"I see you, sir—I see you, Mr. Jervis, fishing again, sir. Very well,' cried the first lieutenant, from the stern sheets of the boat, as he passed by. 'You've your duty to do, and I 've got mine.' That 's as good as two dozen to-morrow morning at muster,' thought Jack, who cursed his luck, and, in a very melancholy mood, began to haul up his line, which, as soon as he had been discovered, he had let go down to the bottom again. Now, it so happened, that, as Old Duty went up the other side, his foot slipped; and, how it was, I can't tell, for they say he wasn't the least groggy, but down he fell, between the boat's gunnel and the ship's side, just like a deep sea lead, and disappeared. There being so few men on deck, there was not much of a bustle-there was a dive or two for him with the boat-hook, but all in vain-Old Duty was gone.

I woke early the next morning; for the whole night I had been restless, and dreaming of the unusual occurrences of the day before. It was just daylight, and I was recalling what had passed, and wondering what had become of my father, when I heard a noise in my mother's room. I listened,-the door opened, and she went down stairs.

This surprised me; and being conscious, even at my age, of the vindictive temper shown by my mother upon every occasion, and, anxious to know where my father was, I could not remain in bed; I put on my trowsers, and crept softly down stairs without my shoes. The door of the front room was ajar, and I looked in. The light was dimly peering through the window which pointed to the alley; the table was covered with the empty pipes, tobacco, and large pools of beer and liquor which had been spilt on it; the sofa was empty, and my father, who evidently had become deeply intoxicated the night before, was lying on the sanded floor with his face downward; my mother, in her short dressing-gown and flannel petticoat, was standing over him, her teeth set, her fists clenched, and arms raised; with a dire expression of revenge in her countenance. I thought at the time that I never saw her look so ugly-I may say, so horrid; even now, her expression at that moment is not effaced from my memory. After a few minutes, she knelt down, and put her ear close to his head, as if to ascertain whether he was in a sound sleep: she then took a knife from the table, felt the edge, looked at my prostrate father, and raised it. I would have screamed, but my tongue was glued to my lips with horror. She appeared to reflect; and, after a time, laid the knife down on the table, put the palm of her hand to her forehead, and then a smile gleamed over her moody features. "Yes, if he murders me

"In the mean time, Jack on the other side was slowly hauling up his line; but he had not got it half way up when he felt a heavy strain, and he thought that a large conger eel had followed the bait up, as they do sometimes, and he hauled and hauled with all his might. At last, who should he bring to the surface of the water but Old Duty, who had been sucked under the ship's bottom by the tide, and had been hooked by Jack, as he was pulling up. When Jack saw it was the first lieutenant, as he told me, his first idea was to let him down again; but that was only for a moment. The words of the first lieutenant still rang in his ears, 'You 've your duty to do, and I 've got mine'-so Jack did his duty. He hollows out that he had caught Old Duty; and the boat shifted round and took him on board. The old fellow was quite senseless; but, as he had been but a short time in the water, he was put to bed. and resuscitated by the surgeon. The next morning he was all just as if nothing had happened, walking the deck with his right hand in his breast, and his spy-glass under his left-but they will be better," muttered she at last. She went to arm, as usual.

Well, we all told Jack that he was safe this time, but Jack seemed to think otherwise. He shook his head-and now you'll learn who was right.

"When the boys were all mustered next morning, towing a line, and holding out their paws, the first lieutenant turns round and says, 'Jervis, you were fishing last night, against my orders.' 'Yes, sir,' said Jervis, and I cached a first lieutenant;' for Jack had a good deal of fun in him. Yes, sir, and queer fishes they are sometimes,' replies Old Duty; 'but you forget that you have also catched two dozen. You have your duty to do, and I 've got mine.'

Well, as you may suppose, there were many of us look ing abaft, just to see what would take place, and were not a little astonished at the idea of his rewarding Jack with two dozen for saving his life; however, of course, we were mum. Jack was tied up; and the first lieutenant whispered a word inte the ear of his master-at-arms, who again whispered to Williams, the boatswain's mate; and the effect of that whisper was, that the cat was laid on so lightly that Jack hardly felt it so lightly, indeed, that the first lieutenant walked away aft, that he might not appear to be a party in the consarn, and Jack was cast off without having half a tear in either eye, when Old Duty went up to him.

"You fished last night against my orders, and therefore you have received your punishment. You saved my life last night, and therefore it is my duty to reward you. I could not let you off this punishment, as it would be making the King pay you for me, instead of my paying you myself. I'm not a rich man, but here's ten guineas for your purse, and here's my gold watch. Spend the first usefully, and keep the other; and observe, Jack Jervis, if ever you are again caught fishing in harbor, you will as surely get two dozen for your pains. You've your duty to do, and I've got mine.'"

