ry undutiful thing for him to say. What's the reason,
Jacob, that sons be always cleverer than their fathers?"

"I didn't know that was the case, Tom."

"But it is so _now_, if it wasn't in _olden time_. The proverb says,
`Young people _think_ old people to be fools, but old people _know_
young people to be fools.' We must alter that, for I says, `Old people
_think_ young people to be fools, but young people _know_ old people to
be fools.'"

"Have it your own way, Tom, that will do, rowed of all."

We tossed in our oars, made the boat fast, and gained the deck, where
old Tom still remained at the helm. "Well," said he, "Jacob, I never
thought I should be glad to see the old gentleman clear of the lighter,
but I was--devilish glad; he was like a load on my conscience this
morning; he was trusted to my charge by Mr Drummond, and I had no right
to persuade him to make a fool of himself. But, however, what's done
can't be helped, as you say sometimes; and it's no use crying; still it
was a pity, for he be, for all the world, like a child. There's a fancy
kind of lass in that wherry, crossing _our_ bows; look at the streamers
from her top-gallant.

"Come o'er the sea,
Maiden, to me,
Mine through sunshine, storm, and snows,
Seasons may roll,
But the true soul
Burns the same wherever it goes
Then come o'er the sea,
Maiden, with me."

"See you hanged first, you underpinned old hulk!" replied the female in
the boat, which was then close under our bows.

"Well, that be civil, for certain," said old Tom, laughing.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

I AM UNSHIPPED FOR A SHORT TIME, IN ORDER TO RECORD SHIPMENTS AND
ENGROSS INVOICES--FORM A NEW ACQUAINTANCE, WHAT IS CALLED IN THE WORLD
"A WARM MAN," THOUGH HE PASSED THE BEST PART OF HIS LIFE AMONG ICEBERGS,
AND ONE WHOLE NIGHT WITHIN THE RIBS OF DEATH--HIS WIFE WORKS HARD AT
GENTILITY.

We arrived at Sheerness the next morning, landed the bricks, which were
for the Government buildings, and returned in ballast to the wharf. My
first inquiry was for the Dominie; but he had not yet returned; and Mr
Drummond further informed me that he had been obliged to send away his
under-clerk and wished me to simply take his place until he could
procure another. The lighter therefore took in her cargo, and sailed
without me, which was of consequence, as my apprenticeship still went
on. I now lived with Mr Drummond as one of his own family, and wanted
for nothing. His