Tragedy or Blessing

Years ago in Scotland, the Clark family had a dream. Clark and his wife worked and saved, making plans for their nine children and themselves to travel to the United States. It had taken years, but they had finally saved enough money and had gotten passports and reservations for the whole family on a new liner to the United States.

The entire family was filled with anticipation and excitement about their new life. However, seven days before their departure, the youngest son was bitten by a dog. The doctor sewed up the boy but hung a yellow sheet on the Clarks' front door. Because of the possibility of rabies, they were being quarantined for fourteen days.

The entire family's dreams were dashed. They would not be able to make the trip to America as they had planned. The father, filled with disappointment and anger, went to the dock to watch the ship leave—without the Clark family. The mother shed tears of disappointment and cursed both her son and God for their misfortune.

Five days later, the tragic news spread throughout Scotland—the mighty Titanic had sunk. The unsinkable ship had sunk, taking hundreds of lives with it. The Clark family was to have been on that ship, but because the son had been bitten by a dog, they were left behind in Scotland.

When Mr. Clark heard the news, he hugged his son and thanked him for saving the family. A family tragedy had turned into a blessing.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was the family's dream?
2. What happened before the family was going to depart?
3. Which ship did they want to take?
4. What was the father's reaction to the bad news that the ship has sunk?
5. Use one phrase or sentence to describe the story.

(Keys.)