She was well armed carrying a long tom amidships, and half a dozen six pounders, and a crew when her complement was complete, of twenty men before the mast. She was designed as a strong armed trader, and having letters of marque, she was expected to take any vessel belonging to the enemies of England (under whose flag she sailed) provided she was strong enough. Her commander was a tyrant in his disposition and much addicted to the intemperate use of spirituous liquors. His first mate was a weak, imbecile young man, put on board originally as a sort of supercargo, by the owners, being a son of the principle share holder. The third officer was Mr. Channing whom we have introduced to the reader, and who appeared to be the only person on board worthy of trust as an officer. The captain trusted almost entirely to his first mate who was also inclined to throw all responsibility upon his second, as we shall have occasion to see. The next morning Mr. Charming called on the poor Irishman as he had promised to do. He learned that the poor woman his mother, had expired during the night, and he found her son with his face buried in his hands, the very picture of honest grief. ‘I condole with you my good man,’ said Channing, ‘but you should remember that your mother has gone to a better world, where she will know no more want, no pain nor hunger--“where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.”’ ‘Do you belave that?’ asked Terrance Mooney. ‘Most certainly, the humblest of God’s creatures is his especial care, and he will gather all his children home in due time,’ said the mate of the brig to the weeping son of the deceased. ‘And no purgatory nather.’ ‘If there be any purgatory, my good man, it is here on this earth where there is so much sin and consequent misery.’ ‘Arrah, that’s consoulin to be sure if its all true, but the praist tells a mighty dale about that place.’ ‘If he would preach more about the love and kindness of our heavenly father, and less of these imaginary places, he would serve the cause of his maker much more faithfully, and lead more sinners to repentance,’ said Channing. ‘Would’nt I be happy if I thought the ould lady had gone to Paradise to live wid the saints?5 said Terrence. ‘Believe me, my good fellow, she’s safe in the hands of the wisdom and power that made her.’ ‘That’s consoling to be sure, but here am I, Terrence Moony, wid no mother at all, sure what’s to become of me?’ The thought struck Channing that it wanted yet one man to complete the complement of the brig. ‘How would you like to go to sea with me for good wages and comfortable living, hey Terrence?’ asked the mate. ‘Why there’s nothing to kape me here to be sure, but to see the ould woman dacently buried. When does your honor go to sea, if you plase?’ ‘This morning.’ ‘Right away is it?’ ‘With the ebb tide.’ ‘Arrah, that’s soon enough to be sure, could I get my friends to dacently bury her now, but thin I hav’nt the money.’