"Well, messmate, that 's a queer story altogether, and queerer fellows in it. I would n't have minded sailing with that Old Duty. Suppose we drink his health."

"With all my heart; for you 're right, old chap: when we knows what we are to expect, we 're always ready to meet it; but some officers I've sailed with shift about like a dog-vane, and there's no knowing how to meet them. I recollect-but I say, Jack, suppose you turn in your eyes are winking and blinking like an owls in the sunshine. You 're tired, boy, so go to bed. We sha' n't tell any more yarns to-night."

I was very tired, indeed, and could not keep my eyes open any longer; so I went up stairs, and was asleep almost as soon as I laid my head upon the pillow.

the cupboard, took out a large pair of scissors, and, kneeling down by my father, commenced severing his long pigtail from his head. My father was too sound asleep to be roused; in a minute the tail was off; and my mother rose up, holding it, with an expression of the utmost contempt, between her finger and thumb. She then very softly laid it down by his side, and replaced the scissors in the cupboard: as I expected that she would go up stairs again, I concealed myself in the back kitchen. I was correct in my supposition. A moment afterward I heard her ascending the stairs, and go into her own room.

I must say that I felt indignant at this conduct of my mother's, as, so far from provocation, she had hardly received the reward of previous treachery. I believe, however, that, like most people, I was actuated by my own feelings toward my mother, who had treated me so unkindly. I thought for a little while-what would my mother do? She would hardly remain in the house, to meet the wrath of my father, when he made the discovery. She would escape him: this I had no wish that she should do; so I went softly into the front parlor, and pushed my father, to awake him: for some time this was useless-he muttered and growled, but it appeared impossible to rouse him. There were the remains of a jug of water on the table; and, as I had seen the same thing done before to a drunken sailor, I took the jug and poured the water softly en the nape of his neck. In a minute or two this had the effect of waking him; he turned over, opened his eyes, and, when I put my finger to my lips to intimate silence, he looked at me with a vacant stare. Time pressed; I heard my mother moving about up stairs, and I was afraid that she would leave the house before my father had recovered his senses. I there fore took his pigtail from the floor, and held it up before him. This appeared to surprise him; he fixed his eyes upon it for a few seconds, and then, as if at last suspecting what had taken place, he put his hand to the back of his head, and found no pigtail there. Suddenly he jumped up; he appeared to be sobered all at once-he caught the pigtail out of my hand, looked at it, felt convinced of his loss, threw himself down on the sofa, and wept like a child.

"I saw my mother do it, father," said I whispering in his ear. This appeared to recall him; he raised himself up, wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, ground his teeth, and shook his head. He threw his tail on the floor, and, as he eyed it, a deep melancholy spread over his countenance. After a minute or two, he folded his arms, and thus lamented

over it :

"Well, I never would have thought it, had they told me that you and I should have parted company. Many, many years has it taken you to grow to your present length-often have you been handled, often have you been combed, and often have you been tied. Many 's the eel has been skinned

for your sarvice, and many 's the yard of ribin which you have cost me you have been the envy of my shipmates, the fancy of the women, and the pride of poor Tom Saunders. I thought we should never have parted on 'arth, and, if so be my sins were forgiven me, and I could show a fair log, that I might be permitted to wear you in the world which is to come. But there you are-parted for all the world like a limb shot off in action, never to be spliced again. What am I to say when I go on board? I shall have a short tale to tell, instead of a long tale to show. And the wife of my busum to do this! Well, I married too high, and now my pride is laid low.— Jack, never marry a lady's ladies' maid; for it appears that the longer the names, the more venomous the cattle be."

Just as he had finished, I heard my mother coming down stairs, with Virginia, whom she had taken up and dressed, to take away with her. "Hush!" I heard her softly say to Virginia, "do n't speak, dear, or you'll wake your naughty father."

She had hardly said this, when she made her appearance, with Virginia on one arm, and a large bundle on the other. But as soon as she perceived that my father was awake, and cognisant of her revenge, she uttered a loud scream, dropped Virginia and the bundle, and, running up stairs to her own room, locked herself in.

