Little Miss Joy

stantinople. She was a trading vessel, with a few passengers who paid a moderat

irst misery of sea-sickness was over, he made himself very us

captain," Colley said on

have had that boy to help you, with your lame leg; a

m but a beginner, learning the alphabet late in life; but, please God, I'l

capful of wind, and we are making our proper knots an hour straight for port; but when the waves are roaring, and the timbers of the ship groaning and creaking, and we know not but that we may go to the bottom any mi

Lord's love in a storm, than curse, and swear, and shriek as you and I h

let things take their course, and religion with th

as the captain turned on his heel and took up h

hin ear-shot

as to little Miss Joy, she is always singing hymns, and loves taking Uncle Bobo's hand and trott

one day. She is a prett

ave run over to Mr. Boyd's, and Joy has put me right. She would always be on the watch for me when I came back from school, and she calls my mother 'Goody,' and she is just like a little daughter to her. Then when there were sharp w

o know what you are going to do when we are saf

stones. Look here, she just makes me feel wre

raying; but it is a fight, boy, as I find. As I told you, I find it hard enough to curb my tongue; for it is like a ship flying afore the wind, with no rudder and no pilot. Off I go, and the words drop from my lips like mad! But I pray for help to bridle my tongue, and I cry to God for pardon every time I take His bless

k greatly to the child. He reminded him of Miss Joy, and he would take his ha

n an English family as courier and valet. She had been sent home by the doctor

se him. Old Colley, too, would set him on his knee, and tell him stories of the sea, and the names of the sea-birds, wh

against Colley's blue jersey, and the child would put up hi

lor when I grow u

-"In calm weather it's pleasant enough, b

Bay of Biscay, when contrary winds and a storm drov

tinople, and against the advice of Colley and the

me to spend with the men kicking their heels

tea went curtesying over the billows,

shall find ourselves in a worst plight before forty-eight hours have come

nk, the sea became like glass, and the Galatea made but little progress. T

ling out of the port of Lisbon, that Colley asked

ack said

ming, and it will be

s glass, saw it also, and very soon orders were s

coming breakers. Then a swift forked flash struck across the waters, and was followed by a peal of thunder which was deafening. I

held gallantly to their post. The captain encouraged th

s, and never flin

self in her distress till the masts and timbers creaked, and every time she went down into the de

or rather he shouted the words at the pitch of his voic

hey can do very well without God, when skies are blue, and all things, golden, bright, and prosperous; but in the hour

tle prayer at her knee in childish days. His mother! she had been left a widow, although she could not believe it; his mother! to whom he should have been a

r! Had he not seen her watch and wait for his father's return? and had he not seen the lines of care deep

you can read it; and hot tears mingled with the cold, salt spray, which drenched

only just pierced by the rising moon, itself invisible, b

se above the storm, and a violent shock told that the Galatea ha

hem down. For the Galatea had parted in midships, and was settling down into those black waters where

and Peter's mother, clasping the child close, with

d forward and tried to jump into the boat. Alas! too late was the command to stop. The boat was swamped, and s

the roar of the storm and the more distant roll of the thunder, a swishing, gurgl

or die with her. Forwa

, captain;

never disobeyed me befo

he turned on her side, and with a mighty rush the waves seize

rging waves; but a boat was near him, a

n his other arm little Peter, and a wh

rmy billows; while above the raging of the storm could be heard cries for

aid; "and the captain's heart was broken-