The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-03-11
THE CALEDONI A n
chr Childreu's Corner.
The Single Boat.-A Good Story.

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The Single Boat.-A Good Story.
Little John Coles father was about to- die,
and as he had no property to leave to his
wife and children, he felt very anxious and
unhappy. Johnny had been told that his
father would die, but he did not know what
death meant and, therefore, with all the in
nocence Of good little boy, he asked his
father what he could do to help him. "You
cannot help me, Johnny" said the sick father,
but when am gone, you can help your
mother" -" Where is papa going to-" said
John, cant you let me 60 with him ?"-" No,
nobody can 60 with me; must 60 alone."-
"When will papa come back ?" said the little
fellow; without any papa where vii! we get
money to buy bread ?"-"I shall never come
back, my dear boy. When people die they
never come back" Well then, will you
not send for us, papa ? for We can't live with
out YOU. 10y You will break my heart, John
ny, if you talk so. shall not send for you
but God will, and then we shall meet again.
Now, my dear boy, you must stay with your
mother, and try to make her happy Sol
will" said Johnny, "but don't know how
to. can't work much yet. Yes, ! can
make single boats and sell Them" YoS
can do better than that said the father, "you
can be good boy, and behave well, and love
your mother, and this will help her more than
any work you can do. -" Well, I'll do all of
that" said Johnny; but people won't love
mother because l love her, and then where
is the bread to come from ?"-" God will send
it, if you are good" said the poor man, who
could hardly speak, be was so overcome by
the innocent talk of his little child.
The father died; the poor widow had to go
into single room, and work out almost every
day to support Johnny and his sister. Johnny
did all he could to help his mother; and he
did great DEAL for when his mother was
absent, he took care of little Sis. When she
was asleep, one day, he took the jack knife
that had belonged to his father, and made
what he called boat, out of single, and
then stood at the door and asked every one
that came along to buy it. "Do you want
to buy boat9" said he to a large boy who
was passing You get out !" said the boy,
as he knocked the boat into Johnny's face
and broke the mast. The poor boys heart
was almost broken, too, but he made another
mast, and stood at the door again. Two lit
tie girls came along, and Johnny asked if
they wished to buy boat" What do you
call it ? boat?' said one Of the girls. "Its
funny Looking boat" ave don't sail
boats" said the othe- girl" Well, you don't
know what fun it is" said the little boat
builder" We have no wish to know ?" said
they as they went off, laughing at poor John
ny.
Presently an officer Of the frigate that was
lying in the harbor, passed by" Please buy
my ship" said Johnny, very imploringly.-
odd you make it9' said the officer" Yes
l did all myself" said Johnny" What put
it into your head to make ship ?" said the
good-natured man." Why, you see," said
the little fellow, Sis hasn't any bread 10 eat,
and thought I'd work and earn some mon
ey, and buy some."- Who is 'Sis'?" said
the Captain" Why, don't 20, know Sis ."
said Johnny; "just look in here" So the
officer entered, and saw Sis asleep on the bed.
-" Whom do you belong to ?" said the Cap
tain" mother, now" said Johnny, &" for ia
ther is dead and gone away" Just then the
Sis opened her eyes, and seeing the uniform
of the officer she began to laugh" What
do you ask for your ship" said the Captain
"One cent, if you can't give any MORE" said
Johnny.-The Captain gave him pat on the
cheek, and said, Wait few minutes, and III
come back and buy your ship" He went out
and bought two large baves of bread, and
gave them to Johnny. He then patted john
ny's head and told him to be good boy, and
he would come back and see his mother.--
He did call again, and after learning all
about the family. he promised to take care
of them; and when Johnny was large boy
he took him on board his ship, and when he
had grown up and learned all about the ship,
the captain made an officer of him, and
adopted him and after battle, when he
was dying OF wound he had received, he
asked Johnny, who was now Lieut.. Cole, to
hand him that casket on the deck -" Open
it." said the captain, giving him key
"What do you find there ," said the captain.
Nothing but my shingle boat" said John
ny. When you made that boat you made
your fortune" said the captain. "Under the
boat is my last will, and all the property l
have is yours" John became rich man
and he deserved it.
Now, what is the chief object Of this story ?
Merely to teach you that, if you are good,
and do all you can, God will in some way
help you. The shingle boat was a small af-
fair to the unfeeling 10y who broke it, and
to the thoughtless girls who laughed at it, but
to the officer and to God it was above all
price. Go then my young friends, and in
your conduct initiate Johnny Coles. S.
Gazette.
YoUNG ANERIcA.-A lady, teaching her