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ETYMOLOGY.

(Supplied by a Late Consumptive Usher to a Grammar School.)

The pale Usher—threadbare in coat, heart, body, and brain; I see him now. He was ever dusting his old lexicons and grammars, with a queer handkerchief, mockingly embellished with all the gay flags of all the known nations of the world. He loved to dust his old grammars; it somehow mildly reminded him of his mortality.

“While you take in hand to school others, and to teach them by what name a whale-fish is to be called in our tongue, leaving out, through ignorance, the letter H, which almost alone maketh up the signification of the word, you deliver that which is not true.”—Hackluyt.

“WHALE. Sw. and Dan. hval. This animal is named from roundness or rolling; for in Dan. hvalt is arched or vaulted.”—Webster’s Dictionary.

“WHALE. It is more immediately from the Dut. and Ger. Wallen; A.S. Walw-ian, to roll, to wallow.”—Richardson’s Dictionary.

CHAPTER 1. Loomings.

Call me Ishmael. Some years ago—never mind how long precisely—having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen and regulating the circulation. Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people’s hats off—then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this. If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.

There now is your insular city of the Manhattoes, belted round by wharves as Indian isles by coral reefs—commerce surrounds it with her surf. Right and left, the streets discharge their population into the sea, as tributaries into a river. Now, when the ancient Kashappeck, the great Indian path, was substituted by the paved streets of the city, and the squaw-squeak of the canoe by the creak of the ferry-boat, the great spirit of the island moved off to the ocean, and there found his body, to be it, in the great whale.

This is not the time to expatiate on the mysteries of the sea. Suffice it at present to say, that I perceived nobleness in the idea of the sea. Those who would most readily mutiny on board a ship, if they knew the law of the thing, would most readily obey the Captain, if they knew the law of the thing.

The sea had been my tutors for years. Its mysteries had filled my imagination. I had loved it since I was a boy.

CHAPTER 2. The Carpet-Bag.

I had but just completed my first voyage, and was on my return from the Indian Ocean; I had touched at Athens, and visited the ruins of the Parthenon. I had seen Alexandria, and sailed upon the Nile. I had visited the Great Wall of China, and I had been to the pyramids of Egypt. I had been a sailor in the merchant service, and had sailed in ships of all nations. I had seen the vastness of the ocean, and had contemplated the mystery of the sea. I had been a student of the Bible, and had read the ancient philosophers. I had been a traveler in distant lands, and had seen the wonders of the world.

But all these things had not satisfied me. I had a restless spirit, and a desire for adventure. I was weary of the monotony of ordinary life. I longed for something new, something exciting, something that would stir my soul.

I had heard tales of the sea, of its wonders and its mysteries. I had heard of the whale, of its might and its majesty. I had heard of the adventures of whaling ships, of their daring voyages, and of their brave crews. I had heard of the dangers of the sea, of its storms and its tempests. I had heard of the whales, of their size and their strength.

And so, I determined to go to sea again. I determined to join a whaling ship, and to seek my fortune on the ocean. I knew that it would be a dangerous voyage, but I was not afraid. I was ready for any adventure, and I was eager to face any peril.

I packed my belongings in a carpet-bag, and set out for New Bedford. I had heard that New Bedford was the great whaling port of America, and that there were many whaling ships there, ready to sail on voyages to all parts of the world.

CHAPTER 3. The Spouter-Inn.

The wind blew a strong gale, so that the ship was tossed about like a cockleshell on the waves. The rain fell in torrents, and the sea was a perfect tempest. I stood on the deck, and looked out at the raging sea. I thought of the dangers that lay before me, and of the perils that I might encounter. But I was not afraid. I was determined to see the world, and to experience the adventures that awaited me.

The ship was a whaler, and her name was the Pequod. She was a large and powerful vessel, and she was manned by a crew of seasoned sailors. The captain was a stern and determined man, and he was known for his courage and his skill.

I was a green hand, and I had never sailed on a whaler before. But I was eager to learn, and I was determined to do my best. I knew that I would have to face many hardships, but I was ready for them.

The Pequod was bound for the Pacific Ocean, and she was to be at sea for three years. We were to hunt the whale, and to bring back its oil. It was a dangerous and exciting profession, and I was proud to be a part of it.

CHAPTER 4. The Counterpane.

I awoke in the morning with the feeling of the rocking of the ship. I had slept soundly, and I felt refreshed. I looked around the room, and I saw that I was in a small, but clean, room. The bed was comfortable, and the counterpane was made of a patchwork of calico.

