The Ontario Readers Part 8

About eight o'clock on Wednesday morning that great s.h.i.+p suddenly caught fire, from the upsetting of a can of oil in the lamp-room. It was hardly daylight. In a very few minutes the s.h.i.+p was on fire from one end to the other, and the fire-bell rang to call the boys to their posts. What did they do? Think of the sudden surprise, the sudden danger--the flames rus.h.i.+ng all around them, and the dark, cold water below them! Did they cry, or scream, or fly about in confusion? No; they ran each to his proper place.

They had been trained to do that--they knew that it was their duty; and no one forgot himself; no one lost his presence of mind. They all, as the captain said: "behaved like men." Then, when it was found impossible to save the s.h.i.+p, those who could swim jumped into the water by order of the captain, and swam for their lives. Some, also at his command, got into a boat; and then, when the sheets of flame and the clouds of smoke came pouring out of the s.h.i.+p, the smaller boys for a moment were frightened, and wanted to push away.

But there was one among them--the little mate: his name was William Bolton: we are proud that he came from Westminster: a quiet boy, much loved by his comrades--who had the sense and courage to say: "No; we must stay and help those that are still in the s.h.i.+p." He kept the barge alongside the s.h.i.+p as long as possible, and was thus the means of saving more than one hundred lives!

There were others who were still in the s.h.i.+p while the flames went on spreading. They were standing by the good captain, who had been so kind to them all, and whom they all loved so much. In that dreadful crisis they thought more of him than of themselves. One threw his arms round his neck and said: "You'll be burnt, Captain;" and another said: "Save yourself before the rest." But the captain gave them the best of all lessons for that moment. He said: "That's not the way at sea, my boys."

He meant to say--and they quite understood what he meant--that the way at sea is to prepare for danger beforehand, to meet it manfully when it comes, and to look at the safety, not of oneself, but of others. The captain had not only learned that good old way himself, but he also knew how to teach it to the boys under his charge.

DEAN STANLEY

HEARTS OF OAK

Come, cheer up, my lads, 'tis to glory we steer, To add something more to this wonderful year, To honour we call you, not press you like slaves, For who are so free as the sons of the waves?

Hearts of oak are our s.h.i.+ps, hearts of oak are our men, We always are ready, Steady, boys, steady, We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.

Still Britain shall triumph, her s.h.i.+ps plough the sea, Her standard be justice, her watchword "Be free;"

Then, cheer up, my lads, with one heart let us sing Our soldiers, our sailors, our statesmen, our king.

Hearts of oak are our s.h.i.+ps, hearts of oak are our men, We always are ready, Steady, boys, steady, We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.

DAVID GARRICK

A WET SHEET AND A FLOWING SEA

A wet sheet and a flowing sea, A wind that follows fast, And fills the white and rustling sail, And bends the gallant mast; And bends the gallant mast, my boys, While, like the eagle free, Away the good s.h.i.+p flies, and leaves Old England on the lee!

"O for a soft and gentle wind!"

I heard a fair one cry; But give to me the snoring breeze And white waves heaving high; And white waves heaving high, my boys, The good s.h.i.+p tight and free,-- The world of waters is our home, And merry men are we.

There's tempest in yon horned moon, And lightning in yon cloud; And hark the music, mariners, The wind is piping loud!

The wind is piping loud, my boys, The lightning flashes free,-- While the hollow oak our palace is, Our heritage the sea.

ALLAN CUNNINGHAM

THE TALENTS

The kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents saying, "Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more." His lord said unto him, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

He also that had received two talents came and said, "Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them." His lord said unto him, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

Then he which had received the one talent came and said, "Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed; and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine." His lord answered and said unto him, "Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnas.h.i.+ng of teeth."

ST. MATTHEW, XXV. 14-30

A FAREWELL

My fairest child, I have no song to give you; No lark could pipe to skies so dull and gray; Yet, ere we part, one lesson I can leave you For every day.

I'll tell you how to sing a clearer carol Than lark who hails the dawn or breezy down, To earn yourself a purer poet's laurel Than Shakespeare's crown.

Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever; Do n.o.ble things, not dream them, all day long: And so make life, death, and that vast forever, One grand, sweet song.

KINGSLEY

AN APPLE ORCHARD IN THE SPRING

Have you seen an apple orchard in the spring?

In the spring?

An English apple orchard in the spring?

When the spreading trees are h.o.a.ry With their wealth of promised glory, And the mavis sings its story, In the spring.

Have you plucked the apple blossoms in the spring?

In the spring?

And caught their subtle odours in the spring?

Pink buds pouting at the light, Crumpled petals baby white Just to touch them a delight-- In the spring.

Have you walked beneath the blossoms in the spring?

In the spring?

Beneath the apple blossoms in the spring?

When the pink cascades are falling, And the silver brooklets brawling, And the cuckoo bird soft calling, In the spring.

If you have not, then you know not, in the spring, In the spring, Half the colour, beauty, wonder of the spring, No sweet sight can I remember Half so precious, half so tender, As the apple blossoms render, In the spring.

WILLIAM MARTIN