The  barges  seemed  more  like  ships  than  the  canal-boats
did.  They  had  masts,  and  could  sail  when  they  got
into  the  river.  Sometimes  we  went  down  into  the
cabin,  and  peeped  into  the  little  berths  with  sliding
shutter  fronts,  and  the  lockers,  which  were  like  a  fixed
seat  running  round  two  sides  of  the  cabin,  with  lids
opening  and  showing  places  to  put  away  things  in.  I
was  not  famous  in  the  nursery  for  keeping  my  things
very  tidy,  but  I.  fancied  I  could  stow  my  clothes  away
to  perfection  in  a  locker,  and  almost  cook  my  own  dinner
with  the  bargeman's  little  stove.
And  every  time  a  barge  was  loaded  up,  and  the  barge-
master  took  his  post  at  the  rudder,  whilst  the  old  horse
strained  himself  to  start — and  when  the  heavy  boat
swung  slowly  down  the  canal  and  passed  out  of  sight,  I
felt  more  and  more  sorry  to  be  left  behind  upon  the
wharf.