Poor little Virginia set up a roar at this very unusual (and, I believe, felonious) act of child-dropping on the part of my mother. I ran to her, and carried her to the sofa; while my father, with compressed lips, first taking two or three quarterdeck strides up and down the room, locked the street door, put the key in his pocket, and then ascended the stairs to pay a visit to my mother who, I believe, would very willingly have been 'not at home:' but some people are importunate, and will take no refusal; and, when my father retired three or four steps from the door, and, with a sudden run, brought the whole weight of his foot to bear upon it, it flew open. At first, my mother was not visible: my father thought she had escaped; but at last he espied her legs under the bed. Seizing her by her extremities, he dragged her out, without any regard to propriety, until he had her into the middle of the room, with his foot upon her. What a situation for a lady's ladies' maid! I had put Virginia down on the sofa, and crept up the stairs, to see what took place. My father and mother were in these relative positions, and he thus addressed her: "I have heard say, that a man must n't thrash his wife with any thing thicker than his own thumb. That's as may be and I do recollect when the first lieutenant wanted to cut off the men's hair, that the purser, told him that it was felony, under the act of cutting and maiming. I do n't know whether the first lieutenant would have made a felony or not; but this I'm sartin of-he'd have made a mutiny. You desarve no mercy, and you shall have none. This pigtail of mine shall be what I shall use upon you-and if the colt is heavy, recolcut it for yourself; and as you may not be able to hear what I say by the time I have done with you, I'll just tell you now. I'll point the end, and work a mouse on this pigtail of mine, and never part with it. I'll keep it for your own particular use, and for nobody else's; and as sartain as I come back, so sartain every time I come, you shall have a taste of pigtail without chewing, my lady's ladies' maid."

lect

you

211

thing which has happened; and the people will say, come what will on it, that I was aggravated sufficient-and Jack, if there be a Crowner's Inquest, mind you tell the truth. You know, I didn't want to kill the old woman, don't you, my boy for didn't I say I'd keep the tail to give her another dose when I came back again? that proves I didn't intend that she should slip her wind, you know, boy. I said I'd give her another dose, you know, Jack—and,” continued my father, "so I will, if I finds her above ground when I comes back again."

My father then went down stairs. Little Virginia had fallen asleep again on the sofa; my father kissed her softly, shook hands with me, and put a crown in my hand. He then unlocked the door, and, thrusting the end of his pigtail into his breast, coiled it, as it were, round his body, hastened down the Alley, and was soon out of sight.

CHAPTER VIII.

In which the Doctor pays a Visit and receives no Fee; and I am ob-
liged to work very hard to procure myself a livelihood.
I did not forget my father's injunction, for I was very much
frightened. There was a doctor who lived half way up
Church street, a short distance from Fisker's Alley. He was
a little man with a large head, sunk down between two broad
shoulders-his eyes were small and twinkling, his nose snub-
bed, his pate nearly bald; but on the sides of his head, the hair
was long and flowing. But if his shoulders were broad, the
rest of his body was not in the same proportion-for he nar-
rowed as he descended, his hips being very small, and his legs
as thin as those of a goat. His real name was Todpoole, but
the people invariably called him Tadpole, and he certainly in
appearance somewhat reminded you of one.
cetious little fellow, and, it was said, very clever in his pro-

fession.

44

He was a fa

"Doctor Tadpole," cried I, out of breath with. running, come quick-my mother is very bad indeed."

"What's the matter?" said he, peering over a mortar in "Exwhich he was rubbing up something with the pestle. ternal or internal?"

Although I did not know what he meant, I replied: "Both, doctor, and a great deal more beside."

"That's bad, indeed," replied Tadpole, still rubbing away. "Come along"But you must come directly," cried I.

quick!"

"Festina lente, good boy-that's Latin for hat and boots. Tom, are my boots clean?"

"Ye'es," replied a carroty-headed boy, whom I knew well. The doctor laid down a pestle, and taking his seat on a chair, began very leisurely to pull on his boots, whilst I stamped with impatience.

"Now, do be quick, doctor-my mother will be dead." "Jack," said the doctor grinning, as he pulled on his second boot, "people don't die so quick before the doctor comes it's always afterward: however, I'm glad to see you are so fond of your mother. Tom, is my hat brushed?"

'Ye'es, sir," replied Tom, bringing the doctor's hat. "Now then, Jack, I'm all ready. Tom, mind the shop, and don't eat the stick liquorice-d'ye hear?"

"Ye'es, sir," said Tom, with a grin from ear to ear. The doctor followed me very quick, for he thought from my Having made this uncommon long speech, to which my impatience that something serious must be the matter. He mother offered no reply, her eyes being fixed in terror upon walked up to my mother's room, and I hastened to open the the brandished tail, which was nearly as thick as her own door; when, to my surprise, I found my mother standing bearm, my father proceeded to put his threats into execution.fore the glass arranging her hair. Blow dscended after blow; my mother's cries became féebler and feebler, until at last she appeared senseless. Then I ran to my father, and clinging to his leg, cried, "Oh! father, she's dead!"

