he alteration of dress
and disguise of a long beard, I discovered in him my long lost and
lamented uncle and benefactor, Lieutenant Bowling! Good Heaven! what
were the agitations of my soul, between the joy of finding again such a
valuable friend, and the sorrow of seeing him in such a low condition!
The tears gushed down my cheeks; I stood motionless and silent for some
time. At length, recovering the use of speech, I exclaimed, "Gracious
God! Mr. Bowling!" My uncle no sooner heard his name mentioned, than
he started up, crying, with some surprise, "Holla!" and, after having
looked at me steadfastly, without being able to recollect me, said,
"Did you call me, brother," I told him I had something extraordinary to
communicate, and desired him to give me the hearing for a few minutes in
another room; but he would by no means consent to this proposal, saying,
"Avast there, friend: none of your tricks upon travellers;--if you have
anything to say to me, do it above board;--you need not be afraid of
being overheard;--here are none who understand our lingo." Though I was
loth to discover myself before company, I could no longer refrain from
telling him I was his own nephew, Roderick Random. On this information,
he considered me with great earnestness and astonishment, and, recalling
my features, which, though enlarged, were not entirely altered since
he had seen me, came up, and shook me by the hand very cordially,
protesting he was glad to see me well. After some pause, he went on
thus; "And yet, my lad, I am sorry to see you under such colours; the
more so, as it is not in my power, at present, to change them for
the better, times being very hard with me," With these words I could
perceive a tear trickle down his furrowed cheek, which affected me so
munch that I wept bitterly.

Imagining my sorrow was the effect of my own misfortunes, he comforted
me with observing, that life was a voyage in which we must expect to
meet with all weathers; sometimes was calm, sometimes rough; that a fair
gale often succeeded a storm; that the wind did not always sit one
way, and that despair signified nothing; that resolution and skill were
better than a stout vessel: for why? because they require no carpenter,
and grow stronger the more labour they undergo. I dried up my tears,
which I assured him were not shed for my own distress, but for his, and
begged leave to accompany him into another room, where we could converse
more at our ease. Th