My First Voyage to Southern Seas | Page 6

the person to conceal any expected misfortune from his
long-trusted wife.
The looked-for blow which was to lay him low, destroy his credit, and
bring him to utter ruin, came even more quickly and suddenly than he
had anticipated. He had some heavy liabilities, but at considerable loss
had collected the necessary sums, which were placed in the hands of his
bankers to meet them. The morning of the very day on which the
money was to be paid, his bankers failed, and he was in consequence
compelled to stop payment. Still, his creditors had so much confidence
in him that they would have enabled him to continue business; but
scarcely a week had passed before he received news that two of his
principal foreign correspondents, with whom he had at the time very
large transactions, had likewise failed. Thus the remittances he was
expecting from them did not arrive, and he was utterly unable to meet
other and still heavier liabilities which were daily falling due. He at
once manfully called his creditors together, and explained clearly to
them the state of the case, and handed all his available property over to
them. He bore up well under the trying situation in which he was
placed; he even, I heard, looked cheerful. He was doing what he felt to
be his duty. He trusted still, by industry and energy, to be able to
support his family; but there was something working away at his heart
which those who saw him did not suspect, and of which he himself
possibly was not aware. He went back to his counting-house after this
last meeting of his creditors. He wrung the hand of his faithful
head-clerk, Mr Ward, who had himself suffered severely by the failure
of the bank; and then, scarcely venturing to speak, set off to come
home.
That home he never reached alive. Between the station and his house he
was seen to fall, and being carried into the nearest shop, immediately
breathed his last. Sad and almost overwhelming was the account which
was brought us. I will not enter into the particulars, with which my
readers generally cannot be interested.
Deep was our grief at our kind father's loss. We were left also almost
penniless. He had insured his life, but by some unaccountable neglect

of his trustees, we could not benefit by the insurance. Had Alfred been
at home, we should, it appeared, have been placed above want, at all
events. A considerable sum of money had been left him by his
godfather, the interest of which was to be paid over to our father or
mother for his use from the time he was sixteen. In case of his death, it
was to go to another godson of the same old gentleman. Unless,
therefore, the trustees in whose names the capital was invested were
assured that he was alive, they, of course, could not venture to pay our
mother the money.
After our first burst of grief, was over, and we could talk with some
calmness, I told my mother of the idea which had so long occupied my
mind, and besought her to allow me to carry it into execution. Herbert,
it was very clear, was not so well fitted for the undertaking as I was.
Somebody, I argued, ought to go, and as I had long set my heart on the
work, and thought, or fancied that I had thought, of all the difficulties I
should have to encounter, I was better fitted for it than anybody else. I
would also visit my grandfather in the Mauritius, and he certainly
would give me important assistance in tracing out my brother. Steadily
and strenuously I pressed the point, till at length my mother came
entirely into my view of the case, and gave me her full permission to
set off, and to make such arrangements as I thought necessary. As soon
as she had done this, though her fast falling tears told me how much the
effort cost her, a load appeared to be taken off my heart. I felt as if I
had at once grown into a man, and was about to begin the serious
business of life. Scarcely a fortnight had elapsed after my father's
funeral before it was arranged that I was to go. How to carry out my
purpose was the next consideration. On one point I was resolved--not to
deprive my mother and sisters of a farthing of the small sum which
could be collected for their support. I had a fair stock of clothes, and
Herbert insisted on my taking some of his, so that I was at no expense
for my outfit. The first thing Herbert and I did was to set off for the
London Docks, where