andhewastogostillfarther,forhewasnotyetfourteenyearsoldwhenhewentoutinashiptoseetheworld.heencounteredbadweather,heavyseas,unkindness,andhardmen-suchwerehisexperiences,forhebecameship-boy.coldnights,badliving,andblowshadtobeendured;thenhefelthisnoblespanishbloodboilwithinhim,andbitter,angry,wordsrosetohislips,buthegulpedthemdown;itwasbetter,althoughhefeltastheeelmustfeelwhenitisskinned,cutup,andputintothefrying-pan.

"ishallgetoverit,"saidavoicewithinhim.

hesawthespanishcoast,thenativelandofhisparents.heevensawthetownwheretheyhadlivedinjoyandprosperity,butheknewnothingofhishomeorhisrelations,andhisrelationsknewjustaslittleabouthim.

thepoorshipboywasnotpermittedtoland,butonthelastdayoftheirstayhemanagedtogetashore.therewereseveralpurchasestobemade,andhewassenttocarrythemonboard.

jurgenstoodthereinhisshabbyclotheswhichlookedasiftheyhadbeenwashedintheditchanddriedinthechimney;he,whohadalwaysdweltamongthesand-hills,nowsawagreatcityforthefirsttime.howloftythehousesseemed,andwhatanumberofpeopletherewereinthestreets!somepushingthisway,somethat-aperfectmaelstromofcitizensandpeasants,monksandsoldiers-thejinglingofbellsonthetrappingsofassesandmules,thechimingofchurchbells,calling,shouting,hammeringandknocking-allgoingonatonce.everytradewaslocatedinthebasementofthehousesorinthesidethoroughfares;andthesunshonewithsuchheat,andtheairwassoclose,thatoneseemedtobeinanovenfullofbeetles,cockchafers,beesandflies,allhummingandbuzzingtogether.jurgenscarcelyknewwherehewasorwhichwayhewent.thenhesawjustinfrontofhimthegreatdoorwayofacathedral;thelightsweregleaminginthedarkaisles,andthefragranceofincensewaswaftedtowardshim.eventhepoorestbeggarventuredupthestepsintothesanctuary.jurgenfollowedthesailorhewaswithintothechurch,andstoodinthesacrededifice.colouredpicturesgleamedfromtheirgoldenbackground,andonthealtarstoodthefigureofthevirginwiththechildjesus,surroundedbylightsandflowers;priestsinfestiverobeswerechanting,andchoirboysindazzlingattireswungsilvercensers.whatsplendourandmagnificencehesawthere!itstreamedinuponhissoulandoverpoweredhim:thechurchandthefaithofhisparentssurroundedhim,andtouchedachordinhisheartthatcausedhiseyestooverflowwithtears.

theywentfromthechurchtothemarket-place.hereaquantityofprovisionsweregivenhimtocarry.thewaytotheharbourwaslong;andwearyandovercomewithvariousemotions,herestedforafewmomentsbeforeasplendidhouse,withmarblepillars,statues,andbroadsteps.hereherestedhisburdenagainstthewall.thenaporterinliverycameout,liftedupasilver-headedcane,anddrovehimaway-him,thegrandsonofthathouse.butnooneknewthat,andhejustaslittleasanyone.thenhewentonboardagain,andoncemoreencounteredroughwordsandblows,muchworkandlittlesleep-suchwashisexperienceoflife.theysayitisgoodtosufferinone'syoungdays,ifagebringssomethingtomakeupforit.

hisperiodofserviceonboardtheshipcametoanend,andthevessellayoncemoreatringkjobinginjutland.hecameashore,andwenthometothesand-dunesnearhunsby;buthisfoster-motherhaddiedduringhisabsence.

ahardwinterfollowedthissummer.snow-stormssweptoverlandandsea,andtherewasdifficultyingettingfromoneplacetoanother.howunequallythingsaredistributedinthisworld!