Year: 1872

MI Y mother had brother named Abb
NI jah Lines. He was seafaring man,
and had for years commanded a ship out
of the port of Boston, where he was very
popular in the commercial community
He was unmarried, and l was named after
him. Several times in my life l remember
to have seen him when he paid my mother
a short visit, and brought pretty presents
from abroad. He appeared to take an in
terest in me and always left me small sum
of money at his departure, and limited that
he would do better by me in case turned
out good boy and smart.


was sixteen years old, but was often
taken to be much older, as was large for
my age, when my mother received a letter
from Uncle Bigh as we called him telling
her that he would arrive in Boston OH or
about certain date and expressing wish
that she would send me to meet him, prom
ising to return with me and make her
visit. He gave explicit directions where l
would find the hotel at which was to stop,
and said he had written to the proprietor,
who was friend of his, requesting him to
make me comfortable and have an eye to
me until his arrival.


hayn'U been in Boston since | was a
lad, said my father faith wish Captain
Bigh had invited me too. It's great city,
he continued, addressing me, and there s
lots to be seen there, and you, my son are
of an age when the mind is generally in
quisitive, be careful that you don't fall into
any mischief.


Pm not afraid of that, interposed my
mother. Bgh has been too carefully
brought up to go astray in the few days he
will be awaiting his uncle's arrival. Be
sides, you see my brother has written to
the gentleman who keeps the hotel where
he is to stop to have care over him. No
doubt this worthy will never let him out of
his sight, but will take him about and show
him all that is worth seeing. Oh Bigh,
you'll have plenty to tell me when you re-
turn.


What are you counting your fingers for
inquired my father looking up from the
book he was reading.


was reckoning, repliedm my mother, how
long my brother has been following the sea


It's thirty-five years. In this time he
must have saved a good deal of money
Shouldn't wonder if he was rich. Our Sol
is his namesake, and she smiled signif
cantly. "


My father nodded his head and his eyes
twinkled merrily as my mother and him
self exchanged glances.


wasn't such fool that didn't under
stand the thoughts that were passing
through their minds. / was to be the hei
of Captain Abijah Lines, was to inherit hi
money and be a gentleman. 1t wasn't I
bad reflection.


The day Of my departure came and founC
me ready to start away ON my trip. M.
mother had stored my mind with good ad
vice and as talsman had placed in m,
trunk book entitled 'The Puritan
Breastplate; or the Way to Get Along."-
1t was work of four hundred pages, small
type, and / can't imagine when and how
she expected me to readit ta


Everything went well, and arrived II
Boston safely. At once proceeding to tn
ScuIpin house registered my name Abijal
Lines Thompson, Nettletown, and wa
shown to my room. The clerk informe
me that the proprietor was absent from th
city, but that he had opened my uncle
letter and would try and render me con
tented until Captain Lines arrival.


After had washed of some of the duf
from my face, I dressed myself in my bes
suits came down stairs. -sea