"Sailing Home: A Story of a Childhood at Sea"
by Gloria Rand

Student Edition
Unit 5, pp. 520–533

Historical fiction is based on real events in history to which the writer has added details from his or her imagination. As you read about a family's life at sea, think about which details are real and which are from the author's imagination.

My two sisters, brother, and I, Matilda, grew up on a huge sailing ship in the 1800s. It carried cargo everywhere in the world. The captain of the ship was our father. He had a crew of men to help him. Our part of the ship had a bathroom, bedrooms, and a huge saloon. The saloon was our dining room and living room. There was also a kitchen, or galley, and a huge storage room for our things.
Mother raised animals for the ship's meat and eggs. They stayed in pens below deck. We children took care of our cat and a dog. We even had a pig! She fell into some hot tar and died. We gave her a dignified burial at sea.
We learned to count and read from Mother. And we learned about planets, stars, and celestial navigation from Father. He even taught us to use signaling flags. He gave us our own set of flags. Sometimes we used them to send messages back and forth from the stern to Father at the bow.
Later, Miss Shipman became our governess. She lived on the ship. She was a good teacher. But we taught her geography. We had been all over the world. So we knew more than she did!
One year we were on the China Sea. It was right before Christmas. We were just starting to put up some decorations. A huge storm came down on us. We had to take the decorations down. We rushed around tying down the piano and furniture. Mother put away little things. Otherwise, when big waves hit, they would fly all over. The storm lasted for days. We had to sit on the floor when Miss Shipman conducted class. The ship rolled back and forth, and the sky stayed black.
The storm got worse. Lifeboats were torn away and broken up by the waves. The sails were ripped apart. Father put us all on the floor of the chart room. Then we got scared. He tried to get us to think about the Christmas party we would have when the storm was over. Just then the ship rolled over onto her side. It stayed there. Father said to Mother, "Mary, I think we are going to sink." Their bravery made us all feel brave. We all hugged each other for a very long time.
Suddenly the ship quivered. It slowly rolled upright! We were safe! And we had the best Christmas ever. The crew sang, and Father and Mother danced.

Afterword: What you have read is based on a real family's life. The children loved their life on the ship. When faster steamships were invented, their way of life ended. Their hearts broke when they walked off the ship for the last time. Father turned and saluted the ship and the crew.

Sailing Home: A Story of a Childhood at Sea retold by Gloria Rand. Text copyright © 2001 by Gloria Rand. Reprinted by arrangement with North-South Books Inc., New York. All rights reserved.

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