Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-01-31
WILLIAM HAyERLY.

i, ABOUT thirty years ago, SAID Juoe
, P, / stepped into bookstore
!, Cincinnati, in search Of some book
that I wanted. While there, a ragge
boy. not over twelve pears Of age, car,
+. in and inquired tor geography.
, Plenty of them, said the salesman
How much do they cost?"
"One dollar, my lad"
The little fellow drew back in dis
, may, and taking his hands out of hi
pockets, he commenced to count som
pennies and little silver pieces that b
had held until they were all damp wit
sweat. Several times he counte,
). them, then looking up, he said:
II didn't know they were so much :
he turned to go out, and even opene,
the door, but closed it again and cam
back. Il have got only sixty-on,
cents" said he: you could not lie
me have a geography, and wait littl'
while for the rest of the money!"
How eagerly his little bright eye
looked up for the answer, and how h,
seemed to shrink within his raggeC
clothes when the man not very kindly
told him he could not.
The disappointed little fellow look
ed up to me with very poor attempI
at smile, and left the store. fol.
lowed and overlook him.
And what now?" l asked kindly
"Try another place, sir. 5
Shall | 60 too, and see how you sue.
ceed ?" I asked.
"Ohl yes, if you like" said he in
surprise.
Four different stores I entered with
him, and each time he was refused.
'Will you try again p / asked him
"Yes sir, / shall try them all, or 1
shouldn't know whether / could get
one" 9Hl
We entered the fifth store, and the
little fellow walked up manfully, and
told the gentleman just what he want
ed, and how much money he had.
You want the book very, very
much ?" said the proprietor.
Yes sir, very much.
why do you want it so very, very
much p
ITO study, sir. I Ican't go to school,
but | study when l can at home. All
the boys have got one, and they will
get ahead of me. Besides, my father
was sailor, and | want to learn the
places where he used to go to-"
Does he go to those places nowF'
He is dead" said the boy softly.
Then he added after little while, Il
am going to be sailor, toe"
Are you though? p asked the gen.
tleman, raising his eyebrows curiously.
"Yes sir, if | live"
well, my lad, I'll tell you what /
will do; l will let you have new ge-
ography, and you may pay the remain
der of the money when you can, or L
will let you have one that is not new
for fifty cents.
Are the leaves all in it, and just
like the other one, only not new"
Yes, Just like the new ones
at will do just as well then LII
have eleven cents left towards buying
some other books. I'm glad they
didn't let me have any at the other
places"
The bookseller looked up inquir-
ingly, and l told him what | had seen
of the little fellow. He was much
pleased, and when he brought the book
along, | saw q nice new pencil and
some clean white paper in it.
"A present, my lad, for your perse-
verance. Always have courage like
that, and you will make your mark. " I.
Thank you, sir, you are very good.
what is your nameY"
William Haverly, sir"
do you want any more books 2" /
now asked him. 81.
More than l can ever get" he re.
piled, glancing at the books that filled
the shelves.
/ gave him bank note. 1t will
buy some for you" said |.
Tears of joy came into his eyes
''Can / buy what | want with it?" he
asked.
"Yes, my lad, anything"
"Then I'll buy one book for moth
er," he said. Il thank you very much,
and some day l hope l can pay you
back" -
He wanted my name and L gave it
to him. Then l left him standing by
the counter, so happy that almost
envied him; and many years passed
before / met him again.
Last year went to Europe, on one
of the finest vessels that ever plOughed
the waters of the Atlantic. We had
beautiful weather until very near the
end of the voyage. then came most
terrific storm that would have sunk all
on board had it not been for the cap
tain. Every spar was laid low, the
rudder was almost useless, and great
leak had shown itself, threatening to
fill the ship. The crew were all strong,
willing men, and the mates were prae-
tical seamen of the first class, but
after pumping for one-whole night, and
still the water gaming on them, they
gave up in despair, and prepared to
take to the boats, though they might
have known that no small boat could
ride in such sea. The captain, who
had been below with his chart, now
came up; he saw how matters stood,
and with voice that L heard above
the roar of the tempest, he ordered
every man back to his post.
1t was surprising to see all those
men bow before the strong will OF their
captain, and hurry back to the pumps
The captain then started below to
examine the leak. As he passed me
l asked him if there was any hope
He looked at me, then at the other
passengers, who had crowded up to
hear the reply, and said rebukingly:
"Yes, sir, there is hope as long as
one inch of deck remains above water.
When l see none of it, then | shall
abandon the vessel, and not before
nor one of my crew, sir. Everything
shall be done to save it, and if we fail,
it will not be from inaction. Bear q
hand. every one of you, at the pumps.
Thrice during the day did we des
pair, but the captains dauntless cOur-
age, perseverance and powerful will
mastered every mind on board, and
we went back to work again
II will land you safely at the dock,
in Liverpool" said he, IF you will be
men,"
And he did land safely, but the yes
sci sank moored to the dock. The
captain stood on the deck of his sink
ing vessel, receiving the thanks and
blessings of the passengers as they
passed down the gang plank. i was
the last to leave. As / passed he
grasped my hand and said:
Judge P, do you recognize me?'
| told him that | was not aware that
/ had ever seen him until stepped
aboard his ship.
DO you remember the boy in search
of geography years ago in Cincln-