“Yes, those are all great blessings,” his father said.  “And now, Elsie, can you think of some others?”

“Oh, so many, papa! more than I can count,” the little girl answered earnestly.  “A dear, kind father and mother, and grandma among them; and, oh, so many dear relations besides; ’specially my sisters and brothers.  And I am so glad I was born in this Christian land and taught about God and the dear Saviour; and have a Bible to read, and know that I may pray to God, and that he will hear me and help me to be good—­to love and serve him.  But, oh!  I can’t name all my blessings, papa, they are so very, very many.”

“That is very true, daughter,” he replied; “and we can all say the same; our blessings are more than we can count.  But the best of all is the gift of God’s dear son.  ’God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’  ‘Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.’  ’I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.’  So says the Psalmist, and surely we can all echo his words from our very hearts.  Mother, you seem to have selected a passage.  Will you please read it?”

“Yes,” she said; “here in Corinthians where the apostle is speaking of the sting of death and the victory over the grave, he cries exultingly, ’But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’  Then he goes on, ’Therefore my beloved brethren be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.’”

“Yes; and let us all heed that exhortation,” said the captain.  “Evelyn, you seem to have a text ready.  Will you please read it?”

“These words of Jesus,” she said, “’I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you,’ are they not words to be thankful for?”

“They are, indeed!” he said.  “What can be more comforting than the presence of the Master?  His presence and his love.  ’He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me:  and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.’  Ah! what is there more worthy to be thankful for than the love of Christ!  But when should we give thanks, Walter?”

“Always, sir.  Here in Ephesians I read, ’Giving thanks always for all things unto God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.’  Again in first Thessalonians, ’We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.’”

Then Sydney, Lucilla, and Grace read in turn: 

“’Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks; for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.’”

“’And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.’”