mate soon did what no dangers or common hardships could do; it
took away the use of his limbs, and almost overcame his brave spirit.
He returned home, feeling that he should never succeed in the navy or in
anything else. But then suddenly he thought, `I was not born to die
unknown. I'll try what I can do. I'll trust in Providence. I'll serve
my king and country--I will be a hero.' I heard him say this long
after, and I have often since thought if all lads were to try to do
their best, and trust in Providence, we shouldn't hear of so many as we
do getting into poverty and disgrace.

"No officer, I have heard, ever passed a better examination for
seamanship and navigation than did Mr Nelson. His uncle was present,
but did not say who the young man was till the examination was over.
Whatever he did he tried to do as well as he could; that was the reason
of his success. Just about this time, young as I was, my father took me
to sea with him, and we went out to the West Indies. We were shortly
turned over to the `Hichinbrook,' a prize captured from the enemy, and
mounting twenty-eight guns. I was walking the deck with my father when
a thin, sallow, small young man stepped up the side. I should have
taken him for a midshipman, but he had on a post-captain's uniform. He
nodded, as an old acquaintance, to my father, who stood hat in hand with
the other men to receive him. `That's Mr Nelson, our new captain,'
said my father; `he'll not let the grass grow under his feet.' That was
the first time I ever saw the great Lord Nelson. What my father said
was true. We soon sailed to convoy a fleet of transports destined to
attack Saint Juan de Nicaragua. Up a muddy river we pulled, led by our
captain, with a hot scorching sun striking down on us. We arrived
before a fort. Captain Nelson leaped on shore, sword in hand, leaving
his shoes in the mud, to attack it. The fort was taken, and so was San
Juan itself; and though the grass did not grow under our feet, it was
soon growing over the heads of numbers of the fine fellows who composed
the expedition--both redcoats and seamen; and though our captain,
receiving notice of his appointment to another ship, the `Janus,' sailed
away immediately, we lost the greater number of our people by sickness.
The captain was so knocked up that he had to go home invalided, as did
my father, who was never able again to go to sea. I went with him, and
we lived for some time at Deal.

"I