the kind donor, and the friends of 'Homeless Boys' owe another debt
of gratitude to 'The Times.'

"J. M.

"_Temple_."

By the desire of the 'Chichester' Committee I joined the 'Dolphin' at
Sheerness, and with a regular salt captain, and a seaman from the Bendigo
diggings, and a boy from the 'Chichester,' we weighed the cutter's anchor
to bring the prize to Greenhithe.

The pier-man smiled gladly on the gift yacht. The taut Guard-ship
bristling with big guns seemed to look down kindly on the little vessel,
and even the grim old hulks, otherwise sulky enough, appeared to wish her
well as she loosed her white sails to a gentle breeze. Yes, and the sun
smiled brightly, too, with a balmy day like summer again.

Barges flocked out, clustering on the water as in my former visits here,
yet the 'Dolphin' mingled with them not as in a mere play, but with a
benign and holy purpose in her gait, for it was the gracious breath of
Christian benevolence that wafted the 'Dolphin' on. She was a present to
the homeless boys, and so a gift that shall be one time repaid by the
Friend of the friendless with measure "running over."

Yantlet was passed and the Blythe and Jenkin, when sunset shrouded
sleeping Father Thames. Then the ship-lights sparkled numerous on the
stream, and red rays from the beacons glinted athwart our sail. Swift
steamers whisked by in the dark. Tall, gaunt, sailing ships rustled
their dusky canvas, and struggling little tug-boats rattled with instant
paddle as they passed.

[Picture: The Gift to Boys]

Clouds withdrew from above as we neared the 'Chichester,' and the full
moon came out and looked upon the "gift for boys" with her long pendant
streaming in the mild and onward breeze.

Then, to me silent, lying on the deck as if in a summer eve, came
many-coloured thoughts--the Rob Roy's rovings by river and sea in
brightsome days and thundering nights, the good seed sown by the shore,
the thousand incidents of a charming voyage.

But best of them all was the sail in the 'Dolphin.'

We may begin in faith, and continue in hope, but greatest of the three is
charity in

THE END.

APPENDIX. BOYS' TRAINING SHIPS.

There are 18,000 seamen in our Royal Navy, and nearly a quarter of a
million persons of various kinds are employed on board of British
registered vessels. On the subject of training boys for sea, full and
interes