34 WHALING AND FISHING. 



Boarding a vessel on the Fairhaven side of the 

 river one day, Bill and I were surprised to see 

 upon the newly painted door of one of the cabin 

 state-rooms, the words "Hezekiah Ellsprett's 

 berth," written in tolerably conspicuous letters, 

 with chalk. The following day the joke leaked 

 out. It is usual, when a crew has been shipped, 

 for them to hurry on board their vessel, and make 

 choice of their sleeping berths, the earliest comers 

 securing of course the most desirable places. 



It appeared that Hezekiah had gone on board 

 his ship for the purpose of making choice of a 

 berth, and after a deliberate scrutiny of the prem- 

 ises, fore and aft, had arrived at the sage conclu- 

 sion, that a certain state-room contained more of 

 the elements of comfort, than any other place 

 which had met his eye. He therefore determined, 

 after weighing all chances, that he would make 

 choice of this room, as his. 



It is but justice to say that a faint glimmer of 

 doubt as to the tenableness of his position did 

 invade his cranium ; but on making inquiry of the 

 ship-keeper, that worthy assured him that he had 

 an indisputable right to choose whatever berth 

 suited him best and advised him for further se- 

 curity to write his name upon the door, and place 

 his bedding in the bunk or standing bed-place 

 which he immediately did. 



One can imagine the Captain's surprise, on com- 

 ing on board next day, to find himself a trespasser 



