Dog-watches at Sea by Stanton H. King

'Dog-watches at Sea' is a personal account of life at sea by Stanton Henry King (1867–1939), an American sailor, author and shanty singer. King recounts his experiences as a young sailor on board a man-of-war with endearing candour. In the last chapter of this 1901 book, he writes:

"Although so young, I had lived many years of recklessness and wrong-doing... I had no plans or ambitions, -- a mere animal; worse off than some animals, for they at least had some one who bestowed affection on them. Still I was not unhappy. Only when my mother's face came to my mind and I allowed myself to think of her, did a trace of good thought or a longing for something better enter my life." (10.7 MiB, PDF, 318 pages)

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