Part 6 (2/2)
”You must go to school.”
”It don't keep.”
”Ask mother, then; if she is willing, I am.”
”Have you got a line for me?”
”Yes.”
John Duncan, for his years, was almost as much of a sailor and fisherman as Paul. Both of them took to the water like ducks, and seemed to understand all about a boat as if by instinct. The prospect of a day down below fired the imagination of the ”young salt,” and he ran up the bluff with all his might to obtain the desired permission.
”May I go a-fis.h.i.+ng with Paul to-morrow, mother?” shouted he, as he rushed into the parlor, without noticing the presence of Captain Littleton.
”We will see about that by and by. Take off your cap.”
”How do you do, John?” said Captain Littleton.
”Pretty well,” replied John, whose head keeled over on the port side, as he discovered the visitor, and three fingers found their way into his mouth.
”You want to go a-fis.h.i.+ng, do you?”
”Yes, sir.”
”Do you think it is safe to let him go?” asked Mrs. Duncan.
”I ain't afraid, mother,” interrupted the young hopeful.
”I know you are not, and that's one reason why I don't like to trust you in the boat.”
”Your boys take to the water in a natural way; and when boys have a decided taste of that kind, it isn't of much use to thwart them.”
”I know it isn't; but John has worried my life out since he was four years old, for he is always in the water.”
”I should use proper precaution with him; but Paul is so good a boatman that I should not be afraid to trust him in his care.”
”You may go, John,” added Mrs. Duncan. ”I have almost made up my mind to let him live in the water; but I can't help going to the window when he is out on the beach, at least twenty times a day, to see if he isn't in trouble.”
”To return to Paul,” said Captain Littleton, resuming the remarks which the entrance of John had interrupted. ”I have the refusal of a place in a lawyer's office, where the salary is two dollars and a half a week.
It is small pay, but it is better than nothing.”
”He expects more than that. It would have astonished you to hear him talk a little while ago. He is going to a.s.sume the whole burden of supporting the family, and is not willing that I should do anything.”
”He is a smart boy, and ought to have a good place.”
”He says he means to make five dollars a week; but that is mere boy-talk.”
”I like his spirit, but he will hardly be expected to earn five dollars a week at present. I hope I shall be able to find him a better place than the one I spoke of.”
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