Left an orphan, with a scanty patrimony amounting to three hundred dollars, Harry left it all in the hands of his father’s friend, Mr. Benjamin Howard of Ferguson, and set out, not in quest of a fortune, but of a livelihood. He had been recommended by his father to seek a cousin of his, John Fox of Colebrook, and place himself under his guardianship. He visited Mr. Fox, but found him so mean and grasping that he left him after a brief stay, preparing to face the world without assistance. Mr. Fox, who had two children, Joel and Sally, was greatly disappointed, as he had hoped to get control of the boy’s slender property, and convert it to his own use. He pursued Harry, but was unable to overtake and capture him.
Months passed, and John Fox heard nothing of his wandering relative.
One day, however, he came home triumphant.
“Well, Maria,” he said, addressing his wife, “I’ve heard of Harry Vane.”
“You don’t say!” ejaculated Joel, his face screwed up into an expression of curiosity. “What did you hear? Where is he?”
“Joel,” answered his father, with an attempt at solemnity, “the judgments of the Lord have fallen upon your unhappy cousin.”
“What do you mean, Mr. Fox?” asked his wife, showing curiosity in turn.
“I mean that he is lying dead at the bottom of the sea.”
“Don’t be so tantalising, Mr. Fox. If you know anything about the boy, out with it!”
When Mrs. Fox spoke in this tone her husband knew that she would not stand any nonsense. So he answered without delay. “Soon after he left our happy home, Maria, he shipped on board the Nantucket, as a common sailor, I presume, and the ship was lost off in the Southern Ocean with all on board.”