NELSON'S EAELY DAYS. 



73 



patriotism was kindled within me, and hope presented my king- and country as my 



patrons. ' Well then/ I exclaimed, ' I will be a hero, and confiding in Providence, I will 



brave every danger/ ' From that moment his aspirations became inspirations, and he 

 believed fully that 



" The light whick led him on, 

 Was light from Heaven." 



The young sailor, or he who may become one, may learn very much from the earlier part 



NELSON AND THE BEAU. 



of Nelson's career. Again and again was he disappointed, and -;lthough momentarily 

 irritable, he always ended by looking forward to the inevitable reward due to the man 

 who places country and duty above all other considerations. After his services at Bastia 

 and Calvi, where he lost that eye which afterwards served him so well from its blindness, 

 his bravery was altogether overlooked in the despatches. "One hundred and ten days," 

 said he, " I have been actually engaged at sea and on shore against the enemy; three 

 actions against ships, two against Bastia in my own ship, four boat actions, two 

 villages taken, and twelve sail of vessels burnt. I do not know that any one has done 

 more; I have had the comfort to be always applauded by my commanders-in-chief, but 

 never to be rewarded ; and, what is more mortifying, for services in which I have been 

 wounded, others have been praised who, at the time, were actually in bed, far from the 

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