CONTENTS OF JERRY.

PAGE
CHAPTER I.
THE RUNAWAY’S RETURN.
Emily’s soliloquy—Arrival of the doctor and his companion—Jerry—Greetings—The doctor’s plan—The new-comer and the lost one—Confession—Misgivings—Mr. Preston’s business—Oscar Preston—His influence over Jerry—The escape—Another sin—Himself robbed—Mr. Preston’s feelings toward his erring son—The evening meal—Waiting for the story, [17]
CHAPTER II.
JERRY BEGINS HIS STORY.
Goes first to Boston—Ships on board the brig Susan—Sea-sickness—Duties on shipboard—Hard usage, and mean fare—The brighter side—Good sailing—Catching a shark—The albatross—Crossing the line—A hard blow—The brig disabled—Rio Janeiro—Excursion inland—Cape Horn and Terra del Fuego—Passing the cape—Cape pigeons—Valparaiso—Vicious habits of sailors—The brig to sail for Boston, [27]
CHAPTER III.
JERRY CONTINUES HIS STORY.
Sails from Valparaiso—An iceberg—Off the cape again—Progress northward—Caught in a “pampero”—Terrors of the tempest—The vessel but a wreck—The brig abandoned—Escape by boats—Davy Jones’s locker—Sufferings at sea—Discover a sail—Disappointment—Land in sight, [39]
CHAPTER IV.
JERRY ENDS HIS STORY.
The party land upon an island—Explorations—Discouraging prospects—Food—Shelter—Signal of distress—Monotonous life—A sail at last—The rescue—Adverse fortune—Transfer to the “Bride”—Run round the Horn—The “doldrums”—Passage to New York, and thence to Boston—Jerry’s new purposes—His familiar bedroom, [52]
CHAPTER V.
CLINTON.
Jerry a “lion”—His visitors—Old Mr. Jenkins—His practical hints—Jerry don’t “take”—Explanation—Seeks Clinton—The meeting—Clinton’s thrifty habits—Saving money for a good object—Secret of success—Clinton’s taste and mechanical skill—Study—Persevering application—Looking ahead—An offer from Clinton—Jerry still unmoved—Explanation, [63]

CONTENTS OF THE MEMOIR.

