Ensign Merrill — page 17: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Bk “eae favor upon us by accepting.”’ ™ fick a Et = (%2.<2e8, * * - nae , For several moments the young ensign was abso- e Rae lutely unable to reply. His manly face glowed with pleasure at the prospect outlined before him—the pros- pect of glory and fame; of active service in his chosen © trials. His path of learning at Annapolis was not one — entirely of roses, and, coming as he did, a simple fisher © and triumphs. while a cadet, and shared with ae modest, unassuming lad the successes won in fearless — - said. But for the benefit of our later friends, a short no other home than a strange old mansion near the vil- lage on the New England coast. There he lived a Se rth ae oe, a sweet-faced, gentle WOnleie abe es profession; of chances for unlimited adventures, and last, but not least, he felt overwhelmed with pride that _ he, asimple junior officer in the navy, a young man” hardly past his teens, should be selected to command such an expedition—one in which would be invested a — half-million of dollars, and of much importance aside | from its monetary point of view. x The affair was entirely unexpected. He had come ashore from the flagship Trenton, on which he was - gerving as junior deck officer, at the invitation of Mr. Bevins, au old friend of his family, and one who had — known him during his career at the Naval Academy. As a midshipman, Mark had gone through many ~ lad from a seacoast hutning in Maine, he had to con- 4 tend with ridicule and the machinations of a malic foe. a To the old readers, who followed him in his triake & sirife for a place in his country’s service, little need ba 4 “outa ha - revision will be given. eae Until his thirteenth year young Merrill had know a . ; ’ : va" Px “ 4 ' ee oe chooks. com 4 } ” > ‘ee . Pe o uw” ~~ * ¥: