They said her decks were
as white as snow,-- holystoned every morning, like a man-of-war's;
everything on board ``ship-shape and Bristol fashion''; a fine
crew, three mates, a sailmaker and carpenter, and all complete.
``They've got a man for mate of that ship, and not a bloody sheep
about decks!''-- ``A mate that knows his duty, and makes everybody
do theirs, and won't be imposed upon by either captain or crew.''
After collecting all the information we could get on this point,
we asked something about their new captain. He had hardly been on
board long enough for them to know much about him, but he had
taken hold strong, as soon as he took command,-- shifting the
top-gallant-masts, and unreeving all the studding-sail gear and
half the running rigging, the very first day.
Having got all the news we could, we pulled ashore; and as soon as
we reached the house, I, as might be supposed, fell directly to
opening my bundle, and found a reasonable supply of duck, flannel
shirts, shoes, &c., and, what was still more valuable, a packet of
eleven letters. These I sat up nearly all night reading, and put
them carefully away, to be re-read again and again at my leisure.
Then came half a dozen newspapers, the last of which gave notice
of Thanksgiving, and of the clearance of ``ship Alert, Edward H.
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