LE

CHAPTER VI.

THE STARRY FLAG.

EVI FAIRFIELD, in happy ignorance of the misfortune which had befallen his uncle, headed The Starry Flag towards the mansion of Mr. Watson. This was to be a great day with him, and he was filled with hope and exultation.

The Starry Flag was a capital boat, but Levi had long been beset by an ambition to sail | something larger. This desire was about to be realized, for Mr. Watson, always a lover of the sea, had contracted for a yacht of eighty tons, at the establishment of a celebrated builder in the city. She was to be ready by the 1st of June, but she was not completely stored and furnished till the roth.

Mr. Watson had remained in the city over night, and was to sail in the yacht for his summer home the next morning — on the day that Levi missed falling into the chasm. As the wind was fair, and tolerably fresh, the young skipper thought she would arrive by noon, and he was to take the ladies round as far as Eastern Point, to give her a welcome to the waters of the Cape.

Levi was to be the commander of the yacht, and he was every way qualified for the position. He had studied navigation, could take an observation, and do all the problems required of a thorough sailing-master. On the deck of a vessel he was in his element, and there was not a point in navigation or seamanship with which he was not familiar. He could not only hand, reef, and steer, but he could knot and splice, parcel and serve, as neatly and as skilfully as a veteran man-of-war's man. He was interested in such matters, and had spent hours and hours in making short and long splices, eye splices, Turk's heads, and other parts of rigging, until he was an adept in the art.

Bessie had been the prime mover in this enterprise. She insisted upon having a craft in which the whole family could go off for a month, and be almost as comfortable as in their own home. She prevailed in this, as she did in nearly everything which involved only the will of her father to gratify her.

a glowing enthusiasm in such lovers of the ai' of boating.

"You don't know her name yet - do you, Levi?" said Bessie, in a kind of taunting tone.

"I do not, but I shall soon find out, if this breeze holds," replied the skipper, who had been wilfully kept in ignorance on this impor

tant matter.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" added Bessie, teasing him.

"Of course I would; but I am willing to wait a few hours longer."

"Why don't you manifest a little impatience about it?" pouted she.

"It wouldn't do any good; besides, I am a Yankee, and I think I can guess what her name is. Indeed, I feel almost sure I know it." "What do you think it is?"

"That's telling," laughed Levi.

"But won't you tell me?" said Bessie, assuming an imploring look.

"I think I will pay you off by keeping still." "Do tell me what you think it is. I shall not like it if you don't."

Levi would have dived down among the fishes if such had been her will, and he was compelled to answer, "Of course there is only one name for her, and your father must have chosen that." "Perhaps not. But why don't you say what you think the name is?"

"Will you tell me if I guess right?" "I will if you guess right the first time." "Very well; here goes, then! Her name is the Bessie Watson, to be sure. There is no other name fit for her."

"No! How absurd you are, Levi Fairfield!" replied Bessie, blushing up to the eyes.

"No? Why, that ought to be her name, if it isn't. It's the Bessie, the Bessie Watson, or something of that kind. I know it is. Of course your father wouldn't think of calling her by any other name.".

"It isn't anything of the kind, Levi. I am willing to confess that father wanted to name her after me, but I wouldn't let him. I wanted another name."

"I'm sorry you did, for I wanted that name; and I shall not enjoy her half so much as I should if she had been called after you," replied Levi, not at all in the tones of gallantry, but in those of simple truth and sincerity.

"It is very kind of you to say so, and to think so, Levi, but I believe she has received a better name," added Bessie, not unmoved by the devotion of the gallant skipper. "There isn't any better name.

I am really

"You will not be when you read her name." "But what is the name?" asked Levi, seriously.

"The-why, I almost told you!" laughed

Bessie.

"I hope it is not a hard name, for sailors make such a fuss about jaw-breaking words. An old coaster meant to name his vessel the Amphitrite, but he gave the name of Anthracite to the painter, and it was duly lettered upon the stern. However, it answered just as well, as the craft went into the coal trade."

"The Starry Flag!" repeated Levi, as he gazed at the golden letters on the stern of the yacht.

