,,christie1 ,,the ,,king',s ,,servant ,a ,sequel to ',christie's ,old ,organ' ,by ,,mrs4 ,o4,f4 ,,walton ,,author ,,of ',,christie',s ,,old ,,organ' ',a ,,peep ,,behind ,,the ,,scenes' ',,the ,,king',s ,,cupbearer' ',,shadows' ,,etc ,,etc ,illustration ,contents ,,chapter ,i ,,runswick ,,bay ,,ii ,,little ,,john ,,iii ,,strange ,,music ,,iv ,,what ,,are ,,you8 ,v ,,the ,,runswick ,,sports ,,vi ,,the ,,tug ,,of ,,war ,,vii ,,over ,,the ,,line ,,viii ,a ,,night ,,of ,,storm ,,ix ,,ask ,,what ,,ye ,,will ,x ,,we ,,know ,,xi ,,little ,,jack ,,and ,,big ,,jack ,,xii ,,where ,,are ,,you ,,going8 ,illustration ,chapter ,i ,,runswick ,,bay ,it was the yellow ragwort that did it6 ,i have discovered the clue at last4 ,all night long ,i have been dreaming of ,runswick ,bay4 ,i have been climbing the rocks1 talking to the fishermen1 picking my way over the masses of slippery seaweed1 and breathing the fresh briny air4 ,and all the morning ,i have been saying to myself1 ',what can have made me dream of ,runswick ,bay8 ,what can have brought the events of my short stay in that quaint little place so vividly before me8' ,yes1 ,i am convinced of it2 it was that bunch of yellow ragwort on the mantelpiece in my bedroom4 ,my little ,ella gathered it in the lane behind the house yesterday morning1 and brought it in triumphantly1 and seized the best china vase in the drawing-room1 and filled it with water at the tap1 and thrust the great yellow bunch into it4 ',oh1 ,ella1' said ,florence1 her elder sister1 'what ugly common flowers6 ,how could you put them in mother's best vase1 that ,aunt ,alice gave her on her birthday6 ,what a silly child you are6' ',i'm not a silly child1' aid ,ella stoutly1 'and mother is sure to like them2 ,i know she will4 ,she won't call them common flowers4 ,she loves all yellow flowers4 ,she said so when ,i brought her the daffodils2 and these are yellower1 ever so much yellower4' ,her mother came in at this moment1 and1 taking our little girl on her knee1 she told her that she was quite right2 they were very beautiful in her eyes1 and she would put them at once in her own room1 where she could have them all to herself4 ,and that is how it came about1 that1 as ,i lay in bed1 the last thing my eyes fell upon was ,ella's bunch of yellow ragwort2 and what could be more natural than that ,i should go to sleep and dream of ,runswick ,bay8 ,it seems only yesterday that ,i was there1 so clearly can ,i recall it1 and yet it must be twenty years ago4 ,i think ,i must write an account of my visit to ,runswick ,bay and give it to ,ella1 as it was her yellow flowers which took me back to the picturesque little place4 ,if she cannot understand all ,i tell her now1 she will learn to do so as she grows older4 ,i was a young man then1 just beginning to make my way as an artist4 ,it is slow work at first2 until you have made a name1 every one looks critically at your work2 when once you have been pronounced a rising artist1 every daub from your brush has a good market value4 ,i had had much uphill work1 but ,i loved my profession for its own sake1 and ,i worked on patiently1 and1 at the time my story begins1 several of my pictures had sold for fair prices1 and ,i was not without hope that ,i might soon find a place in the ,academy4 ,it was an unusually hot summer1 and ,london was emptying fast4 ,every one who could afford it was going either to the moors or to the sea1 and ,i felt very much inclined to follow their example4 ,my father and mother had died when ,i was quite a child1 and the maiden aunt who had brought me up had just passed away1 and ,i had mourned her death very deeply1 for she had been both father and mother to me4 ,i felt that ,i needed change of scene1 for ,i had been up for many nights with her during her last illness1 and ,i had had my rest broken for so long1 that ,i found it very difficult to sleep1 and in many ways ,i was far from well4 ,my aunt had left all her little property to me1 so that the means to leave ,london and to take a suitable holiday were not wanting4 ,the question was1 where should ,i go8 ,i was anxious to combine1 if possible1 pleasure and business--that is to say1 ,i wished to choose some quiet place where ,i could get bracing air and thorough change of scene1 and where ,i could also find studies for my new picture1 which was 7at least1 so ,i fondly dreamed7 to find a place in the ,academy the following spring4 ,it was whilst ,i was looking for a suitable spot that ,tom ,bernard1 my great friend and confidant1 found one for me4 ',jack1 old fellow1' he said1 thrusting a torn newspaper into my hand1 'read that1 old man4' ,the newspaper was doubled down tightly1 and a great red cross of ,tom's making showed me the part he wished me to read4 ,,runswick ,,bay4 ,this charming seaside resort is not half so well known as it deserves to be4 ,for the lover of the beautiful1 for the man with an artistic eye1 it possesses a charm which words would fail to describe4 ,the little bay is a favourite resort for artists2 they1 at least1 know how to appreciate its beauties4 ,it would be well for any who may desire to visit this wonderfully picturesque and enchanting spot to secure hotel or lodging-house accommodation as early as possible1 for the demand for rooms is1 in ,august and ,september1 far greater than the supply4 ',well1 what do you think of it8' said ,tom4 ',it sounds just the thing1' ,i said2 'fresh air and plenty to paint4' ',shall you go8' ',yes1 to-morrow1' ,i replied2 'the sooner the better4' ,my bag was soon packed1 my easel and painting materials were collected1 and the very next morning ,i was on my way into ,yorkshire4 ,it was evening when ,i reached the end of my long1 tiring railway journey2 and when1 hot and dusty1 ,i alighted at a village which lay about two miles from my destination4 ,i saw no sign of beauty as ,i walked from the station2 the country was slightly undulating in parts1 but as a rule nothing met my gaze but a long flat stretch of field after field1 covered1 as the case might be1 with grass or corn4 ,harebells and pink campion grew on the banks1 and the meadows were full of ox-eye daisies2 but ,i saw nothing besides that was in the least attractive1 and certainly nothing of which ,i could make a picture4 ,a family from ,york had come by the same train1 and ,i had learnt from their conversation that they had engaged lodgings for a month at ,runswick ,bay4 ,the children1 two boys of ten and twelve1 and a little fair-haired girl a year or two younger1 were full of excitement on their arrival4 ',father1 where is the sea8' they cried4 ',oh1 we do want to see the sea6' ',run on1' said their father1 'and you will soon see it4' ,so we ran together1 for ,i felt myself a child again as ,i watched them1 and if ever ,i lagged behind1 one or other of them would turn round and cry1 ',come on1 come on2 we shall soon see it4' ,then1 suddenly1 we came to the edge of the high cliff1 and the sea in all its beauty and loveliness burst upon us4 ,the small bay was shut in by rocks on either side1 and on the descent of the steep cliff was built the little fishing village4 ,i think ,i have never seen a prettier place4 ,the children were already running down the steep1 rocky path--,i cannot call it a road--which led down to the sea1 and ,i followed more slowly behind them4 ,it was the most curiously built place4 ,the fishermen's cottages were perched on the rock1 wherever a ledge or standing place could be found4 ,steep1 narrow paths1 or small flights of rock-hewn steps1 led from one to another4 ,there was no street in the whole place2 there could be none1 for there were hardly two houses which stood on the same level4 ,to take a walk through this quaint village was to go up and down stairs the whole time4 ,at last1 after a long1 downward scramble1 ,i found myself on the shore1 and then ,i looked back at the cliff and at the irregular little town4 ,i did not wonder that artists were to be found there4 ,i had counted four as ,i came down the hill1 perched on different platforms on the rock1 and all hard at work at their easels4 ,yes1 it was certainly a picturesque place1 and ,i was glad that ,i had come4 ,the colouring was charming3 there was red rock in the background1 here and there covered with grass1 and ablaze with flowers4 ,wild roses and poppies1 pink-thrift and white daisies1 all contributed to make the old rock gay4 ,but the yellow ragwort was all over2 great patches of it grew even on the margin of the sand1 and its bright flowers gave the whole place a golden colouring4 ,there seemed to be yellow everywhere1 and the red-tiled cottages1 and the fishermen in their blue jerseys1 and the countless flights of steps1 all appeared to be framed in the brightest gilt4 ,yes1 ,i felt sure ,i should find something to paint in ,runswick ,bay4 ,i was not disappointed in ,tom's choice for me4 ,illustration ,chapter ,,ii ,,little ,,john ,after admiring the beauties of my new surroundings for some little time1 ,i felt that ,i must begin to look for quarters4 ,i was anxious1 if possible1 to find a lodging in one of the cottages1 and then1 after a good night's rest1 ,i would carefully select a good subject for my picture4 ,i called at several houses1 where ,i noticed a card in the window announcing ,apartments to ,let1 but ,i met the same answer everywhere1 ',full1 sir1 quite full4' ,in one place ,i was offered a bed in the kitchen1 but the whole place smelt so strongly of fried herrings and of fish oil1 that ,i felt it would be far more pleasant to sleep on the beach than to attempt to do so in that close and unwholesome atmosphere4 ,after wandering up and down for some time1 ,i passed a house close to the village green1 and saw the children with whom ,i had travelled sitting at tea close to the open window4 ,they1 too1 were eating herrings1 and the smell made me hungry4 ,i began to feel that it was time ,i had something to eat1 and ,i thought my best plan would be to retrace my steps to the hotel which ,i had passed on my way1 and which stood at the very top of the high cliff4 ,i turned a little lazy when ,i thought of the climb1 for ,i was tired with my journey1 and1 as ,i said before1 ,i was not very strong1 and to drag my bag and easel up the rugged ascent would require a mighty effort at the best of times4 ,i noticed that wooden benches had been placed here and there on the different platforms of the rock1 for the convenience of the fishermen1 and ,i determined to rest for a quarter of an hour on one of them before retracing my steps up the steep hill to the hotel4 ,the fishermen were filling most of the seats1 sitting side by side1 row after row of them1 talking together1 and looking down at the beach below4 ,as ,i gazed up at them1 they looked to me like so many blue birds perched on the steep rock4 ,there was one seat in a quiet corner which ,i noticed was empty4 ,i went to it1 and laying my knapsack and other belongings beside me1 ,i sat down to rest4 ,but ,i was not long to remain alone4 ,a minute afterwards a young fisherman1 dressed like his mates in blue jersey and oilskin cap1 planted himself on the other end of the seat which ,i had selected4 ',good-day1 sir1' he said4 ',what do you think of our bay8' ',it's a pretty place1 very pretty1' ,i said4 ',i like it well enough now1 but ,i daresay ,i shall like it better still to-morrow4' ',better still to-morrow1' he repeated2 'well1 it is the better for knowing1 in my opinion1 sir1 and ,i ought to know1 if any one should1 for ,i've lived my lifetime here4' ,i turned to look at him as he spoke1 and ,i felt at once that ,i had come across one of ,nature's gentlemen4 ,he was a fine specimen of an honest ,english fisherman1 with dark eyes and hair1 and with a sunny smile on his weather-beaten1 sunburnt face4 ,you had only to look at the man to feel sure that you could trust him1 and that1 like ,nathanael1 there was no guile in him4 ',i wonder if you could help me1' ,i said2 ',i want to find a room here if ,i can1 but every place seems so full4' ',yes1 it is full1 sir1 in ,august2 that's the main time here4 ,let me see1 there's ,brown's1 they're full1 and ,robinson's1 and ,wilson's1 and ,thomson's1 all full up4 ,there's ,giles'1 they have a room1 ,i believe1 but they're not over clean2 maybe you're particular1 sir4' ',well1' ,i said1 ',i do like things clean2 ,i don't mind how rough they are if they're only clean4' ',ah1' he said1 with a twinkle in his eye2 'you wouldn't care for one pan to do all the work of the house--to boil the dirty clothes1 and the fish1 and your bit of pudding for dinner1 and not overmuch cleaning of it in between4' ',no1' ,i said1 laughing2 ',i should not like that1 certainly4' ',might give the pudding a flavour of stockings1 and a sauce of fish oil1' he answered4 ',well1 you're right1 sir2 ,i shouldn't like it myself4 ,cleanliness is next to godliness1 that's my idea4 ,well1 then1 that being as it is1 ,i wouldn't go to ,giles'1 not if them is your sentiments with regard to pans1 sir4' ',then ,i suppose there's nothing for it but to trudge up to the hotel at the top of the hill1' ,i said1 with something of a groan4 ',well1 sir1' he said1 hesitating a little2 'me and my missus1 we have a room as we lets sometimes1 but it's a poor place1 sir1 homely like1 as ye may say4 ,maybe you wouldn't put up with it4' ',would you let me see it8' ,i asked4 ',with pleasure1 sir2 it's rough1 but it's clean4 ,we could promise you a clean pan1 sir4 ,my missus she's a good one for cleaning2 she's not one of them slatternly1 good-for-nothing lasses4 ,there's heaps of them here1 sir1 idling away their time4 ,she's a good girl is my ,polly4 ,why1 if that isn't little ,john a-clambering up the steps to his daddy6' ,he jumped up as he said this1 and ran quickly down the steep flight of steps which led down from the height on which the seat was placed1 and soon returned with a little lad about two years old in his arms4 ,the child was as fair as his father was dark4 ,he was a