The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-10-26
Commander Jamie.

There lived in a Scotch village a very
little boy, Jamie by name, who set his
heart on being a sailor. His mother
loved him very dearly, and the thought
of giving him up grieved her exceeding
ly; but he showed such an anxiety to go
and see the distant countries which he
had read about, that she finally con-
scented. As the boy left home the good
woman said to him wherever you
are, Jamie, whether on sea or land,
never forget to acknowledge your God.
Promise me that you will kneel down,
every night and morning, and say your
prayers, no matter whether the sailors
laugh at you or not. ;"
Mother, l promise you l will, )" said
Jamie, and soon he was on shipboard,
bound for India.
They had a good Captain, and, as
some of the sailors were religious men,
no one laughed at the boy when he
kneeled down to pray.
On the return voyage, things were not
quite 80 pleasant. Some of the sailors
having run away, their places were sup
piled by others, and one of these proved
a very bad fellow. When he saw little
Jamie kneeling down to say his prayers,
this wicked sailor went up to him, and,
giving him box in the ear, said in q
very decided tone "None of that
here, sir.
Another seaman who saw this, al
though he swore sometimes, was indig-
nant that the child should be so cruelty
treated, and told the bully to come up on
deck, and he would give him thrash
ing. The challenge was accepted, and
the well-deserved beating was duly be-
slowed. Both then returned to the cab
in, and the swearing man said, Now,
Jamie, say your prayers, and If he dares
to touch you, / will give him another
dressing"
The next night the devil tempted Ja-
ME to do a very foolish thing. He does
not like to have any one say his prayers,
or do right in any way, or he put it in to
the little boys mind that it was quite
unnecessary for him to be creating such
a disturbance in the ship, when it could
be easily avoided, if he would only say
his prayers quietly in his hammock, SO
that nobody would observe it. Now,
see how little he gained by this coward
ly proceeding. The moment that the
friendly sailor saw Jamie get into the
hammock without first kneeling down
TO pray. he hurried to the spot, and
dragging him out by the neck, he
said
"Kneel down at once, sir Do you
think 1 am going to fight for you and
you not say your prayers, you young
rascal ?"
During the whole voyage back to Lon
don this reckless, profane sailor watched
over the boy as if had been his father,
and every night aaw that he kneeled
down and said his prayers. jamie soor
began to be industrious, and during his
spare time studied his books. He learned
all about ropes and rigging, and wher
he became old enough, about taking lati
tude and longitude.
Several years ago the largest steamer
ever built, called the Great Eastern, was
launched on the ocean, and carried the
famous cable across the Atlantic. A
very reliable, experienced Captain was
chosen for this important undertaking
and who should it be but little jamie, o.
whom have been telling you. Wher
the Great Eastern returned to England,
after this successful voyage, Queen Vic
toria bestowed on him the honor o
knightood, and the world now knows
him as Sir James Anderson.-7he King
FcrYy-bodt