Mr. Alboni was in the happiest frame of mind as they made the tour of England and Scotland, for from thence they would repair to his own loved Italy. Over the mind of the tourist, visiting the Old World for the first time,--countries where have transpired thrilling events recorded in history, what an immensity of thought and feeling sweeps! It was thus with Natalie; she could not realize that she was treading in the footsteps of royalty, who living in long past days, had held sway over this land, had looked upon this land of "merrie England" as their home. London, like a mighty Babel, rose before them, her gigantic towers telling of man's greatness, while the resplendent shining of the sun, reflected from a million turrets, proclaimed that there was one above all. St. Paul's, with its dome of grandeur, reflecting not only honor upon her world-renowned architect, Sir Christopher Wren, but standing a living memento that Christ hath built his church upon earth.
Westminster must be visited by every stranger. As Natalie roamed over this vast structure, in itself a world of curiosity, like so many small churches roofed in by one great canopy, she lingered in the south transept, in what is called the Poet's Corner. Here are the tombs of many of the most famous poets of England. Chaucer, Edmund Spencer, Francis Beaumont, and others, have tablets here erected to their memory, while in other chapels are monuments erected in memory of sovereigns, who have long since gone to render an account of their deeds done here, to the one great Sovereign of the universe. As the eye of Natalie rested upon the tomb of the gentle Mary, Queen of Scots, the history of whose brief life, and the many cruel indignities which were heaped upon her, rushing to her memory, she stood as if riveted to the spot, when a voice near her attracted her attention, and a rough-looking old sailor, tarpaulin in hand, threw himself at her feet, exclaiming,--"Bless the memory of old England! She is more sensible than I ever thought for. They couldn't have done a nobler thing than to have placed her likeness here!" and thus the jolly fellow's tongue flew, as if he would re-spin all the forecastle yarns of his lifetime, much to the discomfiture of the eagle-eyed guide, who bade the intruder begone; but our nautical friend, deigning to give this polite invitation to depart no further notice than he would have given to the juvenile whales, as they were taking first lessons in spouting of their maternal protector, the guide seized him by the shoulder, and was about to show honest Jack what virtue there was in "force of arms," when Mr. Alboni interfered, saying,--let us at least hear what the honest fellow would say for himself."
"Your honor,", exclaimed Jack, whose very countenance spoke as plainly as a nose which appeared as if it had been imitating the feathered tribes, in their efforts to satisfy thirst, for so long, that its tendency had become upward in sympathy, and eyes which it were difficult to follow in the direction of both at the same time, could speak, that he who had been accustomed to guiding his bark by stars of the first magnitude, all his days, would not now, at this age of life, be guided by this "star" of diminutive light. "Your honor," said the astonished tar, as he discovered the beautiful form before him to be actually possessed of life and breath, and was no senseless piece of statuary, "shiver my topsails, but if I didn't take the lady to be her representation, my name's not John Sampson!"
"Sampson!" exclaimed Natalie, actually taking him by the hand, "Are you John Sampson?"
"I'm Sampson the world over, my lady," replied the tar, "and why shouldn't I be? I've come all the way from Yankee America, to visit my native dust-heap, which never produced, beside its daily growth of what might be known the other side of the water, as nature's own pie-plant and sausage-improver, but one Sampson; but," added he, in a subdued voice, "may I ask who can take enough interest in a poor fellow, who never belonged to nothing, as to speak his name? If I had not seen her go down with my own eyes, I should say that the noblest lady that ever lived was standing before me; but she's gone where only her kind do go;" and the rough man drew the sleeve of his jacket across his eyes.
"I am the sister of a little sailor-boy, whom you once rescued from imminent peril,--perhaps death; and I rejoice that fortune has favored me with a sight of your honest face, that I may repay in part, at least, the debt of gratitude which we owe to you,--Harry Grosvenor, do you remember him?" asked she, placing her well-filled purse in his hand.
"Ah, that noble little specimen of young America! a young hero!--could have jumped over two Johnny Bulls, although my dust-heap happened to be this side of the water. Well do I remember him! and you are the sister that he used to talk about, till I really thought the fellow had got into a lunatic's overall?"
"Yes, I am his sister," said the Sea-flower, and she might have added,--your name has never been forgotten in my prayers; but this was no place for the illiterate, though good-hearted sailor's ludicrous expressions, and having doubly feed the guide, who did not witness a scene like this often, within these walls, which were looked upon as sacred by other than his eagle eye, our friends sought the Adelphi, whither, at Mr. Alboni's request, Sampson joined them; for there was something in the words which he had uttered, that struck upon that gentleman's ear; and yet, what it was, was not clear to his mind.
"You have spoken of some noble lady," remarked Mr. Alboni; "pray tell me if you have never met with but one whom you could distinguish by that title, in all your travels?"
"And for a very sensible reason; there never was but one like her; or, that is, I have always thought so until to-day," replied the tar, glancing toward Natalie; "for my old eyes have seen pretty much everything they have got in this little world. Ha! I should like to see the inch of land or water that my foot hasn't measured."