D.

Just before we two entered this world of troubles, the bank in which my
father had deposited his savings broke, and all were lost. The sails of
his wherry were worn out, and he had been about to buy a new suit, which
he now couldn't do; the wherry herself was getting crazy, and required
repairs, and he himself met with an accident which laid him up for
several weeks. Grandmother also, who had lost nearly her all by the
failure of the bank, though she had hitherto been hale and hearty, now
began to talk of feeling the approach of old age.

One evening, while father was laid up, she looked in on us. "Polly, my
girl, there's no use trying to beat up in the teeth of a gale with a
five-knot current against one," she exclaimed, as, dropping down into
out big arm-chair and undoing her bonnet-strings and the red
handkerchief she wore round her neck, she threw her bonnet over the back
of her head. "I'm dead beat with to-day's work, and shall be worse
to-morrow. Now, my dear, what I've got to say is this, I want you to
help me. You know the trade as well as I do. It will be a good thing
for you as well as for me; for look you, my dear, if anything should
happen to your Jack, it will help you to keep the wolf from the door."

This last argument, with her desire to help the good old lady, made
mother say that if father was agreeable she would do as grandmother
wished. She forthwith went upstairs, where father was lying in bed,
scarcely able to move for the pain his hurt caused him. They talked the
matter over, and he, knowing that something must be done for the support
of the family, gave, though unwillingly, his consent. Thus it happened
that my mother again took to bum-boating.

Trade, however, wasn't like what it used to be in the war time, I heard
grandmother say. Then seamen would have their pockets filled with
five-pound notes and golden guineas, which they were eager to spend; now
they rarely had more than a few shillings or a handful of coppers
jingling in them. Still there was an honest livelihood to be made, and
grandmother and mother contrived to make it. Poor grandmother, however,
before long fell ill, as she said she should, and then all the work fell
on mother. Father got better, and was able sometimes to go out with the
wherry, but grandmother got worse and worse, and mother had to attend on
her till she died.

When she and father were away from home, Mary and I were left to the
care of our bro