The Captain's Story; or, The Disobedient Son — A Reader’s Guide

The Stranger—The Castle—The Captain’s Soliloquy—The Pastor—The Invitation

The Children’s Expectation Disappointed—The Scapegrace—The Forester’s House—Curiosity of the Villagers—Their Remarks—The Captain’s Luggage

Invitation to Tea—Negroes—Curiosities—The Fable of the Grasshopper and the Ant—The Explanation

The Portrait—The Captain begins his Story—His Wilfulness—Goes to the University—Bad Behaviour there—His Father’s Letter—Refuses to send him Money—He Runs Away

He writes to his Father—Arrives at Amsterdam—His Father’s Answer—The Curse—On the Quay—Meets a Fellow-Countryman—Is Kidnapped and Robbed—Sent to Sea—Endures many Hardships

The Tempest—All Hope Lost—The Ship Founders—The only Survivor—The Spar—Remorse—The Rock—A Sail in Sight—The Signal—Despair—The Sail in Sight again—The Signal Seen—Saved—He Works his Passage to England—Is Tired of a Seafaring Life

He Arrives at Portsmouth—Resolves to Return to his Father—Arrives at Rotterdam—Sunday Morning—Writes to his Father—Is Penniless—The Curse of Disobedience—The Sermon—Is Starving—Obtains Temporary Relief from an Old Fellow-Student—Receives News of his Father’s Death—His Sorrow and Remorse—Goes to Sea Again—Becomes Captain of a Ship

His Marriage—The Portrait—His Terror—His Good Fortune Deserts him—Heavy Losses—The Beggar—Recognises an Old Enemy—His Two Children are Drowned—His Wife Dies—Is Bankrupt—In Prison—The English Clergyman—Is Brought to Repentance—Is Set Free—The Fisherman and Basket-maker

Accepts the Command of a Ship—The Pirates—The Fight—Victory—Meets an Old Friend—His Friend’s Adventures

Makes Several Successful Voyages—Becomes Rich—Buys a Ship of his Own—Makes his Fortune—Retires from the Sea—Returns to his Native Village

The Curse Revoked—Conclusion

*THE CAPTAIN’S STORY.*

The Stranger—The Castle—The Captain’s Soliloquy—The Pastor—The Invitation.

"I travelled among unknown men, In lands beyond the sea; Nor did I know, sweet home, till then, What love I bore to thee.

"’Tis past, that melancholy dream! Nor will I quit thy shore A second time; for still I seem To love thee more and more. —WORDSWORTH.

Towards the close of a beautiful day in autumn, the last rays of the setting sun were gilding the tops of the mountains, which overhang the picturesque valley of Bergstrasse, along which winds the road from Heidelberg to Frankfort. The heavily laden country carts and waggons were toiling slowly along the dusty highway, both horses and drivers looking hot and tired, and both, no doubt, very glad that they had nearly reached the end of their day’s journey; while every now and then a horseman, or a carriage with ladies and gentlemen inside, dashed rapidly along, and soon left the more heavily loaded vehicles far behind. What a striking picture of human life and the great journey we all are taking—some of us struggling wearily, and oftentimes painfully, but always, let us trust, hopefully, under a heavy load, and others trotting merrily along their course, happy, and apparently at least free from care. Who shall say which of the two shall reach the end most safely!

While the broad high-road presented this animated scene, the steep rocky footpath cut in the side of the mountain, and leading up to the old ruined castle of Aurburg on its summit, was almost deserted; not quite deserted, though; for, toiling up the steep ascent was an old man, who, in spite of the help afforded him by his stout bamboo cane, looked very tired as he went slowly along. He was rather a strange-looking old man, respectably dressed, and with a pleasant-looking face; but his clothes and general appearance were different from those of the people commonly seen about there, and his bronzed, weather-beaten features showed him to be, if not a foreigner, one who had evidently been for some time in a foreign country. Indeed, the little boy who passed him on his way down to the valley with his goats, and the little girl going home with her bundle of sticks for the fire, seemed half afraid of him as they bade him good-night, and even when he had gone by, they turned round to look at him as he went on up the mountain-side.