CH. IX.] A Fisherman s Home: 155 



mahogany and had seen better days in a 

 captain's cabin. The benches round the 

 walls had served as seats on some big ship's 

 deck ; and there were swinging lamps and 

 racks hung overhead from the rafters, with 

 rudders, boat-hook, snatch-block, belaying 

 pins, and various things I did not know the 

 use of; but all were neatly arranged. There 

 was a large arm-chair made out of a barrel 

 set ready by the side of the hearth, on which 

 were spread clean flannel clothes to warm 

 and air, in readiness for the home-coming of 

 the wet and tired husband. 



In front of the fire, attending to it and 

 to three or four pots and kettles that 

 simmered on the hearth, stood a woman 

 about thirty years of age — ^just an ordinary 

 fisherman's wife, strong and well shaped, 

 without beauty of feature, but bright and 

 intelligent looking ; and when a smile lit up 

 her face, it shed such a kindly ray that one 



