At St. Petersburg, the birth day of any of the royal family is observed
as a time of great festivity, by all kinds of diversions. When the
vessel in which John Read shipped arrived, he was allowed to go on shore
to see the sport on that occasion. In one of the sleighs was a lady, who
at the moment of passing him lost a bracelet from her arm, which fell on
the snow. John hastened forward to pick it up, at the same time calling
after the lady, who was beyond the sound of his voice. He then put the
bracelet into his pocket, and when he had seen enough of the sport, went
back to the ship.
John told the captain all about it, showing him the prize which he had
found.
"Well, Jack," said the captain, "you are fortunate enough--these are
all diamonds of great value--when we get to the next port I will sell it
for you." "But," said John, "It's not mine, it belongs to the lady, and
I cannot sell it." The captain replied "O, you cannot find the lady, and
you picked it up. It is your own." But John persisted it was not his.
"Nonsense, my boy," said the captain, "it belongs to you." John then
replied--"But if we have another storm in the Baltic," (see story
preceding.) "Ah me," said the Captain, "I forgot all about that, Jack. I
will go on shore with you to-morrow and try to find the owner." They did
so; and after much trouble, found it belonged to a nobleman's, lady, and
as a reward for the boy's honesty, she gave him eighty pounds English
money. John's next difficulty was what to do with it. The captain
advised him to lay it out in hides, which would be valuable in England.
He did so, and on arriving at Hull, they brought one hundred and fifty
pounds.
John had not forgotten his mother. The captain gave him leave of absence
for a time, and taking a portion of his money with him, he started for
his native village. When he arrived there, he made his way to her house
with a beating heart. Each object told him it was home, and brought
bygone days to his mind. On coming to the house he saw it was closed. He
thought she might be dead; and as he slowly opened the gate and walked
up the path and looked about, his heart was ready to break. A neighbor
seeing him, said, "Ah, John, is that you?" and quickly told him that his
mother still lived--but as she had no means of support, she had gone to
the poor house. John went to the place, found his mother, and soon made
her comfortable in her own cottage. The sailor boy afterwards became
mate of the same vessel in which he first left the quay at Yarmouth.