"My eyes fail me, my child! If it is not asking of you too much, tell me
what were his last words; they will fall more gently on my heart;" and
the tones of the Sea-flower were of comfort as she read:--
"My dear Mother--In the ship Nautilus, which will sail from this port on
the 20th of October, I have shipped for a Cape Horn voyage. You will
hardly believe what you read; nevertheless, it is true. I was very much
disappointed that I could not go with father, and thought I would wait
patiently until his return; but gaining permission from my present
captain to accompany him, I could not resist the temptation. I know I
shall do very wrong in going away without your consent, but forgive me,
if you can, mother; 't is the only act in which I have ever given you
sorrow, or by which I ever shall. You shall hear from me as often as I
can get an opportunity of sending home, and it will not be a great while
before I shall be with you again. I shall not forget my prayers night
and morning; and I know you will not cease to pray for your son, though
he should fall to the lowest depths of degradation. Tell father, when
you write him, that I have disobeyed his word; but ask him if he cannot
forgive me.
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