nd that was rather closer than most vessels would care to come
to his island.

This day was Sunday, and all Tom's plans had to be deferred until the
following day. However, it was not at all disagreeable to him to get
rid of the necessity of work; and, indeed, never before did he fully
appreciate the nature of the Day of Rest. The rest was sweet indeed to
his exhausted and overworn frame, and he did not go far away from his
fire. He had found some embers still glowing in the morning, and had
kindled the fire anew from these, without drawing any more upon his
precious store of matches. He resolved now to keep the coals alive all
the time, by feeding the fire during the day, and covering it up with
ashes by night.

It was Sunday,--the Day of Rest,--and Tom felt all the blessedness of
rest. On the whole, it turned out to be the pleasantest day which he
had known since he left the schooner. Left now to quiet reflection, he
recalled the events of the last week, and had more leisure to feel
thankful over the wonderful safety which he had met with. Even now on
the island he was not without his comforts. He had food and warmth.
So, on the whole, though he had his moments of sadness, yet the sadness
was driven out by cheerfulness. It was not all dismal. The words of
that poem which is familiar to every school-boy rang in his ears:--

"O, Solitude, where are the charms
That sages have seen in thy face?
Better dwell in the midst of alarms
Than reign in this horrible place."

Yet these words were accompanied and counterbalanced by the more
pleasing and consoling sentiments of others, which on this day accorded
better with Tom's mood:--

"There's mercy in every place;
And mercy--encouraging thought!--
Gives even affliction a grace,
And reconciles man to his lot."

Nothing occurred during the day to disturb the quiet of the island, and
Tom went to bed early that night, so as to have a long sleep, and
fortify himself for the labors of the morrow. The ashes were raked
carefully round the coals, which, when Tom waked in the morning, were
easily kindled again.

He was up early on that Monday morning. He saw, with deep
disappointment, that the fog still covered every thing, and that the
wind was blowing quite brisk from the south-west, and raising rather a
heavy sea. But he had a great deal to do now, and to this he turned
his attention.

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