
island between bold, high cliffs, like a fiord,
we who have never seen a fiord confidently assert
between the and -
and .
at 5 . ., and were speedily vis-
ited by troops of friends. historiographer would
gracefully excuse himself from a description of the
magnificent scenery of . information
which he has the discretion to omit, he would refer
future perusers of this to artists know r n to fame
and many authors of repute.
is aware that he has omitted to mention various
points of interest along this attractive coast, and
he would say, in apology, that but nineteen summers
have passed over his head,- and that he has been too
much interested in playing piquet with ,
to tear himself away from that charming amusement
and devote himself to the dreary labor of making nau-
tical and geographical observations.
voyage has been all sunshine and gladness.
1 did not design to exhibit the swiftness of our
craft, as the sailing powers of the have long
since been proven, but have wished merely to sail
here and there at the will of our fair passengers.
our return voyage may be as happy, is our devout
hope.
conclusion, it may be well to mention that there
has been an entire immunity from sea-sickness, although
. dined one day upon deck, making
an entire repast upon one lemon.
party is now strolling about on the
250 .
rocks in a state of perfect bliss, all except the poor his-
toriographer, whom an inhuman brother has left behind
to complete the , and do the honors of the yacht to
such visitors as may appear.
people were received with great
rejoicing by numerous friends at , and
it occurred to one hospitable soul to give a picnic
of gigantic proportions in their honor. guests,
sixty in number, were bidden to the feast at seven
o'clock, and shortly after that hour the bluff over
was the scene of much hilarity, as
gay groups of friends ate sandwiches, drank cof-
fee, and gossiped, with the grand old ocean rolling
in solemnly below them.
" ," whispered , " don't drop your
muffin on the buttered side, or pour your coffee
down your sleeve in your agitation, but
came over to yesterday, and
he arrived here to-day, and he 's about five feet off,
just behind you, and he 's coming this way as fast
sis he can, but somebody an uncommonly attrac-
tive young lady, by the way has just buttonholed
him. did not tell you all at once, for fear you
could not bear it."
a moment approached, and saw 's
" face in the sunset light
and glorified."
though the " madding crowd " was there and
the senseless chatter, and the commonplace bread
and butter and pickles, the inexpressible gladness
in her eyes, as she turned and looked up at him,
told him that his brief absence had been a saga-
11*
. 251
cious thing, and that the pearl was his own.
wondered if the voluble young lady on the other
side of him ever would cease urging him to par-
take of the salad over which she presided, and if
picnics at went on forever. two
talked nonsense with the others, and ate they
knew not what.
last the darkness deepened. moon rose
superbly over the sea, and everybody climbed
down the rocks to the shore to see what wonders
were going on in the .
its mysterious depths two gentlemen had
vanished. its recesses were illumined
by a gleaming red light which disclosed its little
shining pools of water, and its rough jagged sides,
and shone out upon the groups of ladies and at-
tendant cavaliers at different heights on the cliff,
and met the moonlight far out on the waves with
a singular effect. yellow light followed, and a
ghastly green, and then these wizards of
sent off some rockets, and various other
whizzing things.
" do feel really disappointed," exclaimed -
sie. " always had a profound respect for a rocket.
thought it quite a magnificent spectacle ; but
does n't it seem small, and mean, and insignificant,
and frightfully impertinent, for it to go buzzing
away at the old ocean 1" no reply from
and , to whom her remark was ad-
dressed, the kindly disposed little woman went on,
" dear, dear ! actually believe there is my
flirting with . 's entirely too
pretty, and she knows how ! is . -
252 .
ton 1 . , would you be so kind as
to take ine round to the other side of the cliff'?
's something going on there which must
put a stop to at once. you believe it 1 that
incorrigible husband of mine
vanished, and and wandered
away over the rocks.
hour later they sat together, caring little
for the vast cliffs towering above them, or for the
foaming surf at their feet. saw but the
gladness in each other's eyes. own mur-
murs spoke a mightier language in their ears than
the voice of the great waves. they sought in
vain to express the meaning that overcharged their
hearts, for
" 's tenderest, truest secret lingers,
in its depths untold,"
and its sweetest words are only
" sighings of illimitable forests
waves of an unfathomable sea."
" are you glad to see me, dear 1 are
you quite ' sure of yourself now 1 is it like
your ' theories ' ? "
" was very, very glad, but think you took
an unfair advantage in surprising me, and some
day will have my revenge."
" will you go out on the prairies and live
in a log-cabin with me, if ever ask you ]
you, ?"
" , sir, never, if you persist in remembering
all the idle words ever said, and wickedly repeat-
ing them to me."
. 253
" would you, 1 " he persisted.
" am really disappointed in you already.
never dreamed you would develop into a tease
like . you know, 've read that success
ruins some natures 1 "
" would you 1 "
hesitated ; then, " will go to the very
end of the world with you one day if you should
wish," she said in low, earnest tones. " do
you make me tell you ? know so well."
" me ; it is so sweet to hear you
say it, how could help asking? , dear, if
ever ask you to live in a log-cabin, it shall be
only for a couple of months in the summer.
the cabin shall be as pretty as you please, and it
must be at somewhere. would
our island do, just where the old fort is 1 "
" it must be called ' ,' " said ,
amused. , realizing that this was indeed
giving to remote shadowy things a " local habita-
tion and a name," she sprung up with a sweet shy-
ness in her face.
" we not find now 1 "
she stepped back to .
moon shone gloriously on the water, and threw its
white radiance over the girl as she said impul-
sively,
" sit down, just where you were.
is something must do. your eyes," she
commanded. obeyed. tenderly, half
laughingly, she murmured, " is reparation."
he felt the light, timid touch of her lips on
either closed eyelid. " am so sorry, was so
254
.
sorry then, have been sorry all the time," she
murmured. " cruel was ! "
, with his great happiness sounding
in his voice, yet with the same lightness of man-
ner which had assumed, to cover a strange
depth of emotion, said,
" memorable blow did close my eyes for a
time, it is true, but only to open them to new and
wonderful radiance. whole life shall show you
my gratitude for it. to what honor it has
raised me. darling, my queen, it was my
royal accolade."