I was born in the prosperous town of Milbridge, Maine, situated on the Narraguagus River, five miles from the open sea, and to me the dearest place on earth. My father was a sea captain, James Brown by name, who always went on deep sea voyages and who, unlike the majority of captains, was glad to have his family accompany him.
Our family at that time consisted of my mother, my sister Annie, two years my senior, and myself. We lived in a very pretty house overlooking the blue waters of the bay.
