The Shipwreck | Page 2

the ropes and, as they rose on high, the
clear, piping voices of the boys rang out in the splendid old hymn:
The Royal banners forward go, The Cross shines forth in mystic glow;
On which the One Who in our flesh was made Our sentence bore, our
ransom paid.
When the crosses had been put in place the Prefect made a speech,
saying among other things, "Now afar over Hongkong and its harbor
where it may be seen not only by all the people who dwell here but also
by those who come in ships from far distant ports shines the sign of
Our Lord." Of all that the head of the order of missioners said on this
occasion this impressed little Willy most, and when the celebration was
over the small acolyte went to Father Somazzo and said: "Father, the
Apostolic Prefect said that the cross on the cathedral could be seen
from all the ships that come into the harbor. From the cross can you see
all the ships?"
"Yes, certainly, Willy," he answered. "From all the ships, streets, open
squares, and hills round about from which the cross is visible, any and
all those places are visible from the dome on which the cross stands."

"Oh, then, Father, let me climb up. It is not dangerous. The ladders are
fastened tightly to the scaffolding, and the scaffolding is so strong that
it will hold big men. Yesterday at recess Joseph almost climbed up; he
would have gone to the very top, if the Prefect had not seen him and
called him down. O Father, don't frown so at me, but let me go. I want
so much to see whether my father's ship has come. He wrote that he
would be here before the New Year, and I would know his ship at a
glance from the golden picture of holy Saint George that's on the bow.
Please, Father, please."
Father Somazzo shook his head and said: "The ship is too far away for
you to see what is painted on the bow, and besides it is too dangerous
for you to climb up there. You might get dizzy and fall, and what
would your father say if he were to come here and find you a corpse, or
with your legs and arms broken?"
"Oh, but Father, I do not get dizzy. I have often been up on the rigging
of the 'Saint George', in the crow's nest, and even on the very highest
yard. I know every bit of the rigging of the ship. O Father, let me climb
up right now."
The teacher looked at Willy earnestly and raised his finger chidingly.
"Willy," he said, "you've got that stubborn little head of yours set again.
How often have I told you that it is not becoming for you to insist on
having your own way. No, you cannot climb up to the dome under any
circumstances. I forbid it."
With that Father Somazzo left the small boy standing in the garden and
followed the other missioners into the house. Willy looked about him,
half frightened, half defiant, and giving his cap a jerk down over his
curly yellow hair muttered, as he glanced at the shining cross: "I will
climb up there, and he can punish me if he likes. Let him catch me
first."
Willy Brown was really not a naughty boy, but he could be very willful
at times. Irish by birth and accustomed to more liberty than the Italian
teacher was wont to give his pupils in Hongkong, he did not always
submit readily to the rather strict discipline of the school, but aside

from this was an exemplary child. In order to break him of his habit of
being so stubborn his teacher often commanded or forbade him to do
things which otherwise would never have been thought of a second
time. Just now the one desire of Willy's heart was to see his father's
ship, and to him the climbing of the scaffolding seemed so wholly
without danger that he looked upon the command which he had
received as an act of tyranny, and resolved to disobey. His conscience
said to him, "It is a sin to disobey," but he heeded not the small voice
within him. Before going up he sought out his favorite companion, a
little twelve year old Chinaman. The boys were of an age and were to
receive their first communion at the same time--facts which created a
bond of sympathy between two children almost as totally unlike as it
was possible for children to be. The young Chinaman was a foundling.
His parents after the fashion of many of the Chinese had exposed him
when but a few days old, thus consigning him to death,