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The Young Emigrants; Madelaine Tube; The Boy and the Book; and Crystal Palace

The Young Emigrants; Madelaine Tube; The Boy and the Book; and Crystal Palace

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Chapter 1 SIGHTS AT SEA

Word Count: 2200    |    Released on: 06/12/2017

her canvass spread, scudded swiftly before the fresh breeze. She was on her way to the great western world, and on her deck stood many pale-faced emigrants, whom th

as to keep watch, permitted many a scamper, and even a game at hide-and-seek among the coils of cable, and under the folds of the great sail, which some of the crew were mending on the deck. Tom and Annie Lee, however, stood quietly by the bulwarks, holding fast on, as the

nt sister, "you know what mother mean

d swim before they pulled me out,-aye, and a ride on one of

her's bold words, and she turned from him to watch for her father.

said he as he joined them;

lding on always, like a baby. I wish mother wouldn't be so afraid

. Lee spoke, a dozen or so of flying fishes rose from the sea, and fell again within a yard of the ship's side. As the sun shone on their wet glittering

never knew before that the

elves from the water, when too closely pursued by their enemies. But I came to call you to dinner-your mother is waiting

e children at once, but their father was

ke thoughtlessly, and murmured sometimes at his parents' commands, he knew in his heart that all they wished was for his good, and soon returned to his duty, and recovered his temper. He was just turned twelve, and considered himself the man of

ails spread, and its tall masts bending to the wind, a most striking one? Is it not a great specimen of man's skill and power? And look above at that starry sky, and that bright lam

them! And how fully the sense of our weakness comes upon us while thus tossing about upon the broad sea

how the captain finds out the way to America. It is so many miles from any

; nothing can be done without a trial; t

efore him, and he looks at that, and so knows how to point the ship

aid his father, "but tel

West; then smaller points between them; and in the middle is a long needle, balanced, so that it turns round

needle always point to the North? my needle

that any iron rubbed with it would possess the same quality. The needle Tom tells us of has undergone this operation. Before the invention of the compass, it was only by watching the stars that sailors could direct their course by night. Their chief guide was one wh

"do you know, I fancy I he

in a great dreadnaught coat, and occasionally stopping to look up at the sails, or at the

rather rough weather, Mr

them night after night in as smooth a sea

have," said Annie. "I wo

them?" asked

o, and perhaps they have grown wiser; but we can try if you lik

y useless," said Mrs. Lee; "but are

good strong cotton, such as your mother sews with, and I w

could not explain, and Mr. James seemed determined to keep the secret. So they had no alternative but to await the event. As they leaned over the stern to fasten their threads, they were surprised to see the frothy waves which the vessel left behind shine with a bright clear light, and yet the moon cast the great black shadow of the ship over that part of the

. Lee, "I think it is bed-tim

as she jumped at his neck, and w

hey heard the three knocks he always gave on the deck when he wanted to show them something. They hurried up, and to their delight

!" cried Annie; "what black ey

s chickens?" asked Tom; "I th

, and a fine one, too; her's are the smallest web-footed birds

d Tom. "What do yo

els often used as lamps there. The people draw a wick through their bodies, whi

they must loo

the deck; it can't fly unless we help it by a

fetch her mother and father, George, and even Willie, who laughed and clapped his hands, and cried, "Pretty, pretty!" At length Mr. James thought the stranger had shown himself quite lon

that this water was called the Gulf Stream; a great current flowing from the Gulf of Mexico northwards along the coast of America. "In the sea-weed," added he, "are many kinds of animals and insects; I will try what I can find for Georgy." So saying, he seized a

un set amid clouds of purple and gold, behind the still distant but distinctly seen shores of the land which was to be their future home. By the

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