104 SUFFERING AND WORKING AT SEA FOR CHRIST. freely down his face, and for some time he could not proceed. "There's that chap in the corner," pointing to one of his shipmates; "he has teased me more than all the others put together. Yes, Jack, you know that's true. For months you have been peck, peck, pecking at me just like a wolf; and if you do not alter the devil will have you. But O, Jack, my soul is full of love and pity for you, and there's nothing but what I would do for you if you would only be a Christian. Don't think I have hard thoughts of you because of your past unkindness. I freely forgive you, and "—walking to the place where Jack was sitting-"here's my hand; but, oh! if you knew how much I have felt your persecutions you would never tease me again. Here, Jack, let us shake hands and be like brothers." This was too much for poor Jack. He gave his hand to Jem and tried to speak, but could not, and kneeling down he wept like a child. James caught my hand, saying, "Praise the Lord! kind words go a long way. I thought I should kill him some day. Let me pass; it will do me good to pray side by side with him." And with zeal and earnestness never to be forgotten, he poured forth his prayers and supplications for this broken-hearted penitent. SUFFERING AND WORKING AT SEA FOR CHRIST. NE looks into the very soul of a young sailor who became a Christian in this city, last spring, as he reads a part of his letter, dated at San Francisco, November 28th, 1881, and the vision is very fruitful of matter for thoughtful gratitude. He writes privately to his pastor in New York :— "I left the Sailors' Home in New York 30th May last, with tears in my eyes. Parting from Br. Borella was just as if I parted from my parents. I came on shipboard, and the first welcome that I received was an awful swearing (at me) from a shipmate. Oh! dear pastor, it was as if I had stepped from Heaven into hell. I thought, there is plenty of work for me to do, and I prayed directly to God to help me. Every day since then I have read my Bible, and always when I have found myself discouraged, I have looked to a tract, or read from my Bible, and at once found relief. My shipmates did not trouble me a bit when I prayed. Of course, after that, I invited them to read the Bible. They called me foolish. Then I told them that we all had to give an account of ourselves, and I asked them if they were ready at any moment to come before Jesus. Since that time I was not entirely without fellowship. But I had often very bad times. Every one on board went back upon me; they cursed me, they struck me, they called me a fool. And SUFFERING AND WORKING AT SEA FOR CHRIST. 105 then, pastor, many times came when my blood was up, and then I wanted to strike back, of course. Then I heard a voice behind me, 'Bless your enemies,' and I bent my knees, and prayed to Jesus for pardon for them. The Saviour gave me a wonderful change! How can there be men in the world that see so many examples from His boundless love, and can shut their hearts to so loving a Redeemer ? that He was answer was? "When we were at the Cape we had a terrible storm, and were in a hopeless position. The men did not swear then, they were afraid; that was not the spot (to swear). A ruffian swearer came to me, and asked what I thought of the weather. I told him I trusted in Jesus, and that He was always with me between the billows. And what do you think his 'Yes, Henry,' said he, 'I know He is, always. He has told us the best way, and I feel very sorry that I have done you so much harm.' I gave him then my hand, and told him that he was my friend, and that when he would give his heart to Jesus, he should become my brother. He felt that he was a sinner, and with tears walked along the deck at my side, for Jesus. Oh, what a glorious moment that was! Tell me if there is any citizen with all his money who would have so much joy as I had there, in a fierce storm, on the vessel's deck. Oh, how I praised the Lord, and how my friend wept! Those were tears of sorrow that fell from that sailor's eyes, and I wept, also, for happiness. "The storm lasted six days, and then we had a little change for the better, sailed around the Cape with no danger, and, on the 17th November, arrived at 'Frisco. I was very glad to come ashore once more, and blessed the Lord for His wonderful grace given to me during the voyage. I also asked Him to keep me holy and clean in this city full of misery. 66 'Now, pastor, I think I will give up the sea. You know the Lord has given me talents. It is my duty to bring them to Him with interest. If I begin now to work on shore to make my living, in the evenings I can go to school. I may be aided by Christian friends. When I can write and read English, then I will go where God shall send. "To preach the Gospel will be my greatest joy. I know that I shall have many trials in it, and many temptations. Of course, then I shall look to Jesus, and He will never leave or forsake me. If there be no cross, there is no crown; and whatever people may say, I answer that Jesus is my Saviour, He has spent His life for me, and therefore I should suffer for the Gospel's sake. Please see all the brethren and sisters, and tell them that I have thought of them many times. Bid adieu for me to the children in the Sabbath-school,-the little angels! I have many times heard their voices when I was in the midst of the ocean. "Once more, adieu! I shall pray for you that God may give you plenty of happiness and comfort. When it shall happen that I cannot well see you more on earth, we shall meet to part no more in Heaven.