The Ferryman of Brill, and Other Stories

A ferryman’s warning turns a young merchant’s hopes of marriage into a struggle for safety in Brill. Diedrich Meghem loves Gretchen Hopper, whose father approves their match but urges patience in troubled times. His rival, Caspar Gaill, follows him through the streets, while religious persecution threatens both personal happiness and commercial success. Peter Kopplestock, the ferryman and Gretchen’s uncle, reveals the danger and urges Diedrich to seek help at sea.

William Henry Giles Kingston’s collection also follows lives shaped by poverty and the wish to become a sailor. In another story, Ned Burton sets out for Portsmouth after his mother’s death, carrying little beyond his ambition. An apple seller offers food, money and directions to a training ship. Readers interested in historical adventure can find both public conflict and small acts of kindness here, with practical assistance often arriving through people of modest means.