pretty boy with light hair and blue eyes1 and was tidily dressed in a bright red cap and clean white-pinafore4 ',tea's ready1 daddy1' said the boy2 'come home with little ,john4' ',maybe you wouldn't object to a cup o' tea1 sir1' said the father1 turning to me2 'it'll hearten you up a bit after your journey1 and there's sure to be herrings4 ,we almost lives on herrings here1 sir1 and then1 if you're so minded1 you can look at the room after4 ,ye'll excuse me if ,i make too bold1 sir1' he added1 as he gently patted little ,john's tiny hand1 which rested on his arm4 ',i shall be only too glad to come1' ,i said2 'for ,i am very hungry1 and if ,polly's room is as nice as ,i think it will be1 it will be just the place for me4' ,he walked in front of me1 up and down several flights of steps1 until1 at some little distance lower down the hill1 he stopped before a small cottage4 ,sure enough there were herrings1 frying and spluttering on the fire1 and there too was ,polly herself1 arrayed in a clean white apron1 and turning the herrings with a fork4 ,the kitchen was very low1 and the rafters seemed resting on my head as ,i entered2 but the window and door were both wide open1 and the whole place struck me as being wonderfully sweet and clean4 ,a low wooden settle stood by the fire1 one or two plain deal chairs by the wall1 and little ,john's three-legged stool was placed close to his father's arm-chair4 ,a small shelf above the fireplace held the family library4 ,i noticed a ,bible1 a hymn-book1 a ,pilgrim's ,progress1 and several other books1 all of which had seen their best days and were doubtless in constant use4 ,on the walls were prints in wooden frames and much discoloured by the turf smoke of the fire4 ,upon a carved old oak cupboard1 which held the clothes of the family1 were arranged various rare shells and stones1 curious sea-urchins and other treasures of the sea1 and in the centre1 the chief ornament of the house and the pride of ,polly's heart1 a ship1 carved and rigged by ,duncan himself1 and preserved carefully under a glass shade4 ,polly gave me a hearty ,yorkshire welcome1 and we soon gathered about the small round table4 ,duncan1 with little ,john on his knee1 asked a blessing1 and ,polly poured out the tea1 and we all did justice to the meal4 ,the more ,i saw of these honest people1 the more ,i liked them and felt inclined to trust them4 ,when tea was over1 ,polly took me to see the guest-chamber in which her husband had offered me a bed4 ,it was a low room in the roof1 containing a plain wooden bedstead1 one chair1 a small wash-hand stand1 and a square of looking-glass hanging on the wall4 ,there was no other furniture1 and1 indeed1 there was room for no other1 and the room was unadorned except by three or four funeral cards in dismal black frames1 which were hanging at different heights on the wall opposite the bed4 ,but the square casement window was thrown wide open1 and the pure sea air filled the little room1 and the coarse white coverings of the bed were spotless1 and1 indeed1 the whole place looked and felt both fresh and clean4 ',you'll pardon me1 sir1' said ,duncan1 'for asking you to look at such a poor place4' ',but ,i like it1 ,duncan1' ,i answered1 'and ,i like you1 and ,i like your wife1 and if you will have me as a lodger1 ,i am willing and glad to stay4' ,the terms were soon agreed upon to the satisfaction of both parties1 and then all things being settled1 ,polly went to put little ,john to bed whilst ,i went with ,duncan to see his boat4 ,it was an old boat1 and it had been his father's before him1 and it had weathered many a storm2 but it was the dream of ,duncan's life to buy a new one1 and he and ,polly had nearly saved up money enough for it4 ',that's why me and the missus is glad to get a lodger now and again1' he said2 'it all goes to the boat1 every penny of it4 ,we mean to call her ,the ,little ,john4 ,he's going in her the very first voyage she takes2 he is indeed1 sir1 for he'll be her captain one day1 please ,god1 little ,john will4' ,it was a calm1 beautiful evening2 the sea was like a sheet of glass4 ,hardly a ripple was breaking on the shore4 ,the sun was setting behind the cliff1 and the fishing village would soon be in darkness4 ,the fishermen were leaving their cottages and were making for the shore4 ,already some of the boats were launched1 and the men were throwing in their nets and fishing-tackle1 and were pulling out to sea4 ,i enjoyed watching my new friend making his preparations4 ,his three mates brought out the nets1 and he gave his orders with a tone of command4 ,he was the owner and the captain of the ,mary ,ann1 and the rest were accustomed to do his bidding4 ,when all were on board1 ,duncan himself jumped in and gave the word to push from shore4 ,he nodded to me and bid me good-night1 and when he was a little way from shore1 ,i saw him stand up in the boat and wave his oil-skin cap to some one above me on the cliff4 ,i looked up1 and saw ,polly standing on the rock overhanging the shore with little ,john in his white nightgown in her arms4 ,he was waving his red cap to his father1 and continued to do so till the boat was out of sight4 ,chapter ,,iii ,,strange ,,music ,i slept well in my strange little bedroom1 although ,i was awakened early by the sunlight streaming in at the window4 ,i jumped up and looked out4 ,the sun was rising over the sea1 and a flood of golden light was streaming across it4 ,i dressed quickly and went out4 ,very few people were about1 for the fishermen had not yet returned from their night's fishing4 ,the cliff looked even more beautiful than the night before1 for every bit of colouring stood out clear and distinct in the sunshine4 ',i shall get my best effects in the morning1' ,i said to myself1 'and ,i had better choose my subject at once1 so that after breakfast ,i may be able to begin without delay4' ,how many steps ,i went up1 and how many ,i went down1 before ,i came to a decision1 it would be impossible to tell2 but at last ,i found a place which seemed to me to be the very gem of the whole village4 ,an old disused boat stood in the foreground1 and over this a large fishing net1 covered with floats1 was spread to dry4 ,behind rose the rocks1 covered with tufts of grass1 patches of gorse1 tall yellow mustard plants and golden ragwort1 and at the top of a steep flight of rock-hewn steps stood a white cottage with red-tiled roof1 the little garden in front of it gay with hollyhocks and dahlias4 ,a group of barefooted children were standing by the gate feeding some chickens and ducks1 a large dog was lying asleep at the top of the steps1 and a black cat was basking in the morning sunshine on the low garden wall4 ,it was1 to my mind1 an extremely pretty scene1 and it made me long to be busy with my brush4 ,i hurried back to my lodging1 and found ,polly preparing my breakfast1 whilst little ,john looked on4 ,he was sitting in his nightgown1 curled up in his father's armchair4 ',i'm daddy1' he called out to me as ,i came in4 ,there was a little round table laid ready for me1 and covered with a spotlessly clean cloth1 and on it was a small black teapot1 and a white and gold cup and saucer1 upon which ,i saw the golden announcement1 ',a present from ,whitby1' whilst my plate was adorned with a remarkable picture of ,whitby ,abbey in a thunderstorm4 ,there were herrings1 of course1 and ,polly had made some hot cakes1 the like of which are never seen outside ,yorkshire4 ,these were ready buttered1 and were lying wrapped in a clean cloth in front of the fire4 ,polly made the tea as soon as ,i entered1 and then retired with little ,john in her arms into the bedroom1 whilst ,i sat down with a good appetite to my breakfast4 ,i had not quite finished my meal when ,i heard a great shout from the shore4 ,women and children1 lads and lasses1 ran past the open door1 crying1 ',the boats6 the boats6' ,polly came flying into the kitchen1 caught up little ,john's red cap1 thrust it on his head1 and ran down the steps4 ,i left my breakfast unfinished1 and followed them4 ,it was a pretty sight4 ,the fishing-boats were just nearing shore1 and almost every one in the place had turned out to meet them4 ,wives1 children1 and visitors were gathered on the small landing place2 most had dishes or plates in their hands1 for the herrings could be bought straight from the boats4 ,the family from ,york were there1 and they greeted me as an old friend4 ,when the little village had been abundantly supplied with fish1 the rest of the herrings were packed up and sent off by train to be sold elsewhere4 ,it was a pretty animated scene1 and ,i wished ,i had brought my sketchbook with me4 ,i thought the arrival of the fishing boats would make a splendid subject for a picture4 ,duncan was too busy even to see me till the fish were all landed1 counted1 and disposed of1 but he had time for a word with little ,john1 and as ,i was finishing my breakfast he came in with the child perched on his shoulder4 ',good morning1 sir1' he said2 'and how do you like our bay this morning8' ,my answer fully satisfied him1 and whilst he sat down to his morning meal ,i went out to begin my work4 ,it was a lovely day1 and ,i thoroughly enjoyed the prospect before me4 ,i found a shady place just under the wall of a house1 where my picture would be in sunlight and ,i and my easel in shadow4 ,i liked the spot ,i had chosen even better than ,i had done before breakfast1 and ,i was soon hard at work4 ,i had sketched in my picture1 and was beginning to paint1 when ,i became conscious of the sound of voices just over my head1 and ,i soon became equally conscious that they were talking about me4 ',it's just like it1' said one voice4 ',look--do look4 ,there's ,betty ,green's cottage1 and ,minnie the cat1 and the seat1 and the old boat4' ,illustration ',let me see1 ,marjorie1' said another voice2 'is it the old one with white hair and a long1 long beard8' ',no1 it's quite a young one2 his hair's black1 and he hasn't got a beard at all4' ',let me look4 ,yes1 ,i can see him4 ,i like him much better than the old one2 hasn't he got nice red cheeks8' ',hush6 he'll hear1' said the other voice4 ',you naughty boy6 ,i believe he did hear2 ,i saw him laugh4' ,i jumped up at this1 and looked up1 but ,i could see nothing but a garden wall and a thick bushy tree1 which was growing just inside it4 ',hullo1 who's there8' ,i shouted4 ,but there was dead silence2 and as no one appeared1 and nothing more happened1 ,i sat down and went on with my picture4 ,many people passed by as ,i was painting1 and tried to look at what ,i was doing4 ,some glanced out of the corners of their eyes as they walked on2 others paused behind me and silently watched me2 a few made remarks to one another about my picture2 one or two offered suggestions1 thought ,i should have had a better view lower down the hill1 or hoped that ,i would make the colouring vivid enough4 ,the children with whom ,i had travelled seemed to feel a kind of partnership in my picture4 ',let's go and look at our artist1' ,bob would say to ,harry2 'his picture is going to be the best of the lot4' ,they were so fond of watching me1 and so much excited over what ,i was doing1 that1 as time went on1 ,i was often obliged to ask them to move further away1 so eager were they to watch every movement of my brush4 ,i thoroughly enjoyed my morning's work1 and went back very hungry1 and quite ready for the comfortable little dinner which ,polly had prepared for me4 ,in the afternoon the light would be all wrong for my picture2 but ,i determined to sketch in the foreground1 and prepare for my next morning's work4 ,i was very busy upon this1 when suddenly ,i became conscious of music1 if music it could be called4 ,it was the most peculiar sound1 and at first ,i could not find out from whence it came4 ,it was evidently not caused by a wind instrument2 ,i felt sure it was not a concertina or an accordion4 ,this sound would go on for a minute or two1 and then stop suddenly1 only to begin again more loudly a few seconds later4 ,at times ,i distinguished a few bars of a tune1 then only disjointed notes followed4 ,could it be a child strumming idly on a harmonium8 but no1 it was not at all like an instrument of that kind4 ,it was an annoying1 worrying sound1 and it went on for so long that ,i began to be vexed with it1 and stamped my foot impatiently when1 after a short interval1 ,i heard it begin again4 ,the sound seemed to come from behind the wall of the house near which ,i was sitting1 and it was repeated from time to time during the whole of the afternoon4 ,at length1 as the afternoon went on1 ,i began to distinguish what tunes were being attempted4 ,i made out a bar or two of the old ,french ,republican air1 ',the ,marseillaise1' and then ,i was almost startled by what came next1 for it was a tune ,i had known well since ,i was a very little child4 ,it was ',home1 ,sweet ,home1' and that was my mother's favourite tune2 in fact1 ,i never heard it without thinking of her4 ,many and many a time had she sung me to sleep with that tune4 ,i had scarlet fever when ,i was five years old1 and my mother had nursed me through it1 and when ,i was weary and fretful she would sing to me--my pretty fair-haired mother4 ,even as ,i sat before my easel ,i could see her1 as she sat at the foot of my bed1 with the sunshine streaming upon her through the half-darkened window1 and making her look1 to my boyish imagination1 like a beautiful angel4 ,and ,i could hear her voice still2 and the sweet tones in which she sang that very song to me1 ',home1 sweet home1 there's no place like home4' ,i remembered one night especially1 in which she knelt by my bed and prayed that she might meet her boy in the bright city1 the sweet home above the sky which was the best and brightest home of all4 ,i wonder what she would think of me now1 ,i said to myself1 and whether she ever will see me there4 ,i very much doubt it2 it seems to me that ,i am a long