This observation induced him to leave off. He looked at

my mother's face; her eyes were closed, and her jaw had
fallen. “Well, she has had enough of it, this time," said my
But when I
father after a pause" may be, too much on it.
looks at this tail in my hand, I feel as if I could still give her
And if she be dead, I think the judge would not hang
if I showed him what I have lost. I'd rather have parted
with an arm or a leg, any day of the week. There's been
provocation enough, at all events, if she be dead-a saint in
heaven could n't stand it."

more.

me,

During these remarks, my mother gave no signs of returning animation, and at last my father became seriously alarmed. "Jack," said he, "I must cut my stick, or they may put me into limbo. As soon as I have cleared out, do you run for a doctor to look at your mother; and mind you don't forget to tell that old chap, who was boozing with me last night, every

'Well!" exclaimed my mother, " This is very pretty beha viour-forcing your way into a lady's room.

The doctor stared, and so did I. At last I exclaimed, "Well! father thought he'd killed her.

"Yes," cried my mother, and he's gone away with it on his conscience, that's some comfort; he won't come back in a hurry-he thinks he has committed murder, the unfeeling brute !-Well, I've had my revenge.'

And as she twisted up her hair, my mother burst out screaming

"Little Bopeep, she lost her sheep,

And couldn't tell where to find him

She found him, indeed, but it made her heart bleed,
For he left his tail behind him."

"Why then, doctor, it was all sham," exclaimed I.
"Yes and the doctor's come on a fool's errand:

"Goosey, Goosey Gander,
Whither dost thou wander?
Up stairs and down stairs,
And in a lady's chamber."

"And then I met a little man,
Couldn't say his prayers,
I took him by the left leg.
And sent him down stairs."

As soon as we were in the parlor, I acquainted the doctor with what had happened-"I'm sure I thought she was dead," said I, when I had finished the story.

"Jack, when I asked you where your mother was bad, external or internal, you replied both, and a great deal more besides. So she is internally, externally, and infernally bad," said the doctor laughing. "And so she amputated your father's pigtail, did she-the Dalilah! Pity one could not amputate her head, it would make a good woman of her.— Good bye, Jack, I must go and look after Tom-he's swallowed a whole yard of stick liquorice by this time."

Soon afterward, Ben the Whaler came in to inquire after my father, and I told him what had occurred; he was very indig nant at my mother's conduct, and, as soon as the affair was known, so were all the tenants of Fisher's Alley. When my mother went out, or had words with any of her neighbors, the retort was invariably, "Who sent the press-gang after her own husband?" or, "Who cut off the tail from her husband's back? -wasn't that a genteel trick?" All this worried my mother, and she became very morose and ill-tempered; I believe she would have left the alley, if she had not taken a long lease of the house. She had now imbibed a decided hatred for me, which she never failed to show upon every occasion; for she knew that it was I who had roused my father, and prevented her escape from his wrath. The consequence was, that I was seldom at home, except to sleep. I sauntered to the beach, ran into the water, sometimos rowed in the wherries, at others hauling them in and holding them steady for the passengers to land. I was beginning to be useful to the watermen, and was very often rewarded with a piece of bread and cheese or a drink of beer out of their pots. The first year after my father's visit, I was seldom given a meal, and continually beaten-indeed sometimes cruelly so; but as I grew stronger, I rebelled and fought, and with such success, that although I was hated more, I was punished less.

One scene between my mother and me may serve as a specimen for all. I would come home with my trowsers tucked up, and my high-lows unlaced and full of water-sucking every time that I lifted up my leg, and marking the white sanded floor of the front room, as I proceeded through it to the back kitchen. My mother would come down stairs, and perceiving the marks I had left, would get angry, and as usual commence singing,

"A frog he would a wooing go,
Heigho, says Rowley."

I see-there's that little wretch, been here,

"Whether his mother would let him or no,
Heigho, says Rowley."

I'll rowly him with the rowling pin, when I get hold of him. He's worse than that beastly water-spaniel of Sir Hercules', who used to shake himself over my best cambric muslin. Well, we'll see. He'll be wanting his dinner; I only wish he may get it.

"Little Jack Horner sat in a corner,

Eating a Christmas pie;

He put in his thum, and pull'd out a plumb,

And cried, what a good boy am I!"

make my nose bleed. I stood the first push, and the second;
but the third roused my indignation-and I caught hold of the
end of the broom toward me, and tried to force it out of her
hands. It was push against push; for I was very strong-
she, screaming as loud as she could, as she tried to wrest the
broom from my clutches; I, shoving at her with all my force-
like Punch and the devil at the two ends of the stick. At
last, after she had held me in a corner for half a minute, I
made a rush upon her, drove her right to the opposite corner,
so that the end of the handle gave her a severe poke in the
body, which made her give up the contest; and exclaim as
soon as she recovered her breath-"Oh! you nasty, ungrate
ful, ungenteel brute! You little viper! Is that the way you
treat your mother-and nearly kill her? Oh, dear me.!"
"Why don't you leave me alone, then? you never beats
Jenny.'

