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A TRUE STORY.

NEXT week arrived, and Harry's father took him to Plymouth, and to the dock-yard. On his return he told Lucy that he had seen and heard so much, that he did not know where to begin his description, or what to tell her first.

"First tell me about the man of war," said Lucy," if you saw one." "I saw many," said Harry, "and I went on board one, and all over it; but it is impossible to give you any idea of it."

Harry, however, attempted to give her an idea of its magnificent size, the height of the masts, the spread of the sails, the intricate rigging, the coils of ropes on the deck, and the vast thickness of the cables, which were to draw up the huge, ponderous anchor. Then he described the accommodations, and all the conveniences for living in this floating wooden town. It was more like a town than a house, he said; as it was of such an extent, and contained so many inhabitants; several hundred men, and all their provisions, and all they must want for living months,

perhaps years, at sea. He described how the sailors' hammocks were slung, and how they were aired every day on the deck. Then he

described the captain's cabin, a large handsome room, with a sofa and writing table, and a bookcase, and all the comforts and luxuries of life. But principally Harry expatiated on the manner in which the arms were arranged in the gunroom, in star shapes and curious forms, which at first he thought was merely for ornament; but he learned that they were all so placed in order that they might take up the least possible room, and that they might be found easily in time of need. And in the store-rooms he observed, that every thing, great and small, down to the least bolt, screw, or nail, had its own place. The use of order was seen there to the greatest perfection.

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"In time of action, as they call it," said Harry, meaning in time of battle, and in a storm, when the safety of the vessel and the lives of the men all depend on their being able to find what they want in a moment, consider, my dear Lucy, what advantage it must be to have them all in order! But I cannot give you a right idea of it. You must see it, Lucy; and I hope you will some time."

"And I hope then you will be with me," said Lucy.

"I hope so," said Harry;

you about the fid."

"so now I will tell

"What is a fid?" said Lucy.

“A thick_iron bolt," said Harry, "which is run through a hole in the heel, or lower end of the top-mast, when the top-mast is up in its place. The ends of the fid rest upon two strong bars of wood, which are fixed to the head, or upper end of the great lower mast. The top

mast stands up between these bars, and the fid, you perceive, Lucy, supports its whole weight, as well as that of all the sails and yards which are hung on it. And, besides all this weight, there are several thick ropes from the head of the topmast, which are called shrouds, and which are fastened down very tight, in order to steady it. Now you must understand next," continued Harry," that, when the top-mast is up, it cannot be taken down without first taking out this fid." "But what a very odd name fid is," said

Lucy.

"Fiddle-faddle," said Harry; 66 never mind that; one name is as good as another, when you are used to it. Now let me explain the thing itself. Before the fid can be pulled out, the whole weight of the top-mast must be lifted up off it; and, before this can be done, all the ropes which steady it on each side must be loosened. To lift this great weight there must be great pulling and

hauling; and altogether it is a long difficult job, and many men must work hard at it, and for a long time. But now, without loosening a rope, and with only one or two men, they get out the new lever fid in a few minutes."

"How very nice!" cried Lucy.

"Nice!" repeated Harry, "what a word, when talking of the masts of a great ship!"

"One word is as good as another, when you are used to it, as you said about fid," replied Lucy, laughing. "But what is the contrivance, you have not told me that? Can I understand it ?"

"Yes, if you understand the general principle of the use of the lever. Are you clear of that?".. "I believe I am," said Lucy; I know what you have told me, and shown me, that the greater the space your hand passes through in moving the long end of a lever, the more weight you can move at the short end of it."

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Very well; you might have put it in other words-but I believe you understand something about it," said Harry. "Now for the new lever fids. Instead of one great bolt run through the mast, there are two strong levers, one at each side of it; and they are fixed on the same bars which supported the ends of the common old fid. When the top-mast is up in its place, the short arm of each lever goes a little way into its heel, and the

long arm is securely fastened by a small pin to a frame of wood. When it is to be lowered, the little fastening pins are taken out; the levers immediately tilt up, and down comes the top-mast; but not with the sudden and dangerous jerk you might suppose, because there are ropes from the long arms of the levers, by which the sailors manage the affair as gently as they like."

"So then," said Lucy, "you mean that these two little pins, from being applied at the ends of the long arms of the levers, have power to balance the whole weight of the great top-mast, and all its ropes and sails, and other things, that are supported on the short arms; how wonderful!"

"There is the wonderful power of the lever, Lucy," said Harry.

"Then you could lift any weight in the world with a lever, if you had but one long enough strong enough," said Lucy.

"If I had space and time enough, and something to stand upon," said Harry. "I am glad, Lucy, you are so much struck by the use of this wonderful power; for, as my father said to me, when we were talking about the fid, on our return home, it does not much signify whether we know the best way of lowering the top-mast of a ship, but the principle of the lever it is of great consequence that we should understand;