way off from ,home1 ,sweet ,home now4 ,my mother had died soon after that illness of mine1 and ,i knew that she had gone to live in that beautiful home of which she had so often spoken to me4 ,and ,i had been left behind1 and my aunt1 who had brought me up1 had cared for none of these things1 and ,i had learnt to look at the world and at life from her worldly standpoint1 and had forgotten to seek first the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,oh6 if my mother only knew1 my pretty1 beautiful mother1 ,i said to myself that day4 ,and then there came the thought1 perhaps she does know1 and the thought made me very uncomfortable4 ,i wished1 more than ever1 that that cracked old instrument1 whatever it was1 would stop4 ,but1 in spite of all my wishes1 the strange sound went on1 and again and again ,i had to listen to ',home1 ,sweet ,home1' and each time that it came it set my memory going1 and brought back to me the words and the looks which ,i thought ,i had forgotten4 ,and it set something else going too--the still1 small voice within1 accusing me of forgetfulness1 not so much of my mother as of my mother's ,god4 ,i began to wish most heartily that ,i had chosen some other spot for my picture4 ,but it was working out so well that ,i felt it would be a great mistake to change1 and ,i hoped that the individual1 man1 woman1 or child1 who had been making that horrible noise might find some other employment to-morrow1 and might leave me in peace4 ,the next day my wishes were fulfilled1 for ,i was not disturbed1 and very little happened except that my picture made progress4 ,then came two wet days1 on which ,i had to paint in my little chamber1 and did not get back to my seat under the wall4 ,i saw a good deal of ,duncan during those wet days4 ,he would come and sit beside me as ,i painted1 and would tell me stories of storms and shipwrecks1 and of the different times when the lifeboat had been sent out1 and of the many lives she had saved4 ',have ye seen her1 sir8 ,you must go and have a look at our boat2 she lies in a house down by the shore1 as trim and tight a little boat as you could wish to see anywhere6' ',i suppose you've been in many a storm yourself1 ,duncan1' ,i said4 ',storms1 sir6 ,i've very near lived in them ever since ,i was born4 ,many and many's the time ,i've never expected to see land again4 ,i didn't care so much when ,i was a young chap4 ,you see1 my father and mother were dead1 and if ,i went to the bottom there was nobody1 as you might say1 to feel it2 but it's different now1 sir1 you see4' ',yes1' ,i said1 'there's ,polly and little ,john4' ',that's just where it is1 sir1 ,polly and little ,john1 bless 'em2 and all the time the wind's raging1 and the waves is coming right over the boat1 ,i'm thinking of my poor lass at home1 and how every gust of wind will be sweeping right over her heart1 and how she'll be kneeling by little ,john's bed1 praying ,god to bring his daddy safe home again4 ,and ,i know1 sir1 as well as ,i know anything1 that when ,god ,almighty hears and answers her prayer1 and brings me safe to land1 ,polly and little ,john will be standing on yon rocks a-straining their eyes for the first sight of the boats1 and then a-running down almost into the water to welcome me home again4 ,yes1 it makes a sight o' difference to a married man1 sir2 doesn't it1 now8 ,it isn't the dying1 ye understand1 it's the leaving behind as ,i think of4 ,i'm not afraid to die1' he added humbly and reverently1 as he took off his oilskin cap4 ',i know whom ,i have believed4' ',you're a plucky fellow1 ,duncan1' ,i said1 'to talk of not being afraid to die4 ,i've just been at a death-bed1 and--' ',and you felt you wouldn't like to be there yourself1' ,duncan went on1 as ,i stopped4 ',well1 maybe not1 it comes nat'ral to us1 sir2 we're born with that feeling1 ,i often think1 and we can no more help it than we can help any other thing we're born with4 ,but what ,i mean to say is1 ,i'm not afraid of what comes after death4 ,it may be a dark tunnel1 sir1 but there's light at the far end6' ,illustration ,chapter ,,iv ,,what ,,are ,,you8 ,on ,saturday of that week the sun shone brightly1 and ,i was up betimes1 had an early breakfast1 and set to work at my picture as soon as possible4 ,i had not been painting long before ,i again heard voices above me1 the same childish voices that ,i had heard before4 ',you give it to him1' said one voice4 ',no1 ,marjorie1 ,i daren't2 you take it4' ',you ought not to be afraid1 because you're a boy1' said the first speaker2 'father says boys ought always to be brave4' ',but you're big1 ,marjorie1 and big people ought to be braver than little people6' ,there was a long1 whispered conversation after this1 and ,i could not distinguish the words which were spoken4 ,but presently a small piece of pink paper was thrown over the wall1 and fluttered down upon my palette4 ,i caught it up quickly1 to prevent it from sticking to the paints1 and ,i saw there was something printed on it4 ,it ran thus3-- ,there will be a short service on the shore on ,sunday ,morning at #aa o'clock1 when you are earnestly requested to be present4 ,subject3 ,,what ,,are ,,you8 ',thank you1' ,i said aloud4 ',who sent me this8' ,there was no answer at first1 then a little voice just above me said1 ',both of us1 sir4' ',come down and talk to me1' ,i said2 ',i can't talk to children whom ,i can't see4 ,come out here and look at my picture4' ,they came out presently hand in hand1 a little girl of five in a blue tam-o'-shanter cap1 a pale pink frock1 and a white pinafore1 and a boy of three1 the merriest1 most sturdy little fellow ,i thought ,i had ever seen4 ,his face was as round and rosy as an apple1 his eyes were dark blue1 and had the happiest and most roguish expression that it would be possible for eyes to have4 ,when the child laughed 7and whenever was he not laughing871 every part of his face laughed together4 ,his eyes began it1 his lips followed suit1 even his nose was pressed into the service4 ,if a sunbeam could be caught and dressed up like a little boy1 ,i think it would look something like that child4 ',now1' ,i said1 'that's right2 ,i like to see children's faces when ,i talk to them2 tell me your names to begin with4' ',i'm ,marjorie1 sir1' said the little girl1 'and he's ,jack4' ',jack6' ,i said2 'that's my name1 and a nice name too1 isn't it1 little ,jack8 ,come and look at my picture1 little ,jack1 and see if you think big ,jack knows how to paint4' ,by degrees they grew more at their ease1 and chatted freely with me4 ,marjorie told me that her father had sent the paper4 ,father was going to preach on ,sunday2 he preached every ,sunday1 and numbers of people came1 and ,jack was in the choir4 ,what a dear little chorister1 to be sure1 a chubby little cherub if ever there was one6 ',shall you come1 big ,jack8' he said1 patting my hand with his strong1 sturdy little fist4 ',i don't know1' ,i said2 'if it's a fine day1 perhaps ,i shall want to get on with my picture4' ',on ,sunday8' said the child in a shocked voice2 'it's on ,sunday father preaches1 and you couldn't paint on ,sunday1 could you8' ',well1 ,i'll see1' ,i said2 'perhaps ,i'll come and hear you sing1 little ,jack4' ',thank you1 big ,jack1' he said1 with a merry twinkle in his pretty blue eyes4 ',what is this preaching on the shore1 ,duncan8' ,i asked4 ',oh1 it's our lay preacher1' he said2 'he's a good man1 and has done a sight of good in this place4 ,you see1 it's too far for folks here to go to church1 and so he lives amongst us1 and has meetings in the hall yonder in winter1 and in summer1 why1 we have 'em on the shore1 and the visitors comes mostly4 ,there's a few won't come1 but we get the best of them1 and we have some fine singing--real nice it is6 ,i'm in the choir myself1 sir1' he said2 'you wouldn't think it1 but ,i am4 ,i've got a good strong voice1 too6' ,it must be a choir worth seeing1 ,i thought1 if it contained two such strange contrasts1 the big burly fisherman and the tiny child who had invited me to be present4 ,i had not quite made up my mind to go4 ,i had not been to a service for many months1 ,i might almost say years4 ,i had slipped out of it lately1 and ,i thought ,i should feel myself a fish out of water4 ,however1 when the next day came1 every one seemed to take it as a matter of course that ,i should be going4 ,polly was up early1 and had dressed little ,john in his best4 ',you'll see him at church1 sir1' she said1 as she laid my breakfast2 'he always likes to go to church1 and he's as good as gold1 bless him6' ,duncan was out before ,i was up1 and ,i had seen him1 as ,i was dressing1 going round to the fishermen sitting as usual on the seats on the cliff1 with a bundle of pink papers in his hand1 similar to the one which had been given me1 and distributing them to every group of his mates which he came across4 ,yes1 ,i felt that ,i was expected to go1 and it would be hard work to keep away4 ,but if ,i had still had any doubt about the matter1 it would have surely disappeared when at half-past ten exactly a tiny couple came toiling hand in hand up the steps leading to ,duncan's door1 and announced to ,polly that they had come to call for big ,mr4 ,jack to go to church4 ,it was ,marjorie and her little brother1 and the small ,jack put his little fat hand into that of big ,jack1 and led him triumphantly away4 ,it was a pretty sight to see that congregation gathering on the village green4 ,from the fishermen's cottages there came a stream of people down to the shore1--mothers with babies in their arms and leading young children by the hand1 groups of boys and girls wearing shoes and stockings who had been barefooted all the week1 many a weather-beaten sailor1 many a sunburnt fisher lad1 many elderly people too1 old men1 and white-haired women in closely-plaited white caps4 ,there were visitors1 too1 coming down from the rocks1 and these mostly kept in the background1 and had at first an air of watching the movement rather than joining in it4 ,my ,york friends were1 however1 well to the front1 and the children nodded to me1 and smiled at one another as they saw me led like a lamb to the service by my two small guardians4 ,it was a lovely day1 and the sandy ground was dry1 and the congregation sat on the rough coarse grass or perched on the sand hillocks round4 ,as for the old boat1 it was occupied by the choir1 and little ,jack1 having seen me safely to the spot1 climbed into it and stood proudly in the stern4 ,he had a hymn-book in his hand1 which ,i knew he could not read1 for he was holding it upside down1 but he looked at it as long and as earnestly as if he could understand every word4 ,marjorie planted herself beside me1 ,i suppose to watch me1 in case ,i showed signs of running away before the service was over4 ,then just before eleven1 and when quite a large company of people had gathered on the green1 her father arrived4 ,he was a man of about forty1 and his face gave me the impression that he had known trouble1 and yet ,i fancied as ,i looked further at him that the trouble1 whatever it was1 had ended4 ,he seemed to me like one who has come out of a sharp storm1 and has anchored in a quiet haven4 ,for whilst ,i noticed in his face the traces of heavy sorrow1 still at the same time he looked happier and more peaceful than any of those who stood round him2 in fact1 it was the most restful face ,i had ever seen4 ,he was not an educated man1 nor was he what men call a gentleman1 and yet there was a refinement about him which made one feel at once that he was no common man1 and had no common history4 ,his face was so interesting to me1 that ,i am afraid ,i was gazing at him instead of finding the hymn he had given out1 but ,i was recalled to my duty by his little daughter1 who seized the hymn-book she had given me at the beginning of the service1 found the page for me1 and pointed with her small finger to the place4 ,it was a mission hymn1 sung to a wild1 irregular tune4 ,i daresay ,i should have smiled if ,i had heard it anywhere else1 but it was no laughing matter that morning4 ,as ,i looked at the brown fishermen who had taken off their oilskin caps1 as ,i glanced at the earnest face of the preacher1 as ,i noticed how even children1 like little ,marjorie beside me1 were singing with all their heart and soul the simple plaintive words1 ,i felt strangely solemnized4 ,then came the prayer1 and ,i felt as he prayed that ,one whom we could not see was standing amongst us4 ,it was a very simple prayer1 but it was the outpouring of his heart to ,god1 and many a low ,amen broke from the lips of the fishermen as their hearts went with his4 ,the sermon followed4 ,shall ,i call it a sermon8 ,it was more an appeal than a sermon1 or even an address4 ,there was no attempt at style1 there were no long words or stilted sentences2 it was exactly what his prayer had been1 words spoken out of the abundance of his earnest heart4 ,the prayer had contained the outpouring of his soul to his ,god in heaven2 the words1 to which we listened afterwards contained the outpouring of his soul to us1 his brothers and sisters on earth4 ,there was a great hush over the congregation whilst he spoke4 ,the mothers quieted their babes1 the children sat with their eyes fixed on the speaker2 even those visitors who had been on the outskirts of the crowd drew near to listen4 ',what are you1 dear friends8' he began2 'that is our subject to-day4 ,what are you8 ,how many different answers ,i hear you make1 as you answer my question in your hearts6' ',what am ,i8' you say4 ',i am a fisherman1 a strong active man1 accustomed to toil and danger4' ',i am a mother1 with a large family of little ones1 working hard from morning till night4' ',i am a schoolboy1 learning the lessons which are to fit me to make my way in the world4' ',i am a busy merchant1 toiling hard to make money1 and obliged to come to this quiet place to recruit my wearied energies4' ',i am an artist1 with great