a
man of business in Halifax, N.S., who was instructed to take a passage
home for me in a good vessel, and to defray any expenses of a reasonable
nature in connection with my affairs. When I was safe home, my father
added, he would take the best advice as to sending me to sea in a proper
and suitable way. Dr. Brown had some relatives who were large
ship-owners, and he seemed to be much interested in my career, out of
regard to the family. I was to let nothing hinder me from coming home at
once, as I valued the love and blessing of my affectionate father.

My mother's letter was infinitely tender, and it was curiously strong.
Not a reproach or a lamentation, but some good counsel, shrewd as well
as noble, and plenty of home news. Only at the end did she even speak
of herself: "You see, my son, I have never had men belonging to me who
earned their livelihood in foreign countries and by dangerous ways, but
you may trust your old mother to learn to do and bear what other mothers
go through with. She will learn to love the sea because you are a
sailor, but, Jack, you must always give her a woman's bitter-sweet
privilege of saying good-bye, and of packing up your things. I am
getting the time over till you come back with socks. I am afraid they
will blister your feet. Martha does not like them because they are like
what the boys wear in the coal-pits, but Dr. Brown declares they are
just right. He chose the worsted when we went to see Miss Bennet's
mother at the Berlin shop, and left it himself as he drove home, with a
bottle of red lavender for my palpitations. I shall never forget his
kindness. He sat here for an hour and a half on Sunday, and spoke of you
to your father as if you had been his own son; and he said himself as he
walked up and down Miss Bennet's, right through the shop and into the
back parlour and out again, talking about you, till the place was quite
full, and Mrs. Simpson could not remember what she had dropped in for,
which, as Dr. Brown said, was not to be wondered at, considering Miss
Bennet completely forgot to take him up-stairs to see her mother, and
it never crossed his own mind till he stopped at our door and found the
old lady's sleeping draught with my red drops. He says he called at your
Uncle Henry's office, and congratulated him on having a nephew of
spirit, and it was market day, so the office was full. Jem says I am to
leave room for him, as he can't think of enough to say to fill a letter
o