Natalie - A Gem Among the Sea-Weeds by Ferna Vale
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page 8 of 211 (03%)
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were the face of an angel.
"I cannot have the heart to wish to retain _her_ child! To deprive that mother of anything that can give her pain to lose. Would I could ask her to forgive my cruel thoughts; forgive the desire to retain this her gem. But I know she has gone to her home in the skies; she was too pure for earth. Yes, this must be the mother, the child is so like her." "The same features, the same expression; and," said the Captain, "I will use every means of finding out if there is one left of that ill-fated crew to tell the tale. It will probably be reported in a few days, if there are any missing vessels, either from our coasts or foreign ports. In the meantime I will take care to have this discovery registered at head-quarters, and then if we can discover no trace of her parentage we may have her for our own." "Have her for our own! Nep, do you hear that? We are to have a new sister!" shouted the boy; and Nep, as if comprehending his young master's words, laid his great honest face on the feet of the child, and caressed her. "Please, missus, don't make little Sea-flower too fresh; she be pining for de sea;" remarked Vingo, as Mrs. Grosvenor proceeded to bathe the child in cool fresh water; and having brought out the baby-clothes worn by Harry, she was soon, by the aid of a little new milk, made comfortable, and, creeping down after old Nep, sat with her hands buried in his shaggy coat, crowing with delight. The lights at Captain Grosvenor's burned long into the night of that eventful day, of the discovery of the Sea-flower, while he related to his wife how they had found the little one among the sea-weeds, and in forming plans for her |
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