In sailor life I received, as a 15-year-old boy, on a six months' voyage in the Baltic and North sea, as cook, in the brig Nanna of Stavanger. This was in the summer of 1875. I learned that even the position of cook was not so easy, as it seemed that he had to be everywhere at all times, and he was subject to the command of every other man on board. But, regardless of the many duties he had to perform, if the meals were not ready at the scheduled hour, the food good and well cooked, he was subjected to criticism, scorn, and unfortunate consequences. I found sailors could be very exacting and unreasonable in their demands, or rather, impossible to suit.
Being subject to seasickness, occasionally, especially on coming out into storm and rough sea after we had been in harbor for a few days, I found the odor of meats and fats in cooking, or any cooking smell, would upset my stomach more than the pitching and rolling of the ship. It was no fun to be cook then. But there was no mercy or sympathy shown by my shipmates. Sick or not sick, the work had to be done. At such times, my sailor spirit sank out of sight. I began to think seriously on whether or not I was really born to follow the sea.
Nevertheless, I learned much on this voyage, such as to steer, shorten and bend sail, splice cordage. and many other necessary duties on board ship. So, it proved a good school of instruction.