t few can resist the temptation to do a good action if
they are shown how to do it.' Now, we're all very comfortable here--or I
hope so, at all events; and it will do us good to hear of strong, useful
men who never know what comfort means--and that through no fault of
their own, but only through the strange complications of civilized
society. I call on Mr. Fullerton to address this meeting." Fullerton
rose and faced his audience like a practised hand. His trance-like
intensity of gaze might have led you to think that he was going to pour
out a lengthy speech: but he had tact; he knew that he would please
Cassall and the audience by letting them hear the words of a new man,
and he merely said: "For years I have addressed many meetings, and I
have worked and prayed day and night. Help has risen up for me, and now
I am content to be a humble member of the company who have agreed in
their hundreds to aid in my life's work. I am but an instrument to be
laid aside when my weary day is over and my Master's behests fulfilled.
I see light spreading, darkness waning, kindness growing warmer, purity
and sobriety become the rule in quarters where they were unknown; and I
am thankful--not proud, only thankful--to have helped in a work which, I
believe, is of God. We are now near the attainment of a long dream of
mine, thanks to Robert Cassall; and, when the fulfilment is complete, I
care not when I may be called on to say my 'Nunc dimittis.' And now I
will not stand longer between you and Mr. Ferrier." Thus, with one
dexterous push Ferrier found himself projected into the unknown depths
of his speech. He was easy enough before students, but the quick
whispers, the lightning flash of raised eye-glasses, the calm, bovine
stare of certain ladies, rather disconcerted him at first. But he warmed
to his work, and in deliberate, mathematical fashion wrought through his
subject. He told of the long Night; the dark age of the North Sea. The
little shivering cabin-boy lay on his dank wooden couch, and curled
under the wrench of the bitter winter nights; he had to bear a hard
struggle for existence, and, if he were a weakling, he soon went under.
Alas! there had been instances, only too well authenticated, of boys
being subjected to the most shocking treatment--though we would not
saddle upon the majority of fishermen the responsibility for this
cruelty on the part of a few. "What could a boy know of good?" said the
speaker, with a sharp ring of