Little By Little | Page 3

even asked himself
why he should be tied to his mother's apron string, as Thomas
expressed the subjection of the child to the parent. He was only a year
younger than his companion, and he began to question whether it was
not about time for him to assert his own independence, and cut the
apron string when it pulled too hard upon his inclination.
Paul was the oldest of a family of six children, and was now in his
fourteenth year. His father was a journeyman ship carpenter--an honest,
temperate, hard-working man, who was obliged to struggle with the
realities of life in order to win a comfortable subsistence for his large
family. In the inoffensive sense of the term, he was a poor man; that is,
he lived from hand to mouth, and had not saved a single dollar with
which to meet the misfortunes of life. But he had brought up his family
as well as he could, and given the oldest the best education his limited
means would afford.
Thomas Nettle's father was a wealthy merchant, who had retired from
active business, and lived upon his beautiful estate in Bayville, in
which transpired the events of my story. Major Nettle, as his townsmen
called him,--for he had attained to the rank indicated by his military
title in the militia,--was an easy, careless man, and had but a very low
appreciation of the moral and religious duties and responsibilities of a
parent. It was a favorite theory with him that a boy would do well
enough if only let alone. It was of no use to cram his head or his heart
with notions, as he called them, about morality and religion; the boy
would find them out himself when he wanted them. In support of his
doctrine, he used to point to the minister's son who was in the state
prison, and the deacon's son who had run away to sea to avoid the
house of correction. Of course, then, Master Thomas Nettle's parental
training was never very severe, for he had no one to dispute his
independence when he chose to assert it.

Paul had seen enough of the world to find out that wealth commands a
certain respect, and he could not always keep down a sense of
deference with which his rich companions inspired him; and when they
admitted him to their friendship, he could not help being greatly
influenced by their words and their actions. Thomas was always
dressed well, and always had money in his pocket; and these things
made Paul realize the difference in their social positions. It is true, he
tried to make himself believe that he was as good as any one else, and
would not bend his neck or his knee to the smartest boy in Bayville; yet
he could not but feel the disparity between himself and the sons of his
rich neighbors. He would not go out of his way to court their favor,
though it flattered his vanity to be their chosen companion.
"Steady! why don't you luff her up, when the puffs come," said Thomas,
as a flaw of wind struck the sail, and careened her so far that she took
in a little water over the side.
"Oh, I don't mind a little dash of water over the side," replied Paul, with
a smile; for it must be owned that he was disposed to punish his
companion for the imputations he had cast upon his seamanship and his
courage.
"Well, are you going ashore?" continued Thomas. "Are you going to let
your mother domineer over you? If you do, I hope she will put you in
the cradle and rock you to sleep when you get ashore."
"We must get some ballast," answered Paul, who had not yet got far
enough to declare his independence of maternal authority.
"You are afraid to go!"
"I think I can stand it as long as you can."
"Then what are you going ashore for?"
"After more ballast," replied Paul, who, though deeply stung by the
sneers of Thomas, had not yet decided to disobey his mother.

"Will you take me down to the Point when you get the ballast?"
"I don't know; I'll see."
The old boat dashed on, and in a moment or two grounded upon the
beach. There was a great struggle in the soul of Paul. He did not like to
go contrary to the express command of his mother on the one hand, and
he did not like to incur the derision of Thomas on the other, for he
would tell it to all the boys who would call him "chickenish."
"There are two rocks that will just answer your purpose," said Thomas,
as they leaped out of the boat. "You take one and