ambition of future success4' ',i am an old man1 who has weathered many a storm1 but my work is done now2 ,i am too old to fish1 too tired to toil4' ',i am a gentleman of no occupation1 idling comfortably through a busy world4' ',i'--and here he glanced at his own little ,jack in the stern of the old boat--',i am a tiny child1 with an unknown life all before me4' ',dear friends1 such are some of your answers to my question4 ,can ,i find1 do you think1 one answer1 one description1 which will suit you all--fishermen1 mothers1 boys and girls1 artists1 merchants1 gentlemen1 the old man and the little child8 ,yes1 ,i can4 ,if ,i could hand you each a piece of paper and a pencil this day1 there is one description of yourself which each of you might write1 one occupation which would include you all1 the old1 the young1 the rich and the poor4 ,each of you1 without exception1 might write this--,i am a servant4 ',i1 the speaker1 am a servant2 you who listen1 all of you1 are servants4' ',well1 ,i don't know how he is going to make that out1' ,i said to myself4 ',i thought he was going to say we were all sinners1 and that1 ,i suppose1 we are1 but servants6 ,i do not believe ,i am anybody's servant4' ',all servants1' he went on1 'but not all in the same service4 ,as ,god and the angels look down upon this green to-day they see gathering together a great company of servants1 but they also see that we are not all servants of the same master4 ,they see what we do not see1 a dividing line between us4 ,on one side of the line ,god sees1 and the angels see1 one company of servants--and in ,god's book ,he gives us the name of their master--,servants of sin4 ',on the other side of the line1 ,god sees1 and the angels see1 another company of servants--,servants of ,christ4 ',which company do you belong to1 dear friend8 ,you fishermen on the bank there1 what are you8 ,little child1 what are you8--a servant of sin1 or a servant of ,jesus ,christ8 ,so ,i tried to turn it off from myself1 and to forget the words which had been spoken4 ,and whenever the question came back to me1 the question which the speaker had repeated so often1 ',what are you8' ,i answered it by saying to myself1 ',i am a poor artist1 having a holiday in ,runswick ,bay1 and ,i am not going to trouble my head with gloomy thoughts4' ,polly had prepared an excellent dinner in honour of the day1 and ,i did full justice to it4 ,then ,i determined to walk to ,staithes1 and to spend the rest of the day in seeing the country4 ,i had always been accustomed1 to paint on ,sunday1 but only one of the artists seemed to be at work1 and ,duncan and ,polly had been so much shocked by seeing him1 that ,i did not venture to do the same4 ,i enjoyed the walk along the cliffs1 and came back in good spirits1 having completely shaken off1 as ,i imagined1 the remembrance of the speaker's words4 ,illustration ,chapter ,v ,,the ,,runswick ,,sports ',i've got a big favour to ask of you1 sir1' said ,duncan the next day4 ',you'll not think ,i'm taking a liberty1 will you8' ',certainly not1 ,duncan1' ,i said4 ',what do you want8' ',well1 it's just here1 sir--me and my mates1 we get up some sports every year on the green4 ,we have 'em in ,august1 sir1 just when the visitors are here4 ,they all turn out to see them1 and there's lots of them is very good in subscribing to the prizes4 ,you see1 sir1 there is a many young fellows here1 young chaps who must have something to keep them out of mischief2 when they're not fishing1 they're bound to be after the beer1 if they haven't something to turn their minds and keep them going a bit4 ,and these sports1 why1 they like 'em1 sir2 and a man must keep sober if he's to win a prize--you understand1 sir8' ',yes1 ,duncan1 ,i understand1' ,i said2 'it's first-rate for these young lads1 and for the old lads too1 for the matter of that4 ,i suppose you want a subscription for your prizes8' ,i added1 as ,i handed him half a sovereign4 ',thank ye kindly1 sir1 ,i won't refuse it1 and it's very good of you to help us so largely2 but that isn't what ,i came to ask of you4 ,i hardly like to bother you1 sir1' he said doubtfully4 ',never mind the bother1 ,duncan2 let's hear what you want4' ',well1 it's just here1 sir4 ,could you1 do you think1 make for us some sort of a programme to hang up by the post office there1 for visitors to see8 ,you draw them pictures so quick1 sir1 and--' ',i see1 ,duncan2 you want the programme to be illustrated4 ,i'm your man2 ,i'll do it at once4' ,i was really only too glad to oblige the dear1 honest fellow4 ,he was wonderfully pleased at my ready consent1 and went off at once to procure a board upon which my programme might be fastened4 ,we soon made out together a list of attractions1 and ,i had great pleasure in beautifying and illustrating the catalogue of sports4 ,i headed it thus3-- ,,oyez1 ,,oyez6 ,,runswick ,,athletic ,,sports4 ,then1 from the ,r of ,runswick ,i hung a long fishing net1 covered with floats1 and falling down over a fish basket1 and some lobster-pots1 whilst on the ground were lying a number of fish which had been emptied out of the basket4 ,next followed a list of patrons1 such as3 ,the ,honourable ,o',mackerell1 ,lord ,crabby ,lobster1 ,sir ,c4 ,shrimp1 etc41 etc4 ,then came a list of the various sports1 each profusely illustrated--,the tug of war1 the jockey race1 the women's egg and spoon race1 the sack race1 the greasy pole1 the long jump1 etc42 and lastly1 an announcement of a grand concert to be held in the evening1 as a conclusion of the festivities of the day4 ,duncan was more than satisfied--he was delighted1 and his gratitude knew no bounds4 ,his excitement1 as he carried the board away to hang it in a conspicuous place1 was like the excitement of a child4 ,the whole village seemed to be stirred as the eventful day drew near4 ',are you going to see the great tug1 big ,mr4 ,jack8' my little friend called to me over the wall as ,i was painting4 ,as for the ,york boys1 ,harry and ,bob1 they spent a great part of every day in admiring the programme1 and in bringing other visitors to see and admire the work of their artist4 ,how anxiously ,duncan watched the sky the day before the sports1 and how triumphantly ,polly announced1 when ,i came down to breakfast1 ',a fine day1 sir2 couldn't be finer1 could it now8' ,those village sports were really a pretty sight4 ,i see it all in my mind's eye now4 ,i often wonder ,i have not made a picture of it4 ,the high cliff stretching overhead1 and covered with bushes and bracken1 amongst which nestled the red-tiled cottages4 ,then below the cliff the level green1 covered with strong1 hardy fishermen and their sunburnt wives1 and surrounding the green1 on the sand-hills1 the visitors old and young1 dressed in bright colours and holiday attire4 ,is it too late to paint it from memory1 ,i wonder8 ,i see it all still so distinctly4 ,the sports lasted a long time1 and went off well4 ,polly distinguished herself by winning the egg and spoon race1 much to the joy of little ,john1 who watched all the proceedings from his father's arms4 ,then came the greatest event of all1 the tug of war4 ,a long cable was brought out and stretched across the green1 and a pocket-handkerchief was tied in the centre of it4 ,two stakes were then driven into the ground1 and between these a line was chalked on the grass4 ,the handkerchief was then placed exactly over the line4 ,after this all the fishermen who entered the lists were divided into two parties4 ,then each side laid hold of one end of the rope1 and at a given signal they began to pull4 ,it was a trial of strength2 whichever side could draw the handkerchief past the two stakes and over the line1 that side would win4 ,how tremendously those men pulled6 ,what force they put into it6 ,yet for a long time the rope did not move a single inch4 ,all the strength of those powerful fishermen was put out2 they were lying on the ground1 that their pull might be all the stronger4 ,every sinew1 every nerve1 every muscle seemed to be on the strain1 but so evenly were the two sides matched1 that the rope was motionless1 and it seemed impossible to tell which party would win4 ,little ,john was eagerly watching his father4 ',pull1 daddy1 pull6' ,i heard him cry2 and ,i think ,i was nearly as pleased as he and ,polly were when ,duncan and the mates on his side suddenly made one mighty effort1 and the handkerchief was drawn across the line4 ,there was tremendous cheering after this4 ,polly clapped her hands with delight1 and little ,jack and big ,jack nearly shouted themselves hoarse4 ,it was an interesting sight1 and ,i had reason to remember it afterwards1 as you will see4 ,the evening concert went off as well as the sports had done1 and ,duncan came in at night rather tired1 but well satisfied with the day's proceedings4 ,i enjoyed all the sights at ,runswick ,bay1 but ,i think ,i was particularly charmed with what happened on the day after the sports4 ,all the village was early astir1 and as ,i was dressing1 it seemed to me that every fisherman in the place was hurrying down to the beach4 ,it was not long before ,i followed them to see what they were doing4 ,i found that they were about to draw the crab-boats up from the shore1 to a place where they would be safe from the winter storms4 ,it was hard work1 but every one was there to give a hand4 ,a long string of men and lads laid hold of the strong cable fastened to the boat4 ,even the wives and elder children caught hold of it4 ,i myself went to their help1 and several of the visitors followed my example4 ,then1 when we were all in position1 there came a pause1 for ,duncan1 who was directing the proceedings1 charged us not to pull till the signal was given4 ,then there rose a peculiar cry or yodel1 all the fishermen uttering it together1 and as soon as it ceased we gave our united1 mighty pull4 ,then we paused to take breath1 until once more there came a yodel followed by another pull1 and as this was repeated again and again1 it was grand to see the heavy boat making steady and regular progress4 ,across the heavy sand she came1 up the low bank1 over the rough grass1 slowly1 steadily1 surely1 she moved onward1 until at length she was placed in safety1 far out of reach of the highest tide and the strongest sea4 ,thus1 one after another1 the boats were drawn up1 and we were fairly tired before our work was done4 ,i think it must have been that very day1 that1 as ,i was sitting painting1 ,i once more heard the broken notes of the instrument which had troubled me so much before4 ,it was that tune again1 my mother's tune1 and somehow1 ,i do not know how it was1 with the sound of my mother's tune there came back to my mind the remembrance of the ,sunday service4 ,ah6 my mother was on the right side of the line1 ,i said to myself2 she was a servant of ,christ4 ,but her son6 what is he8 ,i did not want to follow out this subject1 so ,i jumped up from my camp-stool1 and standing under the wall1 ,i called1 ',little ,jack1 little ,jack4' ,the music stopped at once1 and the child came out4 ,dear1 little merry fellow1 how fond ,i was of him already6 ',yes1 ,mr4 big ,jack1' he said1 as he ran out of the gate4 ',come and talk to me1 old chappie1' ,i said1 'whilst ,i paint4 ,who plays music in your house8' ',i do1' said little ,jack4 ',you do1 ,jack8 ,why1 you are a funny little fellow to play music6 ,what do you play on1 and who taught you8' ',nobody teached me1 ,mr4 ,jack1' he said2 ',i teached my own self4' ',teached your own self8 ,why1 how did you manage that8' ,i asked4 ',i turned him round and round and round1 ,mr4 ,jack1 and the music came1 and ,i teached my own self1' he repeated4 ',what is it1 ,jack8' ,i asked4 ',is it an old musical box8' ',no1 it's an organ1 a barrow-organ1 ,mr4 ,jack4' ',oh1 a barrel-organ you mean1 little chappie2 why1 however in the world did you get hold of a barrel-organ8 ,is it a little toy one8' ',no1 it's big1 ever so big1' he said1 stretching out his hands to show me its size4 ',why1 whoever gave you it8' ,i asked4 ',it isn't ,jack's own organ1' said the child4 ',whose is it1 then8' ',it's father's1 father's own organ4' ,it seemed to me a most extraordinary thing for the mission preacher of ,runswick ,bay to have in his possession1 but ,i did not like to ask any more questions at that time4 ,however1 in the afternoon my little friend called to me over1 the wall1 ',big ,mr4 ,jack1 come here4' ',come where1 my little man8' ',come inside and look at father's organ2 ,i'll play it to you1 ,mr4 ,jack4' ',what will father say if ,i come in8' ',father's out4' ',what will mother say8' ',mother's out too4' ,i did not much relish the idea of entering a man's house in his absence1 but such plaintive entreaties came from the other side of the wall4 ,over and over again he pleaded1 ',do come1 ,mr4 ,jack2 do come quick1 ,mr4 ,jack6' that at last1 to please the child1 ,i left my work for a few minutes and went up the steps which led to the gate of their garden4 ,it was only a small place1 but very prettily laid out4 ,there was a tiny lawn1 well kept1 and covered with short1 soft grass1 and in the centre of this a round bed filled with geraniums1 calceolarias1 and lobelias4 ,round the lawn1 at the edge of the garden1 was a border1 in which grew all manner of gay and sweet-smelling flowers4 ,there were asters and mignonette1 sweet-peas and convolvolus1 heliotrope and fuchsias4 ,then in front of me was the pretty cottage1 with two gables and a red-tiled roof1 the walls of which were covered from top to bottom with creeping plants4 ,ivy and jessamine1 climbing roses1 virginia-creeper1 and canariensis1 all helped to make the little place beautiful4 ',what a pretty home you have1 little ,jack6' ,i said4 ,he kept tight hold of my hand1 lest ,i should escape from him1 and led me on--into a tiny entrance hall1 past one or two doors1 down a dark passage1 and into a room at the back4 ,this room had a small bow-window overlooking the sea1 the walls