His countenance was open; for he had a marvellous mouth, that stretched as wide as a turnpikegate; and his nose hung dangling down, as if to see that nothing passed through without paying toll. But for his eyes, he had a pair of odd ones, that gave you the most agreeable squint in the world, and made him see two ways at once. Many a poor boy has got thrashed for quizzing him, thinking he was looking another way.

"Well, there old Mich stood, adjusting his cravat with the utmost gravity, when Mrs. R— came over the side. Of course every body expected she would have walked aft to the captain; but her delight was so great, that she no sooner got upon the deck than she caught old Mich (being nearest) round the neck, and began kissing him like fury. Mich, equally pleased, returned her embrace with interest, to the great amusement of every soul, fore-and-aft. 'Oh, my boys,-my boys,' says she, as soon as Mich let her get breath; 'joy to the hour that I see you again! Arrah! R— dear, sure, and I'm so happy!'-So catching the captain in her arms, she gave full evidence of the fact.

"The officers wiped their mouths and smacked their lips, expecting it would go round, and were anticipating the salute of her sweet kiss, for she was really a beautiful woman; but they were disappointed; for the first moment of exquisite feeling

having subsided, she became sensible of what had passed. Howsomever, the captain laughed heartily, and old Mich looked as if he was ready for a second edition. · Mrs. R— called him and apologized for her conduct, blushing all the time most glowingly. Och!' says she, 'my joy was so great that I couldn't help it!"

“Be aisey, my lady, be aisey,' says Mich: 'I'd do the same for your ladyship any day, and every day. Sure, didn't I have the best of it, then? Faith, and I did, any how; for I gave you two for one. Oh, don't mention it, my lady.'

"Well, and all hands had an extra allowance of grog, and Mich declared that "'twas the happiest day of his life; for her ladyship's two-lips were like full-blown roses, moistened with dews; and but for his ugly nose, that came in the way, he would have had half a dozen more.'

The afternoon having by this time drawn pretty well to a close, I rose; and having said a few words expressive of the pleasure I had experienced in their society, with a promise to pay them another visit before long, I took my departure amidst the hearty cheers of the old men; and if their blessings can have any influence in smoothing the path of life, mine would be smooth indeed.

TOM BROOKES.

No cannon peal'd his knell,

No shout that gain'd the day,
Gave his frail spirit one farewell,
To waft it on its way.

He rush'd all life into the wave,

And found at once his death and grave!

139

'Twas in the days of my boyhood, and though since that time many years have rolled their burdens on my head,-years that, like billows on the sand, have smoothed the traces which memory once had made, yet I can remember the circumstances as if it was but yesterday and the tears still wet upon my cheek; for I had known Tom Brookes from my infancy, and he had often brought me home some curiosity from distant lands, where the cedar and the pine-tree grow in rich luxuriance. Indeed it was his tales of the ocean, when the spreading sail was filled to waft the gallant ship to foreign climes, that first excited my desires to become a sailor.

Poor Tom had been brought up in expectation of a genteel fortune, and had been educated most