The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-06-14

The following composition by Percy H. Mar
shall, pupil in the Curtis School, Eighth
Grade, Mr.. B. w. Murch, teacher, has been Sc
lected for publication because of its unusual
merit. 1t possesses the excellence of clear
ness of ideas and directness of statement,
which are rare in the compositions of young
people.
LANDING THE BOAT.
The event which / am about to narrate oc-
Cured at a certain seaside resort on the coast
of the Atlantic Ocean, in the State of Dels-
ware. There was quite a crowd OF boys there,
and we prided ourselves on our knowledge Of
boating, hunting swimming, etc. Two of the
boys owned a light rowboat, mere shell, but
in spite of its frailness we would launch it
through the breakers and sometimes row far
out to sea. One day was sitting on the stern
of this boat-she was high and dry on the
beach-when an especial friend Of mine, fell
low by the name Of Bell, came running up.
$50 put on your bathing suit and let's take
row." said he.
''My bathing suit is wet,n said l, "and it
needs mendingn
SWELL let's go anyhow. I'll put mine on
and do all the wet part of the work. You
shan't get bit wet" said he.
1t was beautiful day and the tide was very
low. wanted to go badly, and was finally
persuaded to do so. Bell went home and re-
turned clad in his bathing suit took off my
shoes and stockings and rolled up my trousers
and we were prepared to start.
"Reddy," said l, as we dragged the boat
down to the water he was a white-horse
blonde and we all called him Reddy-"Reddy,
if you get me wet I'll never forgive you"
Don't you worry said he. "Jump in
and grab the oars I'll shove off,"
We dashed away, Bell pushing the boa
right into the breakers, and, after being
into comparatively smooth water. Bell
climbed into the boat, his red-head looking
like huge ielly-fsh as it emerged from the
water, and pulled away up the coast. Ipulled
up opposite one of the large hotels, and we
allowed ourselves to be admired by the people
on the beach, and then rowed out to sea.
Getting tired of this, and finding that wind
and tide were against us, we turned the bow
Of the boat toward the shore and let her drift,
while we lay back in the opposite ends talk
ing and taking things easy. We soon had to
get up, however. as the boat got too near the
shore. Bell then took the oars and pulled
up opposite the other large hotel, and, after
rowing back and forth for some time, we con-
cluded to go ashore And now we discovered
that this was likely to prove much more
difficult feat than getting afoat had. AS has
been stated before, the tide was low when we
started, but it had been rising steadily, and
the breakers were now laundering on the
shore In way that made us feel extremely
doubtful as to whether or not we would dis
grace ourselves in making the landing.
"Great Julius Casar's bald-headed appari-
tion," said Bell: "Perce, I'm afraid you'll
have to get wet"
''Well the longer we stay here the worse it
will be-" said l. "Let's start''
Bell took the oars and the steering paddle
and we started. And right here is where we
made big mistake. In the ocean there are
first two large waves and then a small one.
These are called by sailors, Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob, respectively. Now the proper way
to land boat is to wait until Abraham and
Isaac pass and to go in on Jacob. We knew
this, but we got rather mixed in our calcu-
lations, and while we thought we were starting
on Jacob we really started ON Abraham. We
did not discover this until after we had started,
and then it was too late. We were nearly to
the shore when Isaac came rushing down on
us, seeming to my excited Imagination to be
as high as house. Twas sitting in the stern
with the steering oar in my hand when the
tremendous wave broke right over nv head.
/ had just time to hear Bell shout tGreat
Scott p before we were submerged. We
emerged in few seconds, the boat full of
water up to the gunwales, but still on an even
Keel. The wave had carried US toward the
shore, and we were in shallow water now, so
we jumped out and dragged the boat to land
We then looked at each other and broke out
laughing.
ing the water out of my clothes, and grinning
at Bell.
swell, it was as much your fault as it was
mine. We started on the wrong wave," said
he.
"You had the oars; / had nothing to do
with starting" said /, ''However, ail's well
that ends well,'' / sagely remarked.
"By the amount of water on you any one
might think that you had ended in a well
sure enough he replied.
tried to hit him with the steering oar, but
he was too quick for me.
~ say Reddy," said l, ~ wonder if my
shoes and stockings went overheard
shouldn't be surprised" said he; ''better
look.n
! had slowed my footgear under the bow,
and | now began TO plunge around in search
of it. finally resurrected it, and, after pull
ing up the boat, we started for home, pre-
senting very bedraggled and melancholy
appearance.
The story of our ducking soon became
public property, and our boy friends enjoyed
many laugh at our expense. They would
ask us with great apparent anxiety il the
water was damp. 'fYou sha'n't get a bit
Wet" became by-word. We took it all in
good part, however, and, considering every
thing, we all had a good deal of fun over
Landing the Boat"
MT. Vernon Seminary Exercises.
The commencement exercises of Mount
Vernon Seminary at the Metropolitan Church
on Monday evening drew out large audience
and was a most interesting occasion. The
platform was decorated with background
of palms. with two rows in front of it, one