File:The merchant vessel - a sailor boy's voyages around the world (1884) (14779772885).jpg

Identifier: merchantvesselsa1884nord (find matches)
Title: The merchant vessel : a sailor boy's voyages around the world
Year: 1884 (1880s)
Authors: Nordhoff, Charles, 1830-1901 LaPlante, Charles. egr Wyllie, W. L. (William Lionel), 1851-1931. ill Dodd, Mead & Company. pbl
Subjects: Boys Conduct of life Voyages and travels Voyages around the world Merchant ships Seafaring life Sailing Slavery
Publisher: New York : Dodd, Mead & Co.
Contributing Library: Boston Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Public Library

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ssel inside. This done, the captain came down to pay off. This being my first voyage, and not being yet so strongly imbued with the, vagabonding spirit, I had determined to accept the advice of the mate, who said, Stay, and well have some fine times after all hands are gone. I was partly persuaded to do this by the crew, who, while evidently desiring me to go with them, would not conceal from me that Mobile was a poor place to get a ship, and that a boy would, of course, have a poorer chance than a man. We were heartily sorry to part, for although we had been but a short time shipmates, all hands had worked so thoroughly together, that we felt already toward one another as brothers.Before leaving, there was a general turn out of chests in the forecastle, and a division of funds, in order that all might start fair those who had most: money dividing eagerly with their poorer shipmates. I was happy in contributing a share to the general stock, and so we bade good-by, with a hearty wring of the hand,
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View on shore of the Gulf of Mexico - LIFE IN PORT. which I may as well say gratified me greatly, as evidence that I had been able to get the real good-will of these single-hearted fellows. On getting up to the city they sent me down a fiddle,wherewith to relieve the tiresomeness of our stay—a gift of which I could, unluckily, make no use, having none of that kind music in my soul. There were now left only the two mates, the cook, one sea-man, and myself. There being so few on board, of course all discipline was considerably relaxed ; with the exception of washing decks daily, and an occasional setting up of backstays, there was little done. The fine breeze almost always blowing in the Bay makes boat-sailing a favorite amusement. We soon rigged a sail, and thereafter every favorable day was spent in the boat, fishing, or racing, or making picnics ashore, in company with the boats crews and officers of other vessels. They were fine times, and I enjoyed them hugely. In fact, my experience so far in a merchant ship had pleased me very

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