“Alice, what makes people say, ‘Don’t give up the ship’?”
Alice said, “I don’t know. That’s what the teacher said to me
yes-ter-day when I thought that I could not get my lesson.”
“Yes,” said Fred, “and that’s what father said to me. I told him I
never could learn to write well.” He only said, “You must not give up
the ship, my boy.”
“I haven’t any ship to give up,” said Alice.
“And what has a ship to do with my writing?” said Fred.
“There must be some story about a ship,” Alice said.
“Maybe grand-father would know,” said Fred. “Let’s ask him.”
They found their grand-father writing in the next room. They did not
wish to disturb him. They turned to leave the room.
But grand-father looked up just then. He smiled, and laid down his pen.
“Did you want something?” he asked. “We wanted to ask you a question,”
said Alice. “We want to know why people say, ‘Don’t give up the ship.’”
“We thought maybe there is a story to it,” said Fred.
“Yes, there is,” said their grandfather. “And I know a little rhyme
that tells the story.”
“Could you say it to us?” asked Alice.
“Yes, if I can think of it. Let me see. How does it begin?”
Grandfather leaned his head back in the chair. He shut his eyes for a
moment. He was trying to remember.
“Oh, now I remember it!” he said.