Page:The crater; or, Vulcan's peak.djvu/395

 OR, VULCAN S PEAK. 155 cast on the Reef, with no one else but Mark and her two little ones. The Peak, proper, had got to be a sort of public proie- nade for all who dwelt near it. Here the governor, in par ticular, was much accustomed to walk, early in the day, before the sun got to be too warm, and to look out upon the ocean as he pondered on his several duties. The spot had always been pleasant, on account of the beauty and extent of the view ; but a new interest was given to it since the commencement of the whaling operations in the neigh bourhood. Often had Bridget and Anne gone there to see a whale taken ; it being no uncommon thing for one of the boys to come shouting down from the Peak, with the cry of &quot; a fish a fish !&quot; It was by no means a rare occurrence for the shore-boats to take whales immediately beneath the cliffs, and the vessels could frequently be seen to windward, working up to their game. All this movement gave life and variety to the scene, and contributed largely to the spot s becoming a favourite place of resort. The very morning of the day that he intended to cross over to the Reef, on his return from the &quot; progress,&quot; the governor and his wife ascended to the Peak just as the sun was rising. The morning was perfectly lovely; and never had the hearts of our married couple expanded more in love to their fellows, or been more profoundly filled with gratitude to God for all his goodness to them, than at that moment. Young Mark held by his mother s hand, while the father led his little daughter. This was the way they were accus tomed to divide themselves in their daily excursions, it pro bably appearing to each parent that the child thus led was a miniature image of the other. On that morning, the governor and Bridget were talking of the bounties that Pro vidence had bestowed on them, and of the numberless de lights of their situation. Abundance reigned on every side ; in addition to the productions of the island, in themselves so ample and generous, commerce had brought its acquisi tions, and, as yet, trade occupied the place a wise discri mination would give it. All such interests are excellent as incidents in the great scheme of human happiness; but woe betide the people among whom they get to be princi pals ! As the man who lives only to accumulate, is cer-