Part 1 (2/2)
”Who is it froinald,” he replied ”It is very kind and co as I requested hi down to the Admiralty, met his friend Captain Grummit, who has lately been appointed to the 'Blaze-away,' ness to receive on board his shi+p the son of any friend of his, but--and here comes the rub--Captain Grummit, he says, has made it a rule to take no midshi+pmen unless their parents consent to allow them fifty pounds a year, in addition to their pay
This sum, the Captain states, is absolutely necessary to enable them to make the appearance he desires all his er sum, I fear, than my purse can supply,”
observed my father when he had read thus far
”I should think it was, indeed!” exclaimed Aunt Deb ”Fifty pounds a year! Why, that's nearly half of my annual income It would be madness, John, to o, and to stint the rest of his brothers and sisters by ranting that he is not killed in the first battle he is engaged in, or does not fall overboard and get drowned, or the shi+p is not wrecked, and he escapes the other hundred and one casualties to which a sailor is liable? Why, when he becomes a lieutenant he'll marry to a certainty, and then he'll be killed, and leave you and his mother and me, or his brothers and sisters, to look after hisand children, supposing they are able to do so”
”But I shall have a hundred and twenty pounds full pay, and ninety pounds a year half-pay,” I answered; ”I know all about it, I can tell you”
”Ninety pounds a year and a wife and half-a-dozen snant tone ”The wife is sure to be delicate, and know nothing about housekeeping, and she and the children will constantly be requiring the doctor in the house”
”But you are going very far ahead, Aunt Deb, I haven't gone to sea yet, or been made a lieutenant, and if I had, there's no reason why I should reat many reasons why you should not,” exclai to say that there are ot wives, and I do not suppose that I shall marry when I become one,” I answered
”It seems pretty certain that you will never be a lieutenant or aan allowance of fifty pounds a year, for where that fifty pounds is to come from I'm sure I don't know,” cried my aunt ”As it is, your poor father finds it a difficult ive you a proper education, and unless the Bishop should suddenly bestow a rich living on him, he, at all events, could not pay fifty pounds a year, or fifty shi+llings either, so I would advise you forthwith to give up this mad idea of yours, and stay quietly at school until a profitable employment is found for you”
I looked up at ood deal of truth in what Aunt Deb said, although I did not like the way she said it
”Your aunt only states what is the case, dick,” said lad to forward your views, but I could not venture, with my very limited incoinald says is necessary”
”Couldn't you get Sir Reginald to advance the ht idea occurred to me; ”I will return it to him out of hing
”Out of your pay, dick?” she exclaimed ”Why fifty pounds is required over and above that pay you talk of, every penny of which you will have to spend, and supposing that you should not be employed for a time, and have to live on shore Do you happen to knohat aat all and find yourself You talk a good deal of knowing all about the ”
”I wish, h to help you,” said my mother, as always ready to assist us in any of our plans; ”but you kno difficult I find it to get even a few shi+llings to spend”
My s and disappointht not have been pleasant to Aunt Deb's ears
We continued talking on the subject, I devising all sorts of plans, and arguing tooth and nail with Aunt Deb, for I had o I was determined by hook or by crook; but that fifty pounds a year was, I confess, a da a midshi+pman
If I could have set to work and made the fifty pounds, I would have done my best to do so, but I was as little likely to make fifty pounds as I was to make fifty thousand Aunt Deb also reminded my father that it was not fifty pounds a year for one year, but fifty pounds for several years, which he ht set down as three hundred pounds, at least, of which, throughhim, and mythat, so I felt that I was defeated I had at length to go to bed, feeling as disappointed and miserable as I had ever been in e, who slept in the same roo in the world!” I exclaimed ”I wish that I had never been born If it had not been for Aunt Deb father would have given in, but she hates me, I know, and always has hated reat mind to run off to sea, and enter before the mast just to spite her”
Ned, as a quiet, a much after our kind s
”Don't talk in that way, dick,” he said in a gentle tone ”You o into the navy; but, perhaps, means may be found, after all, to enable you to follow the bent of your wishes All naval captainsan allowance of fifty pounds a year; or, perhaps, if they do, some friend may find the necessary funds”
”I haven't a friend in the world,” I answered ”If ive me the money I don't knoho can I know that Aunt Deb would not, even if she could”
”Cheer up, dick,” said Ned; ”or rather I would advise you to go to sleep Perhaps to-ht idea ot my lessons to do before breakfast, so I , or I shall not be able to arouse myself”