On Board the Esmeralda Martin Leigh's Log - A Sea Story

"On Board the Esmeralda; or, Martin Leigh's Log" by John Conroy Hutcheson is a late 19th-century novel about a young boy named Martin Leigh who faces a difficult childhood marked by the loss of his parents and mistreatment from his aunt and cousins. The story follows Martin's challenging experiences at home and school, which ultimately lead him to seek adventure on the open sea. The initial part of the story focuses on Martin's early life, portraying his struggles as an orphan living with cruel relatives and experiencing torment at a boarding school, which eventually pushes him to run away with a friend. The novel effectively captures the hardships and resilience of Martin's youth, establishing a strong base for the daring adventures that await him.