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THE EAST-INDIAMAN.

Look at this gallant vessel, now,
With all her sails unfurled;
Her freight is tea, from China sent
To all parts of the world.

Boldly she sails around the globe-
Her highway is the sea;

Before her prow the sparkling waves

Are dashed right gallantly.

Now she is homeward bound, her crew

Upon the deck all stand;

They think of loved ones,-friends,-of home,Of England's happy land.

Above them flies the British flag,

The waves are green below,

Speed on, brave ship, with swelling sails

How steadily you go.

66

A Fairy Tale, for Children.

THE MERMAID AND THE KIND FISHERMAN.

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ILDERMEKÉE! Kildermekée!" cried a plaintive frightened voice, and up went a spray of the sea, and presently appeared a female figure, with yellow hair and an ivory comb.

"Oh dear," said a desponding fisherman, could I have seen a fish, instead of a lady, it would have

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fed my family; what shall I do! oh, what shall I do! a foreign lady and no food; an extra mouth, and no victuals." "Kildermekée!" cried the yellow-haired lady, louder than before.

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Kildermekée, indeed," said the fisherman; "its likely enough I am to be killed, catching a lady; were I a wrecker, instead of a poor honest fisherman, Kildermekée might feed the fishes; howsomever, as I know what it is to have too much of the water, myself, I'll be charitable.

Kildermekée, arrange your head-dress and put your comb in your pocket, and come home with me."

No sooner said than done; the lady was very frank, and (having a great insight into character) accepted the offer, and was carefully conveyed to the fisherman's hut.

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Gracious goodness! you're an old fool,” (a pet name of old Margery's for her husband;) "poor we are, and poor we are likely to be, when you, instead of bringing home fish or bread for your starving wife and children, bring an outlandish lady.'

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Stop, Margery, pr'ythee be not so hasty; this lady's name is Kildermekée, a lady of foreign extraction and great accomplishments; let her see that, though poor, we have manners; and though destitute of food, we can bid her welcome to the fire-side."

Thus pacified by her husband's kindness, Margery dusted an old oaken stool, and invited Kildermekée to the fire; and being a person who prided herself on the knowledge of the conveniences of life, though she did not possess them, she respectfully enquired whether it would be agreeable to her to have her wet clothes removed and dried.

Dan, the old fisherman, was quite delighted to see his wife behave so very kindly to Kildermekée, for it showed how very nicely she had been brought up, and how kindhearted she was to take such care of the foreign lady, who was suffering so much from hunger. Kildermekée, however, showed the greatest antipathy to have her feet interfered with, and politely waived them off: a cold shuddering sensation came over Margery, as Kildermekée sat without once moving her position for several hours.

The children had retired to their respective corners, and sleep was fast stealing into the fisherman's eyes, when Kildermekée beckoned to Dan to convey her to a corner, for repose; this he did carefully, and the whole family were hushed in sleep. Happy dreams visited them that night, abundance poured in from every side. Fishes danced for joy before their eyes, and seemed most anxious to be caught. In the meantime night wore away, and Kildermekée begged, in her way, to be conveyed back to the sea, on old Dan's back.

"Good morning, my lady," said Margery, making her best curtsey," please to remember us in your parts, for its very hard for a poor family to be starving."

Kildermekée bowed in an admiring way to poor Margery, as thanks for her kindness,—sprang on Dan's back, and slipping into the sea, vanished from his sight.

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So he began to put in his line and hook, and to wish for success, one, two, three little fishes; there is one for little Madge, one for Roger, one for Pipin; none for Margery, yet; none for myself. How I wish Kildermekée would bring me a large basket of fish for the market."

"Kildermekée,
Bring to me,

A basket of fish,

To make me a dish."

Now a sudden commotion appears in the sea, the waves fought most splendidly, and hurried over one another's heads in a wonderful manner, and murmured a plaintive ditty :

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