warning over the murmuring darkness of the summer sea, giving cheer
to many hearts on inbound barque or schooner. Bright indeed was the
star on the top of the old lighthouse; but no less radiant was the
face of little Star, as she turned it eagerly towards Captain January,
and waited for the beginning of the well-known and well-loved story.

"Wal," said the Captain, when his pipe was refilled and drawing
bravely. "Let me see now! where shall I begin?"

"At the beginning!" said Star promptly.

"Jes' so!" assented the old man. "Ten years ago this--"

"No! No!!" cried the child. "_That_ isn't the beginning, Daddy! That's
almost half-way to the middle. 'When I was a young lad.' That's the
beginning."

"Bound to have it all, are ye, Honeysuckle?" said the obedient
Captain. "Wal! Wal! when I were a young lad, I was a wild un, ye see,
Treasure. My father, he 'prenticed me to a blacksmith, being big and
strong for my years; but I hadn't no heart for the work. All I cared
about was the sea, and boats, and sailors, and sea talk. I ran away
down to the wharf whenever I could get a chance, and left my work.
Why, even when I went to meetin', 'stead o' listenin', to the
minister, I was lookin' out the places about them as go down to the
sea in ships, ye know, and 'that leviathan whom Thou hast made,' and
all that. And there was Hiram, King of Tyre, and his ships! Lord!
how I used to think about them ships, and wonder how they was rigged,
and how many tons they were, and all about it. Yes! I was a wild un,
and no mistake; and after awhile I got so roused up--after my mother