The World of Waters | Page 7

those words. But I want to hear how you got Frederic away from that
horrid man, and what became of him afterwards, because I cannot
understand why you are telling us this story. I know you never tell us
anything for amusement only."
GRANDY. "No, my dear child; this story is not solely for your
amusement. This morning I observed a strangeness in George's
behavior, when he was requested to put up his microscope, and assist in
laying the cloth, because John was out, and he was aware that Hannah
had sprained her foot, and could not walk up and down stairs. He said
such extraordinary things about being ill-used, and worked hard, and
never having an hour to amuse himself, that I am desirous of
convincing him that it is quite possible (with God's assistance) not only
to bear all this, without thinking it a shame, as George termed it, but
even to praise God for the troubles and trials which may fall to your lot;
and I also wish to inform him, that there are some boys more patient
and grateful than himself. But I see, by the color mounting to his
cheeks, that my boy is sorry for his past behavior; nevertheless, I will
continue my story. And now for the incident, as I presume you will call
it, Emma.
"We were about a week's voyage from Jamaica. The wind was
favorable, but light, the sky clear, the sun directly overhead;--we were
all beginning to feel the effects of a warm climate; the sailors were
loosely clad in canvass trousers, striped shirts, and straw hats, and went
lazily about their work;--the ship moved as lazily through the rippling
waves;--the man at the helm drew his hat over his eyes, to shade them
from the glare of the sun, and lounged listlessly upon the wheel;--the
captain was below taking a nap, to the great relief of men and
boys;--some of the passengers were sitting on the poop, under an
awning, drowsily perusing a book or old newspaper; some leaning on
the taffrail, watching the many-colored dolphin, and those beautiful,
but spiteful, little creatures, the Portuguese men-of-war, which look so
splendid as they sail gently on the smooth surface of the blue ocean,
every little ripple causing a change of color in their transparent sails. I
was admiring these curious navigators, as I stood with two or three

friends, who, like myself, felt idle, and cared only to dispose of the
time in the most agreeable manner attainable in such a ship, with such a
commander; and I said, rather thoughtlessly, considering Frederic was
at my side, 'How I should like to possess one of those little creatures; I
suppose they can be caught?'
"Frederic moved from me, and an instant after he was on the forecastle;
presently, I heard a splash in the water, and, leaning over the rail, I saw
him swimming after a fine specimen, which shone in all the bright and
varied colors of the rainbow, as it floated proudly by. He had no sooner
reached the treasure, and made a grasp at it, than he gave a loud scream,
for the creature had encircled the poor boy's body with its long fibrous
legs, or, as they are properly called, 'tentacula'. He struggled violently,
for he was in great agony; at length he escaped, and was helped on deck
by one of the men, who said, he wished, 'he had known what the
youngster had in his head, and he would have prevented him attempting
to catch such a thing,' for he was aware of the extraordinary
peculiarities of these singular little creatures. When he came on deck,
he looked exactly as if he had been rolled in a bed of nettles, and the
steward had to rub him with oil, and give him medicine to reduce the
fever caused by the pain of the sting.
"You may be sure, that directly the captain heard of this affair, he was
more disposed to chastise, than to pity, our friend Frederic; but I
interfered, and begged he would leave him to me, as I had been the
cause of the disaster, and must now make amends by attending him,
until he was well enough to return to his duty. The captain was very
much displeased, and I regretted extremely that a foolish wish of mine
should have caused so much annoyance, and felt it my duty to endeavor
to alleviate the boy's sufferings as much as possible. Poor Frederic! he
was laid up three or four days, and had experienced enough to caution
him against ever again attempting to capture a 'Portuguese
man-of-war.'[1]
[Footnote 1: The ancients are said to have derived the art of navigation
from these animals, which, in calm weather, are seen floating on