AT SEA. 
BY CLARA J. DKKTON. 
HE sat at the harbor bar, 
Her eyes on the sea afar. 
“Why wait’st thou, maid, on the 
lonely strand ? ” 
“Formybonniesluptocometoland. • 
‘ ‘ What was its cargo, maiden fair ? ” 
She smiled -ndth a happy, conscious 
air,— 
“ 'ISvas love ; do you know of such merchandise?” 
And tlie light sprang up in her hazel eyes. 
“ ’Twas yesterday I saw. 
Just over the harbor line, 
A stately ship with spreading sails, 
And I whispered, That is mine. 
But it faiiiher, farther sailed 
Out in the mystic blue, 
And my eyes, ’mid falling tears. 
Took uj) the watch anew. 
And to-day I hope again. 
And the dim horizon scan 
With a gaze as fond as when 
My earaest watch began.” 
“And when the morrow cometh, 
O, maiden fah, what then ? ” 
“ Only to watch the offing 
TiU the sea grows red again.” 
Then I left her alone at her watch beside the sea. 
And thought of the thousand, thousand ships that mock 
humanity. 
Whenever a wliite sail flits, each heart cries, “ Oh, ’tis 
mine,” 
Till it floats away, away beyond the vision’s line ; 
But for those who wait and watch, though white the 
waves with foam. 
Some day the sails will All, and their ships sail proudly 
home. 
HOME-LIFE AMONG THE JAPANESE. 
BY E. T. 
“ Come, my good Mend, I intend visiting my aunt 
who resides in Tokid; you have expressed a wish to see 
a Japanese home, here is yom- oppoi-tunity. I ■'rill 
guarantee you a hearty welcome.” 
“Your are very kind, Matayemon.” 
“■Which means that you accept,” cried my young 
friend delightedly. “How happy and interested my 
cousins will be 1 ” 
Matayemon was the younger son of a once powerful 
daimio (lord), and was returning from America and 
Harvard; I was bound for Hong Kong, whither my only 
brother had gone some years before, seeking a fortune 
HOXJO. 
in teas and silk. He had succeeded moderately, and I 
was to keep house for him now, according to the plans 
laid when we were only children. 
I am a plain old maid, dear reader, and it puzzled me 
greatly that from aU the gay young passengers on the 
“ City of Pekin,” this grave and courteous young orien¬ 
tal should single me out. Be that as it may, in our 
three weeks’ voyage we became warm friends, and, ^ 
we neared the other side, he begged me to defer my trip 
to China for a space, and allow him to do the honors of 
his native land. I hesitated, but one glimpse of glorious 
Fuji-Ycma decided me, and I suddenly i-emembered that 
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