seaman, as she always did whenever she heard his professional career alluded to at all.  On this point, Roswell was without spot, as all Suffolk knew and confessed.  On Oyster Pond, he was regarded as a species of sea lion himself, so numerous and so exciting were the incidents that were related of his prowess among the whales But, there was a dark cloud before all these glories, in the eyes of Mary Pratt, which for two years had disinclined her to listen to the young man’s tale of love, which had induced her to decline accepting a hand that had now been offered to her, with a seaman’s ardour, a seaman’s frankness, and a seaman’s sincerity, some twenty times at least, which had induced her to struggle severely with her own heart, which she had long found to be a powerful ally of her suitor.  That cloud came from a species of infidelity that is getting to be so widely spread in America as no longer to work in secret, but which lifts its head boldly among us, claiming openly to belong to one of the numerous sects of the land.  Mary had reason to think that Roswell Gardiner denied the divinity of Christ, while he professed to honour and defer to him as a man far elevated above all other men, and as one whose blood had purchased the redemption of his race!

We will take this occasion to say that our legend is not polemical in any sense, and that we have no intention to enter into discussions or arguments connected with this subject, beyond those that we may conceive to be necessary to illustrate the picture which it is our real aim to draw—­that of a confiding, affectionate, nay, devoted woman’s heart, in conflict with a deep sense of religious duty.

Still, Mary rejoiced that Roswell Gardiner was to command the Sea Lion.  Whither this little vessel, a schooner of about one hundred and forty tons measurement, was to sail, she had not the slightest notion; but, go where it might, her thoughts and prayers were certain to accompany it.  These are woman’s means of exerting influence, and who shall presume to say that they are without results, and useless?  On the contrary, we believe them to be most efficacious; and thrice happy is the man who, as he treads the mazes and wiles of the world, goes accompanied by the petitions of such gentle and pure-minded being’s at home, as seldom think of approaching the throne of Grace without also thinking of him and of his necessities.  The Romanists say, and say it rightly too, could one only believe in their efficacy, that the prayers they offer up in behalf of departed friends, are of the most endearing nature; but it would be difficult to prove that petitions for the souls of the dead can demonstrate greater interest, or bind the parties more closely together in the unity of love, than those that are constantly offered up in behalf of the living.

The interest that Mary Pratt felt in Roswell’s success needs little explanation.  In all things he was most agreeable to her, but in the one just mentioned.  Their ages, their social positions, their habits, their orphan condition, even their prejudices—­and who that dwells aside from the world is without them, when most of those who encounter its collisions still cherish them so strongly?—­all united to render them of interest to each other.  Nor was Deacon Pratt at all opposed to the connection; on the contrary, he appeared rather to favour it.