{"id":"01KG8AMGMF94S5ATFPJ8MR85YZ","cid":"bafkreiadkzaaobv3t7wvok3qhxicekt63vm6bk7dekuv2b67qydeysl62i","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":9344,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:36.274Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 1","source_file":"01KG89J19NC56FFGBCM2SWEZZY","start_line":9279,"text":"CHAPTER LIX.\r\nA MAN-OF-WAR BUTTON DIVIDES TWO BROTHERS.\r\n\r\n\r\nThe conduct of Mandeville, in claiming the acquaintance of the First\r\nLieutenant under such disreputable circumstances was strongly\r\ncontrasted by the behaviour of another person on board, placed for a\r\ntime in a somewhat similar situation.\r\n\r\nAmong the genteel youths of the after-guard was a lad of about sixteen,\r\na very handsome young fellow, with starry eyes, curly hair of a golden\r\ncolour, and a bright, sunshiny complexion: he must have been the son of\r\nsome goldsmith. He was one of the few sailors—not in the main-top—whom\r\nI used to single out for occasional conversation. After several\r\nfriendly interviews he became quite frank, and communicated certain\r\nportions of his history. There is some charm in the sea, which induces\r\nmost persons to be very communicative concerning themselves.\r\n\r\nWe had lain in Rio but a day, when I observed that this lad—whom I\r\nshall here call Frank—wore an unwonted expression of sadness, mixed\r\nwith apprehension. I questioned him as to the cause, but he chose to\r\nconceal it. Not three days after, he abruptly accosted me on the\r\ngun-deck, where I happened to be taking a promenade.\r\n\r\n“I can’t keep it to myself any more,” he said; “I must have a\r\nconfidant, or I shall go mad!”\r\n\r\n“What is the matter?” said I, in alarm.\r\n\r\n“Matter enough—look at this!” and he handed me a torn half sheet of an\r\nold New York _Herald_, putting his finger upon a particular word in a\r\nparticular paragraph. It was the announcement of the sailing from the\r\nBrooklyn Navy-yard of a United States store ship, with provisions for\r\nthe squadron in Rio. It was upon a particular name, in the list of\r\nofficers and midshipmen, that Frank’s fingers was placed.\r\n\r\n“That is my own brother,” said he; “he must have got a reefer’s warrant\r\nsince I left home. Now, White-Jacket, what’s to be done? I have\r\ncalculated that the store ship may be expected here every day; my\r\nbrother will then see me—he an officer and I a miserable sailor that\r\nany moment may be flogged at the gangway, before his very eyes.\r\nHeavens! White-Jacket, what shall I do? Would you run? Do you think\r\nthere is any chance to desert? I won’t see him, by Heaven, with this\r\nsailor’s frock on, and he with the anchor button!”\r\n\r\n“Why, Frank,” said I, “I do not really see sufficient cause for this\r\nfit you are in. Your brother is an of officer—very good; and you are\r\nnothing but a sailor—but that is no disgrace. If he comes on board\r\nhere, go up to him, and take him by the hand; believe me, he will be\r\nglad enough to see you!”\r\n\r\nFrank started from his desponding attitude, and fixing his eyes full\r\nupon mine, with clasped hands exclaimed, “White-Jacket, I have been\r\nfrom home nearly three years; in that time I have never heard one word\r\nfrom my family, and, though God knows how I love them, yet I swear to\r\nyou, that though my brother can tell me whether my sisters are still\r\nalive, yet, rather than accost him in this _lined-frock_, I would go\r\nten centuries without hearing one syllable from home?”\r\n\r\nAmazed at his earnestness, and hardly able to account for it\r\naltogether, I stood silent a moment; then said, “Why, Frank, this\r\nmidshipman is your own brother, you say; now, do you really think that\r\nyour own flesh and blood is going to give himself airs over you, simply\r\nbecause he sports large brass buttons on his coat? Never believe it. If\r\nhe does, he can be no brother, and ought to be hanged—that’s all!”\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 1"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJSV1XVDP1YY6T1B1709H","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J19NC56FFGBCM2SWEZZY","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AMGMAEDPCJ1A3T154TMXT","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:39.567Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:50.516Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}