"Who's Jenny, you wicked good-for-nothing boy-you
tell you."
mean your sister Virginia. Well, you'll have no dinner, I can

had received, and held it up between my thumb and finger.I put my hand in my pocket, took out 'a sixpence which I

"Won't I?"

"You oudacious boy! that's the way you're spoiled by foolish people giving you money."

fixed up at the door, and was again down at the beach. In-
"Good bye, mother." So saying, I leaped over the board
ing up halfpence by running into the water, offering my rag-
deed I was now what is termed a regular Mud-larker, pick-
ged arm to people getting out of the wherries, always saluting
them with, "You havn't never got a halfpenny for poor Jack,
times a shove, according to the temper of those whom I ad-
your honor?" and sometimes I did get a halfpenny, some-
dressed. When I was not on the beach, I was usually in
with Ben the Whaler, who, after my father's visit,
company
was more kind to me than ever: and there were several other

pensioners who were great friends of mine; and I used to
listen to their long yarns, which were now becoming a source
of great delight to me; at other times, I would be with the
watermen, assisting them to clear out their wherries, or pay
the seams. In fact, I was here, there, and every where ex-
cept at home-always active, always employed, and, I may
add, almost always wet. My mother used to scold whenever
I came in; but that I did not mind: her greatest punishment
was refusing me a clean shirt on a Sunday: at last, I picked
up halfpence enough to pay, not only for my food, such as it
was, but for my own washing, and every day I became more
independent and more happy.

during the summer season; which were from the company who
There were other ways by which money was to be obtained
used to come down to the white bait parties at the Ship and
other taverns.
the beach, besides me; and we used to stand under the win-
There were many other boys who frequented
dows, and attract attention by every means in our power, so
as to induce the company to throw us halfpence to scramble
for. This they would do to while away their time until their
dinner was ready, or to amuse themselves and the ladies by
seeing us roll and tumble one over the other. Sometimes
they would throw a sixpence into the river, where the water
was about two feet deep, to make us wet ourselves through,
in groping for it. Indeed, they were very generous when they
wished to be amused; and every kind of offer was made to
them which we thought suited to their tastes, or likely to ex-
tract money from their pockets.

Dip my head in the mud for sixpence, sir ?" would one of
us cry out; and then he would be outbid by another.
"Roll myself all over and over in the mud, face and all,
sir only give me sixpence!"

Sometimes I would perceive a lovely countenance, beaming with pity and compassion at our rags and apparent wretchedness; and then the money thrown to me gave me much more

'Good boy am I!' good-for-nothing brat, just like his father. pleasure: but the major portion of those who threw us silver O dear! if I could but get rid of him!

"There was an old woman who lived in a shoe,
She'd so many children she didn't know what to do;
She gave them some broth without any bread,

She whipped them all round, and sent them to bed."
And if I don't whip him, it's my fault, that's all. Virginia,
my love, don't spit-that's not genteel. It's only sailors and
Yankees who spit. Nasty little brute! oh! here you are, are
you?" cried my mother, as I entered. "Do you see what a
dirty mess you have made, you little ungrateful animal? Take
that, and that, and that," continued she, running the wet bris-
tles of the long room into my face, with sufficient force to

for their own amusement would not have given us a farthing, if we had asked charity for the love of God.

It must not, however, be supposed that I gained the enviable situation of Poor Jack until I had been some time on the beach; and there was no want of competitors for this office among the many idle boys who frequented the beach. When I first plied there, I was often pushed away by those who were older and stronger than myself, with a 'Go along with you! He's not poor Jack-I'm poor Jack your honor."This, at first, I submitted to; taking my chance for a stray halfpenny, which was occasionally thrown to me; trusting to my activity in being the first down to the boat, or to my quick

ragged jacket, and weather-beaten cap; and then to see Virginia, so neatly, and even expensively, dressed, no one could have believed that we were brother and sister. My mother would always try to prevent Virginia from noticing me, if we ever met when she was walking out with her. But my sister appeared to love me more and more; and, in spite of my mother, as soon as she saw me, would run up to me, patting my dirty jacket with her pretty little hand; and, when she did so, I felt so proud of her. She grew up handsomer every day, and so sweet in disposition, that my mother could not spoil her.

It was in the autumn that I gained undisputed possession of the office of "Poor Jack ;" and that winter I had an adventure which nearly occasioned my making a vacancy for somebody else; and which, the reader will agree with me, was anything but pleasant.

