er; he had never saved a sixpence. His
club buried him, and we were left to live as we could, or to go to the
workhouse. Mother said that she would never do that, and with God's
help she'd try to feed and clothe us. She found it very hard work
though.

There were ten of us. Jane, who was sixteen, and just going into
service, was the eldest, and little Bill, who was in arms, was the
youngest. I was the fourth child.

Farmer Denn took Sam, who was a strong lad, and Jack went to Mr Sweet,
the grocer in the village, who wanted an errand boy. Jane got a place
as maid-of-all-work--and very hard work it was.

He was the only one besides who had the chance of gaining a penny,
except little Ben, and as he was a sharp chap, he used to be set to
scare away the birds, with a clapper in his hands, and such-like work;
but to be sure he did not make much.

So mother had six children to feed and clothe, we may say, and all of us
more or less to clothe, for even sister Jane could not do without help.

When father was alive we elder ones went to school; so I knew about the
sea, and a few things in foreign parts, which I had read of in books.
One evening when Sam and Jack came home, I said to them, "This will
never do; mother mustn't work as she does, it will kill her. I've made
up my mind to go to sea. May be I shall be able to make money, and send
her home some. I've read of lands where people, just with a spade and
pick, dig up gold as we should potatoes. I'll see what I can do."

Sam, who was just a quiet, steady lad, and did his tasks as well as any
boy at school, laughed, and said that I might dig a long time before I
should get gold enough to fill my pocket.

Still I thought and thought over the matter, till at last I told mother
that I had made up my mind to go to sea, and hoped soon she would have
one mouth less to feed.

She looked very sad when she heard me say this, but I told her not to
grieve, and that I would soon be back, and that it would be all for the
best.

That's what father used to say, "It's all for the best,--God knows
what's best for us." I've stuck to the same ever since. Blow high or
blow low, when the ship has been driven by the wind towards the rocks,
and all on board have thought we were going to be lost, I've said the
same, "Trust in God, He knows what is best for us." What's more, I've
always found it come true.

Mother saw things in the same way at last, and gave me her blessing, a