But, Mark and Bridget endeavoured to forget everything unpleasant in this visit to their much-loved home.  They regarded the place as a boon from Providence, that demanded all their gratitude, in spite of the abuses of which it was the subject; and never did it seem to them more exquisitely beautiful, perhaps it never had been more perfectly lovely, than it appeared the hour they left it.  Mark remembered it as he found it, a paradise in the midst of the waters, wanting only in man to erect the last great altar in his heart, in honour of its divine creator.  As yet, its beauties had not been much marred; though the new irruption menaced them, with serious injuries.

Mr. and Mrs. Woolston took leave of their friends, and tore themselves away from the charming scenery of the Peak, with heavy hearts.  The Rancocus was waiting for them, under the lee of the island, and everybody was soon on board her.  The sails were filled, and the ship passed out from among the islands, by steering south, and hauling up between the Peak and the volcano.  The latter now seemed to be totally extinct.  No more smoke arose from it, or had indeed risen from it, for a twelvemonth.  It was an island, and in time it might become habitable, like the others near it.

Off Cape Horn the Rancocus spoke the Dragon; Captain Betts and his passengers being all well.  The two vessels saw no more of each other until the ship was coming out of the Bay of Rio, as the brig was going in.  Notwithstanding this advantage, and the general superiority of the sailing of the Rancocus, such was the nature of the winds that the last encountered, that when she passed Cape May lights the brig was actually in the bay, and ahead of her; This circumstance, however, afforded pleasure rather than anything else, and the two vessels landed their passengers on the wharves of Philadelphia within an hour of each other.

Great was the commotion in the little town of Bristol at the return of all the Woolstons, who had gone off, no one knew exactly whither; some saying to New Holland; others to China; and a few even to Japan.  The excitement extended across the river to the little city of Burlington, and there was danger of the whole history of the colony’s getting into the newspapers.  The colonists, however, were still discreet, and in a week something else occurred to draw the attention of the multitude, and the unexpected visit was soon regarded like any other visit.

Glad enough, notwithstanding, were the near relatives of Bridget and Anne, in particular, to see those two fine young women again.  Neither appeared much more than a twelvemonth older than when she went away.  This was owing to the delicious, yet not enervating climate, in which both had lived.  They were mothers, and a little more matronly in appearance, but none the less lovely; their children, like themselves, were objects of great interest, in their respective families, and happy indeed were the households which