It was in the month of January, the river was filled with floating ice, for it had frozen hard for several days; and, of course, there were but few people who trusted themselves in wherries, so that I had little employment, and less profit. One morning, as I was standing on the landing-steps, the breath coming out of my mouth like the steam of a teakettle,-rubbing my nose, which was red from the sharpness of the frost,-and looking at the sun, which was just mounting above a bank of clouds, a waterinan called to me, and asked me whether I would go down the river with him, as he was engaged to take a mate down to join his ship, which was several miles below Greenwich; and, if so, he would give me sixpence and a breakfast. I had earned little for many days, and, hating to be obliged to mother, I consented.

ness in a scramble. I never quarrelled with the other boys, for I was remarkable for my good temper. The first idea I had of resistance was from oppression. One of the boys, who was older and taller than myself, attempted to take away a sixpence which I had gained in a scramble. Before that, I had not resented being pushed away, or even when they threw water or mud at me; but this was an act of violence which I could not put up with: the consequence was a fight; in which, to my surprise (for I was not aware of my strength,) as well as to the surprise of the bystanders, I proved victorious, beating my opponent, until he reeled into the water, following him up until he tumbled, and then holding his head down in the mud, until he was almost stifled. I then allowed him to get up; and he went home crying to his mother. For this feat, I I was rewarded with the plaudits of the old pensioners and others who were looking on, and with a shilling which was thrown to me from the window of the inn, Ben the Whaler, who had witnessed the fray, told me, the next day, that I handled my fists remarkably well; and that I had but to keep a higher guard, and I should fight well. He was an old pugilist himself, and he gave me a few directions which I did not forget. I soon had a chance to put them into practice; for, two days afterward, another boy, bigger than myself, as I was plying as 'Poor Jack,' pushed me back so hard that I fell off the steps into the deep water, and there was a general laugh against me. I did not care for the ducking, but the laugh I could not bear; as soon as I gained the steps again, I rushed upon him, and threw him off, and he fell into the wherry, and, as it afterward appeared, he strained his back very much; nevertheless he came out to thrash me; and this time it was a regular fight, as the pensioners and watermen interfered, taking us both up on the higher ground, and seeing that it was fair play. Ben the Whaler acted as my second, and we set to. The boy was too powerful for me, had it not been for the hurt he had received, and the instructions I obtained from Ben every time that I sat on his knee between each round. Still it was a very hard fight, and I was terribly beaten-but I could not give up, for so many betted upon my winning; and Ben told me, at the end of every round, that, if I only stood up one more, I should be certain to beat him; and that then I should be Poor Jack for ever! The last inducement stimulated me to immense exertion; we closed and wrestled, and my antagonist was thrown; and, in consequence of the strain he had before received, he could not stand up any more. Poor fellow! he was in great pain; he was taken home, and obliged to have a doctor; and an abscess formed in his side. He was a long time getting well, Unfortunately, we had lost too much time on board of the and, when he came out of doors again, he was so pale-I was vessel; and, what with that, and the delay arising from the very sorry for him, and we were always the best friends after-snow-storm preventing us pulling straight back, the ebb-tide ward, and I gave him many a halfpenny, until I had an opportunity of serving him.

I mention these two fights, because they obtained for me a greater reputation than I merited; this reputation perhaps saved me a great deal mere fighting, and obtained me the mastery over the other boys on the beach. Indeed, I became such a favorite with the watermen, that they would send the other boys away: and thus did I become, at last, the acknowledged, true, lawful, and legitimate "Poor Jack of Greenwich."

CHAPTER IX.

In an hour we started; there was no wind,-the water was smooth, and the sun's rays glittered on the floating patches of ice, which grated against the sides of the wherry, as we cut through them with our sharp prow. Although we had the tide with us, it was three hours before we gained the ship. The mate paid the fare, and gave us something to drink; and we passed an hour or more warming ourselves at the caboose, and talking with the seamen. At last a breeze sprung up, and the captain ordered the men to get the ship under weigh. We shoved off, the tide having flowed some time, expecting to be back to Greenwich before dark.

