SO Mary Somervihe. 



tally, in which he made a notch for every loaf of 

 bread, and of course we had the corresponding tally. 

 They were called nick-sticks. 



My bedroom had a window to the south, and a 

 small closet near had one to the north. At these I 

 spent many hours, studying the stars by the aid of 

 the celestial globe. Although I watched and ad- 

 mired the magnificent displays of the Aurora, which 

 frequently occurred, they seemed to be so nearly 

 allied to lightning that I was somewhat afraid of 

 them. At an earlier period of my life there was a 

 comet, which I dreaded exceedingly. 



# * * * # 



My father was Captain of the " Kepulse," a fifty- 

 gun ship, attached to the Northern fleet commanded 

 by the Earl of Northesk. The winter was extremely 

 stormy, the fleet was driven far north, and kept 

 there by adverse gales, till both officers and crew 

 were on short rations. They ran out of candles, 

 and had to tear up their stockings for wicks, and 

 dip them into the fat of the salt meat which was 

 left. We were in great anxiety, for it was reported 

 that some of the ships had foundered ; we were, 

 however, relieved by the arrival of the " Eepulse " 

 in Leith roads for repair. 



Our house on one occasion being full, I was 

 sent to sleep in a room quite detached from the 



