rd, to superintend the
outfit of the ship, and to hasten the workmen; and thus everybody
working with a will, and with an important object in view, she was soon
ready for sea. Often and often, on the contrary, have I seen work which
might and should have been rapidly performed, most vexatiously delayed
through the laziness, or ignorance, or carelessness of those employed on
it. One man has not taken a correct measure; another has forgotten to
give a simple order; a third has put off a small piece of work to do
something else which was not so much required; a fourth has ill-fitted a
portion of the machine, or has broken what he calls some trifle which he
has not replaced; and so forth. How much better would it be if they,
and all whose eyes read my story, would but remember that saying of Holy
Writ--"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might."

Yes, in that Book, if men would but search earnestly, they would find
with an overflowing abundance all that they can require to guide them
aright, both in everything in regard to this life, as well as to make
them wise unto salvation. But, then, they must not hope to be guided
partly by the rules and maxims of the world, and partly by those of the
Bible. They must study the Bible by the light which the Bible affords--
not by man's light or man's wisdom. They must not suppose that a mere
cursory or occasional reading will suffice. They must read it
diligently with all their heart, with an earnest prayer for
enlightenment, and with an honest wish to comprehend it fully, and a
resolution to be guided by its precepts. Let the worldly-minded
understand that those who do so succeed best, and are at the same time
the happiest men in the world in the long-run. However, Old Jack does
not want to preach just now. If his readers will not believe him,
deeply does he mourn the inevitable consequences to them.

The brig, as I said, was soon ready for sea. It might have appeared
that the shortest way to proceed about our expedition would have been to
sail at once for Morocco; but as the productions of Nova Scotia are
chiefly food and timber, and such articles were in no request in that
part of Africa, it was necessary to go first to England with a cargo,
and then to take in what was required, such as cotton and woollen
manufactures, hardware, arms, and ammunition. Accordingly, we took on
board some quintals of dry fish, and barrels of flour, and beef, and
pork, and pi