A Fine ship was buffeting the waves, like a strong swimmer in his
sport. The clouds dashed wildly to and fro, but left many wide spaces
of blue to be dotted with stars. The sea was in high spirits, throwing
up spray, as if to quench the bright lights that looked down so kindly
upon it.
The vessel quite enjoyed the fun, and her prow bobbed in the current,
and gathered up the foam to send it flying up the rigging, or leave it
hissing and fuming by her sides. How skittish she was this evening, as
the light clouds ran over her head, and the wind puffed her laughingly
along! She was young and strong. Her timbers were tight; and her yards
well braced. She had just left port, painted and clean, with a new suit
of sails, and her copper as bright as a fresh-coined penny.
And where was she going? Laden with the treasures of English cotton and
woollen mills, of iron-works, and other industries, she was away to the
far-off land of Australia, on the other side of the round globe.
And whom had she got on board? There were sailors to manage the
merry ship; there were passengers, going from the white cliffs of old
England, to dwell in the gum forests of the kangaroo home.
As the shore of Britain melted away in the distance, men and women
hung over the bulwarks, dreaming of sweet vales they left behind, and
sighing deeply as they thought of loved ones there. How long would it
be before they saw those vales again, or smiled with friends beside
that hearth of love!
The love of one’s country, as the land of our friends, the joy of
freedom, the defence of the right and true, is a duty as well as a
delight. And those born in the new land of Australia should cherish
so beautiful and healthful a home, and help to make it happy in the
virtues of its people.
One little intelligent fellow, about ten years old, hung closely
against his mother’s dress, and caught hold of his father’s hand. James
knew his parents must feel sad at leaving dear ones behind; and he
inwardly resolved to be a great comfort to them now by being a good,
loving son.
The last speck of land was gone, and every body turned round to the
ship, preparing to make that a home. Mr. and Mrs. Marple thought of
their only child, for others had been left to sleep in a church-yard
far away. He was their hope and joy. They determined to add to his
happiness, and secure him from the evil of idle ship-life, by improving
his time and his mind.
This very evening, therefore, the kind father took James beside him
in a quiet corner on deck. They spoke at first of aunts and uncles,
cousins and friends. Then a plunge of a porpoise turned their eyes to
the sea, or a scream of sea-fowl set them talking of natural history. A
sober chat followed, and a moral lesson came.
A sudden unrolling of clouds brought out such a dazzle of starry
splendour, that both gazed with delight upon the ever-wondrous heavens.
It was then that Mr. Marple determined, among other subjects, to make
the boy understand astronomy. This he was to do by leading the lad
himself to observe; and, under his direction, to find out the laws of
the universe himself.
A few stars were pointed out. There was the North Polar star, that
keeps such a constant place. There were the gentle Pleiades. There was
the beautiful Belt of Orion to the south. There was, too, though very
near the waves to the southward, the bright Dog-star, _Sirius_.