“NW”... 4‘- y . I, “23‘ a." if Fireside Ballads. THE NEW MINISTER. BY H. H. JOHNSON. ‘ Well, Sui-y, we‘ve got our new preacher All set ed as slick as a pin; The neighbors turned out utty gin’rous, And soon got his goods a moved in. But, Sarggou needn’t say nothin’, But I t ' k they are terribly poor— Their things looked so awfully common, Not better than ours, I’m sure. And, Sary, I b‘lieve we shall like them, They acted so friendly and good; In uttin’ up stove-pipes and bedsteads, e both helped us all that they could And, ary, you mustn’t git jealous If I brag of the minister‘s wife, But she’s got jusc the purtiest of faces That ever I‘ve seen in my life. She don’t look much more than a baby Herself, she’s so teeny and sm But she knows how to work, I can tell you, And that is the best of it all. She tried to look smilin‘ and happy, And worked herself most out of breath A-gittin’ us men folks our suppler; I know she was tired to deat . I tell you she fixed up the vittals So everything tasted just right; I alwa s thought you good at cookin’, But b’lieve she can beat you a mite; And she sot there so smilin’ and rosy, A-passin’ the tea and the bread, And we men folks a—eatin’ so hearty, It just done her good, so she said. The after we got through our supper, An was talkin’ of comm’ awav, The preacher he took down the Bible, And read, and then knelt down to pray; And, Sary, I don’t think that ever I’ve heard in my life such a prayer: It come from the heart of the preacher, And touched every one that was there. They thanked me for what I had helped ’em, And asked me so much about you, And told me to call on them often, And bring you along with me, too. SO I guess, 'ust as soon as they‘re settled, We’ll hitc up old Dolly and Sam, And drive up and make ’em a visit, And take them some ’taters and ham. I pity these Methodist preachers; he hain’t got no home of their own; I thin we‘d all like it much better If Conference would leave them alone. Just as soon as we get so we like them, And feel so we want them to sta , Their two or three years is expired' , And Conference sends them away. And, Sary, I can’t help but pity The Methodist ministers’ wives; This movin‘ all over the country, I think must just wear out their lives. But yet, they ’most always seem happy, And contented with what the have got; But if you was in their places, ary, You would grumble, think, at your lot. I like our good Methodist doctrine; I b’lieve it‘s the best of them all; But I wasn‘t cut out for a preacher, And am glad that I hain t got a call; For, I’d rather work hard all my lifetime, And live on a crust and a bone, Than be movin’ about as a preacher, And not have a home of my own. But I s’pose there’s a home in the futur’ Where the Methodist preacher will go, And live through the ages eternal When his work is all done here below; And I s’pose that the good Lord of Heaven, Rememberin‘ her troubles in life, Will save a bright home there in Glory For the Methodist minister's wife. The Magic Ship; The Freebooters of Sandy Hook. A Tale of Fiction, founded upon Fact, in the History of the earlier days of New York and its adjacent waters. BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, mos or “run LEAGUE OF THREE," “BUFFALO m’s snip,” “MERLE, rm: murmurs,” ETC. CHAPTER XVI. THE SPY’S CHASE. WHEN Colonel Bertie Grayson left the Sher- wood mansion, it was by a side-door through the library-hall, and he gained an exit from the east wing, and was at the corner of the house by the time the Lily of the Light house de- scended the broad stone steps leading from the front portal. He saw the maiden go rapidly along the gravel walk, with its row of box-trees on either side, and, gaining the street, to turn toward the North, or Hudson river. It was but a short walk to the water’s edge, and there she s rung into a boat that was moored against t e river-bank, and quickly a tiny sail was raised and the prow turned south- ward. A fair breeze was blowing, and the light skifl’ glided along at a. ra id rate. But the colonel ept it in sight as he went swiftly along the street at a pace that few of his fashionable friends would have believed him capable of. At length he came to a point off which lay a small schooner, evidently a pleasure—craft, from her rig and build. The surf-skiff had already passed the sloop and was fiyin away on her course, which still lay southwar , as though going down the bar— bor, or around the Battery and up the East riVer. “Ho, the Sea Feather, ahoy!” sung out the colonel, in tones that sounded as though they had often rung on the quarter—deck. No answer