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Article THE MYSTERIOUS MR. B. Page 1 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Mysterious Mr. B.
THE MYSTERIOUS MR . B .
Continued from page 170 . ( HIS LIFE RELATED EY HIMSELF . ) IN narrating the events of my life , it will perhaps , in the first p lace , be fair for me to state to you , that the notice of the scenes through Avhich 1 have passed , will be of a A'ery brief nature ; there are , indeed , but few points connected ivith them of a pleasant character ; on the
contrary , my path , tin . ugh of an humble kind , has been marked throughout its career ivith degradation and misfortune . The date of my birth is unknown , but it is supposed to have been in the year 1775 , and strange as the relation may be , I am not only unacquainted with the spot , on Avhich I first dreiv breath , but am " totally ignorant of Avho my earthly parents were . It will naturall y be supposed or inferredthat for reasons of discretion or necessitI was unnaturall
, y , y deserted and cast into the area of this ivide world , the innocent victim of the culpable indiscretion of those ivho caused my birth . I was placed a neiv-born infant under the charge of a poor illiterate sailor aud his Avife , residing at Whitby , a sea-port on the coast ot Yorkshire , in the month of March , in the above year , by a person AVIIO they stated appeared to be a medical gentleman . He informed them that if they Avould undertake the charge of methey AA'Ould be alloAved the sum of
, twenty pounds a year for the expenses I should entail upon them . This sum to them was a perfect fortune , ancl they having readily accepted the task , he paid CIOAVII a 51 . note in advance , promising at the same time that the future payments should be transmitted quarterly through the medium of the country banker ; after giving them certain regula-¦
tions , ancl requiring them to have me named H B ¦ within six months , he departed from their cottage , ancl they never saAV him more . Thomas Anderton , under Avhom I Avas placed , Avas a hardy seaman , rough , honest , and kind-hearted ; he ivas thoroughl y inured to the chances ancl accidents belonging to his laborious and dangerous profession , and he consequently conceived he Avas doing his duty to accustom me from the cradle to fatigue , aud thereb y make me like himself , a good sailorI Avas fortunatelpossessed of hale constitution and
. y a good sound frame , and recollect perfectl y Avell " being cast into the waves almost beforel could speak , he supporting and teaching me IIOAV to move my little legs and arms . I was soon a proficient in the art of swimming , and at the age of five Avas able to follow his vessel to a considerable distance . My foster mother Avas devotedly attached to me—her affections Avere perhaps enhanced from having no children of her own ; and while lastsI forget the constan t her affection
my memory , never can care , - ate kiss ^ ancl the solemn but lowly blessing Avhich she ni ghtly bestowed upon her " little orphan H— . " I often fancy myself still before her , on my bended knees , ancl upraised hands , repeating the little prayer which she taught me in my infancy :
" Gentle Jesus , meek and mild , Look upon a little child , Pity my simplicity . And teach me Lord to come to thee . " There is one particular circumstance which occurred Avhen I Avas seven years of age Avhich I shall relate , although it may Aveary your attention ; it Avas of a nature , howeA-er , Avhich mi ght have been attended with the most dangerous consequences , had not the goodness of Provi-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Mysterious Mr. B.
THE MYSTERIOUS MR . B .
Continued from page 170 . ( HIS LIFE RELATED EY HIMSELF . ) IN narrating the events of my life , it will perhaps , in the first p lace , be fair for me to state to you , that the notice of the scenes through Avhich 1 have passed , will be of a A'ery brief nature ; there are , indeed , but few points connected ivith them of a pleasant character ; on the
contrary , my path , tin . ugh of an humble kind , has been marked throughout its career ivith degradation and misfortune . The date of my birth is unknown , but it is supposed to have been in the year 1775 , and strange as the relation may be , I am not only unacquainted with the spot , on Avhich I first dreiv breath , but am " totally ignorant of Avho my earthly parents were . It will naturall y be supposed or inferredthat for reasons of discretion or necessitI was unnaturall
, y , y deserted and cast into the area of this ivide world , the innocent victim of the culpable indiscretion of those ivho caused my birth . I was placed a neiv-born infant under the charge of a poor illiterate sailor aud his Avife , residing at Whitby , a sea-port on the coast ot Yorkshire , in the month of March , in the above year , by a person AVIIO they stated appeared to be a medical gentleman . He informed them that if they Avould undertake the charge of methey AA'Ould be alloAved the sum of
, twenty pounds a year for the expenses I should entail upon them . This sum to them was a perfect fortune , ancl they having readily accepted the task , he paid CIOAVII a 51 . note in advance , promising at the same time that the future payments should be transmitted quarterly through the medium of the country banker ; after giving them certain regula-¦
tions , ancl requiring them to have me named H B ¦ within six months , he departed from their cottage , ancl they never saAV him more . Thomas Anderton , under Avhom I Avas placed , Avas a hardy seaman , rough , honest , and kind-hearted ; he ivas thoroughl y inured to the chances ancl accidents belonging to his laborious and dangerous profession , and he consequently conceived he Avas doing his duty to accustom me from the cradle to fatigue , aud thereb y make me like himself , a good sailorI Avas fortunatelpossessed of hale constitution and
. y a good sound frame , and recollect perfectl y Avell " being cast into the waves almost beforel could speak , he supporting and teaching me IIOAV to move my little legs and arms . I was soon a proficient in the art of swimming , and at the age of five Avas able to follow his vessel to a considerable distance . My foster mother Avas devotedly attached to me—her affections Avere perhaps enhanced from having no children of her own ; and while lastsI forget the constan t her affection
my memory , never can care , - ate kiss ^ ancl the solemn but lowly blessing Avhich she ni ghtly bestowed upon her " little orphan H— . " I often fancy myself still before her , on my bended knees , ancl upraised hands , repeating the little prayer which she taught me in my infancy :
" Gentle Jesus , meek and mild , Look upon a little child , Pity my simplicity . And teach me Lord to come to thee . " There is one particular circumstance which occurred Avhen I Avas seven years of age Avhich I shall relate , although it may Aveary your attention ; it Avas of a nature , howeA-er , Avhich mi ght have been attended with the most dangerous consequences , had not the goodness of Provi-