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
tea-kettle--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 waterman 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 my mother, I consented.

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;