Oliver was a winsome baby and he grew strong and beautiful very fast.
Every one loved him, for he thought all strangers were friends, and was
never afraid of them.
Indeed he was not afraid of anything, for to him there was no danger. We
shall see that he kept this same fearlessness all through his life.
When he was three years old, he was playing one day with an older child,
in the road near his grandfather's house. A man was seen coming rapidly
towards them on horseback. The elder child ran out of the way, calling
to Oliver to do the same.
The little fellow sat quite still, however, until the horse was nearly
upon him. As the horseman drew rein, Oliver looked up into his face and
said, "Man, you will not ride over me, will you?"
[Illustration: CHILDHOOD HOME OF OLIVER PERRY.]
The gentleman, who was a friend of the family's, carried him into the
house, and told the story.
When scarcely more than a baby, Oliver sat upon his mother's knee,
while she taught him letters and words. It was not long before he could
read quite well. By the time he was five years old, there were two other
babies to keep the beautiful, loving mother busy. So it was thought best
to send Oliver to school.
Not far from the Perrys', there lived an old gentleman whom the people
loved because of his goodness of heart. As there was no school near by,
he had often been asked to teach the neighborhood children.
The good old man was notoriously lazy, and consented upon one
condition--that he should be allowed to have a bed in the schoolroom.
Teachers were few in those days, and, since there was no one else, the
bed was set up. How amusing it must have been to see the children
standing about the master's bed and reciting their lessons!
It was to this strange school that little Oliver was first sent. Some
girl cousins lived on the adjoining farm. Though they were all older
than he, it was Oliver's duty, each day, to take them to and from
school. No one, not even the other scholars, thought this at all
strange. His dignified manners always made him seem older than he really
was.
One day his mother told him that he was old enough to go to school at
Tower Hill, a place four miles away. Boys and girls would now think that
a long way to go to school; but Oliver and his cousins did not mind the
walk through the woods and over the hills.
The master of this school was so old that he had once taught Oliver's
grandfather. He was not lazy, however, and was never known to lose his
temper.
It was not long until a change was made and Oliver was taken away from
"old master Kelly."
For several years past, Oliver's father had been again on the sea. He
had commanded vessels on successful voyages to Europe and South America,
and now he had a large income. He was therefore able to pay for better
teaching for Oliver and the younger children.
So the family moved from South Kingston to Newport, a larger town, with
better schools.
At first Oliver did not like the change. The discipline was much more
strict than it had been in the little country schools.
His teacher, Mr. Frazer, had one serious fault. He had a violent temper
which was not always controlled.
One day he became angry at Oliver and broke a ruler over his head.
Without a word, Oliver took his hat and went home. He told his mother
that he would never go back.
The wise mother said nothing until the next morning. Then, giving him a
note for Mr. Frazer, she told him to go to school as usual. The proud
boy's lip quivered and tears were in his eyes, but he never thought of
disobeying his mother.
The note he carried was a kind one, telling Mr. Frazer that she
intrusted Oliver to his care again and hoped that she would not have
cause to regret it.
After this Oliver had no better friend than Mr. Frazer. On holidays they
walked together to the seashore and spent many hours wandering along
the beach. The schoolmaster took great delight in teaching Oliver the
rules of navigation, and the use of the instruments necessary for
sailing a vessel.
Oliver learned these things so readily that it was not long until Mr.
Frazer said he was the best navigator in Rhode Island. This, of course,
was not strictly true, but it showed what an apt scholar the boy was.
Oliver made many friends in Newport. Among them was the Frenchman, Count
Rochambeau. The father of this man was a great general, and had once
commanded some French troops who helped the Americans in the
Revolutionary War.
Count Rochambeau often invited Oliver to dine with him, and one day he
gave him a beautiful little watch.
When Oliver was twelve years old, his father gave up his life on the
sea. The family then moved to Westerly, a little village in the
southwestern part of Rhode Island.
For five years Oliver had been a faithful pupil of Mr. Frazer's, and he
was now far advanced for his years.