As I went by I see it was a lantern hanging on the jackstaff of a double-hull ferryboat. I skimmed around for the watchman, a-wondering whereabouts he slept; and by and by I found him roosting on the bitts forward, with his head down between his knees. I gave his shoulder two or three little shoves, and begun to cry.

He stirred up in a kind of a startlish way; but when he see it was only me he took a good gap and stretch, and then he says:

“Hello, what’s up?

Don’t cry, bub. What’s the trouble?”

I says:

“Pap, and mam, and sis, and — “

Then I broke down. He says:

“Oh, dang it now, don’t take on so; we all has to have our troubles, and this ’n ’ll come out all right. What’s the matter with ’em?”