The Yacht Club; or, The Young Boat-Builder Read online

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  YACHT CLUB SERIES]

  MISS NELLIE PATTERDALE AND DON JOHN. Frontispiece.]

  OLIVER OPTIC'S YACHT CLUB SERIES.

  THE YACHT CLUB. LEE & SHEPARD, BOSTON]

  THE YACHT CLUB SERIES.

  * * * * *

  THE YACHT CLUB;

  OR,

  THE YOUNG BOAT-BUILDER.

  BY

  OLIVER OPTIC,

  AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY SERIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES," "THE BOAT CLUB STORIES," "THE LAKE SHORE SERIES," "THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES," ETC., ETC.

  _WITH THIRTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS._

  BOSTON: LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS. NEW YORK: LEE, SHEPARD AND DILLINGHAM.

  Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

  * * * * *

  Brown Type-Setting Machine Company.

  TO

  MY YOUNG FRIEND

  _CHARLES H. HASTINGS_,

  OF NEW YORK,

  This Book is Affectionately Dedicated.

  The Yacht Club Series.

  1. LITTLE BOBTAIL; OR, THE WRECK OF THE PENOBSCOT.

  2. THE YACHT CLUB; OR, THE YOUNG BOAT-BUILDER.

  3. MONEY-MAKER; OR, THE VICTORY OF THE BASILISK.

  4. THE COMING WAVE; OR, THE HIDDEN TREASURE OF HIGH ROCK.

  5. THE DORCAS CLUB; OR, OUR GIRLS AFLOAT.

  (The sixth in preparation.)

  PREFACE.

  "THE YACHT CLUB" is the second volume of the YACHT CLUB SERIES, to whichit gives a name; and like its predecessor, is an independent story. Thehero has not before appeared, though some of the characters of "LITTLEBOBTAIL" take part in the incidents: but each volume may be readunderstandingly without any knowledge of the contents of the other. Inthis story, the interest centres in Don John, the Boat-builder, who iscertainly a very enterprising young man, though his achievements havebeen more than paralleled in the domain of actual life.

  Like the first volume of the series, the incidents of the storytranspire on the waters of the beautiful Penobscot Bay, and on itsshores. They include several yacht races, which must be more interestingto those who are engaged in the exciting sport of yachting, than toothers. But the principal incidents are distinct from the aquaticnarrative; and those who are not interested in boats and boating willfind that Don John and Nellie Patterdale do not spend all their time onthe water.

  The hero is a young man of high aims and noble purposes: and the writerbelieves that it is unpardonable to awaken the interest and sympathy ofhis readers for any other than high-minded and well-meaning characters.But he is not faultless; he makes some grave mistakes, even while he hashigh aims. The most important lesson in morals to be derived from hisexperience is that it is unwise and dangerous for young people toconceal their actions from their parents and friends; and that men andwomen who seek concealment "choose darkness because their deeds areevil."

  HARRISON SQUARE, BOSTON, May 22, 1873.