was returned, and again the colo- nel hailed, and more loudly than before. Still no response. “Curse the lazy lubbers, they are all asleep or drunk,” said the colonel, and a glance at the surf-skiff showing him that it was fast disap- aring in the darkness, he looked hastily about or some sign of a boat. But none could be seen, and a third time his voice hailed: “ Ho! the Sea Feather! hol” But the bail brought no response, and, with an angry exclamation, the colonel again bent his gaze upon the receding sail-boat. It was barely visible, and, determined not to be beaten, he buttoned his fashionably-cut coat closely around him, pulled his but down hard over his e es, and sprung boldly into the river. Bertie rayson was a powerful swimmer, and a few strong strokes carried him to the side of the yacht, and he threw himself upon deck amidships, and strode aft to the companionway, out of which a bright light shone. Then there came to him voices in conversa- tion, and springing down into the cabin be con- fronted a party of four men seated at the table gambling with dice, and with pipes in their mouths, and bottles and glasses at their hands. They were dressed in sailor-rig, and at sight of him sprung to their feet in alarm, while one, who appeared to be the leader, cried out: “ The captain !” “ Yes, you riotous bounds, and this is the way I catch you, drinking my liquors, and enjoying yourselves in my cabin when I am away. “ Loyd, you are not fit to act as master of this craft, and I will see that you do not disgrace the berth longer.” “ Mercy, captain! I will not offend again,” cried the man addressed as Loyd. But Colonel Grayson stepped to a small desk, and unlocking it with a key taken from his pocket. took out a pair of steel manacles. “Hold out your hands and step here, sir!” be said, sternly, motioning for the man to approach themizzen-mast, which went down through the forward end of the handsomely furnished and commodious cabin. Silently the man obeyed, and seizing his hands, the colonel dragged them on either side of the mast, and quickly clapped the manacles upon the wrists. “Now get on deck, you rascals, and set sail, and hOist the anchor, and lose no time about it, either !” The three seamen obeyed with an alacrity that showed they stood in holy awe of their commander. Following them upon deck, the colonel asked: “ Brace, where are the others Of the crew ’9’” “ Ashore, sir.” “Getting drunk. I suppose; but I’ll sail with- out them,” and Colonel Grayson took a glass he had brought out of the cabin, and narrowly searched the waters for the surf‘skifi’f. “Hal I see her, and she is heading for the Narrows. “ Do you wish me to help you, you lubbers, get that little piece of iron out of the mud ?” It was very evident that the men did not, for they hauled the anchor up as he asked the ques- tion, and With her jib and mainsail set, the trim lit.le schooner of thirty tons began to forge through the waters. To set the foresail and topsails was then but a few minutes’ work, for the men wished to re— deem themselves in their captain’s eyes. and 3.1851 the little pleasure craft flew along like a ir . Her owner took the helm himself, and held her straight upon her course d0wn the river, the Wind being fair upon herstarboard quarter. Past the Battery she went, and then laid her course for the Narrows, getting better wind as she reached the upper harbor. . “ I am gaining on the girl, but her boat sails like a witch,” muttered the colonel, who often raised the glass to his eye, and bent it upon the surf skiff, all Of half a league ahead. But, although it was true the Sea Feather was gaining upon the surf-skiff, it was so slowly that the colonel saw that he could not overhaul the little craft before it had passed through the Narrows. “ The wind is too light for the Feather, and just what the skiff wants. “ But I’ll hold on as long as there is a breath of wind, and Heaven grant it does not fail me, as it threatens to do,” he muttered. And on the two fleet crafts went, while the wind seemed gradually failing, a fact that pre- vented the schooner from gaining as rapidly as before. Through the Narrows the wind was fitful and light, and shortly after the Feather had passed through to the Lower Bay, it died almost away. 3 “ Curses! the wind has left us!” cried the colonel. “ No, sir, for there is a ripple about the bows yet,” said one of the men. “It will not last,” he said, impatiently, and then added with strange earnestness for so slight a reason it seemed: “ But I’ll not be foiled! “ Lower away that boat, you lubbers, and be ready to spring