if any of them were above-ground--not that I
intended to make myself known. Few of my relatives would have wished to
own a broken-down one-legged old tar like me. I found a brother a
lawyer, and a cousin a parson, and two or three other relations; but,
from what I heard, I thought I should `get more kicks than ha'pence' if
I troubled them, so I determined to 'bout ship and stand off again. I
was, howsomdever, very nearly being found out. I had got this here
craft, which I called the _Conqueror_ in those days, and was showing her
off and spinning one of my yarns, when who should appear at the door of
a handsome house but a lady with several little girls like fairies, and
two fine boys. She and the young ones came down the steps, and after
listening for some time she said in a pleasant voice, taking one of the
youngsters by the hand--

"`This boy is going to sea some day, and we wish him to hear about
sailors, and I know what you tell about them is true, for I once had a
brother who went away to sea, and used to write to me and give me
accounts of what happened. Poor fellow! he lost his leg just as you
have done, and after that I heard no more from him, so that I fear he
died.'

"`That was very likely, marm,' said I. `In case I might have fallen in
with him, may I be so bold to ask his name?'

"The lady, as I had a curious feeling she would, told me my own name,
and then I knew for certain that she was my youngest sister Mary, the
only one of the family who pitied me when others had cast me off. I had
a hard matter not to make myself known, but I thought to myself that it
would do no good to those pretty young ladies and gentlemen to find out
their weather-beaten, rough old uncle. Mary herself, too, I had a
notion would not have been really pleased; though, bless her gentle
heart, I was sure that she would have been kind to me; and so I gulped
down my feelings, and declared that I remembered a man of that name, who
was dead and gone long ago. The words stuck in my throat, howsomdever,
as I spoke them; and I was obliged to wish her good-morning and stump
off, or she would have found me out. I hadn't got far before she called
me back, and putting a five-shilling piece in my hand she said--

"`Pray accept this trifle, my good man, for the sake of my lost brother,
for I know what you tell me is true, and that you are a genuine sailor.'

"`May Heaven bless you, my dear,' says I--I was as near as possible
poppin