Page:Twenty years before the mast - Charles Erskine, 1896.djvu/297

 Chelsea; and Charlie Erskine sought his home at the West End. At noon, we all three met at "Mother Paine’s," neither of us having been successful in finding our parents. While talking over our morning adventures with each other in the old wood-shed, we could not help giving vent to our feelings. We did, indeed, feel very sad and discouraged. However, after dinner we started again. I revisited the house where my mother had formerly lived in Bridge Street Court. The woman whom I found residing there had just returned  from church, and informed me that my mother had  moved about three years before to Commercial Street,  and said I had better look in the directory. I had already looked there, but my mother’s name was not in  the book. I continued my search, however, and finally discovered that my mother resided on Canton Street.

Such a joyful meeting as it was! I shall not attempt to describe it. Carney also was successful in finding his mother, who was living in Chelsea, and Roberts found  his in East Boston.

Tuesday we all returned to New York. It was fourteen days from the time of our arrival to the day we were paid off. Mr. Bennett stated in the New York Herald that it was a shame and a disgrace for the Government to keep us out of our pay so long, and that he  would help pay the expenses of the two hundred of the  Vincennes' crew to Washington if they would go on and  give each member of Congress what they so richly deserved — a good, sound thrashing. He had no doubt but what we could do it, even if there were five hundred  Congressmen. At last the day arrived when we were to