my brother ben has gone to sea. he has gone in a big ship. mother packed his trunk with nice clothes, and put in his bible and some good books, and i put in my picture, and we went to see him sail. i felt bad enough, for mother says he will be gone a whole year.

what a long time to be on the water! he says, when he comes home he will bring mother a nice shawl and me some fine playthings. i hope he will not get lost at sea, as some poor sailors have been.