"Why don't you say something, you absurd skipper? I'm dying to know what you think of it, and you don't say a word."

"I like it first-rate; but if I had read' Bessie' there, I should have liked it better, much as I like it now."

"I couldn't have her named after me! How ridiculous! I'm sorry you don't like the name." "But I do like it, Bessie; though you couldn't

"Well, Bessie, if it suits you, it will suit me," added Levi; "though I did hope she would be called the Bessie."

The Starry Flag sped on her way, and before noon was off Eastern Point. There were several coasters approaching, but Levi could not make out the yacht till he examined every craft with the spy-glass.

yours."

"Is she handsome?” asked Bessie.

"I can't make her out very well at this distance; but we shall be up with her in half an hour or so."

Bessie looked through the glass, and so did Mrs. McGilvery, but they did not obtain much satisfaction. The yacht was making her ten knots, and in the time Levi had named they were within hailing distance of her.

"She is a beauty, and no mistake!" exclaimed the skipper, warmly. "She is pretty enough to be called the Bessie Watson."

"You mustn't say such things, Levi. They are not pretty," said Bessie, very seriously.

"The yacht is pretty enough, and so is the one she ought to have been named after,” persisted the gallant skipper.

“There it is again! You are real naughty, Levi," pouted she; and probably, like all pretty girls, she had a distaste for compliments.

"Yacht ahoy!" shouted Levi.

But Mr. Watson had already recognized The Starry Flag, and the yacht was thrown up into the wind. Levi hauled in his sheet, and sailed in a graceful curve around the stern of the vessel, intent upon reading the secret which had been so persistently kept from him.

"Now you will know!" exclaimed Bessie, gazing anxiously into his face to observe the effect of the discovery upon him.

"Dogfish and dunderfunk!" ejaculated Levi, as he read the name, "THE STARRY FLAG!" "There now, Mr. Skipper! Isn't that the name of all names for her?"

"Well, Levi, what do you think of her?" asked Mr. Watson, after they had walked around the deck, and inspected the cabin and cook-room of the yacht.

"She is magnificent, sir!" replied Levi. "She is, without exception, the finest yacht I ever saw, and I have examined a great many." "I am glad she suits you. How do you like the name?"

"Very much, sir, though if it had been the Bessie, I should have liked it better."

"I intended to give her that name, but Bessie was contrary, and insisted that she should be called The Starry Flag, in grateful remembrance of her trip from the Penobscot. I really appreciate her motives, and both of us desired to perpetuate the name of your boat by giving it to the finest yacht that could be built."

"Since it pleases both you and her, I ought to be satisfied with it- and I am. We have two Starry Flags now, and we may get them. mixed."

"The name of your boat shall henceforth be The Starry Flag, Jr.," laughed Mr. Watson. "When we say The Starry Flag, we mean the yacht, and when we say The Starry Flag, Jr., we mean your boat."

The Starry Flag, then, cut her way through the long billows at a rate which was highly gratifying to the embryo captain, who, prompt to his instincts, had taken the helm, when he had examined her. He declared that she steered splendidly, and he was sure she would prove to be a good sea-boat. In a short time, she

had prepared a lunch for the party, and they sat down at the table, as soon as the yacht swung round to her cable.

"And where could I have bought such clothes and such jewels as Rosette wears? I know of none anywhere that can compare with them. They were all given to her by her godmother, the fairy Powerful."

"And why did you choose a fairy to be her godmother, and give us only queens for godmothers?" asked Orangine.

"Your father did not choose the fairy," said

"We shall be ready to start on our cruise to the eastward in three or four days," added Mr. Watson.

"I will be ready, sir."

By the time the lunch was disposed of, The Starry Flag, Jr. had arrived, and Levi landed the party. He was anxious to engage his crew, and he ran the boat over to her moorings. On the rocks he found Dock Vincent, who had been observing the yacht.

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

THE PRINCESS ROSETTE.

A FAIRY STORY.

Translated from the French by PAUL COBDEN, the author of "Bessie Lovell," &c.

