The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-02-21

eaIou tS LuuCu DIS Was ROOQ LOT ulu.
Tom, on his part, had contented himself
with buta small share of the dainty dish,
and, finishing his dinner in hurry, had
gone off to the store " to make up" as
he said, for lost time
Mrs. Hilton was a good, kind mother,
and liked to please her little boy, al
though she thought it not best to indulge
him in some Of the bad habits that were
gaining such a hold on him. So after
awhile she said, pleasantly:
How would you like to go down to
the shore this afternoon, Jack, and take
old Captain Ben what is left of our nice
plum-pudding? Besides, 1 have several
pairs of socks and woollen cap that I
have knit to keep him warm when he
goes out in his boat in the cold, freezing
weather. tbs Almost time he had them.
l shouldn't wonder, either, if he could
tell you more about the giants, and the
best way to fight them
Do you think he can, mother?" cried
Jack, Frightening up. "Then l will 90
at once, and will take my little book to
show him, too, he added, carefully tuck
ing it In one corner of the basket which
his mother was filling with many other
things than those she had mentioned for
Captain Ben was great favorite with all
the shore people.
AS the Hiltons lived but mile from
the small cove or bay, which afforded
shelter and sustenance to a number of
fishermen and their families, and the
father of Tom and Jack had once been
part owner with Captain Ben of little
fishing smack that ventured on trading
voyages to towns on the seabound coast,
they naturally took an interest in the
good old man when his age, and infrmi-
ties laid him up, as he said, Gin dock for
repairs.
Jack was especially fond of visiting
the old sailor, for Captain Ben had in his
youth made many voyages to foreign
parts, and could tell plenty of yarn"
about his adventures and the wonders of
the great deep. Not that he had ever
been captain in reality, but the title
was given him through courtesy by his
comrades in their fishing expeditions on
account of his being the oldest man in
the company, and because of his expert
ence and superior nautical skill.
This, however, made no difference to
little Jack. He was never so well pleased
as when he could run down to the shore
and sit on the rock with Captain Ben, list
enlng to his sea stories, which were
plentifully gasnished with such terms as
larboard' and starboard, -" bo'sprit, =
fo'castle," fo'top," gallant SAIL and
many others not quite SO ineligible to
the little lad
AS he came in sight of the fishing ham
let that afternoon, Jack noticed that the
old man had faken seat on what he
called the side OF boat turned
keel uPws shelter him from the
WIND w ar pretty freshly
oVO .s.lyo .nployed
IN mendILs st that was stretched
out for that Pn. use on pegs driven firmly
into the grouna.
After the contents of the basket had
been duly examined and slowed away in
Captain Ben's locker, or sea chest, Jack
had the pleasure of seeing the many
colored wooden cap drawn over his friends
scanty grey locks, thus aseertaining that
it was a perfect fit and its long tassel
remarkably becoming.
Then he took his place by the side of
the old sailor, and told him all about the
giants and what tussel Tom and he had
had with them that very morning.
Did Captain Ben know anything
about them 2"
Oh, yes, indeed, little Jack" said the
old man, with grave face. al have
been fighting those very giants fcr-let
me see sixty years and upward ever
since l enlisted under the great Kings
banner"
" didn t know you ever served under
any king, Captain Ben. 1 always sup
posed you were an Americanborn citizen,
like my father was, observed Jack, with
wide, wondering eyes.
Aye, and 80 l am, my hearty and
proud enough l am, too, that I belong to
the land of the free and the home of the
brave. The King l mean is the great
Captain of our salvation, the Lord Jesus
Christ. And, through his grace given
to me, l hope to conquer all his and my
enemies, and so inherit the crown of life
which he has promised to those who are
faithful unto death"
Here the old man dropped his head on
his breast and seemed lost in a fit of
musing, while Jack looked not little
disappointed.
l don't think you ever read about
the giants mean, Captain Ben" he ven
tured to say at last, as he fdgeted with
his little book.
ooh vas hove 49, - -