"
When Morton heard of the two invitations, and something of the foregoing
conversation, as they sat over their cosey supper that evening, he kept
quite still, while Molly was running on with questions, suggestions, and
comments, till there was a lull; then he looked up at his elder sister
with a queer expression.
"Supposing, Sara, I had gone with Uncle Jabez Wanamead, and then should
come home a rough fisherman, while you were learning how to be polite;
would you have been ashamed of me?"
"No, Morton; but I shall be much prouder of you if you will have the
bravery and honesty of a fisherman, with the education and manners of a
gentleman, and the spirit of a Christian; that ought to make a man for
any sister to be proud of."
"Well," he said, drawing in his breath, "I'll say it now, Sara, I'm glad
you stuck out so against my going in the Mary Jane. While I was off with
the professor we were by the sea a day or two, and I went aboard a
smack. It was a better one than that, too; but I was glad I hadn't a
berth there, for somehow things did look dreadfully rough to me that
day. There was a boy about my age, and the men swore at him nearly every
word they said, and he swore too, and chewed and smoked and drank his
grog; and he seemed real proud to think he could take it down clear
without staggering.
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