"
Ready then commenced his history as follows:
History of Old Ready.
"Of course, you wish to know who my father and mother were: that is
soon told. My father was the captain of a merchant vessel, which traded
from South Shields to Hamburg, and my poor mother, God bless her, was
the daughter of a half-pay militia captain, who died about two months
after their marriage. The property which the old gentleman had
bequeathed to my mother was added to that which my father had already
vested in the brig, and he then owned one-third of the vessel; the
other two-thirds were the property of a very rich ship-builder and
owner, of the name of Masterman. What with the profits of the share he
held of the vessel and his pay as captain, my father was well to do.
Mr. Masterman, who had a very high opinion of my father, and gained
much money by his exertions and good management, was present at the
marriage, and when I was born, about a year afterwards, he stood for me
as godfather. Every one considered that this was a most advantageous
circumstance for me, and congratulated my father and mother; for Mr.
Masterman was a bachelor, of nearly sixty years, without any near
relations.
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