92 THE CRATER; his family. Mark longed to see his sister Anne, and his two brothers participated in this wish, if possible, in a still more lively manner. The meeting of these members of the same family was of the most touching character. The young men found their sister much better established than they had antici pated, and in the enjoyment of very many more comforts than they had supposed it was in the power of any one to possess in a colony still so young. Heaton had erected a habitation for himself, in a charming grove, where thers were water, fruits, and other conveniences, near at hand, and where his own family was separated from the rest of the community. This distinction had been conferred on him, by common consent, in virtue of his near affinity to the governor, whose substitute he then was, and out of respect to his education and original rank in life. Sea men are accustomed to defer to station and authority, and are all the happier for the same ; and the thought of any jepHusy on account of this privilege, which as yet was contined to Mark and Heaton, and their respective fami lies, had not yet crossed the mind of any one on the island. About twelve, or at midnight, the Abraham entered the cove. Late as was the hour, each immigrant assumed a load suited to his or her strength, and ascended the Stairs, favoured by the sweet light of a full moon. That night mo&t of the new-comers passed in the groves, under tents or in an arbour that had been prepared for them ; and sweet was the repose that attended happiness and security, in a climate so agreeable. Next morning, when the immigrants came out of their temporary dwellings, and looked upon the fair scene before th, -n, they could scarcely believe in its reality ! It is true, nothing remarkable or unexpected met their eyes in the shape of artificial accessories; but the* bountiful gifts of Providence, and the natural beauties of the spot, as much exceeded their anticipations as it did their power of ima gining such glories! The admixture of softness and mag nificence made a whole that they had never before beheld in any other portion of the globe; and there was not one
