heir moral and religious characters were beyond
reproach, but their social reputation was very bad indeed--they were
poor. It has been said by an English traveller, that in all other
countries pleasure, rank, literary renown, &c. are the objects upon
which men place their affections; but, in the United States, the pursuit
of wealth is an imperious duty; and, of course, if a man fails in this
duty, his good name as a member of society soon becomes most deplorably
out at elbows.

Before the end of the voyage, young Allerton had made himself master of
Mr. Effingham's affections, and being of that happy age when all places
are nearly alike, provided they are comfortable, he readily consented to
remain with his protector, and was accordingly regularly inducted into
the old gentleman's family as a member of it. He was the playmate of Mr.
Effingham's daughter, six years younger than himself, and the companion
of her rambles abroad. The old man wished to take him into his
counting-room as a clerk, but the boy's predilection for the sea
frustrated that scheme, and the senior, after some reflection and
persuasion, yielded to it. Accordingly Master George, having served a
noviciate as apprentice, stepped over the intermediate state of "able
seaman," and became second mate, then first mate, and lastly captain, or
more properly master. During the whole of this time, he was employed in
the West India trade, in which most of the Bristol merchants are engaged
more extensively than in any other. He never came home from a voyage
without bringing some curiosity to little Julia,--as he continued to
call her, even after she had attained her eighteenth year,--and never
failed writing frequently to his parents, and sending them the whole or
a greater part of his wages: a line of conduct that raised him
incredibly in the old gentleman's favor, and made a deep impression upon
the young mind of Julia.

While George was passing through the different grades of his profession,
the young lady was advancing through the different grades of physical
and intellectual beauty and improvement. The "pretty child" that played
in her father's parlor, the "elegant girl of the boarding-school, had
now become a most lovely and accomplished young lady. She had lost her
mother when young, and the whole force of her filial affection had
centred upon her father. Brought up in unreserved intimacy with her
father's new _protege_, she always regarded him as a brother,