He took me to a dozen or more of the dock masters.
'Give 'im a lift, my hearty,' he said to the first of them. 'He's a green.'
I have never forgotten the kindness of that Irishman, whom I came to know well in good time. Remembering that day and others I always greeted him with a hearty 'God bless the Irish!' every time I passed him, and he would answer, 'Amen, an' save yer riverince.'
He did not leave me until I was on my way home loaded with fact and fable and good dialect with a savour of the sea in it.
Hope and Uncle Eb were sitting together in his room when I returned.
'Guess I've got a job,' I said, trying to be very cool about it..
'A job! said Hope eagerly, as she rose. 'Where?
'With Mr Horace Greeley,' I answered, my voice betraying my excitement.
'Jerusalem! said Uncle Eb. 'Is it possible?'
'That's grand! said Hope. 'Tell us about it.'