The weekly Shasta courier., 1872-12-21
Little Bob, the Cabin Boy.

but he may do some good Every little
child can be useful. I will tell you
how little cabin boy was useful, who
was sailing in large ship over the
wide sea.
1t happened that on the voyage, the
sailors quarreled with the captain, who
was SO proud and overbearing that none
of them would submit to him. This
gave the captain so much trouble, and
preyed so much upon his spirits, that
he became very i'll, SO i'll as to be con-
fined to his bed. None of the sailors
cared for him, so there he lay very i'll,
and all alone. No one thought OF
speaking kind word to the poor, sick
captain but little Bob.
His Bible had taught him lesson
which the sailors knew nothing about.
1t had taught him to be kind to every
body, even to those who used him i'll
so he stole softly to the captains door,
and knocked.
"Who is there:" asked the captain,
In very gru1 voice.
"It's little Bob, sir; can l do any
thing for your"
$50 to your work, you scoundrel! "
cried the captain, in an angry tone.
"Don't come plaguing me"
Little Bob stole away more softly
than he came, but his heart was not
filled with any angry feeling. He pitied
the captain still more than he had done
before. The next day he resolved to
try again. He saw that the poor cap
tain was not on deck, and again he
went and knocked at his door.
"Who is there?"
"Captain, can l do anything for you
today" asked little Bob.
'No, no; SO away said the cap
tain.
Bob was pleased that the captain did
not speak in so harsh voice as he had
done. the day before, and he made up
his mind to try again. Meantime the
captains heart grew warm toward the
kind little fellow. He thought how
differently he acted from the unfeeline
sailors, who had not once inquired fol
him all the time of his illness, and he
determined, if he came again, he would
let him in. When Bob came the next
day, the captain said:
"Come in.
Bob walked in on tiptoe, and said
very tenderly:
"Please, sir, can l do anything fol
yous Shall l make your bed, or gel
you a cup of coffee? I'll do it in a
minute"
"Wcn, Bob, you may, if you like, >
said the captain.
Away Bob ran, and in few minutes
everything was ready; the coffee, the
hot toast, and he brought it in tray
to the captains bedside. Bob always
carried with him the Bible in his pock-
ct, and as he came into the room, the
captain observed it.
"What book is that?" said he.
'sIt is the book my mother gave
me- said Bob; 'the incest book you
ever saw"
"Can you read it, Bob:'
"Oh, yes, sir, said the boy, "and ]
should like to read it to you"
"Ay, you may" said the captain
"as soon as l finish my coffee, you
may begin"
Bob cleared away the coffee, and sal
himself down on box by the side Of
the captains bed, and opened on the
history of Jesus, and read how he went
about doing good; how he pitied the
wretched, how he healed the sick, and
forgave their sins. The captain listen
ed very attentively, and asked the boy
to come again the next day. From
this time he came every day, and in
structed the poor captain in the knowl-
edge of Jesus, the Saviour. He asked
him many questions, and Bob knew
how to answer them, thanks to his
mother and to his Sabbath-school.
One evening, the captain said:
"Leave me that book of yours, Bob;
l should like to look at 1t myself.
Bob willingly left it. The next
morning he went as usual, and tapped
at the cabin door. No answer came.
Again he tapped, and louder. Still no
answer. He opened the door, and
walked in. The capain was on his
knees, and the Bible was lying open
upon the chair before him. Bob spoke;
still no answer. He came nearer; the
captain never stirred. He looked the
captain was dead. He had died on his
knees, praying over the Bible. We
trust that through the instructions Of
little Bob he had sought and found
mercy at the hands of the Saviour .oi
sinners. Is there little boy or little
girl, now reading this, who is as poor
as this cabin boy, or young as this
cabin boys $50 and do likewise"
~~ Dnn1 fhin TToo1fh fnn All