"Why, here is a ship, ropes and sails and all! And birds!"
Obedient to Dan's signal, the sailor-birds flew up the ropes, and stood on the slender cross-trees, as proud as if they had passed their lives in the service.
"Good--good!" said Captain Liddle. "For sale, eh?"
"No; they are not mine sir; they belong to an old sailor."
"Very proper. Ah, young lady," to Minnie, who had been in the room, but in the background, during the captain's visit; "and what do you think of the sea?"
"If I had been a man, sir," said Minnie modestly and quietly, "I should like to have been a sailor."
"Very proper--very proper. Good-day, Marvel. Get strong as quickly as you can. You'll have to superintend cargo."
Mr. Marvel, coming home at night, was told the good news before he had time to take the comforter from his neck. He ran up stairs at once to his son's room. "A sailor first, and then a captain," he exclaimed, recalling Joshua's words when he first announced his wish. "Do you remember, Josh?
"Yes, father, yes," said Joshua eagerly.
"It's better than being a wood-turner, Josh," said George Marvel triumphantly.