Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag, Vol. 5 / Jimmy's Cruise in the Pinafore, Etc.

. One of Davy's friends was the great lamp, which was lighted at sunset, and burnt all night, to guide the ships into the harbor. To Dan it was only a lamp; but to the boy it seem

sleep, thinking, "No matter how dark or wild the night, my go

d big, but had such a loyal and loving heart that no one could look in his soft brown eyes and not trust him. He followed Davy's steps al

though he was very fond of "Little Gulliver," as he called him in fun. But the bird never forgot the boy, and came daily to talk with him, tel

sea-anemones open below the water, looking like fairy-plants, brilliant and strange. He found curious and pretty shells, and sometimes more valuable treasures, washed up from some wreck. He saw little yellow crabs, ugly lobsters, and queer horse-shoes with their stiff tails. Sometimes a whale or a shark swam by, and often sleek black seals came up to bask on

umult of sea and sky. Often in long winter nights he lay awake, listening to the wind and rain, that made the tower rock with their violence; but he never was

among the chains was broken; and, having vainly tried to mend it, he decided to go to the town, and get what was needed. He w

ght, and I must be off at once. I shall be back before d

he sat and read for an hour or two; then fell asleep, and forgot everything till Nep's cold nose on his hand waked him up. It was nea

id something had happened to him. For a few minutes he wa

ht the lamp, and, if Dan is lost in the

ut no Dan came. He waited hour after hour, and waited all in vain. The fog thickened, till the lamp was hardly seen; and no bell rung to warn the ships of t

fog at last; and he could see the blue bay, the distant town, and a few fishing-boats going out to sea. But nowhere was the island-boat with gray Old Dan in it; and Davy's heart

row so far, if there was: so I can't g

nd and tide against me. I've howled all day, hoping some one would hear me;

at has become of Dan. Then I'll come and tell you, and we will see what is to be done next. Cheer up, Davy dear: I'll bring you

teer clear of a boat that came swiftly by. A sudden gust drove the gull so violently against the sail t

-colored wings, red legs and bill, and soft, bright eyes. I wanted

f the sea, and watch the light-house tower, as he sat alone in this dreadful prison. If Dora had known the truth, she would have let him go, and done her best to help him; but she could not understand his speech, as Davy did, for very few people have the power of talk

wled about his cage; dogs barked at him; hens cackled over him; and a shrill canary jeered at him from the pretty pagoda in which it hung, high above danger. In the evening there was music; and the poor bird's heart ached as the sweet sounds came to him, reminding him of the airier melodies he

tle Gulliver saw a black shadow steal across

reffle; but Moppet'll take de scoldin for yer. Hi, dere! you is peart nuff now, kase you's in a hurry

for doing this? Why do you care so much f

over him, and saw tears in the child's sad eyes; but she smi

e; and it's a dreffle hard ting, I knows. I got away, and I means you shall. I'se watched

th the other children," said the gull, as Mop

ook. You didn't see me, kase I nev

sked Gullive

" said Moppe

o difference; the peeps are gray, the seals black, and the crabs yellow; but we don't care, and

roun eber since. De oder chilen has folks to lub an kere fer em, but Moppet's got no friends;" and h

nd, looked into the little dark face with such grateful confidence that it cleared at once, and the brightest

ever shall forget what you have done for me

r these were the first kind words she had heard for a lon

es to see me ef you can, it's so hard livin' in dis yere place. I don't tink I'll bar it lon

should fly at once to the island, and see if Dan was there; if not, he was to come back, and Moppet would try to get some one to help find him. When this was done, Davy and Dan were to take Moppet, if they could, and make her happy on the island. Full of h

he cried, fluttering his feeble wing

e cove down yonder, where no one goes; and dare you kin stay till you's better. I'll co

e winds and waves, the gulls, and little Moppet, when hard words and blows made heart and body ache. Here she left the bird, and, with a loving "

f the rock, thinking of Davy and Moppet. It was so rough, even in the cove, that he could neither swim nor fly, so feeble was he; and could find no food but such trifles as he could pick up among the rocks. At nightfall the storm raged fier

loneliness and trouble; the lamp won't be lighted, the ships will be wrecked, and man

a voice cried thr

of such bits as she could get. "Poor birdie, is you starvin'? Here, jes go at dis,

t him," began Gulliver, pecking away at his supper: but he stopped suddenly

at?" said Mop

y!" called

he couldn't move, and so faint with hunger and pain he could hardly speak. As soon as Gulliver called, Moppet scrambled down, and fed the poor man with her scraps, brought him rain-water from a crevice near by, and bound up his wounded head with her little apron. Then Dan told them how his boat

smiled, in spite of pain, to think he should see Davy again. He couldn't understand Gulliver; but Mop

ry to come ashore. Is the lamp alight?" he cried, t

oss the dark sea. Yes, there it was,-the steady star shi

urning, Davy is alive. Now, how

s lay still till I comes. Dere's folks in de house a

r being out so late; and, in the flurry, no one thought of the gull. Next morning, the cage was found blown over, and

Nep and Shine, he would have lost his courage entirely. Gulliver flew straight into his bosom, and, sitting there, told his adventures; while Davy laughed and cried, and Nep stood by, wagging his ta

he good fortune that came to Moppet. While Dan lay sick, she tended him, like a loving little daughter; and, when he was well, he took her for his own. He did not mind the black s

er, and Nep sailed away to the island; for that was

. Dan held the tiller, and Davy lay at his feet, with Nep bolt upright beside him; but the happiest face of all was Moppet's. Kneeling at the bow, she leaned forward, with her lips apart, her fuzzy hair

bade them welcome. Dan furled the sail; and, drifting with the tide, they flo