WHI

HILE Rosette's mind was filled with kind, pleasant thoughts, the king and queen and princesses, indignant and excited, were having an earnest consultation in the queen's room.

"It was dreadful," said Orangine, "to bring that odious Rosette here, to shine out in her dazzling ornaments, and attract the attention and win the admiration of all the kings and princes. They are great ninnies to be so overcome by her charms, but it is mortifying to us to see her influence over them. O, why did you send for her, father? Did you do it to humble us?"

“I assure you, my daughters," replied the king, "that I had no such motive. I did it because the fairy Powerful ordered me to do it. Besides, I did not know that she was so beautiful, and that

being called, and signified her intention to be your sister's godmother."

"We can accomplish nothing by disputing," interrupted the king. "The question now is, how we shall get rid of Rosette, and prevent her meeting the young prince again."

"Nothing could be more easy,” replied the queen. "To-morrow I will take away her elegant clothes and jewels, and send her back to the farm, there to stay forever.”

The queen had no sooner said this, than the fairy Powerful appeared, and with indignation and revenge in her face, said, in a voice of thunder, "If you touch Rosette, if you do not keep her here, and allow her to be present continually in your gathering of kings and princes, I will make you feel the effect of my wrath. You, unworthy king, and you, heartless queen, shall be changed into toads; and you, detestable sisters, shall be turned into vipers."

The fairy vanished, leaving the king and queen and princesses terrified and speechless. Without saying another word, although their hearts were full of rage, they separated for the night, but they found no rest. While Rosette slept peacefully, they tossed upon their beds; and when she waked, in the morning, with quiet, happy thoughts, they waked more indignant and furious than they were the night before, for there were black and blue spots around their eyes, and their features had become pinched and sharpened during the night by their spitefulness and wickedness. Powder and paint were at once applied, but failed to hide their deformities, and they saw no remedy for their grief.

room in the morning to assist her in

"I am much obliged to you," said she to the servant, "but it is my habit to dress myself."

As soon as the woman left the room, Rosette began to make her toilet. When she had arranged her hair, she turned to go to the ebony box to get the superb carbuncle she wore the night before; but, to her surprise, the box had disappeared, and in its place was the wooden box, and on this wooden box was a piece of white paper. Rosette took it up and read, "Your fine clothes and beautiful ornaments are all at home, my child, and you must now dress yourself in the plain garments you wore to the palace."

Rosette did not hesitate. Feeling confident that her godmother would come to her help, she once more put the chicken's wing in her hair, and put on the same coarse dress, and stockings, and shoes, and also the necklace of dried beans. Her toilet being completed, she turned to look into the glass, and was almost petrified with astonishment when she saw that a much greater change than that of the day before had been wrought in her dress. A beautiful sky-blue riding-habit had taken the place of the plain calico, and the buttons on it were large pearls. Her shoes and stockings, too, were glistening with pearls, while on her head was a blue velvet hat, with a plume, fastened by a large pearl, and floating down to her waist. It was of the most dazzling whiteness, and formed a striking contrast with the blue velvet cap and habit. She looked again in the glass, and saw a rich pearl necklace around her neck, and pearl bracelets on her wrists; and just as she was leaving the room to follow the page who had come for her, she heard a voice, and it said,

-

Rosette was evidently annoyed, and the prince, wishing to relieve her embarrassment, turned to her, and asked permission to be her escort to the hunting-party in the woods.

"I shall be most happy to go with you, Prince Charming," answered Rosette, frankly; for she was unused to hiding her real feelings.

"I feel as if I had known you a long time," he added; "indeed, I feel a true, brotherly affection for you, and I trust you will allow me to be your attendant and defender while you remain at the palace."

"I shall consider it a great honor, as well as pleasure, to have the society of a prince so worthy of the name he bears," replied Rosette.

Prince Charming was delighted with this simple, sincere response, and remained constantly by the side of Rosette, in spite of the efforts of her sisters to attract his attention.

After breakfast, the hunting-party gathered in the court, and a page brought a fine black horse to Rosette; but he was a very spirited, fiery animal, that even two horsemen could with difficulty hold, and he seemed vicious and unmanageable.

