Ensign Merrill — page 211: what you’re looking at

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

_ steamer, gradually | amassing antioane capital to embark in a more pretentious enterprise. Anthracite, on being given his share, eo _ turned it over to Merrill, with the startling announce- ment that he could keep it if he would only take _ him, Anthracite, permanently into his service. Mark, touched by the negro’s faithful devotion, placed the — money out at interest and engaged him as a body serv- : mt which exalted position he still occupies. Mr. Cranke left the sea, and started a machine shop in Shanghai, where he does all the minor repairs for all foreign vessels frequenting that port. The crew _ dispersed on being paid off, and duly squandered their - money in the doubtful pleasures offered by all sailor towns, afterward scattering to the four quarters of the globe, as tarry followers of the deep generally do. Mark and Ned still had a good portion of their fur- loughs to dispose of, so they finally decided to spend it at home. The ensign visited Gage’s mother, and had the pleasure of showing her by practical illustration _ that he had faithfully carried out the request made in _ New York Bay that he take care of her boy., After a six months’ pleasant vacation, they returned to the Trenton and completed their cruise in Chinese waters. Mark was much sought after, socially and otherwise, each time the flagship visited Shanghai, and - often talked over the famous expedition against the pirates of the Yellow Sea with his stanch friends, Bevins and Rollins. The latter member of the firm still persists in recall- ing the yacht story whenever an opportunity offers, and his genial partner never fails to cut him short in mis- _chievous expectation of a peppery argument on the — subject. Both Mark and Ned are still in the United Sta me