"So I thought that, as we have many rats aboard the old craft, she would be able to pick up a good living there; and I called to her, and she came at once, and here she is."
Here she was, sure enough; and as Jack ended his story, she chimed in with a plaintive little "Me-ow," which said, as plainly as ever any cat spoke yet, "I"m very cold and hungry, and I do wish somebody would take me below and give me some food!"
She had not long to wait. Half an hour later she was the best-fed cat in that part of New York City, and that night she lay snugly curled up with a good warm blanket over her.
Of course, the first thing to do with an adopted cat is to give it a name, and Jack Harmon, who was a bit of a wag in his way, and a great admirer of the monster elephant which was just then making such a stir in New York, called his new pet "Jumbo."
Jumbo soon became the pet of the whole crew, and of the pa.s.sengers, too, when they came on board, a few days later, for the voyage back to England.
Before we were half-way across the ocean, the bits of meat or cake, and bits of white bread soaked in milk, which were being constantly given her by one and another, had made her look as round as an apple.
The ladies were never tired of stroking her soft fur and admiring her dainty white paws, which were now as spotless as snow. The children romped all day with this new playmate, who seemed to enjoy the sport quite as much as themselves.
But Jumbo was not content with mere play. She seemed to think herself bound to do something to "work her pa.s.sage." Whenever any of the crew went aloft to take in sail, Jumbo would always climb up, too, as if to help them.
Jack Harmon was still her favorite, and whenever it came his turn to stand at the bow and keep watch, there was Jumbo going backward and forward.
On the eighth night of the voyage, the stars looked dim and watery, and a low bank of clouds began to rise to windward of us, just between sea and sky.
The old sailors shook their heads and looked grave, as if they expected an unusual storm. Suddenly the wind began to blow strongly upon the starboard quarter, stirring up a cross-sea which tossed the great ship like a toy.
Nearly all the pa.s.sengers had gone below, and the few who remained on deck b.u.t.toned their water-proof coats, and held tightly on by any thing they could seize.
Jack Harmon had shut up his cat below, but poor puss escaped somehow, for all at once a shrill cry was heard, and there was Jumbo clinging to a rail, with a great mountain of a wave coming right down upon her.
Several men sprang toward the spot, but Jack was foremost, and he had just reached his little pet when down came the great wave upon them both.
Instantly the whole after-deck was one roaring, foaming waterfall, the flying spray of which blinded one for a moment. But when it cleared, there stood our brave Jack--dripping, bruised, and bleeding from a cut on the head.
But his little favorite was safe in his arms, and as he came back with her, such a cheer went up from all who were on deck, as the old ship had not heard for many a day.
"Let"s send round the hat for him," said one of the pa.s.sengers.
And the hat was sent around, so successfully that Jack got enough money to give his poor old mother a happy Christmas, and still have something left over for himself and Jumbo, who was his mother"s pet ever after.
Directions for Reading.--Should this lesson be read with the same tone of voice as Lessons V. and VI.?
In the first paragraph, do not say _pier rin_ for _pier in; dir" tand_ for _dirt and_.
Point out two other places in the lesson where mistakes similar to those just given might occur.
Language Lesson.--Syllabify, accent, and mark the sounds of letters in the following words: _cargo, officer, blanket, pa.s.sengers, instantly, bleeding_.
_Work her pa.s.sage_ means to pay her fare by making herself useful.
Make out an _a.n.a.lysis_ in six parts for this lesson, and use it in telling the story in your own words.
LESSON VIII.
loi"ter ing, _going slowly, lingering_.
pro tect"or, _one who keeps another from harm_.
throng"ing, _gathering in large numbers_.
wrecked, _dashed to pieces_.
thatched, _covered with straw or twigs_.
bronzed, _brown, darked-colored_.
bleach"ing, _whitening_.
van"ished, _gone out of sight; departed suddenly_.
rapt"ure, _great joy; delight_.
RESCUED.
"Little lad, slow wandering across the sands so yellow, Leading safe a la.s.sie small--O tell me, little fellow, Whither go you, loitering in the summer weather, Chattering like sweet-voiced birds on a bough together?"
"I am Robert, if you please, and this is Rose, my sister, Youngest of us all"--he bent his curly head and kissed her, "Every day we come and wait here till the sun is setting, Watching for our father"s ship, for mother dear is fretting.
"Long ago he sailed away, out of sight and hearing, Straight across the bay he went, into sunset steering.
Every day we look for him, and hope for his returning, Every night my mother keeps the candle for him burning.