The Wreck of the Golden Mary

I was apprenticed to the Sea when I was twelve years old and I have encountered a great deal of rough weather both literal and metaphorical. It has always been my opinion since I first possessed such a thing as an opinion that the man who knows only one subject is next tiresome to the man who knows no subject. Therefore in the course of my life I have taught myself whatever I could and although I am not an educated man I am able I am thankful to say to have an intelligent interest in most things. A person might suppose from reading the above that I am in the habit of holding forth about number one. That is not the case. Just as if I was to come into a room among strangers and must either be introduced or introduce myself so I have taken the liberty of passing these few remarks simply and plainly that it may be known who and what I am. I will add no more of the sort than that my name is William George Ravender that I was born at Penrith half a year after my own father was drowned and that I am on the second day of this present blessed Christmas week of one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six fifty-six years of age.