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? Every one away from home thinks that some great
thing must have happened, while to those at home there seems to
be a continued monotony and lack of incident.
As much as my feelings were taken up by my own intelligence
from home, I could not but be amused by a scene in the steerage.
The carpenter had been married just before leaving Boston, and
during the voyage had talked much about his wife, and had to bear
and forbear, as every man, known to be married, must, aboard ship;
yet the certainty of hearing from his wife by the first ship, seemed
to keep up his spirits. The California came, the packet was brought
on board; no one was in higher spirits than he; but when the letters
came forward, there was none for him. The captain looked again,
but there was no mistake. Poor "Chips," could eat no supper.
He was completely down in the mouth.
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