The schoolmaster had been watching there all night . How we cheered as she sailed up the channel . '' Captain Jim 's eyes were shining . They were looking at the Four Winds Harbor of sixty years agone , with a battered old ship sailing through the sunrise splendor . `` And Persis Leigh was on board ? '' asked Anne . `` Yes -- her and the captain 's wife . They 'd had an awful passage -- storm after storm -- and their provisions give out , too . But there they were at last . When Persis Leigh stepped onto the old wharf John Selwyn took her in his arms -- and folks stopped cheering and begun to cry . I cried myself , though 't was years , mind you , afore I 'd admit it . Ai n't it funny how ashamed boys are of tears ? '' `` Was Persis Leigh beautiful ? '' asked Anne . `` Well , I do n't know that you 'd call her beautiful exactly -- I -- do n't -- know , '' said Captain Jim slowly . `` Somehow , you never got so far along as to wonder if she was handsome or not . It jest did n't matter . There was something so sweet and winsome about her that you had to love her , that was all . But she was pleasant to look at -- big , clear , hazel eyes and heaps of glossy brown hair , and an English skin . John and her were married at our house that night at early candle-lighting ; everybody from far and near was there to see it and we all brought them down here afterwards .
Mistress XXXXX lighted the fire , and we went away and left them sitting here , jest as John had seen in that vision of his .
't Anne English Jim Leigh Selwyn candle-lighting night storm years