Mr. Lowington was naturally very anxious for the success of his experiment, and for months he had labored with unceasing diligence in perfecting his plan, and carrying it into operation.  In this occupation he had found the activity he needed; and he may not be blamed for believing, all the time, that he was laboring for his country and his race.

If it has been inferred from what has been said of Mr. Lowington, of his domestic afflictions, and of his views on the subject of discipline, that he was an austere, cold, and unsympathizing man, a wrong impression has been conveyed.  The boys of the Brockway Academy, when they came to know him, loved him as much as they respected him.  He was not the man needlessly to abridge the harmless enjoyment of youth, or to repress its innocent hilarity.  He watched the sports of the students with interest and pleasure, and encouraged them by all the means in his power.  He was fond of humor, enjoyed a harmless joke, and had a keen appreciation of juvenile wit.  He was a good companion for the boys, and when they understood him, he was always welcome to the play-ground.

The new ship had been duly christened Young America at the launching, by Miss Josey Martyn—­a name which was rapturously applauded by the boys.  She was one hundred and eighteen feet in length, and of about four hundred tons burden.  She had been built as strong as wood, iron, and copper could make her.  For a ship, she was small, which permitted her to be light sparred, so that her juvenile crew could handle her with the more ease.  She had a flush deck; that is, it was unbroken from stem to stern.  There was no cabin, poop, camboose, or other house on deck, and the eye had a clean range over the whole length of her.  There was a skylight between the fore and the main mast, and another between the main and mizzen masts, to afford light and air to the apartments below.  There were three openings in the deck by which entrance could be obtained to the interior of the ship:  the fore hatch, the main hatch, and the companion-way, the two former being used by the crew, and the latter by the officers.

The between-decks, which is the space included between the upper and the lower deck, was fitted up for the accommodation of the officers and crew.  Descending by the companion-way—­which in the Young America extended athwartships—­on the right, at the foot of the stairs, was the officers’ cabin, occupying the part of the ship nearest to the stern.  This apartment was twenty-eight feet long, by fifteen in breadth at the widest part, with four state rooms on each side.  The mizzen mast passed up through the middle of it.  This cabin was richly but plainly fitted up, and was furnished well enough for a drawing-room on shore.  It was for the use of the juvenile officers of the ship, fifteen in number, who were to hold their positions as rewards of merit.  The captain had a room to himself, while each of the other apartments was to accommodate two officers.