The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-11-03
A Tale of a Tub.

we Delleve 1T was Sydney Smith who
said that in time of danger absence of
body was better than presence of mind.
and most people will be inclined to agree
with the genial divine. The following
anecdote of his boyhood will show, how
ever, the future wit evinced in the DOS
session Of the latter quality at an early
age:
At the time of which we write his
father occupied, with his family, the
habitable part of ruinous old castle
near Woodford, in Essex, and at a short
distance from the castle was a sheet of
water, large enough, in English eyes, to
be dignified with the title of lake. Young
Sydney, although unable to swim was
passionately fond of boating, but his
aquatic aspirations were sadly restricted
by the fact that he had no boat, and his
father being decidedly opposed to his
yenturlng upon the water at all, was not
likely to provide one for him.
In this dilemma, Sydney's inventive
genius soon found a way of overcoming
difficulty. Taking his little sister into
confidence, he surreptitiously possessed
himself of a large tub from the castle
laundry, and, persuading her to accom-
Pany him, launched it upon the lake.
Provided with small piece of board as
paddle, the adventurous young navi-
gator managed to paddle his unwieldly
craft to the middle of the lake.
He was greatly elated by his success,
and waved his paddle triumphantly aloft
with the air of conqueror. Alas it
slipped from his hand, fell into the water
and fioated off beyond his reach, leaving
him without any means of propulsion, at
the mercy of the winds and the waves.
There was nothing for it but to cultivate
patience, and wait for succor; so, like a
new Diogenes, he remained seated in his
tub, trying to calm the fears of his sister,
who was now badly frightened and cry
ing bitterly.
1t was not long before the periloug
position of the two children was noticed
from the house, and soon the father and
mother, with all the household at their
heels, ran down to the bank in great
alarm. Indeed, the situation was one of
real peril. The cranky, topheavy craft,
IN which they were embarked, seemed
ready to capsize every instant, and the
agonized father could think of no means
of rescuing his darlings that did not in
volve so much loss of time as to invite a
catastrophe. Jr
A favorite dog had followed the others
to the shore, and as if understanding
that something was amiss, several times
plunged into the water, and after swim
ming out little way returned, apparent
ly conscious of his inability to help.
Young Sydney, however, who had re-
NAMED cool and collected, despite the
lamentations of his mother and the
others, suddenly exclaimed: Get a rope,
father, get rope, and tie it to Jacks
collar; perhaps / can call him to me.
His father, filled with admiration for
the courage and self-possession of the
boy, quickly procured rope, and tying
one end to Jacks collar, pointing to the
tub, while Sydney at the same time called
and whistled to the dog. The intelligent
animal at once sprang into the wateEand
swan out toward the tub, while Mr..
Smith paid out the rope from the shore,
and Sydney encouraged the dog with
shouts of Here Jack ! Here Jack Good
dog Good fellowl' and the like. 1t was
a long swim, and the anxious watchers
hardly hoped that the dog could accom-
plish it; but he stuck to his task
bravely, and at length reached the tub,
and was seized by the collar by his de-
lighted young master Untying the rope
from the dogs neck, Sydney fastened it
to the tub, and was speedily drawn to
the shore, where the children were in
stantly clasped in the arms of their over
joyed parents.