THE MOTHER OF MY CHILDHOOD. 291 



arily in peril. Next morning dawned bleak and wild ; the 

 waves tumbled over one another, the larger swallowing up 

 the lesser for want of something else to satisfy their de- 

 vouring inclination. This day and several others were only 

 a repetition of the first night; no reckoning could be ob- 

 tained ; still we stood upon our course. ^Vith half an eye 

 I could detect that our skipper was uneasy, and anxious 

 again for a glimpse of the old familiar sun. 



One of our sails had been blown to ribbons, and our bow- 

 sprit became partially sprung ; still, as long as we had plenty 

 of sea-room all was comparatively safe ; sailors' ingenuity 

 had obviated temporarily the injury of the latter, and the 

 sail-room had supplied fresh canvas. The fourth evening 

 the gale exhausted itself about midnight, and I, who had 

 not closed an eye during these days, experienced a few 

 hours of the balmiest sleep that ever fell to the lot of storm- 

 tossed mariner, notwithstanding that there was not a dry 

 stitch, even among the bedding, on board the Alert. How 

 often do I think of the affectionate, kind mother of my 

 childhood, and her anxiety that her boy should not sleep in 

 damp sheets ! Could she see or know the trials and hard- 

 ships which he, with others, have encountered in his jour- 

 ney through life, her maternal solicitude would receive a 

 severe shock. Truly the journey of life is a rough path, 

 made up of storms and sunshine, wintry snows and tropical 

 showers ; one time ascending hills, the next descending ; 

 fortune smiling to-day, frowning to-morrow ; ignorant of 

 what the future has in store for us ; but, doubtless, all is 

 for the best, and those troubles and temptations which in 

 our spleen we grumble at are but intended to fit us for our 

 ultimate resting-place, where perpetual sunshine and un- 

 clouded happiness will reign forever. 



Next morning when day awoke me, I was delighted to 

 find that we were once more on a level keel, and when I 



