of thirty
years right back to my heart again. Yes, my hearty, that old feelin's
just as good as new this minute. God bless yer father; and God bless yer
mother, too! Here's a hand what'll always give a warm welcome to the son
of old Hanz Toodlebug--"

"Then you knew my father? I hope, sir, I may never do anything to lessen
your respect for him."

"Know'd him?" resumed the captain. "Yes, sir, and yer mother, too. And
when Captain Price Bottom says he know'd a man, he means it. Your father
and me was rivals!" Here he touched Tite on the elbow, and winked
significantly. "That is--well, it's rather a delicate subject--he
courted yer mother, and so did I! There, sir, there's just what it is.
She was as trim a young craft then as ever spread sails, and as full of
goodness and good looks." Captain Bottom again paused for a moment,
shook his head despondingly, and placed his hand on his heart. "A number
of young bloods like me trimmed their sails, but did'nt overhaul her.
Many a heart-flutter she caused me in them days. And just when I
thought, says I to myself, 'I'm to wind'rd,' and had got ready to make
fast to her--" Here he paused for a moment, and then lowering his voice,
continued: "Well, what does she go and do? Blow me, my hearty, if she
did'nt go off and marry your father. That's what dismasted me. Never
bore him nor her any ill-will. 'God bless ye both,' says I; 'may ye be
happy and have a large family!' And it does me good to know that they
was prosperous. Your father had a home to take a woman to, and that is
what a woman should look to. Price Bottom was poor then, and without a
shillin' in his pocket. It was disappointment that made me take to the
sea, though. Went from the fo'castle t'where you see me now--Captain
Price Bottom, sir, of the good ship Pacific. It's a man's own exertion
that lifts him up in the world. There's my poor old woman at home
to-night--God bless her and the two little ones! thinking of me, and
praying for me, and wondering where we are. Laid her up a nice little
fortune; wolf can't bark at her door. That's a gratification, my hearty.
Made three successful voyages, you see. This, our fourth one, is to be
the last. Keep a sharp look ahead, and there's a future for you, too.
Ah, there'll be a heap of happiness a'tween me and my old woman when
this voyage is ended. A true wife at home, and a lovin' husband at
sea--ah, my hearty, them's jewels!"

Tite listened with surprise to the story of thi