Captain January

Captain January

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Title: Captain January
Author: Laura E. Richards
Release Date: March, 2005 [EBook #7790] [Yes, we are more than one
year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on May 17, 2003]
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTAIN
JANUARY ***

Produced by Ketaki Chhabra and Wendy Crockett.

CAPTAIN JANUARY
By
LAURA E. RICHARDS
Author of "Melody," "Marie," "Rosin, the Beau," "The
Hildegarde-Margaret Series," "Three Minute Stories," "Five Minute
Stories," etc.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER
I. Star Bright II. The Story III. Introducing Imogen and Bob IV. The
Visit V. Captain January's Star VI. The Signal


CHAPTER I
.
STAR BRIGHT
The Captain had sold all his lobsters. They had been particularly fine
ones, and had gone off "like hot cakes," everyone who passed by the
wharf stopping to buy one or two. Now the red dory was empty, and
the Captain had washed her out with his usual scrupulous care, and was

making preparations for his homeward voyage, when he was hailed by
a cheery voice from the street.
"Hillo, January!" said the voice. "Is that you? How goes it?" and the
owner of the voice, a sturdy man in a blue coat with brass buttons,
came down the wharf and greeted the Captain with a hearty shake of
the hand.
"How goes it?" he repeated. "I haven't seen ye for a dog's age."
"I'm hearty, Cap'n Nazro!" replied Captain January. "Hearty, that's
what I am, an' hopin' you're the same."
"That's right!" said the first speaker. "'Tain't often we set eyes on you,
you stick so close to your light. And the little gal, she's well, I expect?
She looks a picture, when I take a squint at her through the glass
sometimes. Never misses running out and shaking her apron when we
go by!"
"Cap'n Nazro," said January, speaking with emphasis, "if there is a
pictur in this world, o' health, and pootiness, and goodness, it's that
child. It's that little un, sir. Not to be beat in this country, nor yet any
other 'cordin' as I've voyaged."
"Nice little gal!" said Captain Nazro, assenting. "Mighty nice little gal!
Ain't it time she was going to school, January? My wife and I were
speaking about it only the other day. Seems as if she'd oughter be round
with other children now, and learning what they do. Mis Nazro would
be real pleased to have her stop with us a spell, and go to school with
our gals. What do you say?" He spoke very heartily, but looked
doubtfully at the old man, as if hardly expecting a favourable answer.
Captain January shook his head emphatically, "You're real kind, Cap'n
Nazro!" he said; "real kind, you and Mis Nazro both are! and she
makin' the little un's frocks and pinafores, as is a great help. But I can't
feel to let her out o' my sight, nohow; and as for school, she ain't the
kind to bear it, nor yet I couldn't for her. She's learnin'!" he added,
proudly. "Learnin' well! I'll bet there ain't no gal in your school knows
more nor that little un does. Won'erful, the way she walks ahead!"
"Get the school readers, hey! and teach her yourself do you?" queried
Captain Nazro.
"No, sir!" replied the old man; "I don't have no school readers. The
child learns out o' the two best books in the world,--the Bible, and
William Shakespeare's book; them's all the books she ever seed--_saw_,

I should say."
"William Shak--" began Captain Nazro; and then he broke off in sheer
amazement, and said, simply, "Well, I'm blowed!"
"The minister giv 'em to me," said Captain January. "I reckon he knows.
There's a dictionary, too," he added, rather sadly; "but I can't make her
take to that, nohow, though there's a power o' fine