Quite a difference in cash between a boat and knitting outfits, laughed Mr. Parke.
Yes, and quite a margin in health, too, as Kate says, replied Mrs. Davis.
Better let us share the cost of the boat together, ventured Mrs. Parke.
Indeed not! I have been wondering what to buy the two children as a gift when I came through Washington, but I determined to wait and see what they would enjoy most. Now that they have the General Washington idea in their minds, I think the boat is just the thing. They can have fights at sea and use it for crossing and recrossing the Hudson, the Delaware, or Lake Champlain, as they wish all on the creek, where the water is not half as deep or dangerous as the Hudson, explained Mrs. Davis.
If you wish me to select one that I think will answer all purposes for the children I will do so, as I am going down to a building concern that specializes in canoes and pleasure crafts. I have to interview them about an insurance policy which they wish to increase. At the same time I can inquire as to the price of a light-weight boat, said Mr. Parke.
So the next evening he returned home with news for Mrs. Davis. I saw my man who handles boats and canoes and, fortunately, he
and forth on the upper end of the oar and away she goes, said Jack.
Well, please take off the generals uniform before you begin practice. A bathing suit would be better to wear while you are learning, laughed Mrs. Parke.
Why, we wont fall out, said Anne.
There isnt any reason why you should, but there is no telling when such experts in rowing as Jack, take a hand, said Mrs. Davis.
George, John and Jack were already in the boat, but there was but one pair of oar-locks and one set of oars, so only one could row. Seeing that Jacks mother presented the boat, George relinquished his prerogative as commander-in-chief, and sat down to watch his cousin row.
In spite of Jacks explanation that all you did was to just pull back and forth, it seemed difficult to move the boat in the right direction. After many futile attempts, he turned over the oars for George to try.
The ladies stood on the bank laughing at the generals failure to row properly, and then John also failed.
Do you girls want to try? asked Mrs. Davis.
Jim stood by grinning delightedly at the boys in the boat, but not daring to hope that he would ever be invited to row. Martha saw his intense attitude and whispered to her mother, Lets ask Jim if he wants to try?
Mrs. Parke nodded smilingly. Jim, do you want to try and see if you can move the boat?
With a start of amazed joy, the rank and file of the American army stuttered and stammered that it would!
George and Jack jumped out, leaving John in the prow, and then Jim climbed in. He turned and said: Does de lady officers wanta come in?
Not till you have your trial, Jim. Then they are going to try, too, replied Mrs. Parke.
Now Jim had often accompanied his daddy on fishing trips for the day, and upon these excursions on the river, the little fellow had been taught how to manage a pair of oars and a boat. But the oars and boats found tied up to old tree stumps along the sluggish river banks were cumbersome, unmanageable affairs in comparison to this eggshell craft, with its ash blades to propel it on the bosom of the quiet creek.
Hence, Jim sat down and admired the oars to his hearts content, and then examined the ribbed sides and deck-flooring of the inside of the boat. The shiny varnish and brass-studded wood enchanted his soul so that he forgot to take up the oars.
Hurry up, Jim! Take your turn and then let the rest have theirs! shouted George impatiently.
Jim grinned so that every glistening tooth in his wide mouth showed distinctly, and he bent to pick up the oar-blades. After fitting them methodically in the oar-locks, he sat down. But the boys noticed that he sat on the next seat to the one they had occupied when trying to row. They also saw him try to brace his feet against the foot-rack, but he was too short. They found, however, that Jim very well knew what he was about.
While the spectators held their breath in surprise, Jim bent back on the oars and slowly let the blade sink under water. He then bent forward, and as the flat sides of the oars pushed against the water, the boat began moving. With surprisingly regular and serviceable strokes for such a little shaver, Jim soon rowed the boat across the creek and started back for the landing, where his friends stood waiting to congratulate him.
Behold, the conquering hero comes! sang Mrs. Parke, as Jim brought the nose of the boat up against the mossy bank.
My goodness! Jim knows more about a ship than any of us! declared George, willing to give praise when it was deserved.
He is the real captain not the play-kind we made him on the raft that day! admired Jack, looking Jim up and down to find out how such a miracle could happen.
Ef yo all say Ah am a reel capn, den Ah aint goin t be no common solger no moh! Ah kin be a capn uv a warship! said Jim daringly.