"What's that, Mr. Brown?" said the cook, putting his head out of
the galley - "California come?"
"Aye, aye! you angel of darkness, and there's a letter for you
from Bullknop 'treet, number two-two-five - green door and brass
knocker!"
The packet was sent down into the cabin, and every one waited
to hear of the result. As nothing came up, the officers began
to feel that they were acting rather a child's part, and turned
the crew to again and the same strict discipline was restored,
which prohibits speech between man and man, while at work on
deck; so that, when the steward came forward with letters for
the crew, each man took his letters, carried them below to his
chest, and came up again immediately; and not a letter was read
until we had cleared up decks for the night.
An overstrained sense of manliness is the characteristic of
seafaring men, or, rather, of life on board ship. This often
gives an appearance of want of feeling, and even of cruelty.
From this, if a man comes within an ace of breaking his neck
and escapes, it is made a joke of; and no notice must be taken
of a bruise or cut; and any expression of pity, or any show of
attention, would look sisterly, and unbecoming a man who has to
face the rough and tumble of such a life. From this, too, the sick
are neglected at sea, and whatever sailors may be ashore, a sick
man finds little sympathy or attention, forward or aft. A man, too,
can have nothing peculiar or sacred on board ship; for all the nicer
feelings they take pride in disregarding, both in themselves and
others. A thin-skinned man could not live an hour on ship-board.
One would be torn raw unless he had the hide of an ox. A moment of
natural feeling for home and friends, and then the frigid routine
of sea-life returned. Jokes were made upon those who showed any
interest in the expected news, and everything near and dear was
made common stock for rude jokes and unfeeling coarseness, to which
no exception could be taken by any one.
Supper, too, must be eaten before the letters were read; and when,
at last, they were brought out, they all got round any one who had
a letter, and expected to have it read aloud, and have it all in
common. If any one went by himself to read, it was - "Fair play,
there; and no skulking!" I took mine and went into the sailmaker's
berth, where I could read it without interruption. It was dated
August, just a year from the time I had sailed from home; and every
one was well, and no great change had taken place. Thus, for one
year, my mind was set at ease, yet it was already six months from
the date of the letter, and what another year would bring to pass,
who could tell?
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