SIR HUMPHREY GILBERT


More than three hundred years ago there lived in England a brave man

whose name was Sir Humphrey Gil-bert. 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 In-di-ans and wild beasts.



Sir Hum-phrey Gilbert was one of the first men who tried to make a

set-tle-ment in A-mer-i-ca. 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 ice-bergs 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 swal-lowed up by the waves.



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