Ishmael's Adventure

I almost fancy that the more
He was cast out from men,
Nature had made him of her store
A worthier denizen;
As if it pleased her to caress
A plant grown up so wild,
As if his being parentless
Had made him more her child.

--Monckton Milnes.

At twelve years of age Ishmael was a tall, thin, delicate-looking lad,
with regular features, pale complexion, fair hair, and blue eyes. His
great, broad forehead and wasted cheeks gave his face almost a
triangular shape. The truth is, that up to this age the boy had never
had enough food to nourish the healthy growth of the body. And that he
lived at all was probably due to some great original vital force in his
organization, and also to the purity of his native air, of which at
least he got a plenty.

He had learned all the professor could teach him; had read all the books
that Morris could lend him; and was now hungering and thirsting for more
knowledge. At this time a book had such a fascination for Ishmael that
when he happened to be at Baymouth he would stand gazing, spellbound, at
the volumes exposed for sale in the shop windows, just as other boys
gaze at toys and sweetmeats.

But little time had the poor lad for such peeps into Paradise, for he
was now earning about a dollar a week, as Assistant-Professor of Odd
Jobs to Jem Morris, and his professional duties kept him very busy.