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CAPTAIN JOHN’S ADVENTURES
[Illustration]
CAPTAIN JOHN’S ADVENTURES
OR
The Story of a Fatherless Boy
EDINBURGH & LONDON
OLIPHANT ANDERSON & FERRIER
OLIPHANT ANDERSON & FERRIER’S
SIXPENNY BOOKS
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
_Captain John’s Adventures._
_Biddy._ By S. C. P.
_The Gardener’s Daughter._
_Jessy Allan, the Lame Girl._
_The Orphan of Kinloch._
_Douglas Roy, and other Stories._
_Tibby._ By S. C. P.
_Widow Gray._
_French Bessie._ By S. C. P.
_Two Gathered Lilies._
_The Pearl of Forgiveness._
_The Pearl of Contentment._
_The Pearl of Peace._
_The Pearl of Meekness._
_The Pearl of Faith._
_The Pearl of Diligence._
_Little Henry and His Bearer._
_The Little Forester._
_The Little Woodman._
_Waste Not, Want Not._
_The White Dove._
_The Bracelets._
_Paul Cuffee, the Black Hero._
_Blanche Gamond._
_Little Blue Mantle._
_Ways of Wisdom._
_The Best Work._
_The Best Warfare._
_True Heart._
_Won for the Kingdom._
_Susy Miller._
_Susy’s Birthday._
_Happy Ellen._
_Kitty Brown._
_The Best Friend._
_Red and White Roses._
_Little Goldenlocks._
_Nanette’s New Shoes._
_Katie’s Christmas Lesson._
_Tom’s Memorable Christmas._
_The Pearl Necklace._
_Bess: The Story of a Waif._
_The Bonnie Jean._
_The Story of a Cuckoo Clock._
_Syd’s New Pony._
_The Witch of the Quarry Hut._
_Our Father._ By Sarah Gibson.
_A Little Home-Ruler._
_Nellie’s First Fruits._
_Bunny’s Birthday._
_Di’s Jumbo._ By M. J. M. Logan.
_Dick: A Missionary Story._
_How Daisy became a Sunbeam._
_Marjory’s Story._
_Jack’s Hymn._ By Elizabeth Olmis.
_Little Tom Thumb._
MORRISON AND GIBB, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH.
CAPTAIN JOHN’S ADVENTURES
CHAPTER I.
THE FISHERMAN’S DWELLING--HOME MADE DESOLATE.
Richard Leddam was a poor man, who obtained a subsistence by toiling
in all weathers in catching fish and oysters, which he sold to persons
whose business it was to supply the city market. The village in which
he lived was exposed on one side to the ocean waves, the other was
washed by the calmer waters of a bay. Here a few families were induced
to dwell, invited by the facilities for procuring fish.
Lonely as the village was, it was not an unpleasant spot; the grounds
were shaded by fine trees, and the constant sea breeze rendered the
atmosphere cool and healthy. On a little indenture of the shore, where
the bay setting in formed a cove, stood the cabin of the fisherman. It
was built of logs, and a sloping shed protected the house from winter
storms and summer suns. Beneath this shelter were kept, when not in
use, the fishing boat and the fishing tackle. Here too the family
assembled in fine weather, and thence the anxious wife sent many a
wishful glance, when expecting her husband’s return.
Their family consisted of two boys, John and Henry, and three daughters.
Here they lived in rude comfort--poor, but not destitute; and when,
after a successful day, the family met in their humble home, from
which they looked out on the sparkling waters, while the father related
his adventures, they might be called happy, as far as exemption from
care could make immortal beings happy.
But of his glorious birthright as an immortal spirit, Richard Leddam
thought not. If he mentioned the name of his Creator, it was only to
profane it. There was no prayer offered to God in that family, and
Sabbaths came and went, not reverenced, almost unheeded. Once, while
at a neighbouring city, where he had gone with a boat load, his little
vessel was visited by a Christian gentleman, who gave him a Bible,
which he brought to his wife; but whether it was prized as it deserved
to be, or whether the fisherman, in his solitary hours upon the sea,
ever turned in repentance to his God and Saviour, none can tell.
One boisterous day in November he left the cove, thinking that the
wind would lull by noon. His wife remembered that when he had gone a
few steps from the door he returned to bid them farewell again, and
placing his hand on John’s head, told him to be good, and help his
mother.
The wind increased through the day, and the tempest was fearful all
night. When the light dawned, the distressed family beheld the boat
floating upwards,--but their only friend they never saw again.
With the assistance of a neighbour the boat was drawn up, and placed
in its usual resting-place in the shed. The children gathered around
it with sorrowful faces, as if it had been their father’s coffin. The
mother looked silently on the helpless little ones; then, leaning her
face on her hand, as she rested on the side of the boat, she wept
piteously. One of the neighbours perceiving a Bible, which lay on a
shelf, took it down and read the eleventh chapter of John. The word of
God soothed the poor widow’s grief; and when they were alone she said
to her son, ‘Read to me those good words again.’ How many sorrowful
hearts have those good words relieved!