Page 389 - Child's own book

up-stairs, listen at tbe chamber-dooT, and sit silent and motion­
less for a long time together by the bed-side, only now and then
drawing aside the curtains and gently peeping, in hopes of
seeing some amendment; and sometimes inquiring if he lay
easy. Lee Boo had of course contracted an intimate acquaint­
ance with Captain Wilson’s son, a youth somewhat younger
than himself, who sailed with him frem Pelew. They were
continually together in hours of relaxation from study, amusing
themselves in any innocent diversion, such as throwing the spear,
&c. One day, they were so intent upon this diversion of throw­
ing the spear, that the captain’s son totally forgot a commission
which his father had previously given him, which was to call
on some person with a message of some importance. The captain,
on discovering this neglect, rebuked him in a tone of voice
which immediately convinced the prince that something highly
offended him. He slipped unobserved away to mourn in secret
the disagreement of his friends; and on being missed, his com­
panion was sent to look for him, and found him quite dejected
in a back room. On returning to the family in the room where
he had left them, he took his young friend by the hand, and
putting it into the captain's, he pressed them both together, and
looking affectionately at both, he shed tears, which he could not
suppress. Where shall we find, among the numberless young
men of this nation, a peace-maker like this, or (would to God
there were many !) one that would go and do likewise. He was
very fond of going to church, and though it cannot be supposed
that he understood the words of the service, yet he always
behaved with the utmost reverence and attention. That he
understood the meaning of it was plain, for when the captain
asked him, he replied with much earnestness— “All same Pelew
—bad men stay in earth— good men go into sky—become very
beautiful.”
Everything of a military kind was pleasing to Lee Boo, and