ed by working on the Sabbath but his? A man fancies that he
has got them safe in the palm of his hand, and when he wants to spend
them, they are gone. At the end of the year,--I have said it, and I
know it,--by following God's commandments, simply because He has
commanded, I have been a richer man than those who disobeyed them; and I
know surely that I have been a stronger, a more healthy, a happier, and
a more contented one.

"Again, sir, look here; many say they can't work on from the beginning
to the end of the fishing season without drink: no more they can, maybe,
but rest is better far than drink; and if they would take the
Sabbath-day's rest they might save the cost of the week's drink, and
that's more by a long way than the Sabbath-day's toil gives them. So,
as I say, when we obey God we do the best thing for ourselves, even in
this life; and that to my mind shows what a merciful and loving God He
is. He does not want to make us suffer pain or grief, He wants to make
us happy; and so all His laws are such that if we would obey them, we
should be happy. It is because men do not obey them that they are
unhappy. There, sir, that's my belief. I'm an old man now; but I
thought so when I was a young one, and every year since I have had good
cause to think the same."

"You speak nothing but the truth, my friend," observed the gentleman; "I
will tell others what you have said to me, and how you have acted, and I
will try to persuade them to follow your example."

"My example, sir!" said John Hadden gravely. "Say rather, sir, the same
example I try to follow."

"You are right, my friend," said the gentleman, wringing the fisherman's
rough hand and walking thoughtfully away.

Some time after this, John Hadden was sitting with his spy-glass resting
across his knees, at the top of the highest sand-hill near the village.
A strong gale from the north-east, which would not let any of the
fishing-boats put to sea, was blowing. It was at the time of the year
when the larger fishing-vessels are laid up. John had more than once
put his glass to his eye; he now kept it there, and made a crutch of his
left arm to hold it up. While thus employed, he was joined by one of
his sons.

"If he don't take care he'll be on the bank as sure as my name is John
Hadden," he cried out, pointing to a large ship which had stood in from
the offing (that is, from the sea far off), and was trying to work to
the northward. A slant of