did'nt go off and marry your father. That's what dismasted me. Never
bore him nor her any ill-will. 'God bless ye both,' says I; 'may ye be
happy and have a large family!' And it does me good to know that they
was prosperous. Your father had a home to take a woman to, and that is
what a woman should look to. Price Bottom was poor then, and without a
shillin' in his pocket. It was disappointment that made me take to the
sea, though. Went from the fo'castle t'where you see me now--Captain
Price Bottom, sir, of the good ship Pacific. It's a man's own exertion
that lifts him up in the world. There's my poor old woman at home
to-night--God bless her and the two little ones! thinking of me, and
praying for me, and wondering where we are. Laid her up a nice little
fortune; wolf can't bark at her door. That's a gratification, my hearty.
Made three successful voyages, you see. This, our fourth one, is to be
the last. Keep a sharp look ahead, and there's a future for you, too.
Ah, there'll be a heap of happiness a'tween me and my old woman when
this voyage is ended. A true wife at home, and a lovin' husband at
sea--ah, my hearty, them's jewels!"

Tite listened with surprise to the story of this strange and eccentric
man. He had never heard either of his parents mention his name. He,
however, regarded it as very fortunate that he should be on board a ship
commanded by a captain who held his humble parents in such high regard.
The jolly old sailor finished his story by enjoining Tite to keep what
he had said a matter of confidence. He also made him third mate, to fill
the place of the young man who fell from the fore-mast into the sea
during the gale.

"You shall take a hand at killing the first whale; shall command the
larboard boat. And you shall never want a friend while Captain Price
Bottom treads this quarter-deck," he concluded.