out of the window.

As sublunary troubles always do, the journey came to an end, and the
coach deposited us at the door of Mr Butterfield, Aunt Deb's cousin.
The worthy merchant--a bald-headed, rosy-faced gentleman, of large
proportions, who wore brown cloth knee-breeches, large silver buckles, a
flowered waistcoat of ample length, with a snowy neckcloth, and a
frilled shirt, a coat of the same hue as his unmentionables--received
us, as he descended the steps, with a cordiality I little expected.

"Glad to see you, Cousin Deb, though times have changed since you and I
played hide-and-seek in our great-aunt's garden. You have shot up in
one direction and I have grown in the other considerably. And this is
John Cheveley's boy, is he? You are welcome to Liverpool, lad. We'll
see what we can make of you here. Plant you on a high stool, and set
you quill-driving. Are you a good hand at figuring? We don't value the
Latin and Greek most lads have crammed into their heads to the exclusion
of all other useful knowledge. Pounds, shillings, and pence are what we
have to do with in our commercial city."

Thus the old gentleman ran on without even waiting for me to answer. He
then conducted us to our bedchambers; and as soon as we had washed our
hands we descended to the supper-room, where the board was amply spread.
He did not again allude to the high stool and quill-driving, but his
remark had made a deep impression on my mind. There was nothing I hated
so much as the thought of being shut up in a counting-house. He asked
me if I was accustomed to go out alone, and satisfied on that score from
what Aunt Deb and I said, he told me that I might amuse myself the next
morning by exploring Liverpool, provided I took good note of the way
home. This was just what I thought of doing, and to my relief Aunt Deb
said she would be too tired to go out.

Accordingly the next morning, after breakfast, I got ready to sally
forth. Mr Butterfield had gone to his office, and did not see me. I
in reality cared very little for exploring the town, and accordingly
inquired my way to the river. Instead of the stream I expected to find
I saw a broad expanse of water, with vessels of all rigs and sizes in
spacious docks, or moored alongside the quays. I was going along the
quay when I saw a large ship taking in cargo. Making my way on till I
got astern of her, I observed that she was called the "Emu." I walked
up and down admiring her