Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-07-09
Little Bob, the Cabin Boy.

There is not one OF us, however young,
says the Youths Wsitor, but he may do
some good. Every little child can be
useful: will tell you how useful a little
cabin-boy was, who was sailing on a
large ship over the wide sea.
It happened that on the voyage the
sailors quarreled with the captain, who
was so proud and overbearing that none
would submit to him. This gave the
captain so much trouble, and preyed so
much on his spirits, that he became very
ill so i'll as to be confined to his bed.
None of the sailors cared for him; so
there he lay very i'll, and all alone. No
one thought Of speaking kind word to
the poor sick captain but Little Bob. His
Bible had taught him q lesson which the
sailors knew nothing about. 1t had
taught him to be kind to everybody,
even those who had used him i'll; so he
stole softly to the captains door, and
knocked. "Who's there?" asked the
captain in very gruf voice. "Its Lit
tie Bob, sir; can dc anything for your"
$50 to your work, you scoundrel," cried
the captain, in an angry tone. "Don't
come plaguing me-"
little Bob stole away even more soft
ly than he came, but his heart was not
filed with IN angry feeling. He pitied
the captain even more than he had done
before.
The next day he resolved to try again.
He saw that the poor captain was not on
deck, and again he went and knocked at
the door. "Who's there?'' Captain,
can I do anything for you to-dayT' asked
Little Bob. mo, no; go away" said the
captain. Bob was pleased that the cap
tam did not speak in SO harsh voice as
he did the day before, and he made up
his mind to try again. Meantime the
captains heart grew warm toward the
little fellow. He thought how different
" he had acted from the unfeeling sail
ors, who had not once inquired for hun
all the time Of his illness, and he de-
termined, that if he came again, he
would let him in.
When Bob came next day, the cap.
tain said, "Come in" Bob walked in on
t1ptoe, and ssid, very tenderly, please,
sir, can 1 do anything for you? Shall I
make your bed, or get you cup OF cof-
fee? I'll do it in minnie" "Wen, Bob,
you may, if you like, said the captain.
| Away ran Bob, and in few minutes
everything was ready, the coffee, and
| the hot toast, and he brought it ON a
tray to the captains bedside. Bob always
carried with him the Bible in his peck
ct; and as he came in the room, the cap
tain observed it.
"What book is that? said he. 1T is
the book my mother gave me" said Bob
"the incest. book you ever saw" Can
you read it, Bob? ooh, yes, sir" said
the boy, "and 1 should like to read it to
you" "Aye, you may said the captain
| "as soon as I have finished my coffee
you may begin" Bob cleared away the
coffee, and set himself down on a box
beside the captains bed, and opened on
the history of Jesus, and read how He
went about doing good; how He pitied
the wretched, how He healed the sick
and forgave their sins. The captain
listened very attentively, and asked the
boy to come again the next DAY.
I From this time he came every day
and instructed the poor captain in the
knowledge of Jesus the Saviour: He
asked him many questions, and Bob
knew heW to answer them-thanks to
his mother and to his Sunday-school.
| One evening the captain said, "Leave
me that book Of yours, Bob; should
like to look at it myself" Bob willingly
left it. The next morning ne went as
usual and tapped at the cabin door. No
answer came. Again he tapped, and
louder. Still no, answer. He opened
the door and walked in. The captain
i was on his knees, and the Bible was y.
ling open on the chair before him. Bob
/ smoke: still there was no answer. Ho
4 came nearer: the captain never stirred.
Il He looked; the captain was dead. He
81 had dind nm hia EnefA nf8yin1 over the