Daniel Stephens, senior partner of Messrs. Stephens, Sutton & Stephens, which firm has carried apprentices for a number of years, is a sailor himself, who has had the good sense never to try and hide the fact that he was trained amid a fine race of west-country seaman, and he is proud to be able to say that he has been training boys for years with uniform satisfaction.  He relates with obvious pride that one of his boys, a coal-miner’s son, seven years to a day from the date of joining his firm as an apprentice, sailed as chief officer of their newest and largest steamer.

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 2:  A “half-marrow” was a young man who was trying to become a seaman without serving his apprenticeship.]

[Footnote 3:  During the passage of this book through the press, Mr. Watts, senior, has passed away.]

THE END.