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As soon as Ready had hung up the curtains； he looked under the bedsteads for a large bundle； and said； as he opened it； 〃I shall now decorate Madam Seagrave's sleeping…place。 It ought to be handsomer than the others。〃 The bundle was composed of the ship's ensign； which was red； and a large； square； yellow flag with the name of the ship Pacific in large black letters upon it。 These two flags Ready festooned and tied up round the bed…place； so as to give it a very gay appearance； and also to hide the rough walls of the cottage。
〃Indeed； Ready； I am much obliged to you；〃 said Mrs。 Seagrave； when he had finished； 〃it is really quite grand for this place。〃
〃It's the best use we can put them to now； madam；〃 said Ready。
〃I am afraid so；〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave； thoughtfully。
〃Ready；〃 said William； after the candles were lighted； 〃you once half…promised me that you would tell me your history； I wish you would tell us some of it now； as it will pass away the evening。〃
〃Well； William； I did say so； and I shall keep my word。 When you have heard my story； you will say that I have been very foolish in my time； and so I have； but if it proves a warning to you； it will； at all events； be of some use。〃
Ready then commenced his history as follows：
History of Old Ready。
〃Of course； you wish to know who my father and mother were： that is soon told。 My father was the captain of a merchant vessel； which traded from South Shields to Hamburg； and my poor mother； God bless her； was the daughter of a half…pay militia captain； who died about two months after their marriage。 The property which the old gentleman had bequeathed to my mother was added to that which my father had already vested in the brig； and he then owned one…third of the vessel； the other two…thirds were the property of a very rich ship…builder and owner； of the name of Masterman。 What with the profits of the share he held of the vessel and his pay as captain； my father was well to do。 Mr。 Masterman； who had a very high opinion of my father； and gained much money by his exertions and good management； was present at the marriage； and when I was born； about a year afterwards； he stood for me as godfather。 Every one considered that this was a most advantageous circumstance for me； and congratulated my father and mother； for Mr。 Masterman was a bachelor； of nearly sixty years； without any near relations。 It is true； that he was very fond of money； but that； they said； was all the better； as he could not take it away with him when he died。 An end； however； was soon put to all their worldly ideas； for a year after I was born； my father was drowned at sea； his vessel and the whole of her crew being lost on the Texel sands； and my mother found herself a widow； with a child scarcely weaned； when she was but twenty…two years of age。
〃It was supposed that my mother would still have sufficient to live upon； as the ship had been insured at two…thirds of her value； but； to the astonishment of everybody； Mr。 Masterman contrived to make it appear that it was his two…thirds of the vessel which had been insured。〃
〃What is insurance？〃 inquired William。
〃Insurance； my dear boy； is paying a certain sum to people who are called underwriters； that in case the vessel or cargo is lost or damaged； the loss or damage is made good to the owners of the vessel or cargo。 You pay in proportion to the risk incurred。 Supposing you wished to insure one thousand pounds on a vessel or cargo； and ten per cent was required； you would； if the vessel came home safe； pay the underwriters one hundred pounds； if； on the contrary； the vessel was lost； the underwriters would have to pay you one thousand pounds； the sum which you had insured。 I beg your pardon for the interruption； Ready。〃
〃No need； Mr。 Seagrave； we never should lose an opportunity of teaching the young。 Well； how far the assertion of Mr。 Masterman was correct or not； it was impossible at the time to say； but I do know that everybody cried out ‘shame'； and that if he did deprive the widow； he had much to answer for； for the Bible says； ‘Pure religion is to visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction； and to keep yourself unspotted in the world'。 The consequence was； that my mother had little or nothing to live upon； but she found friends who assisted her； and she worked embroidery； and contrived to get on somehow until I was eight or nine years of age。〃
〃But did not your godfather come forward to the assistance of your mother？〃 inquired Mr。 Seagrave。
〃No； sir； strange to say； he did not； and that made people talk the more。 I believe it was the abuse of him； which he did not fail to hear； and which he ascribed to my mother； which turned him away from us； perhaps it was his own conscience； for we always dislike those we have injured。〃
〃Unfortunately； there is great truth in that remark of yours； Ready；〃 observed Mr。 Seagrave； 〃still； it is strange that he did not do something。〃
〃It was very strange； sir； … at least； so it appeared at the time； but he was very fond of money； and irritated at the reports and observations which were made about him。 But； to go on； sir； I was a strong； hardy boy； and； whenever I could escape from my mother or school； was always found by the water…side or on board of the vessels。 In the summer…time I was half the day in water； and was a very good swimmer。 My mother perceived my fondness for the profession； and tried all she could to divert my thoughts some other way。 She told me of the dangers and hardships which sailors went through； and always ended with my father's death and a flood of tears。
〃We certainly are of a perverse nature； as I have often heard the clergyman say； for it appears to me that we always wish to do that which we are told not to do。 If my mother had not been always persuading me against going to sea； I really believe I might have stayed at home。 I've often thought since； how selfish and unfeeling I must have been。 I was too young to know what pain I was giving my mother； and how anxiety was preying upon her； all on my account。 Children cannot feel it； if they did； they would do otherwise； for our hearts are seldom hard until we grow older。〃
〃I agree with you； Ready；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave。 〃If children really knew how much their parents suffer when they behave ill； how alarmed they are at any proofs of wickedness in them； they would be much better。〃
〃We never find that out； sir； till it is too late；〃 continued Ready。 〃Well； sir； I was little more than nine years old； when； on a very windy day； and the water rough； a hawser； by which a vessel was fast to the wharf； was carried away with a violent jerk； and the broken part； as it flew out； struck a person who was at the edge of the wharf； and knocked him into the sea。 I heard the crying out； and the men from the wharf and from the ships were throwing ropes to him； but he could not catch hold of them； indeed； he could not swim well； and the water was rough。 I caught a rope that had been hauled in again； and leapt off the wharf。
〃Young as I was； I swam like a duck； and put the rope into his hands just as he was going down。 He clung to it as drowning men only can cling； and was hauled to the piles； and soon aft