Do you recollect what you read about Jonas’ raft in another part of this book? One day, when Jonas was going down to the brook with Rollo, there was the following dialogue between Rollo’s father and mother.

Mother. I am afraid to have Rollo sail with Jonas on that raft, as he calls it. I am very much afraid he will get in, some day.

Father. I presume he will get in.

Rollo’s mother looked surprised. She thought it was strange that his father should let him go on the water, when he thought he probably would fall in.Father. Perhaps I ought rather to say I think it not improbable that he will get in.

Mother. Why then do you allow him to go?

Father. Because the water is not deep, and with Jonas with him, who is a strong and a faithful boy, I think he cannot be hurt; and if he should grow careless and inattentive, and fall off of the raft, it would do him a great deal of good.

Mother. What good would it do him?

Father. It would make him more careful in future; and besides, an actual plunge into the water where it is deep enough to frighten a boy, will teach him more of the nature of water, than an hour’s talk to him about its properties. A fall off of Jonas’ raft may, not very improbably, be the means of saving his life, by making him careful, when he shall be exposed to real danger.Rollo’s father was right; Rollo did fall off. One day, when he and Jonas were sailing up towards the bridge, Jonas was standing behind pushing, and Rollo was sitting on before. Rollo took up a long stick which was on the raft, and thought he would stand up, and push too. Jonas stood with his back to him, and did not see him. Rollo pushed his stick down into the water, but the bottom was farther off than it seemed to be, and leaning over, he lost his balance, and away he went all over into the water. In an instant Jonas plunged in after him, and dragged him out upon the bank. The raft, left to itself, floated down the stream.

Rollo’s mother put on dry clothes, and when Rollo was warm again, she said,

“Perhaps now you think I shall forbid your going down to the brook again, but I shall not. You may go and sail again whenever you please.”She knew that his experience would make him careful in future, without any censure from her.