It had been a great comfort to my father, this visit from Uncle Henry.

They were both greyheaded now, and Jem and I were all they had to come after them.
Blood was thicker than water.

As to my poor mother-- For a few minutes the letter danced up and down as if writ in water; then I dried my eyes, and found that she bore up pretty well in hopes of my return, and that Uncle Henry was communicating by this mail with a man of business in Halifax, N.S., who was instructed to take a passage home for me in a good vessel, and to defray any expenses of a reasonable nature in connection with my affairs.

When I was safe home, my father added, he would take the best advice as to sending me to sea in a proper and suitable way.

Dr.Brown had some relatives who were large ship-owners, and he seemed to be much interested in my career, out of regard to the family.