Chapter 61
It seemed to me the whole world had changed in that time. I found the widow of my friend, and she had changed a lot. She had lost everything in life, had re-married and become a widow again, and was now extremely poor. I remembered how kindly she treated me years ago, and I did everything I could to help her.
After that I returned to my hometown, York. My parents were both deceased and so were some of my siblings. I did find two sisters of mine still living there, as well as the children of one of my brothers. They all thought I was long dead, and so I had no claims to any of the family’s belongings.
However, it wasn’t all so grim, because there was a pleasant surprise in store for me. I found some old friends who remembered how I had once helped them. They were happy to see me again and to return the help. That way I came into possession of a large sum of money.
I considered what to do with the money, but as I was curious what had happened with my plantations in Brazil, I decided to go to Lisbon and try to get news there. All this time Friday had been with me.
In Portugal I met some old friends, who had been in Brazil and assured me that my plantation was still thriving. My partner there had become very rich and the rest of the people which I had left responsible for my property were also enjoying a comfortable life. I met the captain of a ship on which I had once travelled.
He was an honest man and gave me all the documents he had related to my plantation in Brazil. It turned out he owed me money and lots of goods which in my absence had been transported from my property to Europe. He could not pay me back immediately, but he promised to do so as soon as his son returned from the sea. His kindness moved me. After all those years he not only remembered me, but was just as honest and kind as before.
He offered me all the money he had on him. He was very kind, but I couldn’t accept any money from him and refused to take the money his son would bring on his return to Portugal.