were covered with bookshelves1 a writing-table stood in the window1 and in the corner by the fireplace was the extraordinary object ,i had been brought to see--an extremely ancient and antiquated barrel-organ4 ,what a peculiar thing to come across in a preacher's study6 ,what possible use could he have for it8 ,it was a most dilapidated old instrument1 almost falling to pieces with old age4 ,the shape was so old-fashioned that ,i do not remember ever having seen one like it2 the silk1 which had doubtless once been its adornment1 was torn into shreds1 and it was impossible to tell what its original colour had been2 the wood was worm-eaten and decayed1 and the leg upon which it had rested could no longer support its weight4 ',let me hear you play it1 ,jack1' ,i said4 ,he sat down with great pride to turn the handle1 but ,i noticed that half the notes were broken off the barrel1 which accounted for only fragments of each tune being heard1 whilst many bars of some were wanting altogether4 ,however1 ,jack seemed very proud of his performance1 and insisted on my staying till he had gone through the whole of the four tunes which the poor old thing was supposed to play4 ,he announced their names1 one by one1 as each began4 ',this is ,my ,poor ,mary ,anne1 ,mr4 ,jack1 very sad4' ,then when that was finished1 ',this is the ,old ,hundred1 very old4' ,after this there was a long turning of the handle without any sound being heard1 for the first part of the next tune was gone entirely4 ',i can't say the name of this one1 ,mr4 ,jack1' he explained2 ',marjorie calls its something like ,ma says4' ',oh6 the ,marseillaise1' ,i said1 laughing2 'all right1 little man1 ,i know that4' ',then comes father's tune1 father does like it so4 ,listen1 ,home1 sweet home1 there's no place like home1 there's no place like home4 ,do you like it1 ,mr4 ,jack8' ',yes1 ,i do like it1 ,jack1' ,i said2 ',i knew it when ,i was a little chap like you4' ,as he played1 once more it brought before me my mother's voice and my mother's words4 ,i had not thought of my mother for years so much as ,i had done at ,runswick ,bay4 ,even the old organ brought her back to me1 for she was always kind to organ-grinders4 ,there was an ,italian who used to come round with a barrel-organ when ,i was a little boy4 ,i can see him now4 ,i used to watch for him from my nursery window1 and as soon as he came in sight ,i flew down to my mother for a penny1 and then went into the garden and stood beside him whilst he played4 ,my mother gave me a musical-box on my birthday2 it was in the shape of a barrel-organ1 and had a strap which ,i could hang round my neck4 ,i used to take this box with me1 and standing beside the ,italian1 ,i imitated his every movement1 holding my little organ just as he held his big one1 and playing beside him as long as he remained4 ,so delightful did this man's occupation seem to me1 that ,i can remember quite well when my father asked me one day what ,i would like to be when ,i was a man1 ,i answered without a moment's hesitation1 ',an organ-grinder1 of course1 father4' ,those old boyish days1 how long ago they seemed6 ,what was the use of recalling them8 ,it would not bring back the mother ,i had lost1 or the father who had cared for me1 and it only made me depressed to think of them4 ,what good1 ,i asked myself1 would my holiday do me if ,i spent it in brooding over bygone sorrow8 ,i must forget all this kind of thing1 and cheer up1 and get back my spirits again4 ',now1 little ,jack1' ,i said1 'big ,jack must go back to his picture2 come and climb into the old boat1 and ,i'll see how you would do in the foreground of it4' ,he looked such a merry little rogue1 perched amongst the nets and fishing tackle1 that ,i felt ,i should improve my picture by introducing him into it1 and therefore from that day he came for a certain time every morning to be painted4 ,he was such a good little fellow1 he never moved a limb after ,i told him ,i was ready1 and never spoke unless ,i spoke to him4 ,a more lovable child ,i never saw1 nor a more obedient one4 ,with all his fun1 and in spite of his flow of spirits1 he was checked in a moment by a single word4 ,no one could be dull in his company1 and as the week passed on ,i began to regain my usual cheerfulness1 and to lose the uncomfortable impression left on my mind by the sermon on the shore and the questions the preacher had asked us4 ,illustration ,chapter ,,vi ,,the ,,tug ,,of ,,war ,i had quite made up my mind not to attend the service on the following ,sunday1 and when a pink paper floated down on my easel on the ,saturday morning1 ,i caught it and thrust it into my pocket1 without even looking to see what the subject was to be4 ',have you got it1 ,mr4 ,jack8' said the child's voice above me4 ',all right1 little man1' ,i answered2 'it's all safe and sound4' ,i made my plans for ,sunday with great care4 ,i asked for an early breakfast1 so that ,i might walk over to ,kettleness1 a place about two miles off along the coast1 and which could only be reached at low tide2 and when ,i was once there1 on the other side of the bay1 ,i determined to be in no hurry to return1 but to arrive at ,runswick too late for the service on the sands4 ,if ,duncan and ,polly missed me1 they would simply conclude that ,i had found the walk longer than ,i had expected4 ,but1 as ,i was just ready to set out for ,kettleness1 a tremendous shower came on4 ',you'll never set off in this weather1 sir8' said ,duncan anxiously4 ',oh no1 of course not1' ,i answered lightly4 ,i fancied that he looked more concerned than the occasion warranted1 and ,i feared that he suspected the real reason for my early walk4 ,there was now nothing to be done but to wait till the shower was over1 and by that time ,i found it would be impossible for me to go to ,kettleness without seeming deliberately to avoid the service4 ,the sun came out1 and the sky was quite blue before eleven o'clock1 and the fishermen spread tarpaulins on the sand for the congregation to sit on1 and ,i found myself--,i must say very much against my will--being led to the place by little ,jack4 ',well1 there is no need for me to listen1' ,i said to myself2 ',i will plan out a new picture1 and no one will know where my thoughts are4' ,but1 in spite of my resolution to the contrary1 from the moment that ,jack's father began to speak1 my attention was riveted1 and ,i could not choose but listen4 ',the ,tug of ,war is our subject to-day1 dear friends1' he began1 'and a very suitable subject1 ,i think1 after what we have witnessed on this green during the past week4 ,we have seen1 have we not1 a long pull1 a strong pull1 and a pull all together1 as yon heavy crab boat was dragged up from the beach8 ,how well she came1 what progress she made6 with each yoddel we brought her farther from the sea4 ,we all of us gave a helping hand2 fishermen1 wives1 visitors1 friends1 all laid hold1 and all pulled1 and the work1 hard as it seemed1 was soon accomplished4 ,why8 ,because we were all united4 ,it was a long pull1 a strong pull1 and a pull all together4 ',and now let me bring back to your memory another event during this past week4 ,the place is the same1 our village green1 the same rope is used1 and those who pull are the very same men1 strong1 brawny1 powerful fishermen4 ,yes1 you pulled your very hardest2 if possible you put forth more strength than when the crab boat was drawn up1 and yet1 strange to say1 there was no result1 the rope did not move an inch4 ,what were you pulling8 ,what was the mighty weight that you had to move8 ,what was it that1 for such a long time1 baffled the strength of the strongest among you8 ,the weight you could not move was not a heavy boat1 but a light handkerchief6 ',why was there this difference8 ,why was the handkerchief harder to move than the boat8 ,the answer to that question was to be found at the other end of the green4 ,there were other pullers at the rope that day1 pulling with all their might in an exactly opposite direction4 ,it was not a united pull1 and therefore for a long time there was no result1 and we watched on1 until at length one side was proved the strongest1 and the handkerchief was drawn by them triumphantly across the line4 ',to-day1 dear friends1 ,i speak to you of yet another tug of war4 ,the place is the same1 ,runswick ,bay and our village green1 but the weight to be drawn is not a boat1 not a handkerchief2 the weight is a human soul4 ,it is your soul1 my friend1 your immortal soul2 you are the one who is being drawn4 ',and who are the pullers8 ,oh1 how many they are6 ,i myself have my hands on the rope4 ,god only knows how hard ,i am pulling1 striving with all my might1 if possible to draw you1 my friend1 to ,christ4 ,but there are other hands on the rope besides mine4 ,your conscience pulls1 your good old mother pulls1 your little child pulls1 your ,christian mate pulls2 each sermon you hear1 each ,bible class you attend1 each hymn you sing1 each prayer uttered in your presence1 each striving of the ,spirit1 each ,god-given yearning after better things1 each storm you come through1 each danger you escape1 each sickness in your family1 each death in your home1 each deliverance granted you1 gives you a pull ,god-ward1 ,christ-ward1 heaven-ward4 ',yet1 oh1 my dear friend1 you know1 as clearly as you know that you are sitting there1 that1 so far1 ,christ's pullers are drawing in vain4 ,you have never yet1 you know it1 crossed the line which divides the saved from the unsaved4 ,why is this8 ,why1 oh1 why are you so hard to move8 ',oh1 my friend1 do you ask why8 ,surely you know the reason6 ,is it not because there are other hands on the rope1 other pullers drawing in an exactly opposite direction8 ,for ,satan has many an agent1 many a servant1 and he sends forth a great army of soul-pullers4 ,each worldly friend1 each desire of your evil nature1 each temptation to sin1 each longing after wealth1 each sinful suggestion1 gives you a pull1 and a pull the wrong way1 away from safety1 away from ,christ1 away from ,god1 away from heaven1 away from ,home4 ,and towards what8 ,oh1 dear friend1 towards what8 ,what are the depths1 the fearful depths towards which you are being drawn8' ,he said a good deal more1 but ,i did not hear it4 ,that question seemed burnt in with a red-hot iron into my soul4 ,what are the depths1 the fearful depths into which you are being drawn8 ,i could not shake it off4 ,i wished ,i could get away from the green1 but ,jack had brought me close to the boat where the choir stood1 and there was no escape4 ,i should have to sit it out2 it would soon be over1 ,i said to myself4 ,the service ended with a hymn4 ,another of their queer1 wild1 irregular tunes1 ,i thought2 ,i was not going to sing it4 ,but when ,jack saw that ,i did not open my book1 he leant over the side of the boat1 and poked my head with his hymn-book4 ',sing1 big ,mr4 ,jack1 sing1' he said aloud1 and then1 for very shame1 ,i had to find my place and begin4 ,i can still remember the first verse of that hymn1 and ,i think ,i can recall the tune to which they sang it3-- ',oh1 tender and sweet was the ,master's voice1 ,as he lovingly called to me3 ,come over the line6 it is only a step-- ,i am waiting1 ,my child1 for thee6 ,over the line6 ,hear the sweet refrain6 ,angels are chanting the heavenly strain6 ,over the line6 ,why should ,i remain ,with a step between me and ,jesus8' ,i was heartily glad when the service was over1 and ,i went on the shore at once1 to try to walk the sermon away4 ,but ,i was not so successful as ,i had been the ,sunday before4 ,that question followed me2 the very waves seemed to be repeating it4 ,what are the depths1 the fearful depths1 to which you are being drawn8 ,i had not looked at it in that light before4 ,i had been quite willing to own that ,i was not religious1 that ,i was leading a gay1 easy-going kind of life1 that my ,sundays were spent in bed1 or in novel reading1 or in rowing1 or in some other amusement4 ,i was well aware that ,i looked at these things very differently from what my mother had done1 and ,i had even wondered sometimes1 whether1 if she had been spared to me1 ,i should have been a better fellow than ,i knew myself to be4 ,but as for feeling any real alarm or anxiety with regard to my condition1 such a thought had never for one moment crossed my mind4 ,yet if this man was right1 there was real danger in my position4 ,i was not remaining stationary1 as ,i had thought1 but ,i was being drawn by unseen forces towards something worse1 towards the depths1 the fearful depths1 of which he had spoken4 ,at times ,i wished ,i had never come to ,runswick ,bay to be made so uncomfortable2 at other times ,i wondered if ,i had been brought there on purpose to hear those words4 ,i went back to dinner1 but ,i could not enjoy it1 much to ,polly's distress4 ,the rain fell fast all the afternoon1 and as ,i lay on my bed upstairs ,i heard ,polly washing up1 and singing as she did so the hymn we had had at the service-- ',come over the line to ,me4' ,there seemed no chance of forgetting the words which had made me so uneasy4 ,that night ,i had a strange dream4 ,i thought ,i was once more on the village green4 ,it was a wild1 stormy night1 the wind was blowing hard1 and the rain was falling fast2 yet through the darkness ,i could distinguish crowds of figures gathered on the green4 ,on the side farther from the sea there was a bright light streaming through the darkness4 ,i wondered in my dream what was going on1 and ,i found that it was a tug of war1 taking place in the darkness of the night4 ,i saw the huge cable1 and gradually as ,i watched ,i caught sight of those who were pulling4 ,i walked to the side from which the light streamed1 and there ,i saw a number of holy and beautiful angels with their hands on the rope1 and amongst them ,i distinctly caught sight of my mother4 ,she seemed to be dragging with all her might1 and there was such an earnest1 pleading1 beseeching