From Micah (year 2):
Ezra asked Jim what he had learned. He asked him what he had decided. Jim said that he decided that someday he would build engines that would run on oil, not coal. And he said with that, that the firemen and deck hands wouldn't have to shovel the coal. And the ships would only have to shop to get more oil and not coal (it didn't actually say that, but it would be that way). I think ships run by gas now.
From Mom:
Jim is in Europe on his voyage. He starts wondering how ships used to be built and run. His dad explains to him that ships used to run on human power. With slaves chained to oars and beat with whips. Jim mused that Seabird saw Ezra slave on a whaler ship, and saw Nathaniel work hard on ships too, and wondered if people on steamers work hard. So he took a while and watched the people work, concluding that yes, they do work hard. Then he decided that he would like to build a ship that doesn't require people to work so hard. Instead of shoveling coal, they would turn a valve for oil, and the ship would run on that. The sailors would have better cabins and better pay. He tells all this to his Grandpa, who remarks "And I thought you'd outgrown Seabird!".
No comments:
Post a Comment