e you a short
text as a good course to steer by: `Ask, and ye shall receive.' Ask
light and ask wisdom.

"Now, cook," continued the captain, turning to O'Rook, "go to work and
get your dinner under weigh, for talking makes one hungry. Meanwhile, I
intend to go and have a short ramble on the sea-shore, and I want to
know if there is any small female on this island who wants to go with
me."

At this Polly jumped up with a laugh, put her little hand in that of her
father, and stood on tiptoe, with upturned face. The captain stooped,
received a stiff nor'-wester, and the two went off together.

The following night, as the party were seated round the fire finishing
supper, Watty Wilkins surprised his friends by rising, clearing his
throat, extending his right arm, after the manner of an orator, and
delivering himself of the following speech:--

"Lady and gentlemen,--I rise on the present occasion, with or without
your leave (`Order,' from Ben Trench), to make a few pertinent remarks
(`Impertinent,' from Philosopher Jack) regarding our present strange and
felicitous circumstances. (Hear, hear.) Our community is a republic--a
glorious republic! Having constituted Captain Samson our governor,
pastor, and lawgiver, it has occurred to me that we might, with great
advantage to ourselves, institute a college of learning, and, without
delay, elect professors. As a stowaway, I would not have presumed to
make such a proposal, but, as a free and independent citizen of this
republic, I claim the right to be heard; and I now move that we proceed
to elect a professor of natural philosophy, natural history, and any
other natural or unnatural science that any of us may happen to remember
or invent. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) As a student is naturally
allied to a professor, and somewhat resembles him--the only difference
being that the one knows mostly everything, and the other next to
nothing--I further propose that we appoint to this professorship
Philosopher Jack, with a salary of gratitude depending on merit, and the
duty of lecturing to us every night after supper for our entertainment."

Watty Wilkins sat down amid great applause, and Ben Trench seconded the
motion, which was of course carried unanimously.

Philosopher Jack at once accepted the professorship, and proceeded then
and there to deliver his inaugural address, in which he philosophised of
things past, present, and to come, both seriously and humorously, in a