72 Wishes to be a Sailor. (CHAP. IIL. 
good deal hurt; but he went home, determined from that 
day he would never again servé under such a brute. 
Begg called at his mother’s next day, and ordered the 
boy to return to his work. Edward refused. Begg then 
invoked the terrors of the law. ‘‘He would compel Ed- 
ward to fulfill his apprenticeship. He would prosecute his 
father, and his two sureties, and make them pay the penalty 
for breaking the boy’s indenture.” This threat gave Ed- 
ward’s mother a terrible fright, especially when her boy in- 
sisted that he would not go back. The family were left in 
fear and commotion for some time. But at last, as noth- 
ing further was heard of the threatened prosecution, they 
dismissed it from their minds. 
What was Edward to do next? He was thoroughly sick 
of his trade, and wished to engage in some other occupation 
that would leave him freer to move about. He would be 
a sailor! He had a great longing to see foreign countries, 
-and he thought that the best way of accomplishing this 
object was to become a sailor. On mentioning the matter 
to his parents, he’ was met with a determined and decided 
refusal. They tried to dissuade him by various methods. 
“Man,” said his father to him, “do you know that sailors 
have only a thin plank between them and death? Na, na! 
If you’re no gaun back to Begg, you must find some other 
master, and serve out your time. Bide ye at the shoe- 
maker trade; and if ye can make siller at it, ye can then 
gang and see as mony countries as ye like.” 
Such was his father’s advice, but it did not suit young 
Edward’s views. He wanted to be a sailor. He went down 
to the harbor, and visited every ship there, in order to offer 
himself as a cabin-boy. He asked the captains to employ 
him, but in vain, At last he found one captain willing to 
take him, provided he had the consent of his father. But 
this he could not obtain, and therefore he gave up the idea 
for a time. 
Then he thought of running away from home. He could 
