extending it for our benefit.  We need not fear to exhaust the topic; for do not the vast waters encompass the globe; and can we contemplate these great works of our Creator, without having our hearts filled with wonder and admiration?  This, my children, will lead us to the right source; to the Author of all the wonders contained in ‘heaven and earth, and in the waters under the earth;’ and, if we possess any gratitude, our hearts will be raised in thankfulness to Him who ‘hath done all things well;’ and we shall bless him for giving us powers of discernment and reasoning faculties, which not only enable us to see and appreciate the goodness of God, but also, by his grace assisting us, to turn our knowledge to advantage for our temporal and eternal good.”

“We may now,” said Mr. Wilton, “leave these resolutions to be acted upon at a proper time; and, as we have two hours’ leisure before supper, if you, dear mother, will tell us one of your sweet stories of real life, it will be both a pleasant and profitable way of passing the evening.  We have all employment for our fingers, and can work while we listen; George and I with our pencils, and you ladies with your sewing and knitting.”

GRANDY.  “Well, what must it be?  Something nautical, I suppose; for as we are about to set sail in a few days, it will be appropriate, will it not?”

GEORGE.  “Oh yes! dear Grandy, a nautical story, if you please.”

#Story of Frederic Hamilton#

“The first time I saw Frederic Hamilton was on board the ‘Neptune,’ outward bound for Jamaica:  he was then a lad of twelve or fourteen years:  I cannot be sure which; but I remember he was tall for his age, and extremely good looking.

“There were so many circumstances during the voyage, which brought me in contact with this boy, and so many occasions to arouse my sympathies in his behalf, (for he was evidently in delicate health, and unfit for laborious work.) that in a short time I became deeply interested concerning him, and I determined as soon as I had recovered from sea-sickness, to watch for an opportunity of inquiring into the particulars of his earlier history.

“I must first tell you, before proceeding with the story of my hero, that the captain of the ‘Neptune’ was a very harsh, cruel man, and made every one on board his vessel as uncomfortable as he could by his violent temper, and ungentlemanly conduct.  I was the only lady-passenger; and had it not been for the kindness of my fellow-travellers, I scarcely think I could have survived all the terrors of that dreadful voyage.  The sailors, without one dissentient voice, declared they had never sailed with such a master, and wished they had known a trifle of the rough side of his character before they engaged with him, and then he would have had to seek long enough to make up a crew, for not one of them would have shipped with him.’  They even went so far as to say, that if at any time they could escape from the vessel,