Mother's golden guineas

A young village lad, Tom Adderley, absconds with his mother's ten guineas to seek a seafaring life. He rises from ship's boy to coxswain, supplements his savings through landing trades and prize money, and encounters naval engagements while serving in convoys and on cutting-out expeditions. After voyages and being pressed into service, he is paid off with a substantial sum and makes the journey home intending to repay his family. The narrative contrasts rural domestic ties and steady village routines with the hazards and rewards of maritime life, and reflects on the relative value of money and home to a returning sailor.