Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-04-24
FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE.
Spelling n Isonit,sI,eII.


pcct to be; and yet on his birthday. when
he was really fourteen he ran away to
sea.
No one could possibly imagine why he
did this, and, indeed, Tom himself could
give no good reason for his conduct.
lie had half-holiday on his birthday,
and he went down to the seaport town
of NJ, u short trip from the school, TO
spend u few hours and To see the ships.
There lie fell in with IL recruiting officer,
who wanted some boys for man-of-w war
in the harbor. and Tom was so much
pleased with the stories he told Of life ut
sea, that he went into stationcr's store,
bought some paper and wrote two notes
one to his family at home and the other
to the master of the school, informing
them that he had most admirable OPP
portunity of going To sea and learning To
be n naval officer Such n chance might
not occur again, and as lac had made up
his mind to enter the navy any way, il
would not be wise 10 let the opportunity
pass. He would lose nothing by leaving
school now, for navigation, mathematics
and everything that il was necessary for
naval officer to know, were taught ON
the ship. Then he mailed the letters and
went on board.
When Toms father and the master
received these notes, IL is probable that
they would have taken measures to get
Tom of that ship in very short order
had il not been for the fact that the YES
sci sailed early the next morning after
Tom made his appearance ON her deck.
and she was far out Mt sea before Mr.
Black and DR.. Powers had read their
letters
So there was nothing to bc done nj
home but to hone that things would
eventually turn out for the best. and in
deed this was what Tom himself had to
do. For he soon found that his position
on the vessel was very different from
what he had supposed II would be. In
stead of being taught how to sail the
ship, he was taught how to coil rope
and to help wash the deck. He was
ships boy-not a midshipman.
When poor Tom found out this lament
able fact. he made up his mind that he
would run away the first time the vessel
touched port. But when she did
reach port, he rc-madc up his mind,
and concluded TO stay on board,
By little observation he found that
it would be difficult and dangerous
thing for him TO try 20 run away, and
besides he had no money To take him
home. Ii would he better, hc thought,
to stay on board the ship, where hc had
made some friends. and where hc was
getting on "A good deal better than any
other ship-boy. For the under-oiiccrs
soon found out that Tom was made Of
better stuff than tho other boys. and they
could not help thinking, too. that he
had been a great fool to come on board
in such a position. But they did not
tell him So. for that would have helped
no one, and might have spoiled a very
good ships hoy.
Tom wrote home whenever he had
chance, and hc had some long letters
from his family. which were forwarded
to him with the other letters for the
ship.
But after he had been on board the
Hector about six months, he got n short
letter. which pleased him more than any
thing in the letter line he had ever ~
cciycd. This told him that as hi. friends
had become convinced that he was really
very much attached to life on the sen.
and that as his officers had reported well
of him. thcy had obtained for him an ap.
pOintment - midghipmnn.
Now Tom was happy. Now hc would
really learn mathematics and navigation.
and now hc had n chance to work him
self up into good position. II would
seem ~ if this thoughtlcss boy had been
rewarded for running away from school.
and giving his family so much anxiety
and trouble. But things sometimes hap
pen that way though Ii docs not do Ia
trust To any such good fortune In after
years, Tom often regretted that lac had
not stayed at school and finished portions
of his education which had 70 be entire
ly neglected ON board ship. And he also
had some immediate cause for repent
nncc, for he found that some of his com
panions were very willing 60 joke about
the ship's-boy who had come among
them. although they knew that lac was
just as much Of n gentleman rs any Of
them.
In about n year after Toms appoint
ment, war broke out with Spain. and the
Hector was ordered to the Spanish coast.
After cruising about for month or two.
she joined with two other British vessels
In an attack on fortress on the shore Of
the Mediterranean sea, which was at the
same time besieged by land force.
Early in the morning the three
vessels opened fire on the fort, which
soon replied in vigorous fashion. send
ing bomhshells and cannon-balls all
around them. and sometimes knocking
off a spar or crashing through some tim
bers. But the Hector fared very
well. She was more advantageously
placed than the other ships. and while
she could readily pour in her fire on the
fort, she received fewer shots in return
than her consorts.
But. after time. the enemy began to
think that the Hector" needed rather
more attention, and additional guns were
brought to bear upon her. Now there
were lively times on the Hcctor's
deck. and Tom found out what IL was To
be in hot fight on board of ship.
But the boy was not frightened. That
was not his nature. He rushed around.
carrying orders and attending to his du-
ties. very much as il he was engaged in
a rousing good game of cricket
While he was thus employed. plump
on board came a bombshell. and fell af-
mott at the foot Of the mainmast. The
fuse in 1t was smoking and fizzing. In
an instant more IL would explode and
tear everything around IL to atomsl
Several men were nj n gun nearby.