cannot wonder at mc. 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 onc-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 tho 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 arn'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." "Why do they say that, father?"

"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 have more lives than a cat," observed my father; who after a pause continued,

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'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 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 anybody, from the captain downward. He'd have his joke, come what would, and he'd set everybody 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, ho

6

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 licutenant, 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 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