Part 1 (1/2)
dick Cheveley
by W H G Kingston
Preface
So extraordinary are the adventures of my hero, Master Richard Cheveley, son of the Reverend John Cheveley, vicar of the parish of S--, in the county of D---, that it is possible some of my readers may be inclined to consider thehly probable the following paragraph which appeared in the evening edition of the _Standard_ early in the month of November, 1879, will, I think, amply prove I have no fear that any sensible boys will be inclined to follow dick's example; but if they rite to him at Liverpool, where he resides, and ask his advice, as a young gentle away to sea, I am very sure that he will earnestly advise them to stay at home; or, at all events, first to consult their fathers or uardians, or other relatives or friends before they start, unless they desire to risk sharing the fate of the hapless stoay herediscovery was land_, which arrived in New York froo in the forehold a stoas found in a dying state He had e of thirteen days without food or drink He was carried to the vessel's deck, where he died”
My young correspondent, in perfect honesty, asked e to run away to sea I advised him, as Mr Richard Cheveley would have done, and I am happy to say that he wisely followed my advice, for I have since frequently heard froer to me He has had more to do with this work than he supposes I have the pleasure of dedicating it to him
WILLIAM H G KINGSTON
CHAPTER ONE
So Aunt Deb--My father receives an offer--A fauishes herself-- Her opinions and o to sea hauntsin Leighton Park--I meet with an accident--My career nearly cut short--A battle with a swan, in which I get the worst of it--A courageous mother--Mark Riddle to the rescue--An aard fix--Mark finds a way out of it--Old Roger's cottage--The Riddle faer Riddle's yarns and their effect on litters--The model--My reception at home
We were all seated round the tea-table, that is to say, my father and mother, my five sisters, and three of my elder brothers, ere at ho ones, ore pinafores, and last, but not least, Aunt Deb, asand keep everybody in order, for this neither my father nor mother were very well able to do; the latter nearly worn out with nursing nued in the duties of the parish of Sandgate, of which he was incumbent
Aunt Deb was never happy unless she was actively engaged in doing so, buttering, or covering with jae slices of bread, which she served out as soon as they were ready to the juvenile members of the fa at the tea-tray, and passing round the cups as she filled therace, and then all fell to with an eagerness which proved that we had good appetites
”I say, Aunt Deb, Toive me another slice before you sit down It's all about Anson's voyage round the world I don't knohether I shall like it as well as 'Robinson Crusoe' or 'Captain Cook's Voyages,' or 'Gulliver's Travels,'
or the 'Life of Nelson,' or 'Paul Jones,' but I think I shall fro what I requested
”I wish, dick, that you would not read those pestiferous works,” she answered, as, having given me the slice of bread, she sat down to sip her tea ”They are all written with an evil intent, toabout the world, instead of staying contentedly at ho their duty in that state of life to which they are called”
”But I don't understand why I should not be called to go to sea,” I replied; ”I have for a long tireat a wood, or Lord Cochrane, or Sir Sidney Sland would be without her navy, and what the navy would be unless boys were allowed to go into it?”
”Stuff and nonsense, you know nothing about the matter, dick It's very well for boys who have plenty of interest, for sons of peers or es or bishops, or of others who possess ample means and influence, but the son of a poor incumbent of an out of the way parish, who knows no one, and whom nobody knoould reet, Aunt Deb, that there are ways of getting on besides through interest I intend to do all sorts of dashi+ng things, and win h my bravery If I can once beco on”
”Stuff and nonsense!” again ejaculated Aunt Deb, ”you know nothing about the h,” I said to myself, for I knew thatprofessions for his sons according to their tastes, had sohton Park,--”the Squire,” as he used to be called till he washi an appointinald had promised to do Aunt Deb, however, had made many objections, but for once in a way e counsel, and as he considered for the best Still Aunt Deb had not given in
”You'll do as you think fit, John,” she observed to him, ”but you will repent it dick is not able to take care of hi shi+p ah sailors Let hio into a counting-house in London or Bristol, where he'll make his fortune and become a respectable member of society, as his elder brother means to be, or let him become a master at a school, or follow any course of life rather than that of a soldier or a sailor”
I did not venture to interrupt Aunt Deb, indeed it would have been so a point, but I had secretly begged inald as he had pro a naval career, and that it would break if I was not allowed to go to sea This took place, it will be understood, so
Aunt Deb suspected that my father was inclined to favour ly than ever of the navy
Tea was nearly over when the post arrived It only reached us of an evening, and Sarah, the uessed that it was froazed anxiously at my father's face as he read it His countenance did not, however, exhibit any especial satisfaction