THE AMERICAN WHALEMAN. 139 



our long-contemplated, oft-defeated cruise on the offshore, 

 we replenished our stores of sweet-potatoes, yams, onions, 

 pumpkins, etc. Sailors lack ingenuity in invention for the 

 gratification of appetite, a limited number of good things, 

 each abundant, satisfying their simple tastes. And here, 

 gentle reader, I will thrust upon you two stories which are 

 worth the telling, inasmuch as they prove how modest the 

 wants of sailors are. 



Honest Jack had just landed in New York, and was saun- 

 tering up the street of streets, when he saw a decrepit, poor- 

 ly dressed woman standing wringing her hands on one side 

 of Broadway's horsy life, and wishing to reach the other. 

 Polite policemen overlooked the old and helpless one, to fer- 

 ry over the painted craft that cruise in that sea. Poor Jack 

 marked the old woman's despair ; and, loving all womankind, 

 in rough but effective politeness he gathered the poor pal- 

 sied bundle of dry goods to his bosom, and forged his way, 

 like a sea-steamer, through the current. When he reached 

 the opposite side, he saw reposing in his strong arms, and 

 nestling confidently to his loving heart, not the old woman, 

 but the loveliest little rose-bud of femininity he had seen 

 since the days of his childhood, when from a little cradle he 

 had gazed on the face of his young mother. The fairy said 

 to Jack for the old lady was a fairy who came over with 

 Henry Hudson, and had been wandering the streets of a 

 great city for two centuries to find a heart that would do 

 for age and deformity that which all will do for youth and 

 grace the fairy said to Jack, as the story goes, " You have 

 restored me to my kingdom, and the three wishes of thy 

 heart are thine. Wish with a bold heart, and be happy." 



" Well," replied Jack ; " faint heart never won, you know, 

 so here goes for a kiss from your sweet lips." 



That was a wise first wish, for the fairy would carry the 

 compliment in her heart through eternity. 



