the affair, but I bore them all,--for now I felt I loved and I hoped,
who does not hope at twenty-three? I hoped I was beloved in return.
Annoyed by my patience, galled and mortified by his rejection, he lost
his usual prudence, and one day boasted before a knot of loose
companions in my presence, of favors he had received from her,--from her
who was purity itself, and had scarcely deigned to exchange the common
courtesies of life with him. I struck him to the deck for his detested
lie, and gave myself up as prisoner. I was tried by a Court Martial and
declared incapable of serving his Majesty again. I had expected death,
and his powerful friends did their utmost to procure a sentence, but the
Admiral was a just though a rigid man, and well knew the character of my
accuser,--the provocation was taken into consideration, and the services
I had rendered during eleven years in storm and battle. I was dismissed.
Mr. Elliott, the planter, offered me a home. I had saved considerable
prize money. I was disgusted with England, and I loved. He, himself,
offered me his daughter, and she did not refuse me. We lived together
three happy years, when she died in giving birth to a daughter. Oh! she
was beautiful,--most beautiful, but linked to my wayward fate, she
perished.'

There was a softened shade over the seaman's face, and the stern
expression had gone,--he brushed some moisture from his eyes with his
strong hand, and turned aside for a moment; the young man was deeply
moved.

'A life of inactivity gave no balm to my wounded spirit, and I burned
for action. Mr. Elliott saw it; "Side with us," said he, "there has been
a Tea Party in Boston harbor that will bring thunder ere long, and I
will procure you a command;" he did so. I joined the Navy of the United
States, and bore the stars and stripes aloft through many a scene of