Hoisting The Flag.

A dreary, murky November day brooded over Southampton, and an impenetrable fog hung over sea and shore alike, penetrating the clothing, chilling the blood and depressing the spirits of every unlucky person who was so unfortunate as to come within the range of its influence.  The passengers on the steamship America, from Bremen for New York via Southampton, found the brief period of their stay at the latter port almost unendurable; and while some paced the wet decks impatiently, others grumbled both loudly and deeply in the cabins, or shut themselves up in their state-rooms in sulky discomfort.  Those who remained on deck had at least the amusement of watching for the steamboat which was to bring the Southampton passengers—­a pastime which, however, being indefinitely prolonged, began to grow wearisome.  It came at last—­a wretched little vessel, rather smaller than the smallest of the noisy tugs that puff and paddle on our American rivers—­and the wet, sick, unsheltered passengers were gradually transferred to the deck of the ship.

Among those who appeared to have suffered most severely from the rocking of the miserable little steamboat was a young, fair-haired girl, apparently about seventeen years of age, who seemed almost insensible.  She would have fallen had not one of her fellow-travelers, a lady evidently not much her senior, thrown her arm around her; thus aided, she managed to reach the steamer’s deck and to totter down the staircase leading to the ladies’ cabin.  The active, busy steward at once bustled up to the two young girls: 

“Your names, ladies, if you please.  I will point out your state-rooms in a moment.  Miss Marion Nugent—­Miss Rhoda Steele?  Miss Nugent, berth No. 20, state-room G—­”

“Cannot I occupy the same state-room with this young lady?” interrupted the taller girl, who was still lending the support of her arm to sustain her half-fainting companion.

“Do not leave me, please,” murmured the sufferer.

The steward threw a compassionate glance upon the pair, went away, and after a short consultation with the unseen powers, returned and said that the arrangement had been effected, and that they could take possession at once of their state-room, into which he proceeded to usher them.  It was more spacious than such apartments usually are, and abounded with all those little contrivances for comfort and convenience for which the steamers of the North German Lloyds are justly famed.  The invalid sank down on the soft-cushioned little sofa and gasped painfully for breath.

“For Heaven’s sake, get me some wine or some brandy!” exclaimed her companion.  “This poor thing seems very ill; and do tell the doctor to come here at once.”