asts. It was my first real
lesson in the duty of a seaman. I am now much obliged to our worthy
master. I mention it to show that the realities of a midshipman's life
on board a merchantman, if the captain does his duty, are not quite what
young gentlemen anticipate.

We had a quick passage to Singapore. There discharging our cargo,
which, from that important mart of the East, was distributed in small
craft in all directions among the numberless islands of those seas, we
got ready for our return home, having to call at Melbourne on our way.
Having taken in our cargo, we polished up, and hearing that several
passengers were coming on board, we midshipmen put on our best uniforms
to receive them, flattering ourselves that, as the paint-brushes and
polishing leathers had been kept going, we and the ship cut a very
respectable appearance. Captain Johns was proud of his ship, and
prouder still of keeping his crew in perfect order. We had several
passengers, a Mr and Mrs Haliday and three children, a Mrs Burnett,
Mrs Magnus, and a Mr Turner, a merchant. The ladies were going home,
I believe, on account of health. My chief friend on board was the
surgeon of the ship, Mr Gilbert. He was a young man, but very
intelligent and scientific, and took a pleasure in imparting the
information he possessed. There seemed thus every prospect of our
having a pleasant voyage home. Mr Crawford was the first mate. I was
in his watch. Our second mate was a Mr Morgan. With colours flying,
our smart little ship stood out of the harbour of Singapore. The
weather was fine and the sea smooth.

"Do you think we shall have this sort of weather all the way home,"
asked Mr Haliday, who was a timid man, and anxious about his wife and
family.

"Well, sir, I have made three or four passages, when we carried the fine
weather the whole way out and home, but if we do not, we must do our
best and trust to God, Mr Haliday, that is my maxim, and I have always
found it hold good. I have been at sea ever since I was a boy, and in
more hurricanes and gales of wind than I can well count up, and yet I
never was shipwrecked, and here I am alive and well," answered Captain
Johns, to whom the question had been put.

"But, captain, there is a saying, `the pitcher which goes often to the
well gets broken at last.'"

"That, I rather think, means to refer to those who tempt God, and a man
who has to run into danger in the way of duty is not to my mind d