ake his pipe on the beach. He left me alone with Bessy; and now, for
the first time, I plainly told her the state of my affections, and asked
her to consent to be my wife. I did not plead in vain, as the reader
may suppose from what he has already been made acquainted with.

After Bessy had retired, and I was sitting with Bramble, who had his
glass of grog and pipe as usual, I made him acquainted with my success.

"All right, Tom," said he, "I'm thankful--and God bless you both."

And had I not reason also to be thankful? When I had retired to my room
that night, I thought over the various passages in my life. What might
I have been if Providence had not watched over me? When neglected in my
youth, in a situation which exposed me to every temptation, had not old
Anderson been sent as a guardian to keep me in the right path, to
instruct me, and to give me that education, without which my future
success might have turned out a disadvantage instead of a source of
gratitude? In Bramble, again, I had met with a father, to supply the
place of one who was not in a situation to do his duty to me or forward
me in life. In old Nanny I had met with a kind friend, one who, at the
same time that she would lead me right, was a warning to me from her
sufferings. To Mrs St. Felix I was equally indebted, and had I not
been permitted to pay the debt of gratitude to both of them? Even my
mother's harshness, which appeared at first to my short-sightedness to
have been so indefensible, was of great advantage to me, as it had
stimulated me to exertion and industry, and pointed out to me the value
of independence. Was I not also most fortunate in having escaped front
the entanglement of Janet, who, had I married her, would, in all
probability, have proved an useless if not a faithless helpmate; and
still more so, in finding that there was, as it were, especially
reserved for me the affection of such a noble, right-minded creature as
Bessy? My life, commenced in rags and poverty, had, by industry and
exertion, and the kindness of others, step by step progressed to
competence, and every prospect of mundane happiness. Had I not,
therefore, reason to be grateful, and to feel that there had been a
little cherub who had watched over the life of Poor Jack? On my bended
knees I acknowledged it fervently and gratefully, and prayed that,
should it please Heaven that I should in after life meet any reverse, I
might bear it without repining