"What part of the country did you live in when you were young, mother?"

"In the north part : but never ask questions."

"Yes, but, mother, I wish to ask questions. I wish you to tell me your whole history. I will not tell it again to any one, I promise you."

"But why should you wish to know the history of a poor old thing like me?"

“Because, mother, I am sure you must have seen better days." "And if I have, Jack, is it kind to ask me to bring up to memory the days when I was fair and rich, when the world smiled upon me, and I was fool enough to think that it would always smile? is it kind to recall what was to an old, miserable, deserted wretch like me, struggling to keep out of the workhouse? Look at me now, Jack, and see what I now am: is it not cruel to bring to my mind what I once was? Go to, Jack, you're a selfish boy, and I don't love you."

"Indeed, mother, if I thought it would have given you pain, I never would have asked you; but you cannot wonder at me. Recollect that you have ever been my best friend: you trusted me when nobody else would; and can you be surprised at my feeling an interest about you? Why, mother, I don't even know your

name."

"Well, Jack, you have put things in a better light. I do believe that you care for me, and who else does? but, Jack, my name you never shall know, even if I am to tell you all the rest.” "Were you ever married, mother?"

"Yes, child, I was married. Now, what's the next question ?" continued she, impatiently.

"Had you any children?”

"Yes, boy, I had one - one that was a source of misery and shame to his doting mother." Old Nanny pressed her eyeballs with her knuckles, as if in agony.

"I won't ask you any more questions," said I, mournfully.

"Not now, Jack, that's a good boy; some other day, perhaps, I'll tell you all. There's a lesson in every life, and a warning in too

-

many. You'll come again, Jack; yes, I know you'll come to hear my story; so I shall see you once more before you leave go now." Old Nanny rose and went in-doors, taking her stool in her hand, and leaving the presents where they lay, outside, a proof that she was in great agitation. I put them inside the threshold, and then went homewards.

I could not help remarking, as I walked home, that old Nanny's language and manner appeared very superior when she broke out in these reminiscences of the past, and I felt more interest in her than I ever had before.

On my return, I found Bramble, who had come down sooner than he was expected, sitting in the parlour with Peter Anderson and my father, all smoking, with porter on the table.

"Well, Tom," said Bramble, here I am two days before my time, but that's better than being two days after it, and, what's more, I've got the money, both yours and mine. They told me I should not get it for three months at least; but I sent up my name to the Board, and explained to them, that a pilot could not wait like a purser, while they were passing accounts, so the gentleman laughed, and gave me an order for it, and I've got all my pilotage too; so I'm a rich man just now. Come, I'll give you yours at once, and I hope it may not be the last hundred pounds that you'll pick up."

Bramble pulled his leathern case out of his pilot jacket, and counted out ten ten-pound notes. "There, Jack, you ought to give me a receipt, for I signed for you at the India House."

"Oh, you've plenty of witnesses," replied I, as I collected the notes, and giving them to Virginia, told her to take them to my mother, who was up stairs in her room.

"To tell you the truth, Jack, this two hundred pounds, which I earned so easily, has just come in the right time, and with it and my pilotage I shall now be able to do what I have long wished." "And what's that?" inquired I. "Something for Bessy, I suppose."

Exactly, Tom: it is something for Bessy, that is, it will be by and by. I've a good matter of money, which I've laid by year

after year, and worked hard for it, too, and I never have known what to do with it. I can't understand the funds and those sort of things, so I have kept some here and some there. Now you know the grass land at the back of the cottage: it forms part of a tidy little farm, which is rented for seventy pounds a year, by a good man, and it has been for sale these three years; but I never could manage the price till now. When we go back to Deal, I shall try if I can buy that farm; for, you see, money may slip through a man's fingers in many ways, but land can't run away; and, as you say, it will be Bessy's one of these days — and more too, if I can scrape it up."

"You are right, Bramble," said Peter Anderson; "and I am glad to hear that you can afford to buy the land."

"Why, there's money to be picked up by pilotage, if you work hard, and ar'n't afraid of heavy ships," replied Bramble.

"Well, I never had a piece of land, and never shall have, I suppose," said my father. "I wonder how a man must feel, who can stand on a piece of ground, and say 'This is my own.''

