272 WHALING AND FISHING. 



away from home and friends, the peace he had 

 sought in vain during a hard and perilous life, 

 He too was thought of by some kind flower dia 

 penser. The dead leaves and rubbish had been 

 nicely swept away from the sod- covered grave, 

 and two beautiful flower wreaths lay upon it. 

 Poor fellow in all his lonely seaman's life he had 

 possibly never met with so much kindness. 



On inquiry I learned that it was customary 

 every Sunday morning thus to decorate the graves 

 of friends and acquaintances, the boatmen of the 

 harbor on these occasions doing volunteer service, 

 to aid the undertaking. 



My life was now for some time very much hap- 

 pier than it had been for a long period past. 1 

 was free : and the remembrance of my slavery on 

 board the whaleship was yet sufficiently vivid in 

 my mind to make me appreciate very keenly the 

 new liberty. I was, for a sailor, pleasantly situated. 

 My work was light and pleasant, the pay regular 

 and sufficient to support me ; and my associates, 

 if not very intelligent, were yet good, and well- 

 meaning toward me. 



Angelique, who proved a noble girl, seemed sin- 

 gularly enough to have bestowed upon me all the 

 affection she had entertained for her deceased 

 bi other. She not only interested herself in my 

 little affairs, but prevailed upon her lover, who 

 was captain of a little coasting schooner, to 

 introduce me to the captains of the French bul- 

 lock droghers, in order that I might, when oiiee 