expression on her dear face that it went to my very heart to look at her4 ,i noticed that close beside her was the preacher1 little ,jack's father1 and behind him was ,duncan4 ,they were all intent on their work1 and took no notice of me1 so ,i walked to the other end of the green1 the one nearest the sea1 that ,i might see who were there4 ,it was very dark at that end of the rope1 but ,i could dimly see evil faces1 and dark1 strange forms1 such as ,i could not describe4 ,those on this side seemed to be having it much their own way1 ,i thought1 for the weight1 whatever it was1 was gradually drawing near to the sea2 and1 lo and behold1 ,i saw that they were close upon a terrible place1 for mighty cliffs stood above the shore1 and they were within a very short distance of a sheer and terrible precipice4 ',what are you dragging8' ,i cried to them4 ,and a thousand voices seemed to answer1 ',a soul6 a soul6' ,then1 as ,i watched on1 ,i saw that the precipice was nearly reached1 and that both those who pulled and the weight they were dragging were on the point of being hurled over1 and suddenly it flashed upon me in my dream that it was my soul for which they were struggling1 and ,i heard the cry of the pullers from the other side of the green1 and it seemed to me that1 with one voice1 they were calling out that terrible question1 ',what are the depths1 the fearful depths1 to which you are being drawn8' ,and through the streaming light ,i saw my mother's face1 and a look of anguish crossed it1 as suddenly the rope broke1 and those who were drawing it on the opposite side went over with a crash1 dragging my soul over with them4 ,i woke in a terror1 and cried out so loudly that ,duncan came running into my room to see what was the matter4 ',nothing1 ,duncan1' ,i said1 ',i was only dreaming2 ,i thought ,i had gone over a precipice4' ',no1 thank ,god1 you're all safe1 sir1' he said4 ',shall ,i open your window a bit8 ,maybe the room's close2 is it8' ',thank you1 ,duncan1' ,i answered2 ',i shall be all right now4 ,i'm so sorry ,i have waked you4' ',you haven't done that1 sir2 me and ,polly have been up all night with the little lad4 ,he's sort of funny1 too1 sir1 burning hot1 and yet he shivers like1 and he clings to his daddy2 so ,i've been walking a mile or two with him up and down our chamber floor1 and ,i heard you skriking out1 and says ,polly1 ,run and see what ails him4 ,so you haven't disturbed me1 sir1 not one little bit1 you haven't4' ,he left me then1 and ,i tried to sleep1 but sleep seemed far from me4 ,i could hear ,duncan's footsteps pacing up and down in the next room2 ,i could hear little ,john's fretful cry2 ,i could hear the rain beating against the casement2 ,i could hear the soughing and whistling of the wind2 ,i could hear ,polly's old eight-day clock striking the hours and the half-hours of that long1 dismal night2 but through it all1 and above it all1 ,i could hear the preacher's question1 ',what are the depths1 the fearful depths1 to which you are being drawn8' ,i found it impossible to close my eyes again1 so ,i drew up the blind1 and1 as morning began to dawn1 ,i watched the pitiless rain and longed for day4 ,the footsteps in the next room ceased as the light came on1 and ,i concluded that the weary child was at last asleep4 ,i wished that ,i was asleep too4 ,i thought how often my mother1 when ,i was a child1 must have walked up and down through long weary nights with me4 ,i wondered whether1 as she did so1 she spent the slow1 tedious hours in praying for her boy1 and then ,i wondered how she would have felt1 and how she would have borne it1 had she known that the child in her arms would grow up to manhood1 living for this world and not for the ,christ she loved4 ,i wondered if she did know this now1 in the far-off land where she dwelt with ,god4 ,i think ,i must have dozed a little after this1 for ,i was suddenly roused by ,polly's cheery voice1 cheery in spite of her bad night1-- ',have a cup of tea1 sir1 it'll do you good4 ,you've not slept over well1 ,duncan says4 ,i'll put it down by your door4' ,i jumped out of bed and brought it in1 feeling very grateful to ,polly1 and ,i drank it before ,i dressed4 ,that's just like a ,yorkshire woman1 ,i thought4 ,my mother came from ,yorkshire4 ',i think it must have been nightmare ,i had last night1 ,polly1' ,i said as ,i finished my breakfast1 and began to put all in order for my morning's work4 ,illustration ,chapter ,,vii ,,over ,,the ,,line ,i was at my painting early the next morning1 for the sun was shining brightly1 and the air was wonderfully clear4 ,my portrait of little ,jack sitting in the boat promised to be a great success4 ,as ,i was hard at work upon it that day1 ,i heard a voice behind me4 ',i never thought my little lad would figure in the ,royal ,academy1' said the voice4 ,it was the voice of ,jack's father--the voice which had moved me so deeply1 the voice which had made me tremble1 only the day before4 ,even as he spoke ,i felt inclined to run away1 lest he should ask me again that terrible question which had been ringing in my ears ever since4 ,even as ,i talked to him about my picture1 and even as he answered in pleasant and friendly tones1 through them all and above them all came the words which were burnt in upon my memory3 ',what are the depths1 the fearful depths1 to which you are being drawn8' ',i hope my children are not troublesome to you1' he said4 ',oh no1' ,i answered2 ',i love to have them here1 and ,jack and ,i are great friends4 ,do you know1' ,i went on1 'he took me into your study the other day8 ,i am afraid ,i was taking a great liberty2 but the little man would hear of no refusal--he wanted me to see the old barrel-organ4' ',what1 my dear old organ6' he answered4 ',yes1 ,jack is nearly as fond of it as his father is4' ',his father8' ,i replied1 for it seemed strange to me that a man of his years should care for what appeared to me scarcely better than a broken toy4 ',that organ has a history1' he said1 as he noticed my surprise2 'if you knew the history1 you would not wonder that ,i love it4 ,i owe all ,i am in this world1 all ,i hope to be in the world to come1 to that poor old organ4 ,some day1 when you have time to listen1 perhaps you may like to hear the story of the organ4' ',thank you1' ,i said2 'the sooner the better4' ',then come and have supper with us to-night4 ,nellie will be very pleased to see you1 and the bairns will be in bed1 and we shall have plenty of time and quiet for story-telling4' ,i accepted his invitation gratefully1 for ,september had come1 and the evenings were growing dark1 and my time hung somewhat heavily on my hands4 ,polly1 ,i think1 was not sorry when she heard ,i was going out1 for ,duncan was away in the boat fishing1 and little ,john was so feverish and restless that she could not put him down even for a moment4 ,the cottage looked very bright and pretty when ,i arrived1 and they gave me a most kind welcome4 ,a small fire was burning in the grate1 for the evenings were becoming chilly4 ,the bow window was hung with ,india-muslin curtains1 tied up with amber ribbon1 the walls were adorned with photographs framed in oak1 the supper table was covered with a snowy cloth1 and a dainty little meal was laid out with the greatest taste and care1 whilst in the centre was a china bowl1 containing the leaves of the creeper which covered the house1 interspersed with yellow bracken and other beautiful leaves1 in every varied shade of their autumn glory4 ,jack's mother was evidently a woman of taste4 ,she had a quiet1 gentle face1 almost sad at times when it was at rest2 but she had ,jack's eyes and ,jack's bright smile1 which lighted up her face1 as a burst of brilliant sunshine will stream suddenly down a dark valley1 and make it a perfect avenue of light4 ,i enjoyed the company of both husband and wife exceedingly1 and as we sat round the table and chatted over our supper all feeling of constraint passed away1 and ,i no longer heard the words of that question which had so troubled me all day long4 ,he did not mention the object for which ,i had come whilst the meal was going on4 ,we talked of ,runswick ,bay and its surroundings1 of the fishermen and their life of danger2 we spoke of the children1 and of my picture1 of my hopes with regard to the ,royal ,academy1 and of many other interesting topics4 ,then the cloth was removed1 and we drew near the fire4 ,i had just said to him1 ',now for your story1' and he was just beginning to tell it1 when1 as ,i sat down in an arm-chair which ,nellie had placed for me by the fire1 my eye fell upon a photograph which was hanging in a frame close to the fireplace4 ,i started from my seat and looked at it4 ,surely ,i could not be mistaken6 ,surely ,i knew every feature of it1 every fold of the dress1 every tiny detail in the face and figure4 ,it was the counterpart of a picture which hung opposite my bed in my ,london home4 ',however on earth did you get that8' ,i cried4 ',why1 it's my mother's picture6' ,i think ,i have never felt more startled than ,i did at that moment4 ,after all the thoughts of yesterday1 after my dream of last night1 after all my recollection of my mother's words to me1 and her prayers for me--after all this1 to see her dear eyes looking at me from the wall of the house of this unknown man1 in this remote1 out-of-the-world spot1 almost frightened me4 ,i did not realize at first that my host was almost as much startled as ,i was4 ',your mother6' he repeated2 'your mother6 ,surely not6 ,do you mean to tell me1' he said1 laying his hand on my arm1 'that your name is ,villiers8' ',of course it is1' ,i said2 ',jack ,villiers4' ',nellie1 ,nellie1' he cried1 for she had gone upstairs to the children1 'come down at once2 who do you think this is1 ,nellie8 ,you will never guess4 ,it is ,jack ,villiers1 the little ,jack you and ,i used to know so well4 ,why1 do you know1' he said1 'our own little ,jack was named after you2 he was indeed1 and we haven't heard of you for years--never since your dear mother died4' ,i was too much astonished at first to ask him any questions1 and he was too much delighted to explain where and how he had known me2 but after a time1 when we had recovered ourselves a little1 we drew our chairs round the fire1 and he began his story4 ',i was a poor little street ,arab once1' he said2 'a forlorn boy with no one to love him or to care for him4 ,but ,i made friends with an old man in the attic of the lodging-house who had a barrel-organ4' ',that barrel-organ8' ,i asked4 ',the very same1' he said1 'and he loved it as if it was a child4 ,when he was too ill to take it out himself1 ,i took it for him1 and that was how ,i first saw your mother4' ',was she married then8' ,i asked4 ',no1' he said with a smile2 'she was quite a little girl1 about the age of our ,marjorie4 ,she used to run to her nursery window as soon as she heard me begin to play4 ,i let her turn the organ one day1 and she said she liked all the tunes1 but she liked ,home1 ,sweet ,home the best of all4' ',did she8' ,i said4 ',yes1 ,i have often heard her sing it2 she sang me to sleep with it many a time4' ',as ,i played it1' he went on1 'she would speak to me of the ,home1 ,sweet ,home above2 child as she was1 she knew the way to that home1 and she soon found out that ,i knew nothing about it4 ,you can't go to heaven if you don't love ,jesus1 organ boy1 she said1 and the tears ran down from her dear little eyes as she said it4 ',i could not forget those words1 and ,i was determined to find out the way to the home of which she spoke4 ',my old master was dying2 he had only another month to live1 and for his sake ,i must learn quickly the way to be saved4 ,i attended a mission service1 and ,i learnt first that no sin can enter the gates of the ,heavenly ,city4 ,but ,i learnt more4 ,i learnt that the blood of ,jesus ,christ1 ,god's ,son1 cleanseth from all sin4 ',your mother taught me a prayer one day when ,i went to see her4 ,i have said that prayer1 morning and evening1 ever since4 ,she gave me a bunch of snowdrops1 tied up with dark green leaves1 and she told me to say as ,i looked at them1 ,wash me1 and ,i shall be whiter than snow4 ,he stopped for a minute or two after this1 and gazed into the fire2 the memory of those old days had stirred him deeply4 ',please go on1' ,i said1 for ,i longed to hear more4 ',she came to our attic after that with her mother2 they came to see my old master1 and she was pleased to see the snowdrops4 ,she told me that day1 that if ,i would only say her prayer ,i should be sure to go to ,home1 ,sweet ,home4 ',very soon after this my old master died1 and on the very day that ,i was following him to the grave ,i saw my poor little friend1 your mother1 ,jack1 in a funeral coach1 following her mother to the same place4 ,then after that she went abroad1 but she did not forget the poor organ boy4 ,she told her father about me1 and he sent money for my education1 and had me trained to be a city missionary in the east of ,london1 to work amongst the very people amongst whom ,i had lived4 ,all ,i am now ,i owe to your grandfather4 ',i did not meet your mother after this for many years1 not until she was married to the clergyman in whose parish ,i worked4 ',strange to say1 we met one day in my old attic1 the very attic where my poor old master had died4 ,she had gone there to visit a sick woman1 and as ,i went in she was reading to her from the very ,testament out of which her mother had read to my old master1 when she had come to see him in that place1 fifteen years before4 ',soon after this we were married1 ,nellie and ,i1 and it was your dear mother who made our little home bright and pretty for us1 and who was there to welcome us to it4 ,how we loved her then1 how we love her still6 ',when you were quite a tiny child1 she would bring you to see us1 and ,nellie used often to say you were the dearest1 prettiest child she had ever known6' ',i don't remember it1' ,i said4 ',no1 