"Life's like a summer's day,

Warmed by a sunny ray."

"Lower away yet, Tom. That'll do, my

trump."

"Sometimes a dreary cloud,

Chill blast or tempest loud."

"Look out for Jacob, Tom," cried the old man, as the head of the lighter, with her mast lowered down, made its appearance through the arch of Putney Bridge, with bright blue streaks on her sides.

"Here he is, father," replied Tom, who was standing forward by the windlass, with the fall in his hand.

I had shoved off, on hearing old Tom's voice, and was alongside almost as soon as the lighter had passed under the bridge, and discovered old Tom at the helm. I sprung on the deck

with the chain-painter of the wherry in my hand, made it fast, and went aft to old Tom,

who seized my hand.

"This is as it should be, my boy, both on the look out for each other. The heart warms when we know the feeling is on both sides. You're seldom out of our thoughts, boy, and always in our hearts. Now jump forward, for Tom's fretting to greet you, I see, and you may just as well help him to sway up the mast when you are there."

I went forward, shook hands with Tom, and then clapped on the fall, and assisted him to hoist the mast. We then went aft to his father, and communicated every thing of interest which had passed since our last meeting at old Stapleton's.

"And how's Mary ?" inquired Tom; "she's a very fine lass, and I've thought of her more than once; but I saw that all you said about

her was true.

How she did flam that

poor old

Domine !"

"I have had a few words with her about it, and she has promised to be wiser," replied I;

"but as her father says, 'in her, it's human natur." "

"She's a fine craft," observed old Tom, "and they always be a little ticklish. But, Jacob, you've had some inquiries made after you, and by the women, too."

"Indeed!” replied I.

"Yes; and I have had the honour of being sent for into the parlour. Do you guess

now ?"

66

Yes," said I, a gloom coming over my countenance, "I presume it is Mrs. Drummond and Sarah whom you refer to ?"

"Exactly."

Tom then informed me that Mrs. Drummond

had sent for him, and asked a great many ques

tions about me, and desired him to say that they were very glad to hear that I was well

and comfortable, and hoped that I would call and see her and Sarah when I

came that way. Mrs. Drummond then left the room, and Tom was alone with Sarah, who desired him to say, that her father had found out that I had not been wrong; that he had dismissed both the clerks; and that he was very sorry he had been so deceived-and then, said Tom, Miss Sarah told me to say from herself, that she had been very unhappy since you had left them, but that she hoped that you would forgive and forget some day or another, and come back to them; and that I was to give you her love, and call next time we went up the river for something that she wanted to send to you. So you perceive, Jacob, that you are not forgotten, and justice has been done to you."

"Yes," replied I, "but it has been done too

late; so let us say no more about it. I am quite happy as I am."

I then told them of the pic-nic party of the next day, upon which Tom volunteered to take the other oar in my boat, as he would not be wanted while the barge was at the wharf. Old Tom gave his consent, and it was agreed he should meet me next morning at daylight.

"I've a notion there'll be some fun, Jacob," said he, "from what you say."

“I think so, too; but you've towed me two miles, and I must be off again, or I shall lose my dinner; so good bye." I selected two other wherries in the course of the afternoon, and then returned home.

It was a lovely morning when Tom and I washed out the boat, and having dressed ourselves in our neatest clothes, we shoved off in company with the two other wherries, and dropped leisurely down the river, with the last