But it clouded over; and a heavy snow-storm came on, so that we could not see in what direction we were pulling; the wind blew very fresh, and it was piercing cold; however, we pulled as hard as we could, not only to get back again, but to keep ourselves from freezing.

made again before we had gained more than two-thirds of our way. We were now nearly worn out with the severe cold and fatigue, but we pulled hard, keeping as close in-shore as we could. It was necessary, at the end of one reach, to cross over to the other side of the river; and, in so doing, we were driven by the tide against a large buoy, when the wherry filled and upset in an instant. We both contrived to cling on to her, as she was turned bottom up; and away we were swept down among the drifting ice, the snow storm still continuing to beat down on our heads. I was nearly frozen before I could climb on the bottom of the wherry; which I at last contrived to do, but the waterman could only hold on. There we both were, In which I take a cruise contrary to the received rules of naviga- shivering and shaking; the wind piercing through our wet tion. On my return from a cold expedition, I meet with a cold reclothes the snow beating down on us, and our feet freezing ception. among the drifting ice-borne away with the tide towards the As soon as I was fairly in possession of my office, I gained suf-mouth of the river-not able to see two yards before us, or ficient money to render me almost entirely independent on my likely to be seen by any one, so as to be assisted. We were mether. Occasionally I procured an old jacket or trowsers, too cold to speak, but remained in silence, looking at each or a pair of shoes, at the store of an old woman, who dealt in other, and with no pleasant forebodings as to our fate. The every thing that could be imagined; and, if ever I picked up ice now formed in large masses; the icicles hung from our oakum, or drifting pieces of wood, I used to sell them to old clothes, and all sense was lost in our extremities. It was now Nanny-for that was the only name she was known by. My dark as pitch; and so feeble were we that it was with diffimother, having lost her lodgers by her ill temper, and con- culty we could keep in our positions. At last the storm abatinual quarrelling with her neighbors, had resorted to washing ted, the sky cleared up, and the bright full moon shone in the and getting up of fine linen, at which she was very expert, heavens; but our case appeared hopeless-we felt that before and earned a good deal of money. To do her justice, she morning we must perish. I tried to say what prayers I had was a very industrious woman, and, in some things, very learned by hearing my sister say them; but my teeth chattered, clever. She was a very good dress-maker, and used to make and I could only think them. At last, I perceived a vessel at up the gowns and bonnets for the lower classes of people, to anchor-the tide was sweeping us past-we were close to her whom she gave great satisfaction. She worked very hard for and I contrived to cry out; but there was no reply. Again I herself and my sister, about whose dress and appearance she screamed, but it was in vain. They were all in their warm was more particular than ever; indeed, she showed as much beds; while we floated past, freezing to death. My hopes, affection for her as she did ill will towards me. To look at which had been raised, and which had occasioned my heart me, with my old trowsers tucked up above my knees, my to resume its beating, now sank down again, and I gave my

self up in despair. I burst into tears; and, before the tears had rolled half way down my cheeks, they had frozen hard. "I am indeed 'Poor Jack' now," thought I; "I shall never see my father or Virginia any more." As I thought so, I saw another vessel ahead of us. I summoned all my strength, and called out long before we floated past her. The light wind bore my voice down; there was a man on deck, and he heard it; he walked forward, and I perceived him looking over the bows. I hallooed again, to direct his attention to where we were; for our wherry was so incrusted with ice, that she might have been taken for a larger piece floating by. I saw him turn away, and heard him thump with a handspike on the deck. How my heart bounded! I almost felt warm. As we were passing the vessel, I cried out again and again, and the man answered me

you."

patting me, and was delighted to see me again. But my mother
took her by the hand, and catching up the half-made dress and
bonnet in her other, walked away up stairs to her room,
singing-
"There was an old man who lived under a hill,

And if he's not dead, he lives there still."
"So much for motherly love! Dang it, what's her heart
made of?" said a voice. I turned round; it was old Ben, who
had been an unobserved spectator of the scene.
CHAPTER X.

In which I narrate what I consider the most fortunate incident in my

life; and Ben the Whaler confides to me a very strange history. Among the pensioners, there was one with whom I must make the reader acquainted; as he will be an important per son in this narrative. His name was Peter Ahderson, a north

countryman, I believe from Greenock: he had been gunner's
mate in the service for many years; and, having been severely
wounded in an action, he had been sent to Greenwich. He
was a boatswain in Greenwich Hospital; that is, he had charge
of a ward of twenty-five men; and Ben the Whaler had lately
been appointed one of the boatswain's mates under him. He
was a very good scholar, and had read a great deal. You
could hardly put any question to him, but you would get from
him a satisfactory sort of an answer; and he was generally
referred to in all points of dispute, especially in matters con-
nected with the service, which he had at his fingers' ends; and,
moreover, he was a very religious, good man.
I never heard
him swear, but correct all those who did so in his presence.