you would be too young to remember it2 you were only three years old when your father left ,london for a parish in the country1 and soon after came the news of his death1 and only a year or so later we heard your mother was gone too4 ,it was a sorrowful day1 ,jack1 when that news came4 ',we often wondered about you2 we heard that you had gone to live with an aunt1 but we did not even know her name4 ,we tried to find out more1 but we knew no one in the place where you lived1 and we never heard what had become of you4' ',how strange that ,i should have been brought here to meet you6' ,i said4 ',no1 not strange1' he said reverently2 'it is the hand of ,god4' ,and then--,i could not help it--,i laid my head on my arm as ,i stood against the mantel-piece1 and ,i sobbed like a child4 ,he did not speak for some minutes1 and then he put his arm round me as tenderly as my mother could have done1 and said1 ',what is it1 ,jack8 ,is it talking of your mother that has upset you so8' ',no1' ,i said1 'it isn't that--,i love to talk of her2 ,i love to hear of her2 everything she said is precious to me2 it isn't that4' ',what then8' he said2 'what troubles you1 ,jack8' ',it's the thought that ,i shall never see her again1' ,i said2 ',i know ,i shall not4 ,she went one way and ,i am going another4' ',why not turn round and go her way1 ,jack8' he said cheerily4 ',oh1 ,i can't1' ,i said2 'it's no use--,i can't turn4 ,there are too many hands on the wrong end of the rope4 ,i've been miserable ever since ,i heard you talk of it4 ,i could not sleep last night for thinking of it4 ,what are the depths1 the fearful depths1 to which you are being drawn8 those words have never left me1 night or day1 since you uttered them4 ,i have tried to shake them off1 but ,i can't4' ',don't attempt to shake them off1' he said4 ',oh1 ,jack1 don't try to do it1 for they are the voice of the ,spirit of ,god4 ,but listen to-night to the ,one who is calling you4 ,come over the line--it is only a step4 ,come over the line to ,me4' ',i wish ,i could1' ,i said4 ',you can do it1 and you must do it1 ,jack1' he said firmly1 'before you leave this room4' ',before ,i leave this room8' ',yes1 this very instant1' he said4 ',but how can ,i do it8 ,i don't know how to cross1' ,i said4 ',you are no dead1 lifeless weight on the rope1 like a boat or a handkerchief2 you have a will of your own1 and it remains with you to decide which way you want to be drawn1 ,god-ward1 ,christ-ward1 heaven-ward1 or to the fearful depths of which ,i spoke4 ,god is drawing you very strongly now1 but ,he never forces a man against his will4 ,he puts in your hands the power to decide on which side of the line you will be4 ,which is it to be1 ,jack8' ',well1' ,i said1 ',i will think it over4' ',so many have said1 and their desire to cross the line has cooled down1 and they have been lost4' ',i'll come and have a talk with you another day1 later on in the week1 if we can make it convenient4' ',so ,felix said1 ,when ,i have a more convenient season ,i will send for thee1 but ,felix never did send2 he never crossed the line1 but he was drawn over to the fearful depths4' ',well1 suppose we say to-morrow4 ,it's late now1 and you're tired1 ,i know1 and--' ',god says to-day he said4 ',to-day1 if ye will hear ,his voice1 harden not your hearts4 ,behold1 now is the accepted time1 now is the day of salvation4' ',tell me how ,i can come1' ,i said4 ',come over the line to ,me4 ,there you have it1' he answered4 ',the ,lord calls you1 and you have not far to go4 ,it is only a step4 ,he stands in this room close to you4 ,he holds out ,his arms to you4 ,he does not compel you4 ,he does not force you forward4 ,he calls1 and ,he waits to receive you4 ,jack1 will you come8' ',yes1 ,i will1' ,i said earnestly2 ',i will come4' ,we knelt down together1 and ,i cannot remember the words he said1 but ,i know that whenever ,i read in the ,gospels those words in the first chapter of ,st4 ,john1 ',he brought him to ,jesus1' ,i think of that night4 ,i do not think that ,peter and ,andrew felt the ,lord ,jesus more near them in the booth by the side of the ,jordan than we felt ,him in that little room in ,runswick ,bay4 ,i know ,he was there1 and ,i know something more--,i know that ,i came to ,him4 ,and ,i know that that night1 before we rose from our knees1 ,i crossed the line1 and ,i was able henceforth to take my place amongst the glad1 thankful people who can say1 humbly and yet confidently1 ',we know that we have passed from death unto life4' ,chapter ,,viii ,a ,,night ,,of ,,storm ,it was late when ,i got back to my lodging1 and ,i walked like one in a dream4 ,polly opened the door1 and she seemed troubled about the child4 ,little ,john was evidently in pain1 for ,i heard him moaning as ,i went upstairs4 ',i should get a doctor1 ,polly1' ,i said4 ',so ,duncan says1 sir2 we shall have to send for him in the morning if he's no better4' ,i slept calmly and peacefully1 and ,i woke up to feel that ,i was beginning an entirely new life4 ,henceforth ,i was not my own4 ,i was standing on the heavenward side of the line1 and ,i had taken my place amongst the servants of ,christ4 ,i had never felt so happy before4 ,duncan had set off for the doctor before ,i was down that morning4 ,little ,john was better1 ,polly said1 but was still very feverish1 and would eat nothing4 ,she brought him down before ,i went off to my work1 wrapped in a shawl1 and ,i thought he looked very ill1 but ,i did not like to say so4 ,duncan came in just at that moment1 and the child put out his arms to his father1 and he took him on his knee by the fire1 and when ,i came home to dinner he was still lying there4 ',has the doctor been8' ,i asked4 ',no1 sir2 he was out when ,i called this morning4 ,he had gone to a bad case1 they said1 ten miles off1 but ,i left a message4 ,i hope he'll come before ,i go this evening4 ,i should be more comfortable like if he did4' ,however1 the evening came1 and ,duncan's mates were whistling for him from the shore1 and the doctor had not appeared4 ,the boy was still in his father's arms1 and he was walking up and down the kitchen to soothe him4 ',it's hard to leave him1 sir1' he said1 when he heard the whistle1 'but he seems a bit better1 ,i think1 this afternoon2 he hasn't cried so much1 has he1 ,polly8' ,but ,i saw there were tears in his eyes as he gave the boy to his mother4 ',i'll walk with you to the shore1 ,duncan1' ,i said1 for ,i saw that the poor fellow was very downcast4 ',thank you kindly1 sir1' he answered4 ,i stood on the shore whilst the nets and fishing tackle were put on board1 then he said in a low voice1-- ',it's a comfort to feel you will be near my poor lass to-night1 sir4 ,it cuts me to the heart to leave her2 if anything happens to little ,john1 whatever would me and my missus do6 ,but the ,lord knows1 sir--,he knows1' he repeated1 and he wiped away a tear which fell on my hand as he grasped it4 ,i went back to ,duncan's house1 to find the doctor there4 ,it was influenza and pneumonia1 he said1 and the boy must be kept in one room4 ,he was a very silent man1 and whether he thought it was a serious case or not ,i could not discover4 ,i determined not to go to bed that night1 but to sit up in my room1 in case ,i should be of any use4 ,i was really glad of the quiet time for thought and prayer4 ,i am ashamed to confess that ,i had brought no ,bible with me to ,runswick ,bay2 ,i had not opened a ,bible for years4 ,but when all was quiet in the house ,i stole quietly downstairs1 and brought up ,duncan's ,bible1 which was lying on the top of the oak cupboard below4 ,what a well-worn1 well-read ,bible it was6 ,i wondered if my mother's ,bible had been read like that4 ,there was his name on the title-page1 ',john ,duncan1 from his affectionate father4' ,it had evidently been given to him when a boy1 and underneath the name was written this verse3 ',open ,thou mine eyes1 that ,i may behold wondrous things out of ,thy law4' ,i said that little prayer before ,i began to read1 and ,i have said it ever since each time that ,i have opened my ,bible4 ,about twelve o'clock that night the weather became very stormy4 ,a sudden gale set in1 and in a very short time the sea became lashed into a fury4 ,i have never heard wind like the wind that night4 ,it literally shrieked and moaned as it blew1 and every window and door in the house rattled1 and sometimes ,i felt as if the cottage itself would be swept away4 ',what a time they must be having out at sea6' ,i said to myself4 ,i went to the window1 and putting out my candle1 ,i tried to see out into the darkness2 but ,i could distinguish nothing whatever1 so black was the sky and so tremendous was the rain4 ,it must have been about one o'clock that ,i heard a step on the stairs4 ,i opened my door and went out4 ,it was ,polly4 ',how is he1 ,polly8' ,i asked4 ',very bad1 sir2 very bad1' she said4 ',he doesn't know me now1 and he won't take anything2 and oh1 sir1 do you hear the wind8' ,who could help hearing it8 ,it was raging more furiously every moment1 and the house seemed to rock with the violence of the storm4 ',let me help you1 ,polly1' ,i said2 'let me come and sit with you beside little ,john4' ',well1 sir1 if you would just stay a few minutes whilst ,i fetch ,betty ,green1' she said2 ',i feel as if ,i dursn't be alone any longer1 ,i'm getting that nervous1 what with little ,john talking so queer1 sir1 and the wind blowing so awful1 and his father on the sea6' and ,polly burst into tears4 ',polly1' ,i said1 ',god is on the sea as well as on the land4 ,go and fetch ,betty1 and ,i will sit by the child4' ,she went down and opened the door1 and the wind rushed into the house and up the stairs1 and ,i had to shut the bedroom door hastily to keep it out4 ,then ,i heard ,polly pulling and pulling at it1 and vainly trying to shut it1 and ,i had to go down to help her4 ,she was some minutes away1 for she had difficulty in rousing her neighbour1 and ,i sat beside the unconscious child4 ,he was talking the whole time1 but ,i could distinguish very little of what he said4 ,it seemed to be chiefly about going with his daddy in his boat1 and every now and then he would call out quite loudly1 ',come1 daddy1 come1 daddy1 to little ,john4' ,when ,polly returned with old ,betty1 ,i had again to go down to help them to close the door4 ',what do you think of him1 sir8' said ,polly4 ,i did not like to say what ,i thought1 so ,i answered1 ',well1 perhaps it would be as well to get the doctor to have another look at him4 ,i'll go for him if you like4' ',i don't believe you could manage it1 sir1' said ,betty4 ',you can't stand outside2 me and ,polly has been clinging on to the palings all the way1 and it will be terrible up on the top4' ',shall ,i try1 ,polly8' ,she gave me a grateful look1 but did not answer by words4 ,but the two women gave me so long a description of the way to the doctor's house1 and interrupted each other so often1 and at length both talked together in their eagerness to make it clear to me1 that at the end ,i was more bewildered and hopelessly puzzled than at the beginning1 and ,i determined to go to ,mr4 ,christie before ,i started1 in order to obtain from him full and clear directions4 ,it took me quite ten minutes to reach his house1 and ,i felt as if ,i had gone through a battle when ,i arrived there at length1 quite spent and breathless4 ,i saw a light in the lower room1 and ,i found ,mr4 ,christie and his wife and children sitting in the room where ,i had passed through so much the night before4 ,marjorie and little ,jack were in their nightgowns1 wrapped in a blanket1 and sitting in the same arm-chair4 ,my mother's picture was looking at me from the wall1 and ,i fancied that she smiled at me as ,i came in4 ',what a terrible night6' said ,mrs4 ,christie4 ',the children were so frightened by the noise of the wind in their attic that we brought them down here4' ,i told them my errand1 and ,mr4 ,christie at once offered to go with me for the doctor4 ,i shall never forget that walk as long as ,i live4 ,we could not speak to each other more than a few necessary words1 we were simply fighting with the storm4 ,then1 to our disappointment1 when our long walk was ended1 we found that the doctor was away1 and would probably not return until morning4 ,the walk home was1 if possible1 worse than the walk there1 for the wind was dead against us as we came down the cliff4 ,it had changed somewhat the last hour1 and was now blowing from the north-east4 ',there will be trouble out at sea1' ,mr4 ,christie said1 as we stopped to take breath4 ',and what about the boats8' ,i asked4 ',yes1' he said1 almost with a groan1 'what about the boats8' ,we could see very little out at sea1 though it was beginning to grow light1 but we determined to make our way to the shore1 to see all that it was possible to distinguish4 ,he went home for a moment1 and then followed me to my lodging4 ,polly and her old friend were still watching the child4 ',i think he's a little better1 sir1' she said2 'he's quieter4 ,oh1 ,mr4 ,christie1 ,i am glad to see you1 sir6 ,will you pray1 sir8 ,i think ,i shall hear the wind less if you pray6' ,we knelt down beside the child's bed1 but the noise of the storm almost drowned his voice4 ,at the end of the prayer the child began once more to cry for his father1 so piteously1 so beseechingly1 that at last ,i could bear it no longer1 but ran downstairs1 to be out of the sound of that touching little voice4 ,mr4 ,christie soon followed me1 and we went out together in the grey light of that terrible morning4 ',the child is dying1 ,jack1' he said4 ',oh1 don't say so1 ,mr4 ,christie6' ,i answered2 'dying before his father comes back4' ',god grant he may come back6' he said2 'look at the sea1 ,jack4' ,the sea was dashing wildly against the rocks1 and the noise of the wind was so great we could hardly hear our own voices4 ,in the dim uncertain light we could at length distinguish a group of anxious watchers