to your places in it!” “ Ay, ay, sir,” called out the men in chorus, and the boat hanging at the stern davits was the next moment alongside of the schooner. “ Go forward and let go the anchor as I luff!" came the next order. The schooner came slowly round, for she barely had headway, and the next instant the colonel cried: “Let go!” Down with a splash went the anchor, and then the sails were let fall with a run, and the colonel sprung into the little boat alongside, and was quickly followed by the men. “ Seize your oars and pull as though for your lives 1” came the stern order, and away the boat started, making the water hiss about her bows, and leaving a foamin wake. With his glass at is eye the colonel soon caught sight of the skiff ahead, and cried: “She has lowered her sail and taken to her oars. “ Overtake that skifl’, you devils, if you wish to be forgiven for rur work this night!” The men proved, that they did wish to gain forgiveness for their 3 rec. and bent to their ours as though pulling or their lives. After a moment the colonel said, umpha ntl y: “ You are gaining, lads, though the girl pulls with marvelous power and spee .” And he smiled grimly, as each stroke of the oars brought them nearer to the surf-skiff. tri— CHAPTER XVII. CATCHIJG A TABTAR. “PULL, lads! pull! and I forgive you your spree in my cabin,” cried the colonel, hoarsely, as he saw the surf-skiff suddenly swerve from her direct course, and head over toward the Coney Island shore. The boat fairly leaped from the water at every tremendous stroke of the oars. and there was no doubt but that they were gaining upon the skiff, yet the colonel feared the young girl might reach the shore and escape in the dark- ness before he could come up. “A month’s wages to each of you, if you overhaul the skiff,” he cried, and this incentive made the panting sailors forget their fatigue and pull the harder. “ Ha! she has ceased rowing. “What does she mean?" he said, suddenly, as he saw the cars hell by the maiden poised in the air an instant, and then laid asidc. “ Can a breezzbe spifiiging up!” he muttered, and he scanned the w. ters upon every side to see if there was a ripple upon the calm surface. “ No, there is not a breath of air. “ that can the girl mean?” I i . As though in answer to his question he heard - in ringing tones: “ Boat ahoy l” “ Ahoy the skid l” be promptly answered. “ Are you in chase of me?” came the query in the same rich tones. “ 1 am,” was the reply. “ Then I warn you to keep off, or I will fire upon you,” came in determined tones. In spite of the threat the colonel laughed, while he said, as though in high good-humor: “ Lads, that is good, isn’t it? “ Why she hails and threatens as though she were captain of a cruiser.” Then raising his voice he answered: “ I mean you no harm, lady.” “I have warned you off, and I am armed, so beware l” was the decided response. “ I desire a word with you, and upon my honor mean you no harm ” he said, earnestly. “ This is no place to see me, sir.” “ Tell me then where I can see you.” “Nowhere,” and the light oars again fell in the water. “Give way, men,” said the colonel, in a low tone, for the boat had been at rest while the bail and responses were going on. At the first fall of the cars the young girl again cried, and in avoice that was in deadly earnest: “ Hold! if you follow in my wake I will fire!” “ Cease rowing, men! for the li tle Sathaness means what she says,” said the colonel, and then he called out, as a happy thought seized him: “Will you bear a message to Captain Sher- wood for me?” “ Ah! I know you now—you are the gentle- man I saw at the Sherwood mansion,” said Lily. “,I am, and I trust now you will not fear me. “ Why have you followed me?” “ To see if I could persuade you to tell me all about poor Sherwood, for I feared there was something you cared not to tell to his mother.” “ You are mistaken, sir, for I told her all I intended to, and can say no more to you,” coldly re lied Lily. She had made no effort now to row away, and the boat had come alongside of the skiff. “ I am glad then that it is no worse, for I feared that the captain might be seriously hurt.” “ No he will be himself again in a few days.” “ And you will not permit me to go with you to him?” “ I will not, sir.” “ Is this decided?” “ It is.” “Suppose I follow you?” “ Overtake that skifi'. you devils, if you wish to be forgiven for your “ I shall not go there then.” “ You cannot stay out upon night?” “ I will stay here a week, rather than let you conquer my determination,” came the firm re- the water all y- . . “ You are given to