The Brighton of my Boyhood 



over Brighton, rid it of its nightmare of 

 Ally Sloperism ; and when the homely, 

 happy little town had reasserted itself, I 

 would go back up and down the brick- 

 paved streets, and down among the boats 

 on the beach, and live my merry healthy 

 life over aofain. 



And yet what were the old place without 

 the old company? "Ah, all are gone, the 

 old familiar faces," parents, sisters, brothers, 

 cousin Ridley, Sukie, and even Tim Hurst, 

 for all xhe charmed life he brought through 

 so many a sea-peril. And when I think of 

 that, I do not w^ant the old time back, 

 save here upon paper, where I can at will 

 bring the dear ones all about me again. 



Yes, It certainly was the place to be a 

 boy in. We had all the beach and some 

 of the sea for our playground, and from 

 babyhood we were ruddied with sun and 

 salt air, seasoned with countless sea-drench- 

 ings, and so rendered as wholesome and 

 weatherproof as boys could be. It is true 

 we saw an example of very rough-and- 

 ready manners, and heard many strong 

 words among our friends the fishermen 

 and the manlike fisher-lads ; but we took 

 little harm of them. And, on the other 

 hand, I know it was an undoubted good 

 for us as growing lads to have such sort 



