Salt Water | Page 2

rigging
over her mastheads, and fit her for sea as fast as the work can be done;
so let's see how soon we can do the job."
Such were our indoor amusements, and thus I rapidly acquired an
amount of knowledge which most midshipmen take a long time to get
stowed away in their heads. Larry also used to take me out on the
waters of the bay, and taught me to row and to manage the sails of a
small boat with tolerable dexterity. I learned also to swim; and had it
not been for my possession of that art, I should probably long ago have
been food for fishes. And here I must endeavour strongly to impress on
the minds of my young readers the importance of learning to swim well;
for not only may they thus be enabled to save their own lives, but they

may have the happiness of preserving those of their fellow-creatures.
While my poor father lived, he attended to the more intellectual
branches of my education. My mother taught me to read, and for her
sake I loved reading. She also instilled those religious principles into
me which have been my support through life. Short and fleeting as was
the time she remained on earth, inestimable were the blessings she
bestowed on me. Whatever of the milk of human kindness flows round
my heart, from her gentle bosom I drew it forth; and surely I do not err
when I believe that her earnest prayers before the throne of mercy have
caused watchful spirits to shield me from the perils of the stormy ocean,
and from still greater dangers, the treacherous quicksands and dark
rocks which have laid in my course through life.
I was ten years old before it occurred to any one that a little of the
discipline of a school might be beneficial to me, to prepare me
somewhat better than I could be prepared at home to rough it in the
rude world into which I was ere long to be plunged. To the academy,
therefore, of a certain Doctor Studdert, near Cork, I was sent, where I
contrived to pick up a few crumbs of knowledge and some experience
of life. I had no great dislike to school, but liked home much better; and
no one sung--
"Packing up and going away, All for the sake of a holiday,"
more joyously than did I when my first midsummer holiday came
round.
Larry was on the watch for me as I jumped out of the carriage which
had been sent over to Kerry to meet me. The old seaman had expected
me to come back a prodigy of learning; but was horrified to discover
that I was puzzled how to make a carrick-bend, and had nearly
forgotten the length of the Psyche's main-top bowline.
"And that's what the Doctor calls schooling, does he, Master Neil?" he
exclaimed, indignantly. "Now I'll make bold to say that among all the
bigwigs he has under him, including himself, there isn't one on 'em
knows how to gammon a bowsprit or turn in a dead-eye. Now, to my

mind, if they can't give you more larning than you've got since you've
been away, you'd better stop at home altogether."
I agreed with Larry, but the higher authorities ruled otherwise; so back
to school I went at the end of the holidays, having regained all the
nautical knowledge I before possessed, with a little in addition.
I will pass over the sad time of my brave father's death. I was left to the
guardianship of my uncle, Counsellor D'Arcy, the great Dublin
barrister, and of Doctor Driscoll. I was removed to the house of the
latter, with poor Larry, who threatened to do all sorts of dreadful deeds,
if he were not allowed to accompany me. My patrimony, which had
become somewhat attenuated, was in the meantime put out to nurse. I
was rather surprised at not being sent back to school, when one day the
Doctor, as he sat cross-legged before the fire after dinner, rubbing his
shins, called me to him.
"Neil, my boy, your uncle, Counsellor D'Arcy, has requested me to
speak to you on a very important subject. It is time, he thinks, that your
studies should be directed to fit you for the profession you may select.
What would you wish to be, now? Have you ever thought on the matter?
Would you like to follow his steps, and study the law; or those of your
honoured father, and enter the army; or those of your grandfather, and
go to sea; or would you like to become a merchant, or a clergyman; or
what do you say to the practice of medicine?"
"That I would never take a drop, if I