stubbornness, gir ,” said the colonel, with some degree of anger. “ And you are perSistent to rudeness, sir,” was the prompt rejoinder. The colonel winCed under this shot and glanced at his crew, to see if they could appreciate it, while he said steruly: “ I have it in my power to capture you, and force from your lips the secret.” “ You will find that you have caught a Tar- tar, and that my lips are as non—committal as though death’s seal were upon them.” “ Girl, you are incorrigible.” “ And you, sir, are insulting.” “ By Heaven! but you shall not conquer me 1” “One moment, please,” she cried quickly, as be grasped her oar. “ Well?” “ You came from yonder yacht, which fol- lowed me down the harbor?” “ I did.” “ The yacht lay off Chambers street as I came by, did it not?” “It did.” “ \Vho is its Owner?” “ I am.” He saw her start, and then in a low, earnest tone came the words: “Are you Colonel Bertie Graysonl” H I am.” “Then I trust you will see the propriety of not pursuing me further, when I tell you that the Sea W'izsrd was in port last night. ’ It was the man’s turn now to start, and he asked. quickly: “ What mean you, girl?” “ Just what I say, sir.” “ Quick! tell me who you are?” “ One who knows ju:t who Colonel Bertie Grnysou is, and who dares him to follow her, if he wi3hes her to utback to New York and visit the mansion she eft a short while ago.” “Girl, I will know more about you, for—” “ngvare! I am armed!” and he saw that a i:tol covered his heart. II 3 released his grasp upon her oar, and drop ping her pistol, she seized it and sent her skiff flying away, while she called out, in mocking tones: “ Good-night, Colonel Gruysonl “Follow me. ifycz'. dare I" T is thwarted mun uttered on oath, and stern- ly ordered his men to give way. But he put his tillcr hard down, and the boat heads! back for the schooner, the colonel in no amiable frame Of mind at having been thwarted by a young girl. CHAPTER XVIII. THE Lovnn‘s THREAT. IT was the afternoon of the day following the seene of the chase described in the foregoing chapter, that Captain Robin Sherwood sat at a window in a small, but cosey room overlooking the ocean. It was the little sitting-room of the Sandy Hook light—house, and everything about it, not- withstanding that one would believe it the home of people in the humble walks of life, had an air of refinement resting upon it. As the small stone house, adjoining the light- house proper, had but four rooms in it, the young officer had been given the parlor, or sit- ting- room, the settee having been arranged as a bed for him by Mrs. Lennox. When taken to her home by Lily, he had been warmly Welcomed by the mother, whom he found to be a sud-faced woman, bearing traces of having once been very beautiful, and still possessed of a refinement of manner and beauty which some deep sorrow she seemed to have known in the past, had not obliterated. She met Lily at the water’s edge as the boat touched, and hearing who her companion was, aided him, with the maiden’s assistance, to her humble home, saying as she sunk down into a chair: “ Now, Lily, go and fetch the village doctor, for you can get back with him by night.” “ No, no, I beg of you, for I am simply bruised up a little, my dear madam, and will come round all right with rest,” said Robin Sher- wood. But Lily thought that perhaps some medicines and salves would aid in the recovery of the pa— tient; so she told him that every month she had to go up to the city for stores, and would get for him what he wished. As the young officer found that she was de- termined to go, he bade her seek his home and tell his mother that he was alive, for he knew that Lieutenant Lonsdale would re port him as dead upon the arrival of the brig Off the city. “And kindly let her know where lam, and Colonel Bertie Grayson, who owns a pleasure- yacht, and is in love with my sister Corinne, will be only too glad to sail them down to see me,” he added. At this Lily looked troubled, and watching her face he saw it, so asked: “Have I said aught to displease you, Miss Lennox?” “ Oh, no, only I do not wish your friends to come here.” “ Then they shall not, so do not say where I am; but I knew they would take me away, so that I would not trouble you and your good mo- ther more.” . I “ No, no, you are not the slightest trouble to either mother or myself, and if ou can only put up with our humble hospita 'ty for a few work this night!” ' days, I will sail you up to the city as soon as you are able to go.” “ Indeed will I be gla-l to remain, for your little home is a delightful haven of rest tome. “So do not