-Very truly your brother in Jesus, H. v S. V." American Sailors' Magazine. THE STORMS OF OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER LASTLIFE-BOAT SERVICES. HE storms of October and November last will long be remembered as the most violent and protracted that have been experienced in the British Isles for many years past. The reports which have reached Lloyd's of the disasters to ships during those storms have probably been the most melancholy and numerous on record. Thus line upon line may be given of the 914 shipping disasters reported to Lloyd's during the months of October and November last. In order to form some conception of the doleful record, it may be mentioned that about sixteen pages of the Life-boat Journal would be needed for it. The gales of these two months were literally terrific on various parts of the United Kingdom; but in the Atlantic they blew for days together with the force of hurricanes. The captain of the Devonia, of the Anchor Line, which sailed frem Glasgow on the 18th November, and which arrived at New York on the evening of the 3rd December says that "He had a very tempestuous passage. Had ugly weather all the time and encountered two hurricanes, one on November 21st, the other on November 23rd. "I can only say of the second,' he remarks, 'that in 28 years' experience I have never known a more tremendous sea or a fiercer blast. On the morning of the 21st it began to blow hard. The vessel laboured heavily in a terrible cross sea. The waves dashed over the deck constantly; in fact the ship was under water most of the time. In the afternoon the main-boom was carried away. The 23rd was an ugly day. About five in the evening the wind began to freshen, and it took two hours to reach its greatest force. Tremendous seas swept over the vessel, now from starboard, now from port. I could do nothing but heave- to under bare poles. No canvas ever woven would have held for a minute. One of the starboard boats was stove in, and half of the men were laid up for a couple of days with bruises. One had his collar-bone dislocated. By midnight the wind settled into a steady gale, and blew frightfully all night. I have seen cyclones in the East Indies, and all sorts of hurricanes all over the world, but I never saw more tremendous waves. I was in Calcutta 17 years ago, when 20,000 lives were lost in the hurricane there, and I say with confidence that the wind on that occasion was no fiercer than this. The steerage passengers, nearly 300 in number, had a terrible time. For twelve days they were not above deck. The barometer fell to 27.57 on the 23rd, and within five-tenths of that on the 21st; lower than I ever saw it before on the Atlantic, or probably ever will again."" In regard to the 941 Shipping Disasters reported to Lloyd's, it may be mentioned that in cases where information is not given respecting the crews, Lloyd's assumes that the majority were saved, 108 THE PERILS OF THE SEA. but they have actual reports of the loss of 275 lives on these disastrous occasions. On the other hand the services of the Life-boats of the National Life-boat Institution, during the fearful gales of these two months, were unusually gallant and numerous. Total number of lives saved by Life-boats from October 1st to November 30th were 441, and 13 vessels. THE PERILS OF THE SEA. OW many landsmen there are who are quite ignorant as to the hardships and perils of a sailor's life. Perhaps this is the reason why seamen are almost forgotten by those who are "anxious to do good," and why they are so seldom prayed for by Christians of all denominations. The following tales show how many of our brave sailors find a grave in the sea, and how great are their sufferings at times, when 66 Ploughing the trackless deep." A short time ago, the Nova Scotian brigantine, "Elba," left Buctouche for the Mersey, with a cargo of lumber. For three weeks all seems to have gone on fairly well, but she encountered a terrible hurricane in the fourth week from her time of sailing. The sails were split, the jib-boom was carried away, and the ship so sprained, that she sprang a leak. The pumps were useless, and the "Elba" became water-logged. The deck-load was thrown overboard, the vessel's deck became level with the water, and the only shelter the men could find was on the flooded forecastle. To make matters worse the steering gear broke, so that even when the sea moderated the vessel was unmanageable. The men had a single cask of water, but there was no bread. All that was left in the shape of food was some beef and pork washed out of the tubs, which was picked up as it was floating about the deck. To cook it was out of the question, and even this source of supply was soon exhausted. Then came an epidemic of boils, and the crew had to fall back upon the tallow that was on board for greasing the masts. This, too, was quickly exhausted, and the men were face to face with starvation, when, providentially, they were sighted and rescued by a Norwegian barque. The captain of the "M. J. Foley," from Charlotte Town, fell in with a boat containing the master, and eighteen of the crew of the "Bath City" (steamer). She was bound from Bristol to New York. The mate of the "Bath City" reported having experienced heavy weather after leaving Bristol. The ship commenced to |