THE

J. Davy

FISHER'S DAUGHTER,

OR THE

Wanderings of Wolf,

AND THE

FORTUNES OF ALFRED.

Being the sequel to that so greatly admired and popular Work, entitled,
The Cottage on the Cliff,

OR A SEA-SIDE STORY.

BY MRS. CATHERINE G. WARD,
Authoress of Mysterious Marriage-Family Portraits-Orphan Boy-
Widow's Choice-The Thorn, &c. &c

"Age had not quench'd the open truth
And fiery vehemence of youth,

Forward and frolic glee was there,
The will to do, the soul to dare.

The sparkling glance soon blown to fire,
Of hasty love or headlong ire;
His limbs were cast in manly mould,
For hardy sports and contest bold."

London:

PUBLISHED BY G. VIRTUE,

20, IVY-LANE, PATERNOSTER-ROW; BATH-STREET, BRISTOL;
AND QUEEN-SQUARE, LIVERPOOL.

OXFORD:

PRINTED BY BARTLETT AND HINTON.

THE

FISHER'S DAUGHTER.

CHAPTER I.

"Poor child of danger, nursling of the storm,
Sad were the woes that wreck'd thy manly form;
Rocks, waves, and winds thy shatter'd bark delay,
Thy heart was sad, thy home was far away;
But hope can still her moonlight vigils keep,
And sing to charm the spirit of the deep."

IT may be recollected that at the period when Captain Singleton returned once more in peace and safety to take possession of his favourite and beloved retreat, "The Cottage on the Cliff;' when, after the succeeding events which had marked with fearful doubts and soul-torturing suspense, the heroic mind, but gentle heart of the loyely Agatha, and gloomy scenes had given place to a total reverse of prospects in her so long adverse fortune; when the bright beaming sun of happiness shone full upon her, by giving her to the arms of a faithful and an adoring lover, in the person of her so newly discovered cousin, Lord Montague Montault; it may be remembered that it was then the generous intention of the Fisher Blust, to provide for the fortunes of the gentle Alfred, and those also of

'S ALLEN

503322

the bold, aspiring, and spirited, intrepid Wolf, as soon as they had finally completed their respective studies at the seminary in which he had placed them, in the vicinity of Cromer, a few weeks only after they had so providentially escaped from the perils of the shipwreck, which had laid all besides them in a watery grave. And it was not long after the nuptials of the Lady Agatha Braganza and Lord Montague had been solemnized in the village church at Cromer, that Wolf and Alfred returned to Herring Dale, the house of their protector, so improved in person, and so cultivated in mind and manners, that little now could be discerned of the poor shipwrecked boys, who had formerly excited the pity and compassionate attention of the humane and hospitable inhabitants of Cromer, when the rough gale threw them on their coast in the fearful night of the storm; and to none more than to the fisher himself was this alteration and improvement in his adopted sons perceptible; who, surveying them from head to foot, the very moment that they alighted from the chaise and crossed the threshold of Herring Dale, with that look of unsophisticated nature and feeling which he was at all times remarkable for, and shaking the hand of each with no very gentle pressure, loudly vo

ciferated

"Shiver my topsails if ever I saw two such young giants in all my born days! why lads, thee be grown out of all knowledge for certain sure."

"Except the knowledge of being known to one at least, sir, who does not appear to have lost sight of us, if we may judge of his kindness at the present moment," uttered Alfred, returning the warm pressure