er
of it; so go home, and take care of her."

Little Ben pleaded hard to be taken, but he pleaded in vain. "No, lad,
no, I cannot take you," repeated the father. "Go home now, go home. It
may be late before we return. Perhaps we shall be out all night, so
mother will want you at home to keep her company. Read to her, lad, out
of the Bible; and, I say, Ben, if thy father never comes back, remember
that his last words to thee were--_Trust to God_. _Do right, whatever
comes of it_."

Old John Hadden then joined the young men and the rest of the boat's
crew, and their united strength soon launched her, with all her gear on
board, into the water; and as they all leaped in, each man seizing an
oar, they quickly had her through the surf, which had begun to roll in
somewhat heavily. Little Ben stood on the top of a sand-hill, and
watched them as they pulled away out to sea. His eye anxiously followed
the boat as she grew less and less distinct, till she was lost to sight
among the breaking seas, which leaped upwards around the sand-banks.
For a time he could clearly see the wreck towards which they were
directing their course. Then the shades of evening increasing, and a
thick mass of mist gathering round her, she also was lost to sight.

Ben, as his father had desired him, went home, and having reported that
he had seen the boat get well off, sat himself down by the side of his
mother, who was working with her needle before the fire, and taking the
big Bible on his knees, he began to read to her out of its sacred pages.
His father's mark was at the thirteenth chapter of Saint Luke's Gospel,
and he read: "There were present at that season some that told Him of
the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans
_were_ sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such
things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise
perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew
them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in
Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all
likewise perish."

"Father was saying that to me the other day, mother," remarked little
Ben. "He told me that he had known many God-fearing men to lose their
lives, and many bad ones live on and remain still in their wickedness."

"Yes, my boy; God knows best when a servant of His has l