To the great surprise of Charlie, Ben, and Sally, who never knew John to be guilty of making anything, he presented Charlie with two iron anchors for the Sea-foam, with iron stocks and rings complete, and Ben with an eel-spear and clam-fork, very neatly made.
“What neat little things they are!” said Charlie, looking at the anchors. “Where did you get them?”
“Made them,” replied John, “at Peter’s shop.”
“Why, John,” said Ben, “you’ve broken out in a bran-new place!”
John then told him that he had been at work in the blacksmith’s shop, how well he liked it, and that, after school was out, he meant to ask his father to let him learn the trade.
“John,” said Ben, “Uncle Isaac, Joe Griffin, and myself have been talking this two years about going outside gunning. If I go, I want to go before the menhaden are all gone; for we shall want bait, in order that we may fish as well as gun. It is late now, and the first north-easter will drive the menhaden all out of the bay.”
“I heard him and Joe talking about it the other day; they said they calculated to go.”
“Well, tell them I’m ready at any time, and to come on, whenever they think it is suitable.”
John and Charlie went to the shore to sail the Sea-foam,—a boat, three feet long, rigged into a schooner,—and try the new anchors. While they were looking at her, Charlie fell into a reverie.