Freaks of Fortune

is uncle, headed The Starry Flag towards the mansion of Mr. Watson. This

be realized, for Mr. Watson, always a lover of the sea, had contracted for a yacht of eighty tons, at the establishment of a cele

y that Levi missed falling into the chasm. As the wind was fair, and tolerably fresh, the young skipper thought she would 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 sk

ole family could go off for a month, and be almost as comfortable as in their own home. She prevaile

the long waves that roll into Sandy Bay from the broad ocean. All the party were excited; for to see a splendid, new yacht,

-do you, Levi?" said Bessie,

eze holds," replied the skipper, who had been wi

to know?" added B

ut I am willing to wa

t a little impatience

ankee, and I think I can guess what her nam

you thi

lling," la

e?" said Bessie, assu

pay you off by

hink it is. I shall no

he fishes if such had been her wil

e name for her, and your fa

don't you say what y

ll me if I g

guess right t

e is the Bessie Watson, to be sure.

vi Fairfield!" replied Bess

the Bessie Watson, or something of that kind. I know it is. Of co

to confess that father wanted to name her after m

so much as I should if she had been called after you," replied Levi, not at

; but I believe she has received a better name," added B

etter name. I'm re

be when you

e name?" asked

ost told you!"

eant to name his vessel the Amphitrite, but he gave the name of Anthracite to the painter, and it was

nor a hard one, and I

ll suit me," added Levi; "though I di

oint. There were several coasters approaching, but Levi could not

e, as he headed his boat

ndsome?" a

t this distance; but we shall be

id not obtain much satisfaction. The yacht was making her ten knots, a

imed the skipper, warmly. "She is pretty

, Levi. They are not pretty,

the one she ought to have been named

vi," pouted she; and probably, like all pret

oy!" shou

the wind. Levi hauled in his sheet, and sailed in a graceful curve around the stern of

gazing anxiously into his face to obser

ejaculated Levi, as he read

r! Isn't that the name

i, as he gazed at the golden le

rd skipper? I'm dying to know what you

ead 'Bessie' there, I should have lik

ter me! How ridiculous! I'm s

h you couldn't expect me to like

replied Bessie, as Levi r

n for ladies. Mr. Watson assisted them on board. One of the hands, who knew the coast, was deputed

Watson, after they had walked around the deck, a

e is, without exception, the finest yacht I

its you. How do y

it had been the Bessie, I s

arry Flag, in grateful remembrance of her trip from the Penobscot. I really appreciate her motives, and b

o be satisfied with it-and I am. We have two

" laughed Mr. Watson. "When we say The Starry Flag, we mean the

ken 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 c

e men, with the exception of the cook and steward, wi

crew to l

down, for I thought that you would

vi, thinking what youn

r cruise to the eastward in three

be rea

landed the party. He was anxious to engage his crew, and he ran the boat over to h