American Merchant Ships and Sailors
AMERICAN MERCHANT SHIPS AND SAILORS by WILLIS J. ABBOT Author of _Naval History of the United States_, _Bluejackets of 1898_, etc. Illustrated by RAY BROWN New York Dodd, Mead & Company The Caxton Press New York 1902
"Let me see you drink up this cup of water."
Tommy hesitated a moment, for he knew the mayor was trying to catch
him; then, going to a corner of the room, he set down the cup and
stood upon his head in the corner. He now carefully raised the cup to
his lips and slowly drank the water until the cup was empty. After
this he regained his feet, and, bowing politely to the mayor, he said,
"The water is drunk up, your honor."
"But why did you stand on your head to do it?" enquired the alderman,
who had watched the act in astonishment.
"Because otherwise I would have drunk the water down, and not up,"
replied Tommy.
The mayor was now satisfied that Tommy was shrewd enough to do him
honor, so he immediately took him to live in the great house as his
adopted son, and he was educated by the best masters the city
afforded.
And Tommy Tucker became in after years not only a great, but a good
man, and before he died was himself mayor of the city, and was known
by the name of Sir Thomas Tucker.
AMERICAN MERCHANT SHIPS AND SAILORS by WILLIS J. ABBOT Author of _Naval History of the United States_, _Bluejackets of 1898_, etc. Illustrated by RAY BROWN New York Dodd, Mead & Company The Caxton Press New York 1902