PAUL ADVANCES LITTLE BY LITTLE, AND THE STORY ENDS.
For several years Paul pursued his calling as a fisherman; and as he
grew older the business became more profitable. Before he was
twenty-one, the mortgage on the house was paid off; and when he was free
he had saved up quite a handsome sum of money, with which he purposed to
extend his operations. But when he was on the point of purchasing a
schooner of sixty tons, a situation as second mate of an ocean steamer
was offered to him, with the promise of certain advancement as he became
qualified to fill more important positions. He concluded, after mature
deliberation, to accept the offer, and the fishing business was entirely
given up to John, who continued it for several years, with good success.
If my young reader's imagination is vivid enough to accomplish the feat,
let us step forward nine years which will very nearly bring our story up
to the present time. It is easy to jump over a long period of years in
this manner on paper, but not so easy for the mind to realize the
number and the importance of the events which may transpire in this
time. Though we step forward over long years of toil and care, of joy
and sorrow, of severe trial and patient waiting, and behold the Paul
Duncan of to-day, it will be hard to believe he is not still a boy, and
the skipper of the Fawn, as we have seen him in the pages of our story.
He is no longer a boy, and we can scarcely believe that he with the
bushy whiskers, and the strong, well-knit frame, is the young navigator
of our tale. Yet it is he; and in order that our young friends may be
properly introduced to him, we will step back a day.
Ah, you don't recognize Bayville; you don't feel at home there; for
everything is changed since the young fisherman sold his wares in its
streets.
Where is the cottage of Mrs. Duncan, do you ask? Well, about two years
ago, it was pulled down to give place to the more elegant structure that
occupies its site. It is a very beautiful residence; not very elaborate
or very costly, it is true, but a beautiful residence for all that.
Who lives there now? Mrs. Duncan, of course; and she is still an active
woman, and as affectionate a mother as can be found in the whole
country. You recognize in the elderly gentleman who has just rung the
front door bell our old friend Captain Littleton. He is still hale and
hearty, and makes a regular call every day at the home of Mrs. Duncan.
He is in a hurry to-day, and has a newspaper in his hand.
"The Marmora has arrived," he exclaims, as he enters the room where the
old lady is seated.
"You don't say so!"
"Arrived this morning, and is at the wharf in New York by this time."
"I'm so glad!" replied Mrs. Duncan, pulling off her spectacles, and
wiping away the moisture in her eyes. "When will they be home?
"To-morrow morning."
And on the following morning, Captain Littleton and Mrs. Duncan were at
the railroad station, waiting the arrival of the train which was to
bring the absent ones. They were not very patient, but at last the cars
appeared, and stopped at the station.
"There they are!" cried Mrs. Duncan, as she stepped forward and grasped
the hand of the gentleman with the strong, well-knit frame and bushy
whiskers. A beautiful lady is leaning upon his arm, and when she sees
Captain Littleton, she throws herself into his arms, just as the young
ladies in the romances do.
But you wish to know about this lady, and we hasten to inform you that
it is Mrs. Paul Duncan, late Miss Carrie Littleton. No doubt you
expected all this when the young fisherman jumped overboard and rescued
her from a watery grave; and it would be a great pity to disappoint you,
especially when a few dashes of the pen will make all right with them
and with the sympathizing reader.
Captain Duncan and lady were escorted to the residence of Mrs. Duncan by
their happy parents, and attended by sundry brothers and sisters, all
intensely delighted with this pleasant reunion. I will not tell you how
happy everybody is at the house on the point; but if the reader wishes
to hear about the last trip of the Marmora, he must "call at the
captain's office," and obtain the particulars from him. It was the
quickest passage which had yet been made, and Captain Duncan was almost
as proud of his ship as he was of his wife.
Little by little, Paul Duncan had worked his way up from the position in
which we left him ten years before, to the command of one of the finest
ocean steamers that sailed out of New York. He was exceedingly popular
with the public, and was often quoted as the noblest specimen of a
gallant captain, and, at the same time, a true Christian gentleman. He
is not rich, as wealth is measured in our day, though he has some
property, and receives a liberal salary from the Steamship Company; but
in the higher and truer sense, he is rich--rich in the possession of a
noble and lofty character, and a faith which reaches beyond the
treasures of this world.
John Duncan still continues to follow the fishing business, and owns a
fine schooner, which is engaged in mackerel catching most of the time.
He is the same bold, daring fellow that we knew on board the
Fawn,--which, by the way, is the name of his schooner,--and is noted for
carrying sail longer than any other skipper in the fleet, thus putting
the nerves of his crew to the severest trials.
Now, reader, if you like the character of Paul Duncan, build up one like
it. Be true to yourself, to your parents, and to your God; be patient
and persevering, and you will obtain your full measure of success,
though like him you are obliged to win it LITTLE BY LITTLE.
End of Project Gutenberg's Little By Little, by William Taylor Adams