Public-domain ebook
by Oliver Optic
Language: en5,146 downloads on Project Gutenberg
Subjects
In: Children's Fiction·Children & Young Adult Reading·Adventure
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #23351.
The Yacht Club; or, The Young Boat‑Builder is a juvenile adventure set in the bustling maritime world of 1870s Penobscot Bay. The story opens with a light‑hearted encounter between the shy, ship‑builder’s son Donald John Ramsay and the vivacious Miss Nellie Patterdale on a hot summer’s day in Belfast, quickly moving from their playful banter to a discussion of a new yacht, the Sea Foam, and a forthcoming trial trip. The narrative promises a blend of social intrigue, yacht races, and the moral lesson that secrecy and deception lead to “darkness,” as the protagonist’s well‑meaning but flawed choices drive the plot forward. The opening chapters already introduce a cast of local characters, captains, speculators, and ambitious youths, whose interactions hint at both nautical excitement and the personal growth of a young man of “high aims.”
Written in a straightforward, earnest style typical of late‑Victorian juvenile fiction, the prose reflects the period’s moralizing tone while offering vivid descriptions of sailing life and small‑town society. Readers who enjoy historical settings, gentle coming‑of‑age tales, and the romance of 19th‑century yachting will find the book appealing. Its focus on character development, modest adventure, and clear moral messages makes it a satisfying read for young readers and adults who appreciate classic, wholesome storytelling.
The opening · free to read
(The sixth in preparation.)
PREFACE.
"THE YACHT CLUB" is the second volume of the YACHT CLUB SERIES, to which it gives a name; and like its predecessor, is an independent story. The hero has not before appeared, though some of the characters of "LITTLE BOBTAIL" take part in the incidents: but each volume may be read understandingly without any knowledge of the contents of the other. In this story, the interest centres in Don John, the Boat-builder, who is certainly a very enterprising young man, though his achievements have been more than paralleled in the domain of actual life.
Like the first volume of the series, the incidents of the story transpire on the waters of the beautiful Penobscot Bay, and on its shores. They include several yacht races, which must be more interesting to those who are engaged in the exciting sport of yachting, than to others. But the principal incidents are distinct from the aquatic narrative; and those who are not interested in boats and boating will find that Don John and Nellie Patterdale do not spend all their time on the water.
The hero is a young man of high aims and noble purposes: and the writer believes that it is unpardonable to awaken the interest and sympathy of his readers for any other than high-minded and well-meaning characters. But he is not faultless; he makes some grave mistakes, even while he has high aims. The most important lesson in morals to be derived from his experience is that it is unwise and dangerous for young people to conceal their actions from their parents and friends; and that men and women who seek concealment "choose darkness because their deeds are evil."
HARRISON SQUARE, BOSTON, May 22, 1873.
CONTENTS.
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