Captain christopher raymond perry had just returned home from a long voyage to the East Indies. It was the year I 795. Since his marriage, twelve years previously, he had been making long voyages, and Spending but little time with his family. But this is what a sailor's family have to become used to. His comings and goings, like his life when a?oat, were uncertain; sometimes months and months would go by without the eager ones at home receiving a word from the beloved parent or brother, and then suddenly his Ship would come into port, and before word could be sent ahead of him he would drop into the home circle as suddenly as if he had descended from the skies.