"You must not attempt to ride that horse, my fair princess," said Prince Charming; "it will cost you your life. Bring another," he added, turning to the page.

| "The king and queen have expressly ordered that she shall ride no other than this," replied the page.

"Be so kind as to wait a moment, and I will bring you another, my princess," said Prince Charming, "one worthy of you. Please do not ride this one."

"I will wait for you," answered Rosette, with a gracious smile, as the prince hurried away. In a few minutes he returned, leading a magnificent horse, as white as the driven snow; and the saddle was blue velvet, embroidered with pearls, and the bridle was gold and pearls.

Then she followed the page, as she did the night before, and he led the way down into the large drawing-room; and there she made a still deeper impression, if possible, than she did the previous evening. Her gentle, pleasant manners, her exquisite face, her elegant form and magnificent dress, fastened all eyes upon her, and won all hearts.

side on a fine bay horse, and he and his horse, and his attentions to the stranger princess, attracted the attention of all the guests. Orangine and Favarola saw and felt it all; and when they found themselves obliged to accept as escorts two little, inferior princes, who were neither fine-looking nor agreeable, they were actually tormented, and at once decided to be as disagreeable as possible. Their purpose was certainly carried out, for the princes vowed they would never marry such princesses as they were. Prince Charming and Rosette were more and more delighted with each other, and the prince proposed that they should not join the party, but remain by themselves in the woods. Rosette was not slow to yield to his proposal, and they strolled through the shady walks alone, telling their early history, and becoming better | and better acquainted with each other.

After they had been together some time, the prince asked, "How is it that your father has lavished upon you the richest and rarest jewels, when he has so long been willing to live without you? Such ornaments as yours are worthy of a fairy, and yet he has bestowed them upon the least loved of his daughters."

"It is to my godmother, the fairy Fowerful, that I owe my precious jewels," answered Rosette; and then she told the prince that she had been brought up on a farm, but that she had been continually under the protection of the fairy, and that it was to this kind fairy she owed all she knew and all she was worth.

Prince Charming listened to her with lively interest and tender compassion. And then he told her that he was left an orphan at the age | of seven years; that the fairy Prudent directed his education, and that it was she who had sent him to the palace, telling him that he would find there a perfect being for a wife. "I believe," he added, "that I see in you that perfect being the fairy described to me; and now will you unite your fortunes with mine, and let your life flow on with mine? If you consent, I will see your parents and ask of them your hand."

"It would be necessary first to obtain the consent of my godmother," replied Rosette; and she continued, with great simplicity and frankness, "I can assure you, however, that I should be delighted to spend the rest of my days with you, for your kindness has won my heart."

went up to her plain little attic room, and as she opened the door, she saw a magnificent rosewood box, and it was empty and wide open. What was stranger still, as she laid aside her beautiful garments and jewels, they were taken by invisible hands and laid in the box, and then the box was closed. Pretty soon she began to dress for dinner; and she arranged her hair and put on her dress and ornaments with great care, and then went to look in the glass. And O, what a change! she hardly knew herself. Her dress had been changed to a lovely, airy material, that had the appearance of butterflies' wings, it was so fine, and light, and brilliant, and it was thickly studded with diamonds that shone like the stars. The skirt and waist were fringed with the most dazzling diamonds, and her whole head was bright with them. Diamonds! diamonds everywhere! -on her clothes, on her head, on her neck, on her wrists, on her fingers! It seemed as if all the good fairies had united to do her honor.

When she was ready, the page again appeared, and led the way down into the drawing-room. Prince Charming met her at the door, as before, and offering her his arm, led her into the presence of the king and queen. And this time she was treated not only coldly, but with the greatest rudeness. They and their jealous daughters cast the most furious glances at her; and Prince Charming saw it all, and felt a new sympathy for Rosette. Again he remained by her side, witnessing not only the scorn of her parents and sisters, but the admiration she inspired among kings and princes. Admiration, however, could not make her cheerful. She saw herself the object of the hatred of her family, and was very sad. Prince Charming perceived it, and said to