I have said the initial training and experiences of a cabin-boy were not only harsh but oft-times brutal.  No allowance was made for his tender years.  The gospel of pity did not enter into the lives of either the captains, officers, or men.  He was expected to learn without being taught, and if he did not come up to their standard of intelligence, his poor little body was made to suffer for it.  This happened more or less to every boy, and our new recruit was not made an exception.  He was given to understand that certain duties devolved upon him.  The language perplexed his little brain.  He had heard nothing like it before, but he determined to avail himself of every opportunity of learning.  His inquisitiveness was a trouble to the men; they rebuked him for bothering them; but by steady plodding he began to learn the names of the multiplicity of ropes, and the different things he would have to do when the vessel put to sea.  He was ordered to have the side lights trimmed ready for lighting, the day before sailing (a very wise precaution which should always be adhered to).  This was done, and although the wee laddie had only been four days amidst a whirl of things that were strange to him, he seemed to think that he had acquired sufficient knowledge to justify him in believing that he had mastered the situation.  He wrote home a detailed account of his doings, and complicated matters by using phrases that were not commonly heard or understood in quiet villages far away from the hum of seaports.  The family were sent into consternation by the description of his climbing experiences, and an extra petition for his safe-keeping was offered up when the time for family devotions came.  No more was heard of him for many months.  His experiences had become more real and fuller ere the next letter came.  On the fifth day after he had embarked the tug came alongside, the tow-rope was handed aboard, and the vessel towed out of dock to sea.  Night was coming on, and the boy was ordered to light the side lamps; he was in the act of doing this when the pitching of the vessel afflicted him with strange sensations, and in spite of a strong resistance he suddenly parted with his last meal into the lamps.  The misfortune gave the captain more concern than the cabin-boy, who was in the condition that makes one feel that all earthly joys have passed away from you for evermore, and drowning would be a happy relief from the agony of it.  Needless to say, he was soundly trounced for the misadventure; handy odds and ends were thrown at him; he was reminded of his daring promises on the eve of engagement, and an impassioned oration was delivered on the curse of engaging “useless rubbish who could not guide their stomachs when they got to sea.”  His troubles had begun.  The flow of curses, which he now heard for the first time in his life, cut deeply into his little soul, and made him long to be landed, so that he might even wash doorsteps for a living rather than be subjected to such coarse abuse.  Ah, but there was worse to come.  This was merely a rude awakening.  Could he have seen into the series of hardships and cruelties that lay in front of him, he might have deemed it better to close his desolating troubles by allowing the waves which swept over the vessel (as she was scudded along by the screaming wind) to bear him overboard into the dark.