The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1875-10-20
ANEoDorE OF SIR wM. SIDNEY SMITH.


| once heard an anecdote Of this
distinguished British naval officer
which is worth repeating.
When in his eleventh year--a year
hefnre he entered the navyRs midship
man--our hero formed strong attach
memt for a girl cousin of about his
own age, who was stopping at the old
hall 10 Sussex, and the gallantry which
distinguished him in after years was
not wanting even at that early age.
Among the many accessories to the
place was a broad, deep lakelet Of
clear, shimmering water which partic.
ulqrly attracted the attention of the
embryo admiral, and from the margin
of which the anxious entreaiies of his
parents could not restrain him.
1t was the custom of the paternal
Smith, every evening, to summon his
household to prayer, and the members
thereof we're called together ih the
primitive fashion of the sounding Of
the horn. One summer evening the
horn was sounded in the usual manner,
but in answer to repeated blasts, no
William Sidney nor Mary Anne ap
peared. The father became alarmed
ani caused the horn to be sounded
louder aud louder, but without avail.
The young abseutee heard the horn
plainly enough, but he did not obey
the summons, because he could not.
In short, he was in situation extreme.
ly nautical, and if it was pleasurable
to him, it certainly was not to those
who finally gathered around to be.
hold.
The boy had launched large wash.
tub upon the lake, and having EN-.
barked with his fair cousin, he had,
by means of long pole, set himself
well out from the shore. Whether he
paid more attention to his lovely com
Danion than To the Navigation of his
trail bark, or not, we cannot say. hut,
from some cause of inattentiou he had
lost his pole, and when the household
reached the shore they beheld the tub
in the &C nter of the deep lake, with
not breath Of air to move it land
ward, its only motion being a revolv.
ing one. The future hero of MANY
battles stood with his arms folded
while his mOre ti,uoruus companion
crouched low down, waiIing with ter
ror.
The situation was truly perilous, for
very slight motion would have been
sufficient to overturn the tub, aud
those on shore were totally at loss to
bring the frail craft, with its precious
burden, to land. Not one of them
could swim. Night was drawing on
apace, and the situation was becom.
ing every moment more critical and
dangerous.
AT length, however, he who had
created the difficulty proceeded to
overcome it. When he had sufficient
ly employed the glory of the situation
he hailed those on the shore, and di.
rected them to give one end of the
string Of his kite to his favurlte dog.
This having been done. he called the
dog to the tub, and thus gained a tow.
line, by means of which his first com.
mand was safely towed to the shore,
where the relieved parents quick Y
snatched the rescued pair from the
stranded bark. The father was so
deeply Affected that he could not
speak. Not so, however, William Sed-
ney.
Nov, father" said the young hero,
81 guess we'll go to prayers"
They did 60 to prayers, aud it may
we'll he imagined that the prayers on
that evening were universally heart
felt and sincere.