Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-06-26
Che family Cirele.
Brave Dick.
BY AUNT KATE

About sixty years ago, IN town on
Cape Cod, lived Il boy named Dick Thorn
ton.
At the time of my story he was just
twelve years old. His father and mother
had both died when he was only a little
baby, and he had been left to the care OF
an uncle and aunt Who loved him dearly,
and with whom he was very happy.
Dicks uncle was q sea captain, and had
command of u fine vessel that he made
voyages in to different ports in the Medi-
terranean sen, and came back laden with
fruit, spices and wines.
Perhaps it was for this reason that Dick
began very early in life to long to be II
sailor, and not a day passed that he did
not talk about going to sea.
All his spare time was spent in making
boats of II great variety. He had schooner
rugged and sloop rugged, and every other
kind of rig that ever was heard of; and
he would have the most exciting launches
of them. to which every boy in town was
invited,
lie taught himself to swim at so early
an age as would brighten most mothers
out of their senses; and rs he grew
stronger, he soon became famous as a
swimmer; so that the boys of the town,
when making up their swimming matches,
would not let Dick enter the lists, as they
said
"What's the use9 Dick would be al
the goal before we had taken half dozen
strokes, and it's no fair to have him in. -
At which Dick-knowing it was true
would say, good-naturedly:
"All right, boys; I'll stay on the beach
and be the Judge"
They did not have "umpires " in those
days.
Every time Dicks uncle returned from
voyage, Dick would ask
"Won't you take me with you mex
time, uncle?" until at last. the day Dicl
was twelve years old, his uncle told hin
that he wonld take him on the very mex
voyage, which he was to set sail on in jus
two weeks from that day.
OF course Dick was almost wild with de
light; and it seemed to him as if thos'
two weeks would never pass, but they did
and the day of sailing came.
Dick stood on the deck, the center of al
a6mirng group of his boy friends, ever.
inch IL sailor. His rig" was complete
for his aunt with tender pride, but with !
heart full of grie at the thought of part
ING with him, had herself seen that nothin!
was lacking. The duck trousers. the blu
flannel blouse, the tarpaulin, placed ST
iauntiy on his ead-everything was us i
should be. And his own little "sea
chest" Dick had seen brought on board
with his name" Dick Thornton print
ed in red letters on the end. And when
little later the anchor was raised, and tn
sails huisted Dick stood swinging his ca
to the friends he was leaving not
thought of sorrow was in his heart;
was the very proudest moment of his life
Each day brought some new deligt
with it to Dick; and the sailors all said h
was the "handiest little chap on shiI
board they had ever met with;" and h
J ready Aye, aye, sir, when called upo
. to do anything, had the real love Of h
E; work in the sound of 1t. But must hurr
on with my story.
: They had fine voyage out, and wei
! homeward bound. They had been, frs
# to Smyrna-you can look on the map whe
i | am through, and see just where Die
e went-then, on the way back they stoppt
G ut Messlna and Palermo. and had taken {
{ for cargo, oranges, figs, lemons, and
o large quantity of Sicilian wines. The Il,
j. port stopped at was Malaga. which, "
/. know is on the coast of Spain. | thir
1t May can guess what they wanted Their
n for I heard her mother telling her Il
d other day to stop on her way to school
r the grocery store, and order some Mala:
IF raisins sent home.
ie They had left Malaga, and were just e
y terng Gibraltar, when very suddenly t
IN wind died out, the sails Tapped laziy, a
IL soon there was.a dead calm. Dick thong
Is it very dull music, and wss entertanil
sy himself reading Robinson Crusoe, when
was interrupted by cry from the man
the masthead, of which he caught on
the dreadful words: Pirates! pirate
IS pirates!"
m In moment all was excitement, |
the captain was brave man; and CALI
rS nil hands on deck, he took counsel wi
al them, as to what was to be done.
m You know what IL very narrow street
p. of water the Strait of Gibraltar is, viii
q, separates Europe from Africa, and at I
MS time of my story, all sailors were glad
v get safely through there, without bel
" troubled by pirates from the African Goa
,e who were very cruel and wicked men, Il
in who watched every chance to overhaul
,st vessel in distress, so rs to steal everythi
70 that was valuable on board, and usul
N. killed the crew in order to accompl
a their wickedness.
ii. Through his glass the captain saw
boat containing IL dozen men fully arm
al who, with powerful and steady stroI
lv were pulling directly for the vessel.
If laid down his glass with pale face Il
cd said:
No There is nothing can be done, DO
va but to die bravely. We are complet
he ut their mercy in this calm. for they 0
IN. number us, and are armed to the tee
nix while we are nearly unarmed;" and Il
his turning to his nephew, he said, "
ne poor little Dick, this will have been
in sorry voyage to you, your first and las
re am afraid.
RI, "But UNCLE" answered Dick, II dc
er. waut to be killed, let's hide" 1T
ed wouldn't do for me, boy, replied
als uncle, "even If it WAS possible, but h
va if you can Dick, and God grant you n
'ur see home and friends again" Dick q
Of one more look at the approaching bc
ms and with bound he cleared the ST,
in and was +" below"
Ter Down in the "hold OF the vessel ,
nat a sort of cuddy, where all sorts of thir
he we're slowed to get them out of the WI
,a- There we're ropes and sails and odd pie
of canvas, old iron, worn out tarpauli