e?" asked the black.

"Because God says it," answered Peter; "what He says must be true."

"In that book you read?" asked the black.

"Yes, that book contains God's messages and promises to man. It is
through this alone, and the leading of the Holy Spirit, that we know
anything about God. Without that we should be worshipping blocks of
stone, just as Owen Bell was telling me the other day your countrymen
do."

"Yes, and many other people in the world, and in the countries we are
going to," observed Emery. "But I can't stop to listen longer; another
day you tell me more of this."

Peter gladly promised that he would do so.

To his surprise one evening, after he had cleaned up the pots and pans,
the cook asked him to come and sit in the caboose, and begged him to
read a chapter or two in the Bible. Peter did so, and explained it to
the best of his power, and frequently after that he spent an hour in the
evening in the same way.

The ship had now rounded the Cape of Good Hope. The wind was fair, the
weather continued fine. Peter had determined to try again to get Hixon
to let him read to him. It seemed so sad that an old man should
continue to refuse listening to God's message of love. One Sunday he
found him sitting by himself, as he usually did, stitching away on the
sleeve of a jacket. Peter sat down near him and began to read to
himself. Hixon eyed him, but not with that angry look which he
generally cast when Peter was reading.

"Would you like to hear some of it while you are at your work?" asked
Peter at length.

"Well, boy, as you are a good sort of chap after all, and axes me so
often, I don't mind hearing one of your yarns out of your book; though I
don't see how it can do me much good," he replied, after a little time.

This was all Peter wanted. He read the parable of the "Pharisee and
Publican."

"Which of them do you like the best?" asked Peter.

"Can't say I care for that proud chap who thought himself better than
anybody else. I like t'other more, a good deal."

"Because he says, `Lord, be merciful to me a sinner'?" asked Peter.

"Ay," said Hixon, bending down his head. He had for some time ceased to
ply his needle.

"Then do you know how God says He alone will be merciful?" Peter asked.

"No, 'cept to them as be sorry for what they have done bad, and try to
do better."

"Oh, no, no! God does not say that; Satan is always trying to make
people believe it, because he well