Page:Twenty years before the mast - Charles Erskine, 1896.djvu/28

 After surveying Charleston Harbor, and those of Darien, Brunswick, and Savannah, we sailed for New  York. Our captain had left us at Savannah, having been ordered to Washington. On our arrival at New York we were transferred on board the receiving-ship  Fulton and in a few days the brig’s crew were discharged.

After exploring the "Hook" and "Five Points," I returned to Boston, and found all at home well. My oldest brother and his friend Gough were supernumeraries at the Lyon Theatre, where there was a circus. I shipped in the circus. For a week I was put through a regular course of training in riding and tumbling. In trying to turn a double back somerset I came near breaking my neck. I rather thought that I had better quit the circus before I did break it. The ringmaster — his name, I think, was Stickney — wanted me to stay, and so did the old clown; but after thinking it all  over, I gave up the idea of being a rider and tumbler,  and left the circus.

My brother Thomas, who was a little older than I, lived on a farm in old Concord. I visited him for a few days, and had a very lively time, but have always  regretted one thing — that I influenced him to run  away. I planned the whole thing, set the time, and thought he would run away that night, but he said no,  he wanted to go over to Carlisle the next day. Now I do not think any one could guess why he wished to  go over to Carlisle. It seems he had heard that there was an Irishman in that town, and, as he had never  seen one, thought he would improve the opportunity,