once more laid up in harbour, John Hadden and his sons went home to
spend their Christmas. It was a very happy one. Nearly all the family
were together; two sons had returned from sea, a daughter had come home
for a visit from service, and many a pleasant evening they spent as they
sat over the cottage fire, while the sailors recounted the adventures
they had met with in their voyages to distant lands. The fishermen had
also their tales to tell, and many an old story was recalled to mind and
recounted by John and his eldest sons, or a neighbour who had stepped in
to see them. John, too, would read to his family, not only on a Sunday
evening, but on every evening in the week, when he was at home, from the
Book of books.

"I can't see why people should fancy, as many do, that they need read
the Bible only on one day in the week. It was surely given us to be our
guide not only for Sundays, but for every day. There is no business in
life in which it won't tell us how to act whenever we may have any
doubts about the matter," said John one evening, after he had been
reading the Scriptures; and then he continued, "In every page the Bible
says, `Do right, whatever comes of it,' and that is the very thing we
ought to be reminded of, day after day, for it is the very thing we are
too apt to forget."

John not only read the Bible, but he profited by what he read, and so
did his children; and that is the reason why they were a happy, united,
and prosperous family.

Some time after Christmas, John Hadden had gone out by himself on the
sea-shore, with his constant companion, his spy-glass, under his arm.
He walked up and down, and his mind dwelt on many of the scenes and
events of his past life; he thought of the many dangers he had gone
through, and of how often he had been mercifully preserved. "People do
say that the life of a fisherman is a very dangerous one," he thought to
himself. "They are right. How many of those I have known have lost
theirs! Not a year that I can call to mind but some friend or other has
been drowned. Such may be my end. God is merciful; He knows what is
best. He will not call me away, except for some good purpose."

Continuing his walk, Hadden's mind grew more and more serious, almost
melancholy; yet it must not be said that his mind was one of a gloomy
turn; no man was generally more cheerful. The day, however, had an
effect on his spirits. The clouds gathered thickly in the sky, and hu