When Joe Griffin came over for the schooner, Fred came with him; he said, “to see Charlie’s boat.” Perhaps he did; but it was very evident that was not all, nor the principal reason, since he had somewhat to say to Charlie of so private a nature, that neither the barn nor Charlie’s bedroom were retired enough for the purpose, but they must needs resort to the old maple, and climb to the platform in the top of it, and it was sufficiently interesting to keep them there till dinner-time,—although Charlie had left a hot plank in the steam box,—after which Fred returned in the schooner.
Charlie sent word to Captain Rhines by Fred that his boat would be done in three days, for he was putting on the last plank, and the thwarts and gunwale were in and kneed off.
Captain Rhines came on at the time specified, and brought his paint, oars, and sails with him. Charlie assisted him in painting her, and when she was dry, went home in her, taking Uncle Sam and Eaton with him, who had completed their work.
“Now, Charlie,” said Ben, when they had all gone,” that end of the shed is yours for a workshop, chimney, fireplace, and boiler. You can finish it, make the doors, windows, and sashes, and arrange it to suit you own notions and convenience. A boy that will do what you have done is worthy of a good place to work in.”
“O, father, I thank you a thousand times! There’s nothing in this world you could have done that would have made me so happy. A fireplace—only think! I can be so happy working here in the winter, and you can be here with me, and mother can come and see us, and Ben, and the baby, when it’s a little bigger.”
“Yes, and you can set up a boat here, twenty-four feet long, and that is as long as ever you will want to build.”
“I can have a bench all around, it is so wide, and set up two boats at once, if I like.”
“Yes, Charlie, and room enough to split up boards with the splitting-saw, and to have a keyblock, and hew anything, and such a nice steam kettle!”
“O, that’s the greatest.”