# The Boat Upset - Source: McGuffey's Second Reader (second-reader.gutenberg.org), Public domain, William Holmes McGuffey, 1879, via Project Gutenberg - Reading level: Grades 1 and 2 - Subjects: Campers and RVs, Stories - Topics: boat, rose, water, upset, boatman, children - Length: 200 words, about 1 min - Original: - Page: - Open in Sprouts: THE BOAT UPSET. - "Sit still, children. Do not move about in the boat," said Mr. Rose to the young folks he was taking for a trip on the water. - The boat was a large one, and could not easily be upset. There were in it Mr. and Mrs. Rose, the boatman, and several little boys and girls. - "Keep still, please, young gentlemen," said the boatman, when Edgar Rose and Thomas Read began to move from one side to the other. - They kept quiet for a short time only. Edgar soon wanted a stick which Thomas held in his hand. He lost his balance in trying to get the stick, and fell into the water. - Mr. and Mrs. Rose both started up, and stretched out their arms to save him; but in so doing, they upset the boat. - Every one fell into the water, and all were in the greatest danger of being drowned. - Another boat was near, with but one man in it. He hastened to them as quickly as possible, and saved them from drowning. - Children should always be careful and quiet when they are in a boat on the water, and should obey what older people tell them. ## Picture credits - illustrator not named in this edition, Public domain () - illustrator not named in this edition, Public domain ()