Little By Little | Page 8

you think it is?"
"It looks like Captain Littleton."
"What can he want of me?" said Paul, anxiously.
"If it is Captain Littleton, it is more like he wants me."
In a few moments more the boat darted into the cove, and the boys
recognized Captain Littleton in the gentleman who had been beckoning
to them.
"Come ashore, Paul, as quick as you can!" shouted he, as he jumped
into his chaise, and drove nearer to the point where the boat was to
land.
"Do you want me, sir?" asked Paul.
"Yes; you are wanted at home."
Our hero was filled with terror and anxiety by this reply. He was sure
that something had happened, or a gentleman like Captain Littleton
would not have taken the trouble to come after him. As the boat struck
the bank, he brailed up the sail, and jumped ashore with the painter in
his hand.
"Come, Paul, never mind the boat; Thomas will take care of her. Get
into the chaise with me as quick as you can," said Captain Littleton.
"What is the matter, sir? What has happened?" demanded Paul,
trembling with the most painful solicitude.
"Get into the chaise first, and I will tell you as we return."

"Has anything happened to my mother, sir?" cried Paul, the tears
rushing to his eyes.
"Nothing has happened to your mother, Paul. She is quite well,"
answered Captain Littleton, as he urged the horse to his utmost speed.
Paul was greatly relieved by this assurance, though it was still evident
from the manner of the gentleman, and the speed at which he drove the
horse, that some dreadful event had occurred. His conscience smote
him for his disobedience to his mother, and he was not in a fit moral
condition to meet the shock of adversity with courage and fortitude. He
would have given the world, in that anxious moment, to have undone
the work of the last three hours, and effaced their record from his
conscience.
"Tell me what has happened, if you please, sir," he continued. "Is any
of the folks dead? You say it is not my mother."
"Your mother is quite well, and none of your family are dead,
though----"
Captain Littleton paused, and looked at the boy's face, which was still
bathed in tears. He saw the misery that he was enduring, and he
hesitated to utter words which he knew must carry grief and woe to his
heart.
"You must be calm and firm, Paul," continued the kind gentleman. "It
is not so bad as you suppose, and we may hope for the best. Your father
has just met with a serious accident."
"Is he dead, sir?" gasped Paul. "You don't tell me the whole story, sir."
"He is not dead, Paul; but he is very badly hurt."
"He is alive, then?"
"He is."
Paul closely scrutinized the expression of Captain Littleton, fearful that

he had not told him the whole truth.
"Are you sure he was not killed?" he asked, still unsatisfied.
"He was alive when I left him, but that was nearly an hour ago."
"I am thankful if he is alive. How did it happen, sir?"
"He fell from the bow of the ship upon which he was at work, and
struck a pile of timber. I am afraid he is very badly hurt. I happened to
be near the shipyard at the time, and assisted in carrying him home. He
is conscious, and asked for you. Your mother said you were out in the
boat."
Paul burst into tears again at these words, for he realized the nature and
depth of his mother's feelings when she had uttered them, and how
bitterly did he regret his act of disobedience! The dreadful event had
come to intensify the anguish of his penitence, and he felt that, if he
had not done wrong, he could have met the calamity with patience and
resolution. When children do wrong, they know not what event may
occur to increase a thousand fold the bitterness of their remorse.
"Do you think my father is alive now?" sobbed Paul.
"I hope so; but it is impossible to foretell the result. The doctors spoke
very despondingly of his case; but we must hope for the best."
"How does my mother bear it?"
"As well as could be expected, considering the suddenness of the
calamity."
"O, it will kill her," groaned Paul.
"I hope not; you must be calm, my boy. It is dreadful, I know; but we
must not add to the pain of the sufferer by useless lamentation."
"I will be as calm as I can, sir; but it is awful to have such a thing
happen just now."

"We know not what a day or an hour may bring forth, Paul."
"Yes, but