“I used to sit by his hammock for hours talking and reading to him; when one day, as I closed my book to leave him, he said with a sigh, while tears filled his eyes, ’I am very grateful to you, madam, for your kindness to me:  you have been a friend when I most needed one; how my dear mother would love you if she knew what you had done for her boy.  But I do not deserve that any one should love me; I have been wilful and disobedient, and my sorrows are not half so great as, in justice for my wickedness, they ought to be; but every day proves to me that God is long-suffering and merciful, and doeth us good continually.  I have thanked him often and often for making you love me, and I feel so happy that in the midst of my trials, God has raised me up a friend to cheer me in the path of duty; to teach me how to correct my faults; and to sympathize with me in my daily sorrows.  God will bless you for it, madam,’ he continued:  ’he will bless you for befriending the orphan in his loneliness; and my mother will bless you, and pray God to shower his mercies thick and plenteous on you all the days of your life.’  He paused, and, burying his face in the scanty covering of his bed, he wept unrestrainedly.  I was hastening away, for my heart was full, and the effort to check my tears almost choked me; when he raised his head, and, stretching his hand towards me, said, ’I want to tell you something more, madam, if you will not think me bold; but my heart reproaches me every time I see your kind face; I feel as if I were imposing upon you, and fancy that, did you know more about me, you would deem me unworthy of your interest and attention.  May I relate to you all I can remember of myself before I came here?  It will be such a comfort to have some person near me, who will allow me to talk of those I love, without ridiculing me, and calling me “home-sick."’

“This was the very point at which I had been for some time aiming, as I did not wish to ask him for the particulars, not knowing whether the question might wound his feelings; but now that he offered to tell me, I was delighted, and readily answered his appeal, assuring him nothing would give me greater pleasure than to hear an account of himself from his own lips:  ‘But,’ I added, ’I cannot wait now, for they are striking “eight bells:”  I must go in to dinner:  after dinner I will come to you again, and listen to all you have to say; so farewell for the present, my dear boy, in an hour’s time I will be with you.’

“As soon as dinner was over, I returned to Frederic:  he looked so pleased, I shall never forget the glow that overspread his fair face, as I entered the berth, for he was really handsome; his eyes were bright hazel, his hair auburn, and waving over his head in the most graceful curls, while his complexion was the clearest and most beautiful I had ever seen.  I found a seat on a chest near his hammock, and, telling him I was ready to attend to his narrative, he began:—­