of variety in colors. This, however, was only a want of taste. Joseph was improving in charac

ter.

Frank's dress was dark blue, with a white vest, and as little expensive as he could possibly choose, although he was morally certain that it would not be many months before the money would be refunded.

At the dinner hour, an invitation was sent up for the young gentlemen. They went down to a sumptuous meal, such as they never had seen, even at "the famous French dinner-party."

The kind Donna seemed pleased with the change the boys had undergone. She said to her husband, in Portuguese, "I'm delighted; what would old Mudge say, if he should see these young gentlemen ? ”

According to the old proverb, the person spoken of was near. Mr. George W. Mudge was shown into the dining-room. The Donna requested him to take a seat at table. He bowed, and bowed lower and lower each time, until his head almost touched the carpet.

"You do me great honor, Don Francesco Rebeiro," said he. "I should have been here according to your invitation at an earlier hour, but

important business detained me. A vessel has just arrived from the United States, and its cargo is consigned to me."

"We are in no haste to part with our young friends," said the Don, looking at Joseph and Frank, "but this may be a pleasant opportunity for them to return to their country."

"What! are these young gentlemen Americans? You must introduce me to them." The Don did so, with great ceremony.

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Highly delighted to see you, fellow-countrymen; charmed; hope for a better acquaintance," exclaimed Mudge; who, by the way, had quite forgotten, at the moment, the poor sailor-boys.

"Fine looking young gentlemen," said the Donna, in Portuguese.

"Beautiful!" replied Mudge, "never saw more elegant young men. Where do they be

long?"

"They will tell you."

"What part of the Union claims you, Sir," said Mr. Mudge to Brandon.

"Boston has that honor," replied Brandon. "The cradle of liberty! A worthy son of New England. And you, my fine fellow?"

"I was born in New York," replied Frank.

A sudden recollection seemed to come over the mind of Mr. Mudge. He repelled the thought, "No; it cannot be that these are the two shipwrecked sailor-boys," said he to himself; then, again addressing them, "I hope I shall have the pleasure of seeing you at my house often while you are at Fayal; make it quite your

home."

"Once is enough for me," said Joe, bluntly. The suspicion, then, was correct.

"Don Francesco, it seems I have been laboring under some great mistake.

Your merry

young friends played a trick upon me by appearing in the disguise of common sailors."

"No trick at all, Mr. Mudge; they told you the plain truth; they were poor shipwrecked sailors, far from their friends and country."

"Amazing!" exclaimed Mr. Mudge, dropping his knife and fork, and rolling up his little grey eyes to the ceiling.

"Do not lose your appetite so soon," said the Donna.

Mr. Mudge partly recovered himself, saying, "You have too much to tempt it, Donna; there is no danger of that." But so great was his astonishment and dismay that it was exceedingly difficult for the poor man to swallow.

The Don had invited Mr. Mudge to dine with him, not alone to mortify him, but because he thought he might make him useful to his young countrymen, whether he were willing or not to be obliging to them. He knew it was too much for Mr. Mudge's own interest not to oblige him, he therefore said, "Who is the captain of the American vessel, and when does she sail for the United States ? "

"Captain Harrison, brig Sea-gull; sails in about a week for New York."

Frank did not understand what had been said, as it was in Portuguese, but at the name of New York his heart bounded, the blood flushed his face, and he unconsciously repeated, half aloud, "New York! New York!"

"You are then extremely anxious to see your native city? 99 said the Donna.

"I am, indeed," replied Frank, "for I fear my father may hear of the wreck of the Sally Ann, and will mourn for me as dead. Being an only son, the loss will be great to him."

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"I am afraid you are imposed upon, Don Francesco," said Mr. Mudge. "What if you should find that these are really English runa

"I shall say, that neither my wife nor myself are capable of judging of character, and that you are a man of infinite discernment," said the Don, somewhat sarcastically. "But I am not troubled about it. Ask Captain Harrison if he can take two passengers, and what will be the passagemoney to New York."

"I will, Don, and moreover I shall ask him if he ever heard of such a person as Dr. Wood. Are they to be cabin passengers?"

"Certainly,” replied the Don, who had no idea of making a half-way business of the benevolent task he had undertaken.

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