s life
accustomed to read the Bible, and so he knew more about God and His
will, and could talk more rightly about Him, than those who do not read
God's Word can possibly do. He went daily to the fountain, and kept his
pitcher full of the water of life. They who seldom or never go, must
have their pitchers empty.

CHAPTER SIX.

LIFE ON SHIPBOARD.

Mr Charlton had been appointed as first lieutenant of the Ajax, a
thirty-six gun frigate, fitting-out for the Pacific station. On his
arrival at Portsmouth, he at once repaired on board, taking Ben with
him. As they pulled up the harbour in a shore boat towards the frigate,
which lay lashed alongside a hulk, Ben was astonished at the number of
ships he saw, and the vast size of many of them. It seemed to him as if
the wind could never affect such monstrous constructions, even to move
them along through the water; and as to the sea tossing them about as it
did the boats to which he was accustomed, that seemed impossible.
Several of them carried a hundred huge iron guns, and others even a
larger number. He saw many more on the stocks in the dockyard, and
others moored up the harbour, and he thought to himself, "Now, if people
of different nations would but live at peace with each other, and try to
do each other all the good in the world they can, instead of as much
harm as possible, and employ their time in building merchant vessels and
other works for the advantage of their fellow-creatures, how very much
better it would be!"--Many wise and good men think as did little Ben,
and yet they have to acknowledge that, while nations continue wickedly
ambitious, and jealous of each other's wealth and power, it is the duty
of governments to be armed and prepared to resist aggression.

Ben felt very much astonished, and almost frightened, when he found
himself on board the frigate, at the din and bustle which was going
forward, and the seeming confusion--the shrill whistle of the boatswain,
and the hoarse shouting of his mates, as yards were swayed up, and coils
of rope and stores of all sorts were hoisted on board. Ben could not
understand one-half that he heard, so many strange expressions were
used--indeed, there seemed to be a complete Babel of tongues, with,
unhappily, much swearing and abuse. Ben thought that the work would
have gone on much more satisfactorily without it. He observed, after a
time, that which appeared confusion was in reality order. Each gang of