Rollo on the Atlantic

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, by JACOB ABBOTT, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

STEREOTYPED AT THE BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY. RIVERSIDE, CAMBRIDGE: PRINTED BY H. O. HOUGHTON.

[Illustration: THE STATE ROOM.--See p. 77.]

[Illustration]

PREFACE.

In the series of narratives to which this volume pertains, we offer to the readers of the Rollo Books a continuation of the history of our little hero, by giving them an account of the adventures which such a boy may be supposed to meet with in making a tour in Europe. The books are intended to be books of instruction rather than of mere amusement; and in perusing them, the reader may feel assured that all the information which they contain, not only in respect to the countries visited, and to the customs, usages, and modes of life that are described, but also in regard to the general character of the incidents and adventures that the young travellers meet with, is in most strict accordance with fact. The main design of the narratives is, thus, the communication of useful knowledge; and every thing which they contain, except what is strictly personal, in relation to the actors in the story, may be depended upon as exactly and scrupulously true.

New York, September, 1853.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I.--TAKING PASSAGE 11

II.--THE EMBARKATION 28

III.--DEPARTURE 47

IV.--GETTING SETTLED 62

V.--ON DECK 77

VI.--A CONVERSATION 91

VII.--INCIDENTS 109

VIII.--THE STORM 131

IX.--THE PASSENGERS' LOTTERY 154

X.--THE END OF THE LOTTERY 179

XI.--THE ARRIVAL 192

ENGRAVINGS.

FRONTISPIECE. PAGE

THE STEAMER AT THE WHARF 10

THE PIER 24

THE RESCUE 44

THE PILOT ON THE PADDLE BOX 54

THE SAILOR ON THE RIGGING 87

THE PASSENGER ON THE RIGGING 103

HILBERT AND THE BIRD 124

HILBERT IN THE SPRAY 152

HEAVING THE LOG 164

ROLLO'S TOUR IN EUROPE.

ORDER OF THE VOLUMES

ROLLO ON THE ATLANTIC. ROLLO IN PARIS. ROLLO IN SWITZERLAND. ROLLO IN LONDON. ROLLO ON THE RHINE. ROLLO IN SCOTLAND. ROLLO IN GENEVA. ROLLO IN HOLLAND. ROLLO IN NAPLES. ROLLO IN ROME.

PRINCIPAL PERSONS OF THE STORY.

ROLLO; twelve years of age.

MR. and MRS. HOLIDAY; Rollo's father and mother, travelling in Europe.

THANNY; Rollo's younger brother.

JANE; Rollo's cousin, adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Holiday.

MR. GEORGE; a young gentleman, Rollo's uncle.

[Illustration: THE STEAMER AT THE WHARF.]

ROLLO ON THE ATLANTIC.

CHAPTER I.

TAKING PASSAGE.

When Rollo was about twelve years of age, he made a voyage to Europe under rather extraordinary circumstances. He went alone; that is to say, he had no one to take care of him. In fact, in addition to being obliged to take care of himself, he had also his little sister Jane to take care of; for she went with him.[A] The way it happened that two such children were sent to sea on such a long voyage, without any one to have them in charge, was this.

[Footnote A: It ought here to be stated, that Jane was not really Rollo's sister, though he always called her and considered her so. She was really his cousin. Her father and mother had both died when she was about six years old, and then Mr. and Mrs. Holiday had adopted her as their own child, so that ever since that time she had lived with Rollo and Nathan as their sister. She was very nearly of the same age with Nathan.]

Rollo's father and mother had gone to Europe to make a tour, a year before this time, and had taken Rollo's brother Nathan, or Thanny, as Rollo used most frequently to call him, with them. They had gone partly for pleasure, but more especially on account of Mr. Holiday's health, which was not good. It was thought that the voyage, and the recreation and pleasure of travelling in Europe, would be a benefit to him. In certain cases where a person's health is impaired, especially when one is slowly recovering from past sickness, nothing is found to have a more beneficial effect upon the patient than for him to go away somewhere and have a good time. It was determined to try the effect of this remedy upon Mr. Holiday, and so he went to Europe. Mrs. Holiday went with him. They took Thanny too, to be company for them on the way. Thanny was at this time about seven years old.