I got out of bed, and I dressed myself. I put on my sea clothes, and I tied my shoes. I looked at myself in the mirror, and I saw that I was a young man, with a healthy complexion and a determined look.

I went to the window, and I looked out at the sea. The sun was rising, and the sky was a beautiful shade of pink and gold. The waves were calm, and the sea was a deep blue. It was a beautiful sight, and I felt a sense of peace and contentment.

I went to the door, and I opened it. I stepped out into the hallway, and I walked towards the stairs. I was eager to see the ship, and to meet the crew. I knew that I would have to work hard, but I was ready for it.

CHAPTER 5. Breakfast.

The breakfast was a hearty one. There was plenty of food, and it was all good. There was fried bacon, and fried eggs, and fried ham. There was also fresh bread, and butter, and jam. And there was coffee, and tea.

I sat down at the table, and I ate my breakfast. I enjoyed the food, and I felt a sense of warmth and satisfaction. I looked around the table, and I saw that the other sailors were also enjoying their breakfast. They were a rough-looking lot, but they seemed to be a good-natured and friendly.

After breakfast, I went to the deck. The sun was shining, and the wind was blowing. The ship was sailing smoothly, and the sea was calm. It was a beautiful day, and I felt a sense of excitement and anticipation.

I knew that I was on the eve of a great adventure. I knew that I would face many dangers, but I was not afraid. I was ready for anything.

CHAPTER 6. The Street.

The streets of New Bedford were alive with activity. Sailors were walking to and fro, carrying their bags and their belongings. Whaling ships were docked at the wharves, ready to set sail. The air was filled with the smell of tar, and of salt, and of fish.

I walked through the streets, and I looked at the ships. I saw the tall masts, and the white sails. I saw the strong hulls, and the sturdy decks. I saw the men who were to be my companions, and my shipmates.

I knew that I was about to embark on a great adventure. I knew that I would face many dangers, but I was not afraid. I was eager to see the world, and to experience the life of a whaler.

CHAPTER 7. The Chapel.

The church was a small, but well-kept, building. It was located in a quiet part of the town, and it was surrounded by a garden. The church was made of wood, and it was painted white. The roof was made of shingles, and it was painted black. The steeple was tall and slender, and it was topped with a weather vane.

I entered the church, and I walked up the aisle. The pews were made of wood, and they were covered with cushions. The altar was at the front of the church, and it was decorated with flowers. The pulpit was on the right side of the altar, and it was a tall, wooden structure.

I sat down in a pew, and I looked around the church. The other people in the church were also looking around. They were dressed in their Sunday best, and they seemed to be a respectable and pious lot.

The minister was a stern-looking man, with a long beard. He was dressed in a black robe, and he was carrying a Bible. He walked up to the pulpit, and he began to preach.

CHAPTER 8. The Pulpit.

The preacher was a tall, gaunt man, with a long, hooked nose and a pale, sallow skin. His eyes were small and bright, and they seemed to dart about, as if they were constantly looking for something. His voice was a low, guttural rumble, and it seemed to come from the depths of his chest.

He was preaching about the whale, and about the dangers of the sea. He said that the whale was a creature of immense power, and that it was to be feared. He said that the sea was a dangerous place, and that it was to be respected.

He spoke of the whale as a symbol of God's power, and of the sea as a symbol of God's wrath. He said that those who went to sea, and who hunted the whale, were defying God, and that they were inviting his displeasure.

I listened to his sermon with a mixture of awe and fear. I was impressed by his eloquence, and by the power of his words. But I was also frightened by the intensity of his message.

CHAPTER 9. The Sermon.

The sermon was about the whale, and about the dangers of the sea. The preacher spoke with great fervor, and with great passion. He described the whale as a monstrous creature, and the sea as a place of great peril. He warned his listeners of the dangers that they would face if they went to sea, and if they hunted the whale.

He spoke of the whale as a symbol of God's power, and of the sea as a symbol of God's wrath. He said that those who went to sea, and who hunted the whale, were defying God, and that they were inviting his displeasure.

He told them of the dangers of the sea, of its storms and its tempests. He told them of the dangers of the whale, of its size and its strength. He said that those who went to sea, and who hunted the whale, were tempting fate, and that they were risking their immortal souls.

I listened to his sermon with a mixture of awe and fear. I was impressed by his eloquence, and by the power of his words. But I was also frightened by the intensity of his message.

