day, flew out of the porch and had her arms round my neck, with my
mother after her and father and my brother Tom, too--the latter bringing
up the rear, his dignity not allowing him to hurry himself too much; and
what with meeting and greeting these all thoughts of Doctor Jollop and
his pills and everything else were banished from my mind--everything,
save the delicious feeling of being at home again.

"And what have you here, Allan?" inquired sister Nellie when all the
kissing and hugging was over, and I'd asked and answered at least a
thousand questions. "A bird?"

"Yes, a starling," said I, introducing Dick and telling them his history
as we all went back into the house, keeping this a surprise and not
mentioning about the little beggar in my letter from Shanghai. "I've
brought him home for you, Nellie."

"Oh, thank you, Allan," she cried, hugging me again. "What a dear
little fellow!"

"Ah, wait till you hear him talk," said I, speaking to Dick and giving
him my old whistle, "Dick, Dick!"

"Hullo!" cracked the starling, so comically, in Tim Rooney's voice that
they all burst out laughing, "here's a jolly row!"

Dick then whistled a couple of bars, which was all he could accomplish,
of "Tom Bowling," after which he ejaculated his favourite expression,
"Bad cess to ye!" in such a faithful imitation of my friend the
boatswain's manner that father smiled with the rest; although he said
drily, "Your bird, Nellie, I hope will learn better language when he has
been amongst us a bit longer!"

My chest arriving presently from the station, I had the happiness of
showing them all that I had forgotten none when away; for I had got a
Mandarin hat for Tom, and two old china jars I had brought for mother
delighting her heart, while Ching Wang's idol which I gave father
especially pleased him. He became, too, I may add, all the more deeply
interested in this little idol when I told him all the circumstances
connected with it, and the impression the Chinaman's devotion to his god
had made on me.

I have little further to say, having now given a full, true, and
faithful account of my first voyage; although I might point out to you
that I was no longer a "green" apprentice, but now able to "reef, hand,
and steer," as "Old Jock," or rather Captain Gillespie to speak more
respectfully of him, said when I was leaving the ship, expressing the
hope of having me with him on his next trip out, as I "had the makings
of a sailor