sert his
own independence, and cut the apron string when it pulled too hard upon
his inclination.

Paul was the oldest of a family of six children, and was now in his
fourteenth year. His father was a journeyman ship carpenter--an honest,
temperate, hard-working man, who was obliged to struggle with the
realities of life in order to win a comfortable subsistence for his
large family. In the inoffensive sense of the term, he was a poor man;
that is, he lived from hand to mouth, and had not saved a single dollar
with which to meet the misfortunes of life. But he had brought up his
family as well as he could, and given the oldest the best education his
limited means would afford.

Thomas Nettle's father was a wealthy merchant, who had retired from
active business, and lived upon his beautiful estate in Bayville, in
which transpired the events of my story. Major Nettle, as his townsmen
called him,--for he had attained to the rank indicated by his military
title in the militia,--was an easy, careless man, and had but a very low
appreciation of the moral and religious duties and responsibilities of a
parent. It was a favorite theory with him that a boy would do well
enough if only let alone. It was of no use to cram his head or his heart
with notions, as he called them, about morality and religion; the boy
would find them out himself when he wanted them. In support of his
doctrine, he used to point to the minister's son who was in the state
prison, and the deacon's son who had run away to sea to avoid the house
of correction. Of course, then, Master Thomas Nettle's parental training
was never very severe, for he had no one to dispute his independence
when he chose to assert it.

Paul had seen enough of the world to find out that wealth commands a
certain respect, and he could not always keep down a sense of deference
with which his rich companions inspired him; and when they admitted him
to their friendship, he could not help being greatly influenced by their
words and their actions. Thomas was always dressed well, and always had
money in his pocket; and these things made Paul realize the difference
in their social positions. It is true, he tried to make himself believe
that he was as good as any one else, and would not bend his neck or his
knee to the smartest boy in Bayville; yet he could not but feel the
disparity between himself and the sons of his rich neighbors. He would
not go out of his way to court their favor, th