and the schooner brought head to wind. The main-sail was then
lowered and furled. With only the forward sails set and all hands at the
tiller tackles, we managed to run before the wind on our right course
until daylight. The fragments of the wheel were picked up and, by using
a stout barrel-head as a foundation, it was reconstructed. While not
being a first-class affair, it answered all purposes. On the right side
of my body, from ankle to top of my head, I was sore for several days.
That was my second accident with main-booms, and both were narrow
escapes.

Within a short distance of Boston, our stock of provisions ran short, so
we had to kill our pet pig. He had grown to quite a respectable size.
It was much to our regret to slaughter our companion, but it had to be
done. As it was, we had nothing left to eat on our arrival in Boston.
The first thing after the anchor dropped was to row the cook ashore and
get some grub for supper. Captain Turner was on hand to meet us, having
arrived several days previously. His first inquiries were about the pig.
He intended to take it to his home. His wife had made a nice place for
it in the back yard as a domicile. We went to a dock the next day for
unloading cargo. A custom-house officer came on board to see that
everything was according to the manifest. He was very sociable to all
hands. About dinner-time he called me to one side, quietly informing me
that he was going to dinner and would not return for an hour or so, and
that, if the boys had anything to take ashore, they had better do it
while he was absent. I told the crew what he had said. As we all had a
quantity of cigars, we each chipped in a handful as a present. The
balance and my supply of guava jelly was taken to a boarding-house.
When the officer returned from his dinner, I told him to look on my bed.
He took the hint--and the cigars too. I had to wait some time in Boston
before I could get my pay which was due me, and I had not written home
about my arrival, not knowing how soon I might start for New York. About
the third day, while standing on the schooner deck, I noticed a neatly
dressed lady coming down the dock. As it was an unusual place for a
woman, my curiosity was aroused. She seemed to be looking for some
vessel, so I stepped ashore and walked towards her, thinking I might be
of some service to her. She was looking for her son. I was the son. It
was a great surprise to me to see my mother so unexpectedly.