When he was sent away from school, he went into town and inquired about
the wharves for a chance to go, and got one, and came back to get some
things he left hid in the old house, and to wait till ’t was time to go.
He sold his watch, and bought a great bag full of hard bread and cheese
and cakes.
He was mad at Gapper for setting a man to watch, and so he took Rosy’s
lamb. He was going to kill it. And then skin it. But he couldn’t do it.
It licked his hand, and looked up so sorryful, he couldn’t do it. And
when he cut his foot--he cut it chopping something. That’s why he stayed
there so long. And he was the ghost that whistled. He knew the fellows
wouldn’t go in to see what it was that whistled. And he ate up most all
his things, and tied a string to the lamb, and let it out nights to eat
grass, and then pulled it in again.
I wouldn’t have stayed there so for anything. He went into town three
times, nights, to get victuals to eat. I don’t see what he wants to be
such a kind of a boy for. He says he means to go to sea, and if ever
he’s good he’s going home. I told him about his father and mother, and
he walked while I was talking, and kept his back towards me. I asked him
what ailed him, and he said ’t was partly cutting him, and partly
sleeping cold nights, and partly the crackers and cheese. I gave him the
rest of my meat, and he was glad enough.
He said he was ashamed to go home.
Now I have got to the end of another sheet of paper. I wish I hadn’t
begun to tell my sister this story. It takes so long. And I want every
minute of the time to play in. For ’t is getting a little cooler, and a
fellow can stand it to run some. The master says it’s good weather for
studying. Dorry says he never saw any weather yet good enough for
studying. I shall write a very short letter next time, to tell the rest
of it.
From your affectionate grandchild,