Neb shook hands with his old commander, broke out of the circle, rushed into the steerage, and blubbered like a baby.  In the meantime Marble paused to recover his own self-possession, which had been a little disturbed by the feeling manifested by the black.  As soon as he felt himself a little composed, he hunted about his cot until he found two small paper boxes, each of which contained a very pretty ring, that it seemed he had purchased for this express purpose when last in port.  These rings he gave to my daughters, who received the presents sobbing, though with strong natural exhibitions of the friendly sentiments they entertained for him.

“Your father and I have gone through many hardships and trials together,” he said, “and I love you all even more than I love my own relations.  I hope this is not wrong, madam Wallingford, for it’s out of my power to help it.  I’ve already given my keep-sakes to the boys, and to your parents, and I hope all of you will sometimes remember the poor old sea-dog that God, in his wisdom, threw like a waif in your way, that he might be benefited by your society.  There’s your polar star, young ’uns,” pointing to my wife.  “Keep God in mind always, and give to this righteous woman the second place in your hearts; not that I say a word, or think anything ag’in your father, who’s a glorious fellow in his way, but, a’ter all, young women should copy a’ter their mothers, when they’ve such a mother as your’n, the best of fathers fallin’ far astern, in gentleness and other vartues.”

The girls wept freely, and Marble, after waiting a few minutes took a solemn leave of all my children, desiring everybody but Lucy and myself to quit the cabin.  An hour passed in discourse with us two, during which Moses frequently exhorted me to give ear to the pious counsels of my wife, for he manifested much anxiety for the future welfare of my soul.

“I’ve generalized a great deal over that affair of Smudge, the whole of this v’y’ge,” he continued, “and I’ve had sore misgivings consarning the explite.  Madam Wallingford, however, has eased my mind on that score, by showing me how to lay the burthen of this, with all the rest of the load of my sins, on the love of Christ.  I am resigned to go, Miles, for it is time, and I’m getting to be useless.  It’s wicked to wish to run a ship after her frame has worked loose, and nothing now fastens me to life but you.  I own it’s hard to part, and my mind has had some weakness on the matter.  However, Miles, my dear boy, for boy you are still in my eyes, there is comfort in looking ahead.  Go by your wife’s rules, and when the v’y’ge is up, we shall all find ourselves in the same haven.”

“It gives me much happiness, Moses, to find you in this frame of mind,” I answered.  “Since you must quit us, you will not leave one behind of the name of Wallingford, that will not rejoice at this prospect for the future.  As for your sins, God has both the power and the will to lighten you of their weight, when he finds you disposed to penitence, and to make use of the mediation of his blessed Son.  If there is anything you desire to have done, hereafter, this is a very proper time to let me know it.”