ndition that Gordon would personally undertake
to look after the lad himself, for one year at least. This Gordon
promised, and he took the boy to his own home, sent him to a good school
at his own expense for the year; then he got him a good situation on
board one of Her Majesty's vessels. That lad became a man of honour and
respectability, secured good situations, won for himself a good
character, and the mother and the sailor boy in their heart often blessed
Gordon, who saved the boy from prison, ruin and disgrace, and the mother
from a broken heart. His rescue work amongst boys was work he loved
supremely, in it he found his highest joys. His pleasures were not
secured where many seek them, viz., at the theatre, at the
gambling-house, at the racecourse, at the public-house, or in
accumulating wealth, or in winning renown and glory--these were nothing
to Gordon. To save a fallen lad, was to him the highest gratification;
in this work he was very successful.

Many a rescued lad was he able to restore to his home and to society, and
to the world. For many of these lads he was able to secure situations on
board ship. To show his interest in them when away he had a large map on
his study wall, in this map were pins in very many places. These, he
told a visitor, showed the position of the ships on which his lads were
located; and he moved the pins as the ships moved and prayed for each boy
from day to day. The workhouse and the infirmary were places he used to
visit, and his visits were remembered by the inmates, as all the fruits
and flowers he could grow were given to these places and to the sick and
poor whom he visited. Very often the dying sent for him in preference to
a clergyman, and he was, if at home, always ready; no matter what the
weather or what the distance. His works were essentially works of
charity, and these were not done to be seen of men. He was one of the
humblest men I ever met. He would not occupy the chair at a meeting or
even go on to the platform. Once I remember he addressed a gathering
after tea of those who had been rescued and who were likely to be useful
to others, but he would not be lionised or praised. He would say, "No; I
am but the instrument: the praise belongs to God." His spirit was the
fruitful cause of all the work he did.

"Give me that lowest place,
Not that I dare ask for that lowest place.
But Thou hast died that I might share
Thy glory by Thy side.