tell them where I am, but say I will soon return.” And thus it was settled, and the result the reader knows. It was long after midnight when Lily returned to the light-house, and she sunk to sleep, utterly worn out. And all the following day Robin Sherwood had not seen her, for her mother reported to him that she had slept until a late hour, and had Eben gone off in her skiff to catch a mess of sh. Late in the afternoon Lily returned, and the supper-table was wheeled into the sitting-room, where the guest could get at it, and the three sat down to a meal that a New England farmer mi ht have envied. -fter tea Mrs. Lennox departed to attend to the lighting of the light in the tower, and Robin Sherwood and the maiden were alone. It was nearly sunset, and the young officer was reclining upon his sofa, gazing one moment out upon the sea, and the next into the eyes of his lovely young hostess. “ You were kind enough, Miss Lennox, to say that you told my mother of my being alive; but will you tell me something of your visit to my home, whom you saw there, and all that might interest me?” said Sherwood, pleasantly: Lily was silent for an instant, and then said: “I arrived when your mother was mourning you as dead; but she granted me an interview, and I was ushered into a room where I met Mrs. Sherwood, your sister, a young lady—” “ Describe her, please." “Very beautiful, stately. haughty, and with black eyes and golden hair.” “ Thank you: it was Miss Celeste Cerras,” and his f ice flu~hcd slightly, a circumstance that did not cscnpe the keen eye of the maiden. “ \Vus anv one CIT? present?” he asked. “ Yes, a Colonel Gruyson.” “ Ah yes, an English ex-nrmy officer, who is very sweet on my pretty sister Corinne.” “There was no one else, and I gave my tidings, and left.” “Were they not a little surprised that you did not tell where I was?” “Yes, a litilc— Ali!” “ \tht is it 3" he askel quickly, as he saw her start suddenly, and he follOch her look, which was out upon the spa. “Only that pretty vessel that just came into sight,” she said, composndly, pointing to a ship that was then visible a league (if. “My rank nuainct a cox~:wuin’s berth that it is the Magic Sip!” he cried. excitedly, as his eyes fell upon the strange craft. “Do you mean that mysterious vessel often seen in the offing. and which none of the cruisers have been able to capture?” she asked. “Yes; you have heard of her, then?” “ Often, Sir.” “ I would give my fortune to capture that craft, and solve the niysterv, for she is the one that wrecked my brig, as I was so taken up with chasing her, I failed to See the storm com- ing down aSLern until it struck us.” “Indeed! and you then lost sight of the— the Magic Ship?" “Yes, until now, and I can swear craft is one and the same. “ See, she is standing out to sea again.” The vessel referred to did change her course as the young oflicer spoke and stood seaward until she disappeared in the gathering dark- yonder ness. But Lily kept her place at the window, and often her eyes tried to pierce the darkness upon the waters. At length she saw a shadowy object offshore, which soon took the shape of a vessel under sail. She was running slowly along, under easy sail, and after watching her closely a few min- utes, the while conversing with Sherwood, the maiden gave a sigh of relief, as though she had recognized the strange sail as not being the one tslilat the young Officer had said was the Magic 1p. Passing on out of the view of the window, the vessel rounded the Hook, and running close inshore, taking in sail as she went, dropped her anchor noiselessly and came to a stop. A moment after a boat left her side, and standing up in the stern was a single occupant, who sculled it rapidly shoreward. Out upon the sandy beach he sprung, and drawing the boat half its length out of the wa- ter, he walked toward the light-house. He had seen the light from the open window, as he sailed by, and around that way he went, to suddenly stop short, raise his hand to his head, and utter a suppressed cry. A moment he stood thus, and then from his lips broke the words in a savage hiss: “She is untrue to me, and her punishment shall be to see him die before her eyes I” (To be continued—commenced in No. 20.) A HUNDREDIEARS HENCE. BY MAY LESTER. We hear it said, ’Twill matter not, A hundred years from now What we have thought, or what have done, Where we have lived, or how. Can this be so? When in the dust Our bodies have been laid, Will the life we have lived on earth From every record fade? I cannot think that this is so— But rather—that each deed That helps the