Dublin Core
Title
The Voyage of the Francis
Subject
Sea, Adventure
Description
The Voyage of the Francis is a short story about a sailboat that embarks on a fishing trip. The story-telling technique used by Arthur can be attributed to his young age. There are certainly elements of plot – a storm, fishing, jumping overboard, sleeping on a rock, playing an odd game of tag, etc. – but they seem to form only a skeletal story, made up primarily of movement from big event to big event, without much imagined emotion or transition in between.
Creator
Nelson, Arthur
Source
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Rights
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Type
Manuscript book
File
Transcription
Nelson Family Juvenilia
Box 1 Folder 48
The Voyage of the Francis
THE VOYAGE OF THE FRANCIS
It was early in July when the good little sail boat Francis started on a fishing trip as they went of[f] they set setup the flag boat a hoy shouted one man and a rowboat came up with William Little in it he was going home the boat sailed on 1 mile when [page break] they saw a shole of salmon so they went to work spearing them they got twenty then a storm came up it be came dark t hey let down anchor the cable broke and they were drifting amidst the storm they new not what to do now the wiing blew fiercely and they were drifted a bout waves came [page break]
[full page illustration captioned “spearing salmon”] [page break]
dashing over her just as a huge wave struck her thare was a shock she has foundered on a rock shouted Captain Eathan all jump over board on to the rock he said they all did as he told them then he passed over the fish and their bedding and food just as he [page break]
[full page illustration captioned “wrecked in the storm”] [page break]
had got this all done the boat began to sink they fastened a rope to the boat so it didnt sink now we will go to work to make over supper so taking the oil stove and a kettle he prepared to boil some salmon then he boiled some tea and they got some biscuit and ate sup [page break]
[full page illustration captioned “getting supper”] [page break]
per and went to bed the rock was crouded then in the morning they got up the storm had abated they had to wack around [?] get in bed to keep warm for they had kind of thin clothes then the captan got up a game it was that they would take hold of hands all but one [page break]
[full page illustration captioned “going to bed on the rock”] [page break]
and dance rroud [around] and the other would try to touch the one with the name silver for they all were named some name and the one tha was silver and was touched would have to be the taggar. In the midst of this game the captain shouted sail ho [page break]
[full page illustration captioned “sail ho shouted captain”] [page break]
for the captain could se[e] msot any thing that any body elce could they put up a big flag and the ship came and got them then they gave them a good meal they were glad of ti for they had stayed on the rock ten days and had only five days racions
by Arthur W Nelson