Once upon a time two children came to the house of a sailor man, who
lived beside the salt sea; and they found the sailor man sitting in
his doorway knotting ropes.
"How do you do?" asked the sailor man.
"We are very well, thank you," said the children, who had learned
manners, "and we hope you are the same. We heard that you had a boat,
and we thought that perhaps you would take us out in her, and teach us
how to sail, for that is what we wish most to know."
[Illustration: THE SAILOR MAN.
[_Page 34._]
"All in good time," said the sailor man. "I am busy now, but by and
by, when my work is done, I may perhaps take one of you if you are
ready to learn. Meantime here are some ropes that need knotting; you
might be doing that, since it has to be done." And he showed them
how the knots should be tied, and went away and left them.
When he was gone the first child ran to the window and looked out.
"There is the sea," he said. "The waves come up on the beach, almost
to the door of the house. They run up all white, like prancing horses,
and then they go dragging back. Come and look!"
"I cannot," said the second child. "I am tying a knot."
"Oh!" cried the first child, "I see the boat. She is dancing like a
lady at a ball; I never saw such a beauty. Come and look!"
"I cannot," said the second child. "I am tying a knot."
"I shall have a delightful sail in that boat," said the first child.
"I expect that the sailor man will take me, because I am the eldest
and I know more about it. There was no need of my watching when he
showed you the knots, because I knew how already."
Just then the sailor man came in.
"Well," he said, "my work is over. What have you been doing in the
meantime?"
"I have been looking at the boat," said the first child. "What a beauty
she is! I shall have the best time in her that ever I had in my life."
"I have been tying knots," said the second child.
"Come, then," said the sailor man, and he held out his hand to the
second child. "I will take you out in the boat, and teach you to sail
her."
"But I am the eldest," cried the first child, "and I know a great deal
more than she does."
"That may be," said the sailor man; "but a person must learn to tie a
knot before he can learn to sail a boat."
"But I have learned to tie a knot," cried the child. "I know all about
it!"
"How can I tell that?" asked the sailor man.
"GO" AND "COME"
"Little boy," said the nurse one day, "you would be far better at work.
Your garden needs weeding sadly; go now and weed it, like a good child!"
But the little boy did not feel like weeding that day.
"I can't do it," he said.
"Oh! yes, you can," said the nurse.
"Well, I don't want to," said the little boy.
"But you must!" said the nurse. "Don't be naughty, but go at once and
do your work as I bid you!"
She went away about her own work, for she was very industrious; but
the little boy sat still, and thought himself ill-used.
By and by his mother came into the room and saw him.
"What is the matter, little boy?" she asked; for he looked like a
three-days' rain.
"Nurse told me to weed my garden," said the little boy.
"Oh," said his mother, "what fun that will be! I love to weed, and it
is such a fine day! Mayn't I come and help?"
"Why, yes," said the little boy. "You may." And they weeded the garden
beautifully, and had a glorious time.