CHAPTER XLIV.

Here peace is thine, and life that knows no change,
And various wealth in nature's boundless range;
The grot, the living fount, the umbrageous glade,
And sleep on banks of moss beneath the shade.

THERE is, perhaps, no man who does not image to himself some future period, when, retired from the cares and irritations of his profession, he shall enjoy in the bosom of retirement a freedom from all solicitude.

It was now that era in the lives of our gallant tars. No longer were they summoned on deck by the shrill pipe of the boatswain; no more did the beat of the drum announce an enemy was near; but, to appropriate the words of the song, they sported on down beds, or, in language more classical, reposed on roses.

They had not taken possession of their house a fortnight, when Mrs. Hurricane presented her husband with a daughter: and the appearance of Sophonisba denoted she

was in a fair way to fulfil the great precept given to the parents of all mankind.

In the meantime, their hours were passed agreeably. Sophonisba was gratified by a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Million, together with their son Cæsar, and a young lady whom he had led to the altar of Hymen.

They were making an excursion into Wales, being at a loss how to fill up their time.

Cæsar presented his spouse to Sophonisba and the rest of the family. She was the daughter of an opulent haberdasher, and had captivated the heart of Cæsar as she one day sold him a pair of gloves, behind her father's counter. Her age was about nineteen ; her person tolerably good, but the structure and phraseology of her sentences denoted that her education was illiberal, and that her reading had been confined to the trash of a circulating library. Yet, in intellect and attainments, she was at least equal to her husband.

"Well, captain Echo," said Cæsar, "you see, the preference which Sophonisba gave to you, did not totally break my heart. I

was, to be sure, a little down in the mouth at first. But when I saw Nancy, my heart recovered its jollification, and I took her for a wife, while I found her in the humour to have me."

"I give you joy, sir," said the lieutenant. "I dare say you are both very happy." "We be, indeed, sir," returned Cæsar: "aren't we, Nancy?"

Yes," cried Nancy; "when you behave yourself properly. But if ever you call me extravagant again, as you did coming along in the chay, I'll give you no rest for a month. Marry! it is a pretty work to come to this. To call me extravagant, because I bought a pair of ear-rings. Men in general delight to see their wives smart, but you,"

"How long, sir," said lieutenant Hurricane, "have you been married?"

"Almost a month, sir," said Cæsar. "I give you both joy," rejoined the lieu

tenant.

"Joy! sir," said Nancy. plague than enough!"

"He is more

"Hush! Nancy," said Cæsar, you ashamed?”

"I won't hush," said Nancy.

"Aren't

"Where

there is no sin, there is no shame. But I will waste no more words with a poor mean fellow that could begrudge the wife of his bosom the cost of a gownd. I am sure he can set no store by her."

"Indeed, Nancy," said Cæsar, "I do set great store by you. If you want a hundred pounds you shall have it."

"Very liberal, sir," said Hurricane. "Come, never mind your wife; leave her with my wife, and Echo's wife. Let us splice the main brace. Let us drink some grog together. Come! heave ahead. How do you like my new ship? What think you of the officers' cabins ?"

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Nancy," said Cæsar, “I am just going to have a little jollification with the lieutenant. I shall soon be back."

"Your absence," cried Nancy, "is more welcome than your company. A good riddance!"

Cæsar retired with the two lieutenants

into their banqueting room, leaving Mr. and Mrs. Million, together with his own wife, to walk down the garden, and contemplate the sea.

There are many of my readers (particularly those west of Temple Bar) who will consider it very vulgar to drink grog before dinner. But our sailors knew none of this fastidiousness, and never imposed upon themselves the restraints of fashion. They loved grog at sea, and they loved it too on shore.

A bowl of grog was made by lieutenant Echo, and jovially pushed around.

"Come, Hurricane," said the young tar, "sing us a song. You have a good voice?"

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I have no objection to sing," said Hurricane ; " and I will give you a song I never heard before. I bought it for a halfpenny, of the ballad-singer, at the admiral's masquerade. It is called

THE HONEY-MOON.

"Serene and tranquil was the night,

The night that clos'd the summer's day;
And brilliant shone the moon, and bright,
And warm and tender was her ray.