"Ay, ay, hold on for a minute or two, and I'll send for "We are saved," I cried to the waterman; but he was quite insensible, apparently frozen stiff where he was clinging. In a few minutes I heard the sound of oars, and then they stopped; the boat came quietly alongside, that they might not by the shock throw us off into the water; they dragged us both in, and took us on board, poured a glass of brandy down our throats, stripped off our frozen clothes, chafed our limbs, and put us between the hot blankets which they had just left. As soon as I was in bed, the mate made me drink a tumbler of hot grog, and left me. I soon fell into a deep sleep, long before they had ceased their attempts to restore vitality to my companion; which at last they did. When I awoke the next morning, I was quite well; and the waterman was also recovering, although not able to leave his hammock. The mate who had had the watch and had saved us, told me that the wherry was safe on board; and, as the ship was bound up the river, that we had better remain where we were. I narrated our accident; and my clothes having been dried at the caboose, I dressed myself, and went on deck. My companion, the waterman, did not escape so well; his foot was frost-bit-looking old man, with grey locks curling down on his shoul ten, and he lost four of his toes, before he recovered. It was singular that he, who was a man grown up, should suffer so much more than I did. I cannot account for it, except that my habit of always being in the water had hardened me more to the cold. We remained on board two days; during which we were treated with great kindness.

It was a fine bright morning, when, as the ship was passing the hospital, we shoved the wherry off, and landed at the steps; and, when we jumped out, we were greeted by all who were standing there. We had very naturally been given up for lost. They supposed that we had perished in the snow storm. Old Ben was among those who were standing at the steps, and he walked up with me to my mother's house.

"I did go to the old woman and break the matter to her in a becoming way, Jack," said Ben; "but I can't say that she appeared to take it much to heart, and that's the truth. Had it been little Jenny, she'd have cried her eyes out."

I arrived at Fisher's Alley, and the neighbors looked out; and as I nodded to them, they cried "Why, here's Jack come back again. Where have you been to, Jack?" This passing from mouth to mouth, at last reached my mother's ears; she looked out, and saw me and Old Ben close to the door. "Here be your son, Misses," said Ben; " so you may thank God for his mercy."

But my mother did not appear to be very thankful. She turned round and went in; I followed her, while Ben was standing at the door in amazement at her not flying to me and kissing me. On the contrary, she must have been angry at my return; for she commenced singing

"Jack and Gill went up the hill

To fetch a pail of water;
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Gill came tumbling after."

And then she broke out-"And where have you been, you
good-for-nothing-boy, all this time? putting me to all this use-
less expence that you have; all my money thrown away for
nothing." I looked at the table, and perceived that she had
been making a black dress and bonnet, to put little Virginia
into mourning; for she never let slip an opportunity to dress
out my sister.

"Fifteen good shillings thrown away and lost-all by your coming back. Your sister would have looked so beautiful and interesting in it. Poor child! and now she will be disappointed. Never mind, my darling, you may have to wear them soon yet, if he goes on in this way.'

Virginia did not seem to mind it at all; she was kissing and

He had saved some money in the service; the interest which, with his allowances as boatswain, enabled him to ob tain many little comforts, and to be generous to others. Before Ben was shifted over to Anderson's ward, which he was when he was appointed boatswain's mate under him, they had not been well acquainted; but, since that time, they were almost always together; so that now I knew Anderson, which I did not before, except by sight. He was a very venerableders, but very stout and hearty; and, as Ben had told him all interest. When I came back, after the providential escape I about me, he took notice of me, and appeared also to take an have mentioned in the last chapter, Ben had narrated to him the conduct of my mother; and a day or two afterward, when the frost had broken up, and they were both sitting down, basking in the sun, which was shining bright, I went up to them. "Well, Jack," said old Ben, "are you ready for another trip down the river?"

"I hope I shall earn my sixpence at an easier rate, if I do go," replied I.

"It was wonderful that you were saved, boy," said Peter Anderson; "and you ought to be very thankful to the Omniscient."

I stared; for I had never heard that term applied to the

Deity.

he couldn't mean any other.
"You mean God, don't you?" said I, at last; for I thought

'Yes, boy; has not your mother taught you that name?" "She never would teach me any thing. All the prayers I know I have stolen from my sister."

"And what do you know, Jack?"

"I know 'Our Father,' and 'Now I lay me down to sleep,' and I believe that is all."

"How old are you now, Jack?"

mother say, was six the other day-then I suppose I'm nine. "I am three years older than Virginia; she, I heard my "Do you know your letters?"

Yes, some of them; I learned them on the boats." "But you cannot read ?"

"No, not a word."

Don't you ever go to church?"

No, never. Mother takes little Virginia; but she says I'm too ragged and ungenteel."

Why does your mother neglect you? I suppose you are a bad boy?"

"That he 's not," interrupted Ben; "that's not the reason. But we must not talk about that now; only I must take Jack's part. Go on, Peter."

"Would you like to learn to read, Jack?" said Anderson; "and would you like to hear me read the Bible to you, until you can read it yourself?"

"Indeed I would," replied I. "There's many of the boys on the beach, smaller than me, who can both read and write.'