"Who knows, father? it's not impossible but you may."

"Impossible! no, nothing's impossible, as they say on board of a man-of-war; it's not impossible to get an apology out of a midshipman, but it's the next thing to it."

"Because midshipmen are so saucy-why, I don't know. They haven't no rank as officers, nor so much pay as a petty officer, and yet they give themselves more airs than a lieutenant."

"I'll tell you why," replied Anderson. "A lieutenant takes care what he is about. He is an officer, and has something to lose; but a midshipman has nothing to lose; and therefore he cares about nothing. You can't break a midshipman, as the saying is, unless you break his neck. And they have necks which arn't easily broken, that's sartain."

"They do seem to me to have more lives than a cat," observed my father; who after a pause continued,

"Well, I was saying how hard it was to get an apology out of a midshipman; I'll just tell you what took place on board of one

6

ship I served in. There was a young midshipman on board who was mighty free with his tongue : he didn't care what he said to any body, from the captain downward. He'd have his joke, come what would, and he'd set every body a-laughing: punish him as much as you please, it was all the same. One day, when we were off Halifax harbour, the master, who was a good-tempered fellow enough, but not over bright, was angry with this young chap for something that he had not done, and called him a 'confounded young bear.' Upon which the youngster runs to the jacob ladder of the main rigging, climbs up, and as soon as he had gained the main rattlings, he cries out, Well, if I'm a bear, you ar'n't fit to carry guts to a bear.' 'What, Sir?' cried the master. Mutiny, by heavens! Up to the mast-head, sir, directly.' Don't you see that I was going of my own accord?' replied the midshipman; for, you see, he knew that he would be sent there, so he went up the rigging on purpose. Well, this was rather a serious affair; and so the master reports it to the first lieutenant, who reports it to the captain, who sends for the youngster on the quarter-deck, at the time that the ship's company were at quarters. 'Mr. -,' (I forget his name) said the captain (drawing himself up to his full height, and perhaps an inch or two above it, as they say), 'you have been guilty of disrespect to your superior officer, in telling him that he was not fit to carry guts to a bear' (the captain could hardly help laughing); ' now, sir,' continued he, recovering himself, 'I give you your choice; either you will make an apology to Mr. Owen, on this quarter-deck, or you must quit my ship immediately.' 'Sir,' replied the midshipman, 'I don't think it quite fair that the master should first punish me himself, and then complain to you afterwards. He has taken the law into his own hands already, by mast-heading me for eight hours, and now he makes a complaint to you; but I am always ready to do as you wish; and, to please you, I will make an apology.' There is some truth in your observation,' replied the captain, and I have pointed the same out to the master; but still this is a breach of discipline which cannot be passed over, and requires a public retraction before the whole ship's company. I, therefore, insist upon your retracting what

them.'

you have said.' Certainly, sir,' replied the youngster. 'Mr. Owen,' continued he, turning to the master, 'I said that you were not fit to carry guts to a bear: I was in the wrong, and I retract with pleasure, for I am perfectly satisfied that you are fit to carry 'Sir!' cried the captain. O, captain G-!' interrupted the master, who did not take the joke, I'm perfectly satisfied. The young gentleman sees his error, and has retracted; I ask no more.' If you are satisfied, sir,' replied the captain, biting his lips, of course I have nothing more to say. Youngster, you may go to your duty, and recollect that you never again use such expressions to your superior officer;' and, said he, in a low tone, 'I may add, never venture in my presence to make such an apology as that again.""

I never saw old Anderson laugh so much as he did at this story of my father's. They continued to talk and smoke their pipes till about nine o'clock, when my father and he went to the Hospital, and Bramble took possession of a bed which had been prepared for him in my mother's house.

CHAP. XXIX.

IN WHICH I LEARN THE HISTORY OF OLD NANNY.

THE next day, as soon as I had finished a letter to Bessy, in which I gave her a detail of what had passed, I went to old Nanny's, to persuade her, if possible, to tell me her history. She was not at home, the door of her house was locked, and the shutters of the shop fastened. I was about to return to Fisher's Alley, when I perceived her hobbling down the street. I thought it better to make it appear as if I met her by accident; so I crossed over the way, and walked towards her. "Well, mother," said I, "are you out

so early?"