which held him fast; and
Flora was quite able to hold them all--though it must be admitted that
she had infinitely more trouble with the little boats than she had with
the big ship, for they had all wandering wills of their own, and, from
the time of their first appearance, evinced a strong tendency to strain
with tremendous vigour at their cables. Indeed, on several occasions,
one or two of the boats attempted actually to cut their cables and make
off, as the old ship had done before them, but Will's wisdom and Flora's
winning ways prevailed, and it was found that, having been trained in
the way in which they should go from the commencement, they did not
depart from that way when they grew old.

In reference to the early existence of this little flotilla, we may,
with propriety, quote the opinion of Maryann--than whom there could not
be a better witness, for she dwelt in Will's house, and nursed them all
as she had nursed their father before them--superintended, of course, by
old Mrs Osten, who dwelt in a cottage of her own hard by, and watched
the rise and progress of her descendants for many a year with keen
felicity. Maryann, in talking over matters with her faithful bosom
friend, was wont to say:--

"Yes, Jemimar, I never had two opinions about it, they're the
beautifulest an' sweetest children I ever did 'ave had to do with--just
as Master Will, their papa, was simularly so; but I'm free to confess
that they all has a surprisin' sperrit. There's Master William, now (I
can't abear to call him Will, because that was the name as 'is father
went by, and I 'old that in a sense it is sacred), there's Master
William, though 'e's only jist out o' frocks an' frilled trousers, and
noo into blue tights an' brass buttons, there 'e is, goin' about the
country on a pony as isn't much bigger than a Noofoundland dog, but goes
over the 'edges an ditches in a way as makes my blood to curdle an' my
skin to creep, with that dear boy on 'is back and 'is tail flyin be'ind,
an' shoutin' with a sort of wild delight that I do think is wicked--I do
indeed, Jemimar, I give you my word I think it sinful, though, of
course, 'e dont mean it so, poor child, and 'is father cheerin' 'im on
in a way that must sear 'is conscience wuss than a red 'ot iron, w'ich
'is mother echoes too! it is quite past my compre'ension. Then 'e comes
'ome sich a figur, with 'oles in 'is trousers an' 'is 'ats squeezed flat
an' 'is jackets torn. But Master Charl