Favoured wind, we soon reached the shore we had formerly quitted, and found our excellent missionary waiting

"Come," said he, " now going to receive your reward Your wife and children impatiently expect you; come to meet you, but your wife is still weak, and Jack suffering--your presence will soon cure them "

affected to answer Fritz his arm, to support me restrain himself from rushing on before Ernest did the same with Mr Willis; his mildness pleased the good man, who also saw his taste for study, and tried to encourage it After half an hour's walk, the missionary told us we were now near our good friends no sign of habitation, nothing but trees and rocks; at last light smoke trees, and moment Francis, who watching, ran to meet us

"Mamma is expecting you," said he, showing us the way through grove of shrubs, thick enough to hide entirely the entrance into kind of grotto; we had to stoop It resembled much the entrance bear's den, which remote part island mat of rushes covered the opening, yet permitted the light to penetrate it Francis removed the matting, calling--

"Mamma, here ! "

lady, apparently about twenty-even , of mild and pleasing appearance, came forward to meet me She clothed in rob mad of palm-leaves tied together, which reached from her throat to her feet, leaving her beautiful arms uncovered Her light hair was braided and fastened up round her head

" welcome," said she, taking my hand; " my poor friend's best physician "

We entered, and saw my dear wife seated on bed of moss and leaves; she wept abundantly, pointing out our dear boy by her side little nymph of eleven or twelve years old was endeavouring to raise him

"Here are your papa and brothers, Jack," said she; " very happy in having what : but your papa mine, and you shall be my brother "

Jack thanked her affectionately Fritz and Ernest, kneeling beside the couch, embraced their mother Fritz begged her to forgive him for hurting his brother; and then tenderly inquired of Jack after his wound , describe my gratitude and agitation; scarce utter word to my dear wife, who, on her part, sunk down quite overcome on her bed The lady, who was, I understood, named Madame Hirtel, approached to assist her When she recovered, she presented Madame Hirtel and her two daughters The eldest, Sophia, was attending on Jack; Matilda, who was about ten or eleven , was playing with Francis; while the good missionary, knees, thanked God for having re-united us

"And for life," cried my dear wife "My dear husband, I well knew set out to seek me; but how could I anticipate that ever succeed in finding me ? now separate no more; this beloved friend has agreed to accompany us Happy Island, as I intend it, if I ever have the happiness to reach it again with all I love How graciously God permits us to derive blessings sorrows See what my trial has produced me: friend and two dear daughters, for henceforward family,"

We were mutually delighted arrangement, and entreated Mr Willis to visit us often, and and live Happy Island when his mission was completed

" consent," said he, " come and assist me in my duties; purpose you and your sons must acquire the language islanders much nearer your island than , took very circuitous course, and Parabéry, who knows it, declares only day's voyage with fair wind And, moreover, he tells me, that delighted and your sons, that part , and wishes me to obtain your permission to accompany you, and remain exceedingly useful : will teach the language all, and ready means of communication "

I gladly agreed Parabéry as friend; but no time yet of departing, as Mr Willis wished Jack some days longer under his care; we therefore arranged that I and my two sons should become his guests, as his hut was but short distance off We had many things to hear; but, as my wife was yet too weak to relate her adventures, we resolved first the history of Madame Hirtel Night coming on, the missionary lighted gourd lamp, and, after light collation of bread-fruit, Madame Hirtel began her story

* * * * *

CHAPTER LIV

"My life," she began, "passed without any remarkable events, till the misfortune occurred which brought me island married, when very young, to Mr Hirtel, merchant at Hamburg, an excellent man, whose loss deeply felt very happy union, arranged by my parents, and sanctioned by reason We had three children, son and two daughters, first three years marriage; and M Hirtel, seeing his family increase so rapidly, wished to increase his income An advantageous establishment was offered him Canary Islands; he accepted it, and prevailed on me to settle there, with my family, My parents were dead, I had no tie to detain me in Europe going new regions, those fortunate isles I had heard of, and I set out joyfully with my husband and children, little foreseeing the misfortunes before me

"Our voyage was favourable; the children, like myself, were delighted novelties of it then twenty-three years old; Sophia, seven; Matilda, six; and Alfred, our pretty, gentle boy, not yet five Poor child ! he darling plaything of all the crew "

She wept bitterly for , and then resumed her narration

" as fair own Francis, and greatly resembled him We proceeded first to Bourdeaux, where my husband had correspondent, he had large dealings; by his means my husband was enabled to raise large sums new undertaking We carried , , nearly his whole fortune We re-embarked under the most favourable auspices--the weather delightful, wind fair; but we had change; we were met by terrible storm and hurricane, such sailors had never witnessed For week our ship was tossed about by contrary winds, driven into unknown seas, lost all its rigging, and was at last so broken, water poured in on all sides All was lost, apparently; but, extremity, my husband made last attempt to save us He tied my daughters and myself firmly to plank, taking the charge boy himself, as he feared the additional weight raft His intention was to tie himself to another plank, to fasten this to ours, and, taking his son arms, to chance of being carried shore, which appear far off Whilst occupied in placing us, Alfred care of sailor who was particularly attached to him I heard the man say, 'Leave him with me, take care to save him ' , M Hirtel insisted restoring him, and I cried out that given moment the ship, already fallen on its side, filled rapidly with water, plunged, and disappeared with all on board The plank I and my daughters were fixed alone floated, and nothing but death and desolation round me "

Madame Hirtel paused, almost suffocated remembrance awful moment

"Poor woman ! " said my wife, weeping, " five years misfortune same time as our shipwreck, and was doubtless caused same storm But more fortunate was I ! I lost none that were dear , and we even had the vessel left use But, my dear, unfortunate friend, by what miracle were you saved ? "

" He who only can work miracles," said the missionary, "who cares widow orphan, and without whose word not hair head can perish, who moment gave courage Christian mother "