He cut wicks, filled moulds, performed errands, and played the part of general waiter, in which there was much variety. And this was his work for successive weeks, very little of his time running to waste. Do you ask how he likes it? The following conversation with his mother will answer. "I don't like it at all, mother,--no better than I thought I should," he said. "I wish I could do something else." "What else is there for you to do, Benjamin?" replied his mother. "What would you like to do?" "I would like to go to sea." "Go to see what?" she inquired, as if she did not understand him at first. "Go on a voyage to Europe, or the East Indies." "What!" exclaimed his mother, exhibiting surprise, for she had not dreamed that her son had any inclination to go to sea. "Want to be a sailor? What put that into your head?" "I have always thought I should like to go to sea," he answered; "and I am so tired of making candles that I want to go now more than ever." "I am astonished, Benjamin. You might know that I should never give my consent to that. I should almost as lief bury you. And how can you want to leave your good home, and all your friends, to live in a ship, exposed to storms and death all the time?" "It is not because I do not love my home and friends, but I have a desire to sail on a voyage to some other country. I like the water, and nothing would suit me so well as to be a cabin-boy." "There, Benjamin, you must never say another word about it," continued his mother; "and you must not think any more about going; for I shall never give my consent, and I know _your father never will_. It was almost too much for me when your brother broke away from us, and went to sea. I could not pass through another such trial. So you must not persist in your wish, if you would not send me down to the grave." And here his mother alluded to one of the most bitter experiences of her life, when a son older than Benjamin became restless at home, and would not be persuaded from his purpose of going to sea. It caused her many unhappy hours. Benjamin had said nothing about this matter to his father, and this prompt veto of his mother put a damper on his hopes, so that he continued to work at the shop, with all his dislike for the business. His parents talked over the matter, and his father was led thereby to watch him more carefully, that he might nip the first buddings of desire for the sea. At length, however, Benjamin ventured to make known his wishes to his father. "I have thought," said he, "that I should like to go to sea, if you are willing;" and there he stopped, evidently expecting to be refused. "What has happened to lead you to desire this?" inquired his father. "Not anything," he answered. "I always thought I should like it,--though I have had a stronger desire lately."