them.

Little Peter was in earnest in all things; his faith was earnest, his
speech was earnest; truthfulness beamed from his eyes, he was in earnest
in whatever he was about. Farmer Ashton discovered this by the way he
looked after his sheep. Peter knew every one of them, and reported the
least sign of disease--not a sore foot escaped his vigilant eye. The
farmer offered to increase his wages if he would stop, when Peter told
him he wished to leave his service and go to sea, and was very angry
when, though thanking him kindly, he said that he had made up his mind
on the matter and meant to go. The farmer warned him that he would have
to endure all sorts of dangers and disasters, and was a fool for his
pains. Betsy also had used every argument to dissuade him from his
purpose, but nothing could change it. When she found that all she could
say had no effect, she gave him the money she had charge of, and
assisted him in getting ready some clothes that he might set forth in a
respectable manner to the neighbouring port to which the carrier, who
passed through the hamlet once a week, undertook to convey him.

CHAPTER TWO.

A START IN LIFE.

The carrier's cart stopped on a height above the little town of Oldport.
Peter gazed with wonder and admiration on the wide ocean spread out
before him, now bright and shining under a blue sky and light summer
breeze. It surpassed his utmost expectations--a beautiful highway it
seemed to those distant regions he had longed to visit, and he fancied
that there could be no impediment in his course till he could reach
them.

As soon as the carrier had deposited him and his bundle at the inn close
to the harbour, he set out to walk along the quay, and looked at the
vessels whose tall masts rose in a long row above it. As he had never
before seen a vessel, he was unable to judge of their size; to his eyes
they seemed mighty ships, capable of battling with the wildest waves
which could ever rage across the bosom of the deep. They were in
reality colliers or other small coasters, as no vessels of any size
could enter the harbour. He was ready to go on board the first which
would receive him.

Peter had never had any playmates or young companions. He had lived
alone with his mother, who had taught him to read, and trained him in
the love and fear of God. The Bible was almost the only book he knew.
He was, in consequence, grave beyond his years. The few neighbours used
to