SMART LAD. 59 



board watch ; and if you don't answer 

 to your muster, I'll start you as I 

 would any other foremast man." 



"Hard cheese for a gentleman's son," 

 said one or two of his messmates ; but 

 he submitted, and did his duty so well, 

 that one evening, when reefing topsails, 

 the captain observing him said, addressing 

 the first-lieutenant, Graves, 



"Who is that smart lad on the fore- 

 topsail yard-arm, at the starboard ear- 

 ring ? "* 



" That's Parry, sir." 



" Call him down," said the captain, 

 then first relenting, " and send him 

 aft." 



Tliis gentleman is now on the reserved 

 list of commanders, and the author has 

 had an opportunity of renewing his ac- 

 quaintance, after an interval of more 

 than forty years. 



This done, they left the cabin, when 

 the captain, turning to the sufferer, 



