last had stated they were doing well, that he was under one of the
kindest of captains, and all that was wanting to make him perfectly
happy, was to see his dear mother, and the rest of the family once more.
Poor boy, he little thought that there was one of its members whom he
would never see again, until he had passed over that sea from which no
navigator ever returns! Harry had never written his mother of the brutal
treatment which he had received from his first captain, but he had said
that Neptune had been the means of saving his life, and that the old
fellow was getting to be quite a sailor, inasmuch as he could take a
turn on the quarter-deck with as much dignity as the captain himself. It
had been some time since Harry's last letter had been received, and now
Mrs. Grosvenor was anxiously looking for news from him, with a state of
mind prepared for receiving almost anything, so fraught with sad events
had been the last few years, when one day Vingo was seen far down the
street, coaxing his time-wearied limbs into a run, and bursting into the
room, he stood panting in the middle of the floor, grinning with
delight, and holding at arm's length a letter, which Mrs. Grosvenor
recognized as coming from her son. The Sea-flower read the letter aloud,
and when Vingo learned that massa Harry was homeward bound, he could
contain himself no longer; it seemed as if he would go beside himself at
the thought of having his young massa home once more, for everything had
appeared so different since he went away; there had been so many
changes, that the fellow had really had his fears that it might be his
turn next to be taken off, and he had often had visions of his old slave
massa in nearer proximity than was at all consistent with his ideas
of liberty.

"De good Lord be praised!" exclaimed the negro, as Sea-flower ceased
reading; "dis am too good news for old black man live me! but I knew de
bright sunshine not be contented to stay away from missy Sea-flower