gentleman and his wife, who wished to proceed to England. The cabin
was cleared out, and every preparation made to receive them on board,
and in the evening the boat was sent on shore for the luggage. I went
in the boat, as I thought it likely that the gentleman would give the
boat's crew something to drink; nor was I wrong--he gave us four
dollars, which we spent immediately in one of the ventas, and were
all more or less intoxicated. It had been arranged that the luggage
should first be carried on board, and after that, we were to return
for the passengers, as we were to sail early in the morning. We
pulled off with the luggage, but on our arrival on board, I was so
drunk, that the captain would not allow me to return in the boat, and
I knew nothing of what had passed until I was roused up the next
morning to assist in getting the ship under weigh. We had been under
weigh two or three hours, and were clearing the land fast, when the
gentleman passenger came on neck; I was then coiling down a rope on
the quarter-deck, and as he passed by me, I looked at him, and I
recognised him immediately as your father. Years had passed--from a
stripling he had grown a man, but his face was not to be mistaken.
There he was, apparently a gentlemen of property and consideration;
and I, what was I? a drunken sailor. All I hoped was, that he would
not recognise me. Shortly afterwards he went down again, and returned
escorting his wife on deck. Again I took a furtive curious glance,
and perceived at once that she was that Miss Evelyn whom I had once
so loved, and by my folly had lost. This was madness. As they stood
on the deck enjoying the cool sea breeze, for the weather was
delightfully fine, the captain came up and joined them. I was so
confused at my discovery, that I knew not what I was about, and I
presume was doing something very awkwardly; for the captain said to
me--'Jackson, what are you about, you drunken hound? I suppose you
are not sober yet.' At the mention of my name, your father and mother