“At first I refused to have any thing to say to my messmates, many of whom were morally better than myself; but I was naturally social, and, soon forgetting my refined education, began to enjoy their conversation.  I became quite a hero among them, and led them into mischief in every port at which we stopped.  Many of our pranks would have brought us before the civil authority, had we not sailed away before their authorship was ascertained.

“After an absence of three years I returned to New York, with nothing in the world which I could call my own but my sailor’s clothes and my last month’s wages.  As soon as we were discharged I repaired to a low tavern near the dock, with some of the most unworthy of the crew, determined that my family should never hear of my arrival in the country.  On taking up a paper one day, I saw, to my surprise, among the advertised letters one to myself, which was speedily procured for me by a messmate, as I was anxious not to be seen in the more frequented part of the city.

“The letter was from Louisa.  I have it still, but it is too sacred to meet any eyes but my own.  It contained all that Christian principle and sisterly affection could dictate to recall a wanderer home, and it went to my heart.  Inclosed was a large sum of money, the fruit of her own labor during my absence; and she informed me that another letter containing a similar inclosure was in the post-office at Boston.  After much inquiry, my father had discovered the name of the ship in which I had sailed, and the probable length of its cruise, and therefore Louisa had expected my return to one of these ports during the summer, if I was still alive.  Our dear parent, she informed me, was ready to receive me with open arms; and, for herself, her affection had undergone no change.

“You will of course conclude that I did not delay one moment, after the receipt of this letter, returning to a home where such an angelic being waited to receive me.  It seems impossible to me, now, that I could have done otherwise.  Yet so it was.  Pride, my besetting sin, made me inflict still deeper wounds on that gentle heart.

“I had determined, as soon as I could procure suitable clothing, to go directly to Charlottesville, for that was the name of our village; and for this purpose I walked for the first time toward the business quarter of the city.  As I was going up Broadway, in my ragged sailor’s dress, keeping close to the inside of the walk to escape observation, I saw a pale, slender girl coming towards me, accompanied by two gentlemen, one of whom was a fine-looking officer, in a naval uniform.  The lady was engaged in animated discourse, and, by the pleasant countenance of the gentlemen, very agreeable, for one laughed aloud, apparently at some remark which had dropped from her lips.

“In an instant I recognized my sister, and was ready to fall on my knees before her; but then I remembered my own shabby appearance, and deferred our meeting till I could execute my present design, and make myself more respectable.