The child grew in strength and beauty, and was a source of great amusement to them all.  Old Vingo would delight to make one of his “squantums,” as he called it, to the shore; and with master Harry, who was now taking his first lessons in driving, (a point once attained, boyhood thinks to gain no higher) and Sea-flower in his arms; with Nep, who is determined to be “head horse,” bounding off in the distance, is happiness enough for the negro, and his white teeth glisten in the bright sunshine like so many African pearls, as he jabbers away to Sea-flower, as if she were comprehending the whole.  But ’twas enough for Vingo, that she in reply to his half hour’s remarks, would put out her hand toward the blue waters, and with eyes dilated with wonderment, would say, “Tee!  Indo, Tee!”

There on the beach they would have a fine race with the surf, Vingo following with the child the receding wave, and then, as it came in with a roar from the sea, he would run as if pursued by a foe, sometimes the spray dashing up all around them, much to the joy of the Sea-flower, her merry laugh according strangely with the music of the waters.  Harry amused himself for a while, throwing the bits of drift-wood into the water, that he might see old Newfoundland dash in and combat with the waves, to secure the prize, which he never failed to do; but wearying of this, he came and took his seat by the side of his sister, and commenced whittling diligently on an old piece of plank.

“Vingo, do you think my father will ever go to sea again?”

“I don’t know, young massa; but why you tink ob dat?”

“O, I have often thought I would like to go with my father away over the great ocean.  I long to see more of the world; and I often think of the time when I shall be a man, and have a ship of my own.  I never hear of a ship arrived at the bar, but it sends a thrill of delight over me, and I watch the sailors as they come on shore after a three years’ voyage, and think how happy they must be, though they look as if they had met with the rubbers.  O, I know I shall be a sailor boy! there is something noble about the very name.”

“Missus be berry sorry to hear you talk so,” said Vingo.

“I know my mother would be very sorry to have me go to sea, for I remember how sad she looked for many days after father went away, though I was but a little boy.  And I remember my father took me in his arms, and told me I must be a good boy, and take care of mother until he came back.  But now you would be here, Vingo, to see that my mother knew no want.”

“Yes, de good Lord be praised for sending good massa Grobener to take me away from old slabe massa.  I gets so filled wid liberty sometimes, dat I mistakes myself for white man.”

“Well, you are as good as a white man, any day; but tell me, Vingo, if you have ever been much on the water?”