ENGLISH STORY (SIR HUMPHREY GILBERT)

SIR HUMPHREY GILBERT
MORE than three hundred years ago there lived in England a brave man
whose name was Sir Humphrey Gilbert. At that time there were no
white people in this country of ours. The land was covered with forests;
and where there are now great cities and fine farms there were only
trees and swamps among which roamed wild Indians and wild beasts.
Sir Humphrey Gilbert was one of the first men who tried to make a
settlement in America. Twice did he bring men and ships over the sea,
and twice did he fail, and sail back for England. The second time, he was
on a little ship called the "Squirrel." Another ship, called the "Golden
Hind," was not far away. When they were three days from land, the wind
failed, and the ships lay floating on the waves. Then at night the air grew
very cold. A breeze sprang up from the east. Great white icebergs came
drifting around them. In the morning the little ships were almost lost
among the floating mountains of ice. The men on the "Hind" saw Sir
Humphrey sitting on the deck of the "Squirrel" with an open book in his
hand. He called to them and said,—
"Be brave, my friends! We are as near heaven on the sea as on the land."
Night came again. It was a stormy night, with mist and rain. All at once
the men on the "Hind" saw the lights on board of the "Squirrel" go out.
The little vessel, with brave Sir Humphrey and all his brave men, was
swallowed up by the waves.