re he could return.
The recollection of the situation in which he had found him on his
return from the West Indies made Newton resolve not to leave his father
without some surety of his being provided with the means of subsistence.
He was not without some employment, and earned sufficient for their
mutual maintenance by working as a rigger on board of the ships fitting
for sea; and he adhered to this means of livelihood until something
better should present itself. Had Newton been alone in the world, or
his father able to support himself, he would have immediately applied to
Captain Carrington to receive him in some capacity on board of his
frigate, or have entered on board of some other man-of-war. Newton's
heart was too generous, and his mind too truly English, not to bound
when he read or heard of the gallant encounters between the vessels of
the rival nations, and he longed to be one of the many thousands so
diligently employed in twining the wreath of laurel round their
country's brow.

Nearly one year of constant fatigue, constant expectation, and constant
disappointment was thus passed away; affairs grew daily worse,
employment scarce, money scarcer. Newton, who had been put off from
receiving his wages until the ensuing day, which, as they had no credit,
was in fact putting off their dinner also to the morrow, went home, and
dropped on a chair in a despondent mood, at the table, where Nicholas
was already seated.

"Well, Newton, what's for dinner?" said Nicholas, drawing his chair
close to the table, in preparation.

"I have not been paid the money due to me," replied Newton, "and,
father, I'm afraid there's nothing."

Nicholas backed his chair from the table again, with an air of
resignation, as Newton continued--

"Indeed, father, I think we must try our fortune elsewhere. What's the
use of staying where we cannot get employment? Every thing is now gone,
except our wearing apparel. We might raise some money upon mine, it is
true; but had we not better, before we spend it, try if fortune will be
more favourable to us in some other place?"

"Why, yes, Newton, I've been thinking that if we were to go to London,
my improvement on the duplex--"

"Is that our only chance there, sir?" replied Newton, half smiling.

"Why no; now I think of it, I've a brother there, John Forster, or Jack,
as we used to call him. It's near thirty years since I heard of him;
but somebody told me when you were in the West