After an absence of nearly three years, Natalie stood once again upon
the shores of her island home. Everything was as when she had left, for
the bustle and change of the outer world does not disturb the quiet of
this sea-girt isle. Her mother received her with tears of joy, that
fulness of joy which only the mother can feel, who, after a long
separation from the child whose beauty of character sheds a halo of
honor around the household name, holds her to her heart again, where she
knows her to be safest from the world's contumely. Harry welcomed his
sister home, with the wild delight of his boyish days, regardless of the
presence of strangers in their family circle; while old Vingo, who had
been beside himself for a week past, with the prospect of at last
actually beholding his missy face to face, capered about the room, as if
he were not so near his second childhood. The Sea-flower pressed his
bony, black hand to her lips.
"Ah! I know dat you neber change, missy; I know you always be de same! I
tells mysef dat, dese long years past, and bress de Lord, poor old Bingo
hab one friend as long as he hab a hope ob libin'!"
"Yes, my good Vingo," said the Sea-flower, "you may truly rely upon one
friend,--that best of friends, he will never forsake you; but," and she
spread out the veritable handkerchief, so precious to the poor black
woman, before his wondering eyes, "you are deserving of the rich
blessings of earthly friends; for had I been tried, as it has been the
will of an overruling providence that you should be, I doubt if I had
borne my cross with the submissive spirit which you have manifested.
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