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Sour and Civil.
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“‘Oh! if my daughter were but living, I should never think it a disgrace though she married a fisherman!’

“The Christmas passed as it always does in the west country—shepherds made merry on the downs, and fishermen on the shore; but when the merrymakings and ringing of bells were over in all the land, the sea-people woke up to their continual feasts and dances. Like one that had forgotten all that was passed, the merman again showed Civil the chamber of gold and the chamber of jewels, advising him to choose between his two daughters; but the fisherman still answered that the ladies were too noble, and far too rich for him. Yet as he looked at the glittering heap, Civil could not help recollecting the poverty of the west country, and the thought slipped out—

“‘How happy my old neighbours would be to find themselves here!’

“‘Say you so?’ said the merman, who always wanted visitors.

“‘Yes,’ said Civil, ‘I have neighbours up yonder in the west country whom it would be hard to send home again if they got sight of half this wealth;’ and the honest fisherman thought of Dame Sour and her son.

“The merman was greatly delighted with these

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