PAGE
CHAPTER I.
BIRTHPLACE.
The little peninsula—The name the Aborigines gave it—Who called it Charlestown, and why—Scenery in and about Charlestown—Date of Walter Aimwell’s birth—Probable effect of local influences—Nothing external can make youths noble—A thistle in the garden—Walter Aimwell no thistle, [79]
CHAPTER II.
SALEM.
Death of Mr. Simonds—His widow’s removal to Salem—Early hints of Walter Aimwell’s future character—Master Brooks—Walter Aimwell at thirteen—New England boys—Mrs. Simonds’s second marriage—Young Walter at the jeweller’s shop—His letter to his mother—The music-box—Punning verses—The dignity of usefulness—Removal from Lynn, [83]
CHAPTER III.
THE PRINTER’S APPRENTICE.
Walter Aimwell in Wm. S. Damrell’s office—His note-book—His first essay—A. H. Everett’s lecture—Reads life of Alexander the Great—Criticism—Christianity a new religion to some folks—Meddlers—Secret writing—Part of index to note-book, [89]
CHAPTER IV.
MORE NOTE-BOOKS.
A preface—Systematic arrangement of facts in the acquisition of knowledge—Book of Sunday reading—Common sense—Practical spirit—Faith in God’s moral laws—Account of religious experience—Secret resolutions—Not exceedingly miserable—Not uncontrollably joyful—Enters Sabbath school—Determines to rule his temper—Succeeds in an unusual degree—Joins the church, [97]
CHAPTER V.
EXTRACTS FROM “SUNDAY READING.”
Fountains of strength—Growth in grace—Resolutions—How to grow wise—The secret of pleasant faces and happy hearts—The giant and the sugar-plum—Doing right every moment—Speaking the truth—Few folks fit themselves to do it—Making fun at the wrong time—Death not gloomy—Eagles trying to play butterfly—Striving against nature—Prize-fighters, [109]
CHAPTER VI.
METRICAL COMPOSITIONS.
Mostly written during his apprenticeship—Poetry and swamp-work—Walter Aimwell’s first poem—Exercises his powers in rhythmic composition for their own benefit—The pious dead—My friend—The stranger—Charity—Shipwreck of life—A pretty hymn—Fourth of July—Presidential contest of 1840—A riddle—Walter Aimwell’s own opinion of his poetic powers—Other kinds of usefulness, [120]
CHAPTER VII.
CONSCIENCE A DIVINER.
An inquiry—An answer—The aspiring undertaking—A theme in the Revised Statutes—Secret correspondence—Acceptance of manuscript—The young author “setting up” his own book—Reveals his secret to favorite brother—Talk in office about “The Pleasant Way”—Rev. Mr. Hoadley’s notice of it—Other criticisms—Why good men reproach themselves, [136]
CHAPTER VIII.
JOURNAL.
Little hints of innocent delights—How he spends his evenings—Private fast-day—Height and weight—Remarkable dream—Wonderful baby—Lecture—Public fast-day—Music—Works nearly all night—Consequences of lending an umbrella—Brother’s wedding—Lonesomeness—Summary of journal—Rigid account of receipts and expenditures—Simplicity of Walter Aimwell’s life—Nobleness of its results—Visits Master Brooks—Permission to go to muster—Does not go—Travels—Twenty-one years of age—Freedom presents—Devotes a certain portion of all future income to benevolent objects—Goes down to “the Castle” on the ice in the harbor—Visits Sarah Mugford—Martial music—Church music—Invitation to Bangor—Summary for 1844—More manuscript accepted—Doing nothing—Separates from a tried friend and is lonesome—Receives a copy of his new book—Is invited to write another—Lays out a plan—Takes lessons in phonography—Takes lessons in French—Is editor of Christian Reflector for a while—Extracts from editorials—A troublesome accident—Visits the State of Maine—Picking up useful knowledge, [147]
CHAPTER IX.
THE YOUNG EDITOR.
A call from a stranger—Consultations, calculations, and contracts—Leaves Mr. Damrell—A good printer—Summary for 1845—Takes the whole of “The Rambler”—Invited to join in the conduct of a monthly magazine—Declines—Starts one himself—Too much labor and responsibility—Unfavorable changes in the business world—Accidents and disappointments—A naughty boy—Summary for 1848—Suffers for others’ errors—Why he was not a clergyman—Other business men fail, but he determines he will not—Noble struggles—Outlives the storm—Summary for 1849—Parts with a favorite office-boy—The boy becomes a pastor—His testimony about Walter Aimwell, [171]
CHAPTER X.
THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
Walter Aimwell in the world but not of it—Hard for him to think any evil till actions proved it—His own ways—Ways of some with whom he was connected in business—Success in spite of obstacles—The body overtasked—The sudden attack—The physician’s opinion—Sale of the “Rambler”—More leisure—Cannot be idle—Pleasant item in his reading—“Thoughts for the Thoughtless”—Gift to his mother—“Boy’s own Guide”—Another gift for his mother—Removes from Melrose—Cottage in Winchester—Its best glory gone, [178]
CHAPTER XI.
THE AIMWELL STORIES.
Visit from Mr. Bullard—Boy’s Book of Morals and Manners—Walter Aimwell’s love of the young—Writes a story for them—Extension of “Clinton”—Published at Christmas—Received with universal praise—Determines to write a series of twelve volumes—A lesson—Preparatory study and manner of working—Suspension of labors—Oscar—Ella—Whistler—Another attack—Public and private praises—No relaxation of endeavor—A boy in the family—A boy’s criticism—Letter to a lady—Letter to a boy—Marcus—Boy’s letter to Walter Aimwell—Walter Aimwell’s reply—Jessie—“Our Little Ones in Heaven”—Unwritten volumes—Jerry the last of the Aimwell Stories, [195]
CHAPTER XII.
THE END.
Nature’s forces slowly yielding—Walter Aimwell prepared for a happier world—January, 1859—February and fierce storms—Does not go to Boston—Procures assistance in editorial duties—Records no more labors—Presents from neighbors—Passing away—Happy in his faith—The sixth of July—The seventh—The last ride—The last interview with friends—The sudden departure—Pictures left—The glory of such a life—The secret of it—The dictate of common sense—The mystery of human lives—Solomon’s opinion—Testimony in our own hearts—Walter Aimwell’s choice—Impression on careless observers—Unassuming manners—Puritanic steadiness—Freedom and happiness—Character in several relations—The mist-covered ocean—Some lives throbbing with the life of God, [215]

Illustrations.

Likeness of Walter Aimwell (Steel),[FRONTISPIECE]
Vignette,[TITLE PAGE]
The Brig Susan,[30]
The Albatross,[31]
The Wreck,[45]
Iceberg,[58]