“’Man may trouble and distress
me;
’Twill but drive
me to thy breast.
Life with trials hard may
press me;
Heaven will bring
me sweeter rest.
Oh! ’tis not in grief
to harm me,
While thy love
is left to me!
Oh! ’twere not in joy
to charm me,
Were that joy
unmixed with Thee.
“’Take, my soul, thy full
salvation;
Rise o’er
sin, and fear, and care;
Joy to find in every station
Something still
to do or bear!
Think what Spirit dwells within
thee;
What a Father’s
smile is thine;
What thy Saviour did to win
thee,—
Child of Heav’n,
should’st thou repine?
“’Haste then on from grace
to glory,
Armed by faith,
and winged by prayer;
Heaven’s eternal day’s
before thee;
Heaven’s own hand
shall guide thee there.
Soon shall close thy earthly
mission;
Swift shall pass
thy pilgrim days;
Hope soon change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight,
and prayer to praise.’”
EMMA. “What a beautiful hymn, grandmamma. I should like to learn those words. But I want to hear how you got Frederic away from that horrid man, and what became of him afterwards, because I cannot understand why you are telling us this story. I know you never tell us anything for amusement only.”
GRANDY. “No, my dear child; this story is not solely for your amusement. This morning I observed a strangeness in George’s behavior, when he was requested to put up his microscope, and assist in laying the cloth, because John was out, and he was aware that Hannah had sprained her foot, and could not walk up and down stairs. He said such extraordinary things about being ill-used, and worked hard, and never having an hour to amuse himself, that I am desirous of convincing him that it is quite possible (with God’s assistance) not only to bear all this, without thinking it a shame, as George termed it, but even to praise God for the troubles and trials which may fall to your lot; and I also wish to inform him, that there are some boys more patient and grateful than himself. But I see, by the color mounting to his cheeks, that my boy is sorry for his past behavior; nevertheless, I will continue my story. And now for the incident, as I presume you will call it, Emma.
“We were about a week’s voyage from Jamaica. The wind was favorable, but light, the sky clear, the sun directly overhead;—we were all beginning to feel the effects of a warm climate; the sailors were loosely clad in canvass trousers, striped shirts, and straw hats, and went lazily about their work;—the ship moved as lazily through the rippling waves;—the man at the helm drew his hat over his eyes, to shade them from the glare of the sun, and lounged listlessly upon the wheel;—the captain was below taking a nap, to the great relief of men and boys;—some of the passengers were sitting on the poop, under