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Jims now threw a fresh armful of brush on the fire, and a fine warm glow was diffused through the room. Just at this instant, who should blunder in but Captain Bunce, the merciful and humane landlord of this establishment! He was just enough in liquor to be good-humored and familiar, and did not at first observe Mr. and Mrs. Haddock.

"Well, now, I declare," said he, "if this isn't just the smilingest looking place I've been in for a week. Jims, give me a chair. -- Ah, Mr. Had -- dock -- and Mrs. Haddock! I vow, this is nice! Why, how in the world did you get out this stormy night? I'll be hanged if I ain't dreadfully obliged to you, and glad to see you. Draw up by the fire. Now, ain't this sort of cheerful? Jims, don't spare the wood; put on the best you can find, and 'nough on't. It's sort of cold out doors, but in here it's as warm and pleasant as a May morning. You see, our folks are pretty comfortable here, friend Haddock. Give me one of these large old-fashioned chimney fire-places, and plenty of wood, (Jims, put on the wood,) and it's a thousand times better than one of your modern six-by-eight close stoves for coal -- ha! ha! ha! Don't you think so, Mr. Haddock?"

"I don't like small stoves very well, I allow ," said he.

"You are just of my opinion," replied Bunce. "Stoves are unhealthy, coal is unhealthy, and every body is unhealthy who has any thing to do with them. Well, I'm right glad to see you, and you musn't say 'no,' you must both go in and make my wife a call when you leave. Here you see the 'folks' are all doing charmingly, all growing fat, and young, and sprightly -- how is it, Bill?"

"Yes, sir: bery?" said the black with a slight nod of the head.

"I thought so, ha! ha! ha!" shouted the Captain. "Well," said he, "suppose you just drop in and see us -- hey? -- eh, Mrs. Haddock, what say?"

"I have no particular objection, if Mr. Haddock can spend the time."

"Oh! hang the 'time.' 'Time' is nothing. I have more time on my hands than I want -- absolutely so now. Why, my evenings are often as long, and dull as Bill's face, and it does me good to see a friend."

"Before we leave," said Mr. Haddock, "perhaps you would like to see a little how Boyce is getting on, for he appears to be sick, and I understand you sent him in a nice cup of hot tea to-night."

"Did I, by jove, that's a new idea, ha! ha! I guess I did though, or, perhaps Mrs. Bunce and Hetty looked out for the poor souls. Boyce! Boyce! let's see, oh! the devil, yes, Boyce. He's a little in the dumps, but he'll rouse again in the morning as good as new. Aunt Prescott! how's Boyce?"

"He's doing better, sir, I think."

"Yes, that's the case," said the Captain, returning from his bedside. "You see he's all nice and warm, well blanketed, and fast asleep, doing well. He'll be as bright as a new cent in the morning; we keep the folks here, Mr Haddock, all warm and comfortable these cold nights."

"Then you aim to give them all a blanket, and warm bed-clothes?" said Mr. Haddock.

"Oh! -- of -- course we keep them well-to-do these cold nights. (Put on the wood, Jims.) We get on them just as much as the poor critters will bear."

"That's a lie," screamed Mag.

"So it is, by," said Dan and Tucker in a breath, and aunt Dorothy commenced a song forthwith.

At this moment the door suddenly flew open, and in came Dick and Roxy, in a half angry scuffle without noticing the company present.

The Captain, glad of any interruption, turned, and peremptorily inquired: "What's this mean, Dick?"

"Oh! nothing, only Rox and I have been on a gale this evening, and she's got my watch."

"Take your watch, hatefulness," said she, throwing it at him, and disappeared up the stairs. Mr. and Mrs. Haddock, perceived that Captain Bunce was too much intoxicated, to make it profitable to talk with him or to prolong their visit. Under the excuse of the storm too, as they all left the house, they declined his pressing invitation to call at his residence, and as fast as possible, made their way home.

The poor folks got through the night as they best could. Jims laid himself down by the fire on an old blanket, and kept the fire up through the night. Bill slept at the foot of the bed, and kept the sick man's feet warm.

During its dark hours, an emigrant ship from Liver- pool went ashore on the Jersey coast, a perfect wreck. Few were saved of either crew or passengers; among the latter, a lady and her child five years old, were res cued and taken care of, of whom we may hear more by and bye.

As soon as the storm subsided, Mr. Haddock conveyed Boyce to his own house, where under careful attention he in a little time began to amend.

CHAPTER XII.
The Ladies' Benevolent Society. Miss E. Flush, President.

One of those very common and very praiseworthy modes of doing good, which accomplish by association of effort what is seldom brought about by the individual alone, which one society of ladies takes up after another, and so the action of the whole is as leaven, leavening the mass -- one of these, we say, was in full and satisfactory experiment among the ladies of Crampton. It was two or three days, it might have been five, for it was on Friday evening that the storm came, and the ladies usually met on Wednesday -- call it five days then, after the visit of Mr. and Mrs. Haddock at the poor-house, that an unusually large number of ladies met at the house of Esquire Ben. Stout, prepared with thread and needles to do a great amount of sewing before they separated.