Part 4 (1/2)
This prominence would have made him an object of dislike, among the other lads of his own age; had it not been that William was a lively, good-tempered boy; and if, as sometimes happened on these occasions, a sixpence or s.h.i.+lling was slipped into his hand by some visitor, who was taken by his frank open face and bright intelligent manner, it was always shared among his school fellows.
At one of the examinations the wife of a guardian, who was present with her husband, said on returning home:
”It must be very dull for those poor boys. I will pack up some of the boys' books, and send them. Now they have gone to college, they will never want them again; and they would make quite a library for the workhouse boys. There must be twenty or thirty of them, at least.”
If ladies could but know what brightness they can infuse into the lives of lads, placed like these in Ely workhouse, by a simple act of kindness of this kind, there would not be an inst.i.tution in the kingdom without a well-supplied library. The gift infused a new life into the school. Hitherto the world outside had been a sealed book to the boys. They knew of no world, save that included within the walls of the house. Their geography told them of other lands and people, but these were mere names, until now.
Among the books were Robinson Crusoe, Mids.h.i.+pman Easy, Peter Simple, three or four of Cooper's Indian tales, Dana's Life before the Mast, and several of Kingston's and Ballantyne's books. These opened a wonderland of life and adventure to the boys. The schoolmaster used to give them out, at twelve o'clock; and they were returned at two, when school recommenced; and only such boys as obtained full marks for their lessons were allowed to have them.
In this way, instead of the library being a cause of idleness--as some of the guardians predicted, when they heard of its presentation--it was an incentive to work.
Certainly its perusal filled the minds of most of the boys with an intense longing to go to sea but, as there is always a demand for apprentices for the Yarmouth and Lowestoft smacks, the guardians did not disapprove of this bent being given to their wishes--indeed, as no premium had to be paid, with apprentices to smack owners, while in most trades a premium is required, a preference was given to the sea by the guardians.
When William Gale reached the age of fifteen, and was brought before the board to choose the trade to which he would be apprenticed, he at once said that he would go to sea. There were applications from several smack masters for apprentices; and he, with the five other boys brought up with him, were all of one opinion in the matter.
”Mind, lads,” the chairman said, ”the life of an apprentice on board a North Sea smack is a hard one. You will get a great many more kicks than half pence. It will be no use grumbling, when you have once made your choice. It is a rough, hard life--none rougher, or harder. When you have served your time, it will be open to you either to continue as smacksmen, or to s.h.i.+p as seamen in sea-going s.h.i.+ps.
”Sailors who hail from the eastern fis.h.i.+ng ports are always regarded as amongst the best of our seamen. Still, it is a rough life, and a dangerous one. The hardest life, on sh.o.r.e, is easy in comparison. There is time to change your minds, before you sign; when you have done so, it will be too late. Are you all determined?”
None of them wavered. Their signatures were attached to the indentures, and they were told that the porter would take them to Yarmouth, on the following day. William Gale obtained leave to spend his last evening at the porter's lodge, and there he talked very seriously, with Mrs. d.i.c.kson, over his future prospects.
”I know,” he said, ”from Dana's book, that the life is a very rough one, but that will not matter. A sailor, when he has been four years at sea, can pa.s.s his examination as a mate; and I mean to work hard, and pa.s.s as soon as I can. I don't care how much I am knocked about, that's nothing; there's a good chance of getting on, in the end.”
”You will meet a great many bad boys, Bill; don't you let them lead you into their ways.”
”Don't be afraid of that,” he answered, ”I won't do anything I should be ashamed of, afterwards. You have taught me better.”
”I suppose the guardians gave you a Bible, today; they always do, when boys goes out.”
Will nodded.
”Be sure you read it often, my boy. You read that, and stick to it, and you won't go far wrong. You know what the parson said, last Sunday:
”'No one is strong in himself, but G.o.d gives strength.'”
”I remember,” Will said. ”I made up my mind, then, that I'd bear it in mind, and act upon it when I could. I think the thought of G.o.d, and the thought that I may meet my parents--and they must not be ashamed of me--will help me to be honest, and firm.”
”I hope, Bill, you will come, sometimes, and see me, when you are ash.o.r.e.”
”I shall be sure to do that, when I can,” he answered. ”But of course, I shall have no money, at first; and it may be a long time before I can pay my railway fare here; but you may be sure I will come. Whoever may be my real mother, you are the only mother I ever knew, and no mother could have been kinder. When I grow to be a man, and go to sea in big s.h.i.+ps, I will bring you all sorts of pretty things from abroad and, if ever you should want it, you may be sure that my wages will be quite as much yours as if I had been, really, your son!”
Sam d.i.c.kson gave a snort. It was very good of the boy, but he considered it his duty to snub him, in order to counteract what he considered to be the pernicious counsels and treatment of his wife.
”Fine talk,” he said, ”fine talk. We shall see.”
”You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Sam d.i.c.kson,” his wife said, wrathfully. ”The boy means what he says, and I believe him. If anything was to happen to you, and that boy was growed up, I believe he would come forward to lend me a helping hand, just as he says, as if he were my son. The gals is good gals, but gals in service have plenty to do with their wages--what with dress, and one thing or another. We must never look for much help from them but, if Bill is doing well, and I ever come to want, I believe as his heart would be good to help, a bit.”
”Well,” the porter said, dryly, ”there's time enough to see about it, yet. I ain't dead, you ain't a pauper, and he ain't a man, not by a long way.”