world to better grow Will be like recious seed. Which being ropped in fertile soil A bounteous cro will yield. And year by year its wealth will show Upon the harvest field. Each truth our humble pen has said In hearts will leave its trace. Results three times a hundred years Will fail to quite erase; And every deed of wrong we do— Each evil thought instilled Within a pure and trusting mind, With endless woe is filled. If we have taught a little child The path of wrong to shun May not its life to others teach The lesson well begun? From old, by young, the truth is learned, From mind to mind thoughts flow; Our having lived mug matter much, A hundred years from now! ' Jasper Ray, The Journeyman Carpenter; ‘ on, One Man as Good as Another in America. A Story of How a Caipent'r Made His Way in the World. BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER, AUTHOR OF “JOHN ARMSTRONG, MECHANIC.” CHAPTER XV. AFTER THE EXPLOSION. HOW Stephen Percy had come to be there was no mystery, for both Miss Wallis and the young carpenter had had their faces toward the folding doors at which they had expected "Mrs. Van Cott, and their backs were turned to the side door. Jasper Ray started as if an insect had stung him, and turned on his rival for one moment as if he were going to strike him, but the 'next be controlled himself at the thought of his own false position, and drew back to the other side of the table, while Percy continued, in the same bitterly sarcastic tone: “No, don’t force him to speak, Miss Wallis. He does not want to, of course! He is not try- ing to inveigle an heiress, of course! Don’t force him to own that he is a. traitor as well as a fortune—hunter.” Jasper, in all his own emotion, could not help noticing the marvelous calm of Edith Wallis. She had not so much as turned her head or started at the sound of Percy’s voice, but sat with one tiny slippered foot on the brass fender-rail, gazing at the blazing wood fire as if she had not heard a word of the bitter ad- dross. When Percy had ended, she turned her head to look at him, inquiring scornfully: “Well, have you done?” “No,” returned the young man, pale with jealous rage, “not till that scoundrel is turned out of the house. I’ll—” In a moment she had started up, her eyes gleaming, asking: “ You’ll do what Q Do you know whose house this is? I give orders here, not you, sir.” Her sudden flare-up seemed to take him aback; but he cried indignantly: “ I wonder you’re not ashamed to look me in the face. Didn’t you engage yourself to me? and here I find you—” “Giving you an excuse to break off, if you please, sir,” she retorted, with an accent of in ef‘fable scorn. “You’re at liberty to do it now. You know well enough that I hate you.” “Yes, I know it,” he answered, bitterly. “I do you the justice to say you never hid it. But I won’t give you up. Do you hear me? I won’t give you up. I’ll marry you and 1‘]! break your spirit then, if not before. As for this fellow—” He turned on Jasper fiercely. “Why don’t you go, sir? You know you’re not wanted here. This lady is engaged to me, and your presence is an intrusion.” “ Mr. Ray’s presence is not an intrusion. He came here by my father’s invitation, and I have asked him to stay to lunch,” the heiress broke in, boldly. “If you have any more absurdities to utter, Mr. Percy, I’ll leave the room till your temper cools down. and if you utter any more rudegess I shall appeal to Mr. Ray for protec- tion. “To Mr. Ray!” hissed Percy, white to the lips, and foaming with hate. “Ay, ay, you’d better, con found your—” The words were not finished: for at that mo- ment Jasper Ray. who had been growing more and more excited, suddenly stepped forward between the two people, and holding his finger close to Percy's face, said: “Take care, sir. Anything to me; but re~ member that lady must be held sacred from in- sult. ’ IIis motion was not specially menacing, but, innocent as he looked, he was ready to strike, and Percy knew it from the gleam of his eye. “Insult. her?” he echoed, sullenly. “ I don’t want to insult her. I’m only telling the truth. I’ve a right- to complain of her conduct, and you‘ve no right to interfere. Keep away from mo, sir. I don’t propose to fight you. I fight wi h” my cquz' Is. Here, I’ll soon dispose of von. V And he turned his back on Jasper and strode ‘ .«g M ay,-Ngo—dw‘ W win‘-‘-‘““"«‘ ‘ .m—sz w.—-,_¢\¢...-——\ .. «w a. *w :W'f in”... m «wwv..;._a_~_.wws ._ “as: ;.:v.." {4—, v - w 'i'fit'.“s~. : '12“. .‘ . ‘ ' size. mrvgu‘e-r-drnr . $6“ a" :a‘i'x.§u insular. :€?1)."~.(‘.\ .4 2.21,; . .'- ran-m. “5291? “Varies ; ..=.~ L. < . s.