Part 1.
IT was a beautiful summer’s evening. The rays of the setting sun were shining through the window of a pretty little country cottage. Everything in the room looked bright and cheerful, till the eye turned and fell upon the figure of a woman in deep mourning and widow’s cap who sat by the window. She liked to sit there, because from that place she had the mournful pleasure of gazing upon “her husband’s grave.” Poor woman, within a mile of her cottage could be seen what had deprived her of that husband—the cruel sea. John Harrison, her husband, had been a sailor all his life. He was a good, steady man, respected by all who knew him, and when (thirteen years before our story begins) he married Mary Lee, the daughter of his father’s friend and partner, everyone who knew them wished them joy, and a happier couple could not have been seen. For nearly ten years they had lived very happily, and John Harrison had become partner of a fishing boat with his brother-in-law, Matthew Lee. One night, when the moon was shining bright, these two sailors launched forth upon the sea. All went well for a time, but suddenly the sky changed and a dreadful storm came on. Our sailors tried to get back to shore, but when they were turning their boat, a sudden squall upset it, and both of them were drowned. Thus was Mrs. Harrison left a widow with an only son.
On this summer evening she sat waiting for her boy John, who had been absent all the afternoon, enjoying himself at the annual school feast. He had never left off being a Sunday-School scholar, and through his diligence, attention and good behavior, had become a great favorite with his teacher, Mr. Davison, the clergyman. His mother saw him running along the garden path, and by the joyful look of his face she could see that he had good news to tell her.
On opening the door, he said, “O, mother! I have won such a nice prize. Mr. Davison gave me such a beautiful Bible, because he said that I had come more regularly and got on better than anyone; and I told him that was owing to you, because you always persuaded me to go, and helped me with my Bible lessons at home.” With these words he showed her his Bible, which was a nice one, bound in purple Morocco and with gilt-edge leaves, and on the flyleaf was written, “John Harrison. A prize for good conduct and attention to learning. From Langford Sunday-School.”
Another year passed away, and brought with it many changes to the inmates of the little village. It was again summer, but the warm, bright weather found Mrs. Harrison recovering from a long illness. John was now twelve years old, and a big boy of his age. He felt that he must now earn his own living entirely, and as there was not regular work to be found near home, he thought of going to sea.
One evening, as he sat by his mother’s side, he told her what he wished; and though her heart felt very heavy at the thought of it, she did not oppose him, as she knew how hard it was for her to earn a living; and she felt that if her boy was started in the world, she might then leave her house and go into service. So one fine morning in August, John set off. His mother had packed up a nice bundle of clothes, and in his pocket he placed his Bible.
“Be sure, my boy,” said his mother at parting, “to read a chapter every night and morning, as you have always done with me. Do not let your shipmates’ example or scoffs keep you from doing this. Good-bye, and God bless you,” were his mother’s last words. John promised to obey, and left his home with a full heart; but ere he set out on his journey, he opened the churchyard gate, and, kneeling down by his father’s grave, prayed that God would watch over him, and help him to keep the promise he had made to his mother, and to make his living. He then set out to walk to a large seaport town about twelve miles distant, where there were generally a good many ships at anchor. The only thing he regretted was that he had no recommendation, as Mr. Davison, the clergyman, who had, been very ill, was at this time traveling abroad for his health. But John had been brought by grace to put his trust in Christ, and the prayer he had that morning prayed at his father’s grave had comforted him and given him fresh courage. On reaching the town for which he was bound, he began to look about for work, but all that day he met with nothing but rebuffs. Some captains said he was too little, others that they wanted a character, and some would not take him because he had not been to sea before.
At last, wearied out, he lay down to rest in a little shed, adjoining the house where the lifeboat was kept; but ere the sun had gone down he opened his Bible and read a chapter, according to the promise he had made his mother, and after praying to the Lord to give him better success next day, he fell asleep.
ML 01/07/1917