Tales of the Sea

This is a collection of nine stories, some short, and some not so short. They are all very good reading, and Kingston seems to be at his best in the short story mode. You will probably enjoy the two episodes from the life of Uncle Boz, that form the second story, especially the first, when he organizes the rescue of the crew and passengers of a vessel that is wrecked near his house on a stormy Christmas Day. The first story, Happy Jack, is by far the longest, occupying one third of the whole book. Jack, in spite of the desires of his lawyer father, goes to sea, where he has many adventures, culminating in an event in which he was presumed to have perished. Very short of money, and looking somewhat disheveled, he reaches home, where he is not recognized by his sisters, but a girl who was being brought up by the family, and who was mutually interested in Jack, does recognize him, and he is given a proper welcome home.