Page:Black Jacob, a monument of grace.djvu/14

6 York by a British armed ship, and he was cast upon shore, a destitute and abandoned sailor. During his whole life at sea he had not received the slightest education, but grew more and more immoral, till he was utterly unfitted for any useful service on land where confidence in his sobriety and integrity was demanded.

Being dismissed from service, and destitute of all means of support, his condition; was as deplorable and hopeless as can well be imagined. How long he continued in these unhappy circumstances is not known. Being unable to procure any steady employment, or secure any permanent residence, he wandered through the country till he became settled in the county of Orange, in the state of New York.

He was now too old to receive the advantages of education provided for the poor at the public expense, and toe ignorant and vicious to know its value. Having cast aside all the restraints and