s.

_Ida_. Uncle Jake, we are getting up an entertainment to be given in the
hotel for the benefit of the Sea-side Home.

_Uncle Jake_. Now that's a good thing. Calc'late to fetch up there
myself one of these days.

_Victoria_ (_laughing_). But, Uncle Jake, this is not a home for old
sailors. It's for sick and poor babies. You see, they would die in their
overcrowded hot tenements; but they come to the home and get well.

_Uncle Jake_. Oh, land sakes! That must be what the old gentleman
referred to. Sick babies. Yes, that's it.

_Charlotte_. What old gentleman?

_Uncle Jake_. The one I met in the Saragossa Sea.

_Ida_. Elegant. Girls, he's going to spin a yarn. Uncle Jake, do please
tell us about that. Was it an adventure?

_Uncle Jake_. Quite so, miss. But I interrupt your proceedings.

_Several at Once_. Oh, go on. Do. Never mind the proceedings.

_Uncle Jake_. Well, that there was a tight scrape, and no mistake. I was
second mate of the _Blue Turquoise_. It was a first-class voyage till we
hove right inter the Saragossa Sea, and there we war becalmed and stuck
as fast as a fly in mucilage. That Saragossa Sea is a curus place.
Sea-weeds grow a mile long, with blossoms big as sun-flowers. Monsters
swim around, and squat on the branches and squint at the ships a-lyin'
becalmed. It made me kinder shiver to see them creturs' hungry looks.
They knew a ship would rot to pieces, only give her time. Our Capting
war powerful mad when he see he'd got inter the Saragossa Sea. But
gettin' mad arter a thing is done don't do no good. Waal, it war a red
and fiery ball of a sun. How I wished I could a set oncet more under a
tree. Truly I'd ha' given my bottom dollar to be a settin' under that
old oak that we had to hum, an' a breeze a-stirrin' the branches.
Somethin' to dry up the perspiration. Willie war cabin-boy, and homesick
and down in the mouth, poor youngster. The Capting's face warn't
reassuring. He was plumb beat out.

_Miss Sommerfield_. Girls, do you recall Coleridge's "Ancient Mariner"?

_Olive_. Yes.

"As idle as a painted ship
Upon a painted ocean."

Go on, Uncle Jake.

[Illustration: "WAAL, ONE NIGHT I WAR ON DECK ALONE."]

_Uncle Jake_. Waal, one night I war on deck alone. Willie he was thar
too. The Capting he come up. "Ain't no change, mate?" says he. "No,
sir," says I. "Bad business," says he. "Better soon, I hope," says I.
"We're in the oidentical spot we was in two weeks ago," says he. "Ma