The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-08-26
Anccdote of Sir Wm. Sidney Smith.

once heard an anccdote of this dis
tinguishcd British naval officer, which is
worth repeating:
When in his eleventh ycar-a year be-
fore he entered the navy us midshlpman
OUR hero formed Il strong attachment
for girl cousin of about his own age,
who was stopping at the old hall in Sus-
sex, and the gallantry which distinguish
cd him in after years was not wanting
even at that early aye. Among the many
accessories to the beauty of the place was
broad, deep lakelct of clear shimmering
water, which particularly attracted the
attention of the embryo admiral, and
from the margin of which the anxious
cntrcaties of his parents could not re-
strain him.
1t was the custom of the paternal
Smith, every evening, to summon his
household to prayer, and the members
thereof were called together in the primi-
tive fashion of the sounding of the horn.
One summer evening the horn was
sounded in the usual manner, but in an
swcr to repeated blasts, no William Sid
ncy nor Mary Anne appeared. The
father became alarmed, and caused the
horn to be sounded louder and louder,
but without avail.
The young absentee heard the horn
plainly enough, but he did not obey the
summons, because he could not. In
short, he was in q situation extremely
nautical, and if it was pleasuable to him,
it certainly was not to those who finally
gathered around to behold.
The boy had launched large wash
tub upon the lake, and having embarked
with his fair cousin, he had, by means
of Il long pole, set himself we'll out from
the shore. Whether he paid more attcn-
ton to his lovely companion than to the
navigation of his frail bark, we cannot
say, but, from some cause OF lnattentlon,
he had lost his pole, and when the house
hold reached the shore, they behcld the
tub in the center of the deep lake, with
not breath Of air to move it landward,
it's only motion being revolving one:
The future hero of many battles stood
with his arms folded, while his more tim
orous companion crouchcd low down,
wailing with terror.
The situation was truly pcrilous, for a
very slight motion would have been sut-
licicnt to ovcrturn the tub, and those on
shore were totally at Il loss how to bring
the frail craft, with It's precious burden,
to land. None of them could swim.
Night was drawing on apacc, and the sit-
uation WAS becoming every moment more
| rrit iral and tluurrrOllS
At length, however he who had crea-
ted the difficulty, proceeded to overcome
it. When he had sufficiently enjoyed the
glory of the situation, he hailed those on
shore and directed them to give one en'
of the string of his kite TO his iavorll[
dog. This having been done, he called
the dog to tho tub, and thus gained
tow-linc. by means Of which ut his first
command, he WAS safely towcd to the
shore. where the relieved parents quickly
snatchcd the rcscIcd'pair from the stran.
dcd bark. The father WAS so deeply al
Gcclcd that he could not speak. Not SO
however, William Sidney.
"Now, father" said the young hero
"T guess we'll 90 to prayers"
They did go 10 prayers, and IL may
we'll be imagined that the prayers OF
that evening were unusually heartfelt
and sincere.