Squall, whale, and harpoon had all
blended together and the whale, merely grazed by the iron, escaped.
Though completely swamped, the boat was nearly unharmed. Swimming round
it we picked up the floating oars, and lashing them across the gunwale,
tumbled back to our places. There we sat up to our knees in the sea, the
water covering every rib and plank, so that to our downward gazing eyes,
the suspended craft seemed a coral boat grown up to us from the bottom
of the ocean.
* * * * *
=_Josiah Gilbert Holland, 1819-._=
From The Bay Path.
=_310._= THE WEDDING-PRESENT.
John Woodcock was the first to break the silence. Rising from his seat,
and making his way out of the crowd around him, he crossed the room to
where his daughter was standing absorbed in, and half bewildered by the
scene, and whispering a few words in her ear, took her by the hand, and
led her before the married pair. Mary extended her hand to him instantly
and cordially, and exclaimed, "I knew that you would come to me and
congratulate me."
"That wan't my arrant any way," said Woodcock bluntly, "and I shouldn't
begin with you if it was."
"Why John! I am astonished!" exclaimed the bride; "I thought you was one
of the best friends I had in the world.
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