The History of Little Peter, the Ship Boy | Page 9

was for. Peter had watched the
men at work, and by perseverance manufactured a case to his
satisfaction, with a canvas strap to go round his neck. He could now
carry his Bible night and day, and if summoned suddenly on deck, he
would still have it with him, and should it enter the head of one of his
shipmates to try and take it from his bunk while he was on deck, he
would be disappointed. Peter now felt far more content than heretofore
about the safety of his Bible. He had frequently to go into the captain's
cabin to carry his meals from the caboose and to clean it out. Generally
Captain Hawkes took no notice of him, but one day, being in a
facetious humour, he exclaimed, "Well, boy, have you got through your
book yet?"
"No, sir," said Peter, "I don't expect to do so for a long time to come."
"Look sharp, then," said the captain; "you will never be a sailor till you
have."
"I am afraid, sir, then, I never will become a sailor," said Peter, quietly.
"How so?" asked Captain Hawkes.

"Because I shall wish to read the book till the last day of my life. I want
to read it to know how to live, and just as much to know how to die."
"We can live very well without it, I have a notion," said the captain;
"but as to dying, that may be a different matter."
"Beg pardon, sir," said Peter, "but I have been taught that it is one and
the same thing. If you like, sir, I'll read to you all about it from the
book."
"No, no; I want none of your Bible reading," answered the captain.
"But, sir," said Peter, feeling a bold spirit rise within him, "if the ship
was to go down, and we all were drowned, and had to stand before God,
how those who had the words, `Depart, ye accursed, into everlasting
fire, prepared for the devil and his angels,' spoken to them would wish
that they had listened to God's word, and been prepared to meet Him as
their Judge."
"Get out of the cabin, you little canting hypocrite," exclaimed the
captain, fiercely, for God's words uttered by the young boy had struck
home to his conscience; but he "loved darkness rather than light,
because his deeds were evil," and he sought to avoid the light.
Peter went on deck with a feeling of deep sorrow at his heart that the
captain would not listen. He wished, however, that he had spoken to
him rather of God's love to sinners than of his threatenings. "The
mention of that great love might have touched his heart," he thought; "I
will tell him of it another time."
He often tried when he could speak alone to any of the men to get them
to allow him to read from his book; but he was told to keep it to himself,
no one on board wanted it. He hoped, however, to succeed by
perseverance; and perhaps when they found that he was becoming a
smart and active sailor, and could lay out on the yards and reef and
steer as well as any of them, they would be more ready to listen. He did
his utmost, therefore, to learn his duty as a seaman. Old Jim began to
treat him with less harshness than at first, and in his rough way gave

him instruction in the art he wished to acquire; he taught him to box the
compass and to steer, and even explained why various manoeuvres
were performed. Still, when Peter began to speak about the Bible, or
anything contained in it, he either turned a deaf ear or angrily told him
to mind his own business.
The Tyne was at last reached, and Peter's wonder was excited by the
large city he saw stretching up the hill, and the numerous other towns
and villages which lined the banks of that important river, but still more
by the numberless vessels taking in their cargoes of coal, shot down
into their holds from the cliffs above them. Much as he wished it he
was not allowed to go on shore, the captain suspecting that, like his
predecessors, he might not return. Though he had harder work than
ever, yet, having fewer task-masters, he was less ill-treated than before.
The Polly having received her cargo, again put to sea, bound, Peter
heard, for the Thames.
Hitherto the weather had been fine, and he had escaped sea-sickness
and wet clothes. A few nights after leaving the Tyne it came on to blow
hard, with the wind right ahead, and the Polly began to tumble about in
a way which made Peter feel very miserable. Sometimes, though under