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eA TREASURE FROM THE SEA.

Joe and Bessie were out of the cottage and on the beach in a very few
minutes, and there the big waves were rolling in the masts and rigging from
some ship that had been wrecked near the coast.

“Ah!” cried Bessie, clasping her hands, “I hope the poor sailors have
got safely off in their boats.”

Every one’s eyes were turned to the sea, but not a boat was to be seen;
nothing was to be seen but a little black speck which might have been a cask
or a bit of wood, and which the great sea was bringing quickly to land. On
came the speck, till one wave bigger than the rest laid it gently, yes, quite
gently, at Bessie’s feet. The speck, which turned out to be an oaken chest,
was dragged up the beach and opened, when a cry of surprise arose from

the fishermen and their wives as they gazed in wonder at the contents of the

box. Indeed, it was enough to surprise anybody. You might have one
hundred guesses and never tell me what it was. It was not gold, or silver,
or precious stones, although it was a great, great treasure, for it was a tiny
little baby girl, with bright blue eyes and a smile on its little mouth.

“Fetch it some milk,” cried one. In five minutes there were a dozen
jugs of milk ready for the baby, then the children came with sweets and
apples and cakes. There was never such a fuss made about any baby
before.

They found a little bag of gold in the oaken chest, but nothing whatever
to show who the baby was. So they agreed that Joe and Bessie should take
care of her; and they called the baby Dorothy, which means a gift from God.
They paid their rent, and bought a new boat, a new pig, and they got some
more hens that laid eggs every day, and half the money they made they put
by in a stocking for Dorothy.

And now they live in a very pretty cottage on the top of the cliff, where
the windows are not rickety, and where you can see the bright blue sea.
And Dorothy calls Bessie her dear Mammy, and Joe her dear Daddy.

They have never found out who the Baby really is. She may be a prin-
cess for all we know, but of this we are quite certain— she is the pet and
pride of the village, her adopted Mother's darling, and her adopted Father’s

- dearest little Maid.