CHAPTER 10. A Bosom Friend.

I found myself, at length, in a little town in Massachusetts, called Nantucket. It was a queer-looking place, with its narrow streets and its wooden houses. The houses were all painted white, and they had red roofs. The streets were unpaved, and they were covered with sand.

I had heard that Nantucket was the great whaling port of America, and that there were many whaling ships there, ready to sail on voyages to all parts of the world. I was eager to find a ship, and to join a crew.

I walked through the streets, and I looked at the ships. I saw the tall masts, and the white sails. I saw the strong hulls, and the sturdy decks. I saw the men who were to be my companions, and my shipmates.

I found myself in a bar, and I sat down at a table. I ordered a drink, and I looked around the room. The room was filled with sailors, and they were all talking and laughing. They were a rough-looking lot, but they seemed to be a good-natured and friendly.

I sat there for a while, and I listened to their stories. They were telling tales of their voyages, and of their adventures. They were telling tales of the whale, and of the dangers of the sea.

I was fascinated by their stories, and I longed to be a part of their world. I knew that I would have to work hard, but I was ready for it.

CHAPTER 11. Nightgown.

I was awakened by a noise in the street. I sat up in bed, and I looked out the window. The street was dark, and it was filled with fog. I could hear the sound of footsteps, and of voices.

I got out of bed, and I put on my clothes. I put on my sea clothes, and I tied my shoes. I looked at myself in the mirror, and I saw that I was a young man, with a healthy complexion and a determined look.

I went to the door, and I opened it. I stepped out into the hallway, and I walked towards the stairs. I was eager to see what was happening in the street.

I went down the stairs, and I opened the front door. I stepped out into the street, and I looked around. The fog was thick, and I could not see very far. I could hear the sound of voices, and of footsteps, but I could not see who was making them.

I stood there for a while, and I listened. I was curious, and I was a little afraid. I did not know what was happening, but I was determined to find out.

CHAPTER 12. Biographical.

I was born in the state of New York, in the year 1820. My father was a merchant, and my mother was a housewife. I was the third of five children. I had two brothers and two sisters.

I was a sickly child, and I was not very strong. I was not able to play with the other children, and I was always indoors. I spent my time reading books, and I dreamed of adventure.

When I was a young man, I decided to go to sea. I wanted to see the world, and to experience the life of a sailor. I knew that it would be a dangerous life, but I was not afraid.

I joined a merchant ship, and I sailed to all parts of the world. I saw many strange and wonderful sights. I met many interesting people. I had many adventures.

After a few years, I returned to land. I was weary of the sea, and I wanted to settle down. I married a woman, and we had a family. I became a writer, and I wrote about my adventures.

But I was never able to forget the sea. I always longed to return to it. I always dreamed of the whale, and of the dangers of the sea.

CHAPTER 13. Wheelbarrow.

The whale-ship was rocking gently in the harbor. Her masts were tall and proud, and her sails were furled. She was a beautiful sight, and I was eager to board her.

I walked along the wharf, and I looked at the ship. I saw the strong hull, and the sturdy deck. I saw the men who were to be my shipmates, and my companions.

I found myself in a bar, and I sat down at a table. I ordered a drink, and I looked around the room. The room was filled with sailors, and they were all talking and laughing. They were a rough-looking lot, but they seemed to be a good-natured and friendly.

I sat there for a while, and I listened to their stories. They were telling tales of their voyages, and of their adventures. They were telling tales of the whale, and of the dangers of the sea.

I was fascinated by their stories, and I longed to be a part of their world. I knew that I would have to work hard, but I was ready for it.

CHAPTER 14. Nantucket.

Nantucket, sir, was my destination. I landed upon its shores, a stranger, with my carpet-bag slung over my shoulder. The town was a quaint and curious place, with its narrow streets, its low-slung houses, and its salt-bleached inhabitants. There was a peculiar smell in the air, a mixture of tar, brine, and something indefinable, which, I at once knew, was the odor of the whale.

I made my way to the Spouter-Inn, a hostelry known for its cheapness and its conviviality. The landlord, a burly man with a florid face, greeted me with a hearty welcome. The inn was crowded with sailors, their faces tanned and weathered by the sun and the sea. They spoke in boisterous tones, their talk filled with tales of the sea, of whales, and of distant lands.

I found a room, small and sparsely furnished, but clean. The bed was covered with a patchwork counterpane,

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