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Coldwater, N.Y.

DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Having read in the March number an account of the
"Great Eastern," I thought perhaps your readers would like to hear
something of the history of her captain, which I read a short time
ago.

When he was a little boy, he went to sea. As he left home, his mother
said: "Wherever you are, Jamie, whether on sea or land, remember
to acknowledge your God. Promise me that you will kneel down every
morning and night and say your prayers, no matter whether the sailors
laugh at you or not."

Jamie gave his promise, and soon he was on shipboard, bound for India.
They had a good captain; and, as several of the sailors were religious
men, no one laughed at the boy when he knelt down to pray.

On the return voyage, however, some of the former sailors having run
away, their places were filled by others, and one of these proved to
be a very bad fellow. When he saw little Jamie kneeling down, this
wicked sailor went up to him, and, giving him a sound box on the ear,
said, "None of that here, sir!"

Another seaman, who saw this, although he himself swore sometimes, was
indignant that the child should be so cruelly treated. He told the man
to come up on deck and he would give him a thrashing. The challenge
was accepted, and the well-deserved beating was duly bestowed. Both
then returned to the cabin, and the swearing man said, "Now, Jamie,
say your prayers, and if he dares to touch you, I will give him
another dressing."

The next night, Jamie was tempted to say his prayers in his hammock.
The moment that the friendly sailor saw Jamie get into his hammock
without first saying his prayers, he hurried to the spot and, dragging
him out, said, "Kneel down at once, sir! Do you think I am going to
fight for you, and you not say your prayers, you young rascal?" During
the whole voyage back to London this same sailor watched over the
boy as if he were his father, and every night saw that he said his
prayers.

Jamie soon began to be industrious, and during his spare hours studied
his books; he learned all about ropes and rigging, and became familiar
with latitude and longitude. Some years after, he became captain
of the "Great Eastern." On returning to England after a successful
voyage, Queen Victoria bestowed upon him the honor of knighthood, and
the world now knows him as Sir James Anderson.

MABEL R.

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B.P.R.--Perhaps the little book called "Album