Robina F. Hardy

“ You’ve often said it was quite a companion to you when we’re all out.”
“Not a bit!” cried Harry bravely. “I’m quite tired of seeing the old thing on dry land. I’m wearying awfully to know how it floats, and you’ll come home and tell me all about it. Tell me if there were people looking on, and if the pennons looked well when they were waving out at sea, and all that. I want to hear what everybody says about it, and if they think the Rover as fine a boat as they have ever seen at the Shelf Rock before. ”

“ But we must go on with the story.
“What are you thinking about, Harry?” said his mother as she bustled about, getting Bobby and Frank, Lucy and Janey, washed and dried and put to bed in the tiny nursery at Briery Cottage, which indeed was very different from the one they had left at Rosehampton, though, with the usual happy taste of children, Lucy and Janey thought their narrow cribs ever so much nicer than the home ones; while Bobby and Frank considered the two skylights here infinitely preferable to the large bow-window they were accustomed to. ”

“ Let us look back first to the little seaside cottage where Harry is so happy—p. 48never wearying of Kingshaven, as indeed he had declared he never would, even when he knew not how long his stay was to be. He is taken out to the beach every day by careful hands, and is gathering strength bit by bit. Often he is carried over to the Shelf Rock, from there to guide with his own hand the beautiful gliding movements of his pretty ship. Harry feels that this past time of trial has been a blessing to him, since it has saved him from growing into a grasping or selfish boy ”

“ As to Walter, his father may do what he pleases; but you are going to help your father in the p. 15warehouse when you grow big, so you don’t need to trouble your head about anything else. But, as I was saying, if you are a good boy till next holidays, I promise to take you all to Kingshaven, and you shall sail your ship as much as you like from the little jetty or the rocks. It is a nice safe place with lovely sands—if the sea ever can be said to be safe.”
Harry listened in silent amazement to these words. ”

“ One very fine afternoon, however, quite a large party assembled at the Shelf Rock. There was Harry in his couch, laid snugly in the centre of the group, Bobby and Freddy, Janey and Lucy dancing round him, mamma with a large basket of good things encamped close by, and papa, Uncle Jack, Walter, and good Dr. Hammond, all there to enjoy the family “picnic!” But before the feast was spread the good ship Rover was to be launched once more, and that was done by Uncle Jack’s well-skilled hands, after which he put the guiding-string in Harry’s white little hand and bade him hold it firm. ”

“ Hammond lived just next door, so he was easily sent for; and Walter Hammond, the doctor’s eldest boy, was Harry Leslie’s dearest and most intimate friend. The two boys were about eight years old, went to the same school, spent most of their play-hours together, and intended both to go to the sea together when they were old enough. For Harry Leslie, though he had never once seen the sea any more than his ship had p. 9done, had heard and read a great deal about sailor life and adventures, and had inspired Walter with the same admiration for these as he himself felt. ”

“ Mr. Leslie said to the boys as he saw them carrying their boat, “and see the good ship Rover’s first voyage. It will be quite a sight!”
“Oh, we are all coming!” added his wife. “I assure you none of us would like to miss the spectacle; and if none of the little ones fall over the rocks, I’m sure everything will go well!”
By the time they got thoroughly settled in their new home it was getting quite late in the day, so there was only time for a saunter all along the beach and the parade and the principal streets of Kingshaven. It was with some difficulty that Harry managed to walk now ”

“ When it was opened it proved to be a first-rate sort of invalid carriage, capable of being folded up or out in any and every direction—quite an invention of Uncle Jack’s own brilliant genius. Dr. Bell said it was the very thing for his little patient, who would be able for it in a very few days now. Dr. ”