ribs broken, and yet you see how much good
has come out of it. You have been well looked after, and I have gained
more friends than I might otherwise have found during all my life."

"Yes, Ben," answered Mrs Hadden, "yes. God orders all for the best,
there's no doubt about that; but His ways are not our ways, and we
cannot always see how that which happens is to work for our good as
clearly as we now see how your broken ribs which you speak of have
brought me many comforts I should not otherwise have enjoyed. Your
father, Ben, would have said what I do; and I often think, now that he
is in heaven enjoying perfect happiness, how he blesses God that he was
born a poor humble fisherman, with the grace and the religious
privileges he enjoyed, instead of some rich man, whose heart might have
remained unchanged, or instead of one who might have put his faith in
the Pope of Rome, or in that wicked impostor we were reading about,
Mahomet. Ah, Ben, we often are not thankful enough for all the
religious advantages we enjoy, and, above all, that we have so fully and
freely the gospel placed before us."

CHAPTER FIVE.

A TURN IN BEN'S HISTORY.

Little Ben had now sufficiently recovered to follow his former business,
for though not as strong as before his accident, he calculated on
getting an occasional lift in a cart, so as to make his rounds with less
difficulty. The first day he went down to the beach when the boats came
in, he was welcomed with a friendly smile from all the fishermen. They
had heard how he had saved the little children from being run over by
the horse and cart. First one brought him a couple of fine fish,
saying, "That's for you, Ben. Don't talk of payment this time." Then
another did the same thing, and another, and another, till his basket
was so full that he could scarcely carry it. He thanked the kind
fishermen all very much, and said that he was sure he did not deserve
that from them; but they replied that they were better judges than he
was of that matter, and that they only wished they could afford to fill
his basket in the same manner every morning. This was very pleasant to
Ben's feelings, and he got so good a price for the fish, which were very
fine, that he was ever afterwards able to pay ready money for all he
bought.

Day after day Ben went his rounds; but, though he generally got a fair
price for the fish he sold, he could scarcely gain sufficient to procure
food and clothing