"
"Don't fret yourself on that score, Dolly; it will not spoil your
fortune, if they do. But Juliet--I am sorry that the child has taken
such whimsies into her head; it may hinder her from getting a good
husband."
"Fie, Captain Whitmore! Is that your only objection?"
"Be quiet, Dolly, there's a good woman, and let me examine these papers.
If there is anything wrong about them, I will burn them, and forbid my
pretty Julee to write such nonsense again. I know that the dear girl
loves her old dad, and will mind what I say. How!--what's this? God
bless the darling!"
'_Lines addressed to my father during his absence at sea._'
The old man put on his spectacles, and read these outpourings of an
affectionate heart with the tears in his eyes. They possessed very
little merit, as a poem; but the Captain thought them the sweetest lines
he had ever read.
"Well, now, Dolly, is not that a pretty poem? Who could have the heart
to find fault with that, or criticise the dear child for her dutiful
love to me? I'll not burn that." And the old tar slipped the precious
document into his pocket, to be hoarded next his heart, and to be worn
until death bade them part, within the enamelled case which contained
the miniature of his Julee's very pretty mother.
"It's well enough," said Miss Dorothy; "but I hate such romantic stuff.
Pages:
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158