Whaling and fishing

ISof verdancy, from that of the farmer boy, to that no less evident, of the "counter -jumper ' {i In fact," remarked the shipper to ne, "it would never do for us to bring sailors to a whaling port, for the owners will not take them in their ships.You old salts are an unquiet set, and never make good whalemen.""With a smile at his opinion of sailors, I took my leave of the shipper.His account of New Bedford, which was his chief scene of operations, had aroused my curiosity to see somewhat of a whaling port, and I began to think seriously of taking a trip thither in some little coaster, and spending some weeks there.I had still money enough why not indulge this whim?As I walked along, ruminating upon my plan, an old acquaintance, a captain of a coaster, with whom I had made a voyage once before the mast, accosted me, and after shaking hands, and a hearty inquiry after my welfare, asked me if 1 would not go with him to New Bedford." I'll only want a man to help me as far as there, where I have now one of my old hands, waiting for the vessel (a little schooner), and I'll give you five dollars for the run.""Agreed," said I, without stopping to take a econd thought ; " when do you sail ?" " To-morrow morning, with the first flood."We walked down aboard the schooner, a neat little craft of some sixty tuns, and talked over old times for a while, when I returned to my 20 WHALING AND FISHING.boarding house, to pack up my luggage, and pre- pare myself for the morrow.On mature consideration, 1 determined to take all my effects along with me, so that should I make up my mind to ship for a cruise in a whaler, I should bo prepared.Accordingly on the following morning, I bade good-by to the few ship-mates whom I had met while in New York that time, (but without com- municating to any one of them my thoughts con- cerning making a cruise in a whaler), and took my chest and hammock aboard the schooner.The tide serving soon after I got on board, we cast off from the pier and stood up the river, amid a fleet of coasters, all bound through Hurlgate, and up " the Sound."It was a fair day, in midsum- mer, and as we sailed along with a pleasant breeze, my old shipmate, the captain, or skipper, as he was most generally addressed, sat himself down by me to have another talk over days past, when we were together inmates of a forecastle, and to hear somewhat of my adventures since." But why did you bring with you all your things, Charley ?" said he, when at length I had bi ought my yarn to a close." "Well," I answered, with some degree of hesi- tation, for I was half ashamed to disclose my thoughts even to an old friend, " I have half an idea cf shipping in a whaler."" I hope you won't make such a fool of your self, my dear fellow," was the answer to this, WHALING AND FISHIN&.were so ridiculously attempting to counterfeit.ll was comical to see how closely they watched my every movement, each endeavoring to copy some particular air or way, which, above all else, struck him as still necessary to render his own appear- ance that of a regular built Jack Tar.While I was yet watching their maneuvers, one of the crowd, hitching up his pantaloons, which threatened every moment to fall down over his hips, waddled up to me, and adjusting his hat as nearly after the sailor manner as he was able to at the moment, said : " I say, sir, you're a sailor, are you not?" " That's the best guess you've made since you cast loose from your mammy's apron-strings, greeney," said a jolly voice at my back, whose tones seemed somehow very familiar to my ear. I turned quickly in its direction, but had scarce faced the speaker, when I felt myself encircled in two huge arms, and the breath nearly squeezed out of my body, while a stentorian voice hallooed almost in my ears, "by the great hook -block, it's Charley."When I got myself out of the bear -like en-- brace of my huge friend, I found that he was an old shipmate a topmate during the greater part of a three years cruise in a man-of-war.Of course, our meeting was deemed a fortunate one by both of us, and Bill at once proposed to cele- brate it by a glass of " the very best liquor you ever drank, Charley."WHALING AND FISHNG.had determined to secure him a berth that day by hook or crook.' ; Is this the man you mentioned to me, Mr Jones ?" asked the owner." Yes sir, and a most excellent fellow you'll find him, sir a good whale man and a quiet fellow."" Please go out