on the shore4 ,some old fishermen were there trying to hold a telescope steady in the gale1 that they might look across the water for any sign of a boat1 and mothers and wives and sweethearts of the absent fishermen were there also1 with shawls tied over their heads1 and with troubled and tear-stained faces1 peering out into the dismal light of that sorrowful morning4 ,mr4 ,christie and ,i stood near them1 and he spoke from time to time a word of encouragement and hope to the anxious women beside him4 ,as the light increased the wind dropped somewhat1 and the gale seemed to have spent its violence4 ,we were thankful to notice1 that although the sea was still very rough1 and would be so for hours1 the wind was gradually subsiding2 instead of howling and shrieking1 as it had done the whole night long1 it was dying away with gentle moans1 like a child weary with passion who is crying himself to sleep4 ,but still there was no sign of the boats4 ,the women on the shore were wet through1 and ,mr4 ,christie tried to persuade them to go home4 ,their men would want good fires and hot tea on their return1 he told them1 and they ought to make ready for them4 ,i was glad to notice that one by one they followed his advice1 and turned to climb the hill towards their cottages4 ,then we turned also1 and went back to my lodging4 ,we crept into the room1 and found old ,betty asleep in her chair1 and ,polly holding the little hand in hers as the child slept4 ',have the boats come1 sir8' she said as we went in4 ',not yet1 ,polly2 but please ,god they will come soon4' ,we sat down beside her for a little time1 but we presently heard a shout from the shore4 ',thank ,god1' said ,polly1 'he's come6' ,the child seemed in some strange way to have heard that shout1 and to have understood its meaning1 for he opened his eyes and said1 ',come1 daddy1 come to little ,john4' ,we hurried down to the shore1 where a large crowd had already collected4 ,the whole of ,runswick ,bay seemed to have gathered together in that short space of time4 ,we could distinctly see the boats far out at sea1 but wind and tide were with them1 and they1 were coming rapidly nearer4 ,what a night they must have had1 and what a welcome they would receive from the watchers on the shore6 ',how many boats went out last night1 ,bob8' said one man as they drew nearer4 ',there was eight1 ,jem1' he said--'the ,jane ,ann one1 ,lady ,hilda two1 the ,susan three1 the ,mary ,ann four1 ,princess ,alice five1 the ,lightning six1 the ,eliza seven1 the ,alert eight4' ',are you sure1 ,bob8' ',quite sure1 ,i saw them start4' ',well1 there's one missing1 ,jem1' he said2 'catch hold of this glass1 and just you count4' ',one1 two1 three1 four1 five1 six1 seven4' ,there was one missing1 and ,i felt that ,i knew which it was before they came in sight4 ,it was the ,mary ,ann4 ,illustration ,illustration ,chapter ,,ix ,,ask ,,what ,,ye ,,will ,we had run down the hill as quickly as we possibly could1 but we were in no haste to return4 ,we waited until the boats were drawn in1 and the worn-out fishermen had come on shore4 ,they knew nothing of the ,mary ,ann2 they had lost sight of her soon after the beginning of the gale4 ,they told us they had had an awful night1 and had thought they would never reach home in safety4 ',however shall we tell ,polly8' ,i groaned4 ,but a cold hand was laid on mine at that instant1 and ,i turned round to see ,polly herself just behind me4 ,she could wait no longer1 but had run down to the shore to hasten her husband up the hill4 ,she was trembling from head to foot1 and seemed ready to faint4 ,the kind-hearted fishermen crowded round her with words of cheer and comfort4 ',he'll be all right1 my lass1 never fear4 ,he's put into ,saltburn or ,staithes maybe2 these gales they drive so far4 ,he'll be home all safe and sound afore night4' ,but ,polly did not seem to hear them4 ,she stretched out her hands feebly to ,mr4 ,christie and to me as she said3 ',take me home2 ,i can bear it better there4' ,the fishermen turned away sorrowfully1 and there were very few dry eyes amongst the group which we left on the shore4 ,when we reached the house again all was quite still1 and as we entered the bedroom ,i thought the little soul had passed away1 but ,i bent over him to listen and to my relief ,i found he was still breathing4 ,as ,i look back1 ,i hardly know how we lived through that sorrowful day4 ,the doctor came1 and did nothing but shake his head in the ominous way which doctors have when they feel a case is beyond their power4 ,i think ,polly had so little hope herself that she did not care to ask him what his real opinion was4 ,i went out for a short walk in the afternoon1 to get a little fresh air to strengthen me for the coming night1 when ,i had determined to watch with ,polly beside little ,john1 if he was still living4 ,my young friends1 ,bob and ,harry1 joined me1 and we were pacing up and down together watching the tide come in when we thought we saw a dark speck far out to sea4 ,there were others who saw it also4 ,the coastguard was looking at it through his telescope1 and before very long the shore was covered with fishermen and their wives1 all gazing in the same direction4 ,whatever the object was1 it was coming rapidly shoreward2 wind and tide were both with it1 and it was being borne swiftly along4 ,after a little time we could distinguish1 even without the help of a telescope1 what it was1 and ,i do not think there was anything which we could have been more aghast to see1 for the floating object was a boat bottom upwards1 and being driven rapidly before the tide4 ,a groan came from the group of fishermen who were watching1 and as the capsized boat neared shore they ran into the water to meet it4 ,i do not think it was necessary to look at the name upon it as it was dragged out of the water3 we all did look1 however1 and we found there the name which we knew we should see before we looked4 ,it was the ,mary ,ann4 ,i shall never forget the piercing shriek which came from the wife of one of ,duncan's mates1 who was standing just behind me1 when she read the name on the boat4 ,i thought the shock and the sorrow had driven her mad1 for she ran screaming up the hill2 indeed1 ,i firmly believe that for the time she was quite out of her mind4 ,poor ,polly heard the shrieks of the woman as she ran under her window1 and looking out1 she saw the boat on the shore1 and guessed the truth at once4 ,she did not scream nor cry1 but she looked as if she had been turned into stone4 ,no word escaped her lips1 not a tear was in her eye2 but she looked as if all her youth had gone in a moment1 and as if she had suddenly become an old and worn-out woman4 ,she never looked up as we went in1 but bent over little ,john1 moistening his lips from time to time1 and watching his every movement4 ,we tried to say a few words of comfort1 but she did not seem even to hear our voices4 ,yet no moan1 no sigh from the child was unheard by her2 she seemed to be listening to every breath he drew1 as if it might be his last4 ,i thought that terrible day would never have an end4 ,mr4 ,christie stayed with us until dark1 and then he took me home with him to supper1 that ,i might get a little change and rest before my night watch4 ,i think they knew how tired ,i was1 worn out more by feeling than by want of sleep1 and they were very good to me4 ,i do not think my own mother could have been more kind to me than ,mrs4 ,christie was that night4 ,she told me that she would have had a boy nearly as old as ,i was if he had lived1 but he had died when he was very young2 and then they had had no children for many years1 not until ,marjorie was born4 ',your mother was so good to me when my baby died1' she said4 ',i thought ,i should never be happy again1 but she came and talked to me1 and made me look from my sorrow to my little boy's gain1 and ,i think her kindness to me and the loving words she spoke made me love her more than ever4' ,i felt much better for the good supper1 and for the kind words of these dear people1 and ,i went back determined to do all ,i could for poor ,polly and her child through that sorrowful night4 ,i felt so grateful to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ for all ,he had done for me1 and ,i was very glad to be able to do any little thing to show my love to ,him4 ,it seemed to me then1 and it seems to me still1 that the way in which we can please ,him best is by showing kindness to ,his children4 ,i remembered a verse about a cup of cold water being noticed by ,him1 if given for ,his sake1 and ,i thought to myself1 ',polly is not in need of cold water1 for she is too cold already1 but ,i might make her a cup of tea4' ,the fire was out1 and the little kitchen1 which was usually so neat1 was all in confusion4 ,i lighted the lamp that ,i might see what ,i was about1 and then ,i tried to put the little place in order4 ,first ,i found sticks and coal1 and lighted a fire2 then1 whilst my fire was burning up1 ,i cleared the table1 carried the dirty plates and cups into the small back kitchen1 found a tablecloth and a clean cup and saucer1 and filled the kettle4 ,as soon as the fire was hot enough ,i put the kettle on1 and cutting a slice from the loaf ,i made some nice crisp toast1 such as my aunt used to like when she was ill4 ,then ,i heated a plate1 and buttered the toast1 and set it down by the fire4 ,by this time the kettle was boiling and ,i made the tea1 and ,i said in my heart when all was finished1 ',lord ,jesus1 ,i do this for ,thee4' ,then ,i went upstairs to my hardest task of all1 namely1 to persuade ,polly to come down to eat the little meal ,i had prepared4 ,polly was1 as ,i had expected1 most unwilling to leave the child1 and at first she firmly declined to move1 and would not listen to my pleading words4 ,yet ,i could see that she was almost fainting1 and ,i knew that she would need all the strength that she could muster for the night which lay before us4 ,who knew what that night would bring8 ,i therefore spoke to her very firmly1 telling her that ,i was willing and anxious to help her in her trouble1 but that1 if ,i was to be any use to her1 she must not refuse to go downstairs for a few minutes at least1 and ,i promised her to watch little ,john very carefully1 and to call her at once if ,i saw any change in the child4 ,she obeyed me at last1 and ,i heard her weary footsteps descending the steep stairs4 ,when ,i was left alone1 ,i saw that ,polly's ,bible was lying open by the little oil-lamp which stood on the table1 upon which had been placed the medicine and milk for little ,john's use4 ,i went up to it1 and my eye fell upon these words3-- ',if ye abide in ,me1 and ,my words abide in you1 ye shall ask what ye will1 and it shall be done unto you4' ,it seemed to me as if that verse was ,god's direct message to me that night4 ,i saw it as clearly and distinctly as if the page had been lighted with electric light4 ',two conditions and a promise1' ,i said to myself2 'if only the conditions are fulfilled1 the promise is sure4' ,what are the two conditions8 7#a7 ',if ye abide in ,me4' ,i asked myself if ,i was fulfilling that condition4 ,i humbly hoped ,i was2 for1 oh1 ,i longed to be in ,christ1 saved by ,him1 more than ,i longed for anything else in this world4 7#b7 ',if ,my words abide in you4' ,was ,i fulfilling the second condition8 ,again ,i humbly hoped that ,i was2 for ,i felt that if ,christ told me to go to the ,north ,pole1 or to an ,african desert1 ,i would obey gladly4 ,i would go anywhere1 ,i would do anything1 to show ,him how grateful ,i was for ,his love to me4 ,then might ,i claim the promise8 ,i believed that ,i might4 ,i laid ,polly's ,bible on the bed4 ,i knelt down beside little ,john4 ,i put my finger on the promise1 and ,i prayed1 as ,i had never prayed before1 for help in this time of need4 ,i felt very strongly that all power was in the hands of ,christ1 and that ,he who healed the sick on earth had lost none of ,his power1 now that ,he was exalted to the throne of ,god4 ,i besought ,him to come into that room that very night1 and to touch and heal little ,john4 ,and as ,i rose from my knees ,i felt that my prayer was heard4 ,polly had not returned1 so ,i went to the top of the stairs and listened1 and ,i heard the sound of sobbing4 ,i was thankful to hear it2 the tears had come at last1 and they would relieve the poor1 weary1 over-strained heart4 ,little ,john was very quiet1 so ,i crept downstairs4 ,i found to my joy that ,polly had eaten most of the toast1 and had drunk the tea1 and now she was sitting with her feet on the fender and her head in her hands1 sobbing as if her heart would break4 ,what was it that had brought the tears8 ,she had not cried when the empty boat had come ashore2 she had shed no tear when the doctor's face had told her that he had no hope for the child2 what was it that had helped her to give way to the tears which were such a relief to her8 ,it was a very simple thing4 ,she had picked up from the floor a little toy1 a tiny roughly-shaped boat1 which ,duncan had made for the child1 and which had been little ,john's greatest treasure4 ,there had come over her such a rush of memories of the happy days of the past1 gone1 as she believed1 for ever1 of the father whose fingers had so busily carved the boat for his boy1 but who would never come back to her again1 and of the little lad passing away from her also1 and leaving his treasured toy behind him4 ,all these sad but lovely memories came before her1 as she took up the little boat and pressed it to her lips4 ,they came so strongly and with such power1 that the tears which had refused to come before came with them1 and brought1 as ,i felt sure they would1 wonderful relief to her over-strained heart4 ',polly1' ,i said1 'cheer up1 don't lose heart2 ,i believe little ,john will recover4' ',thank you1 sir1 thank you1' she said2 as she dried her eyes4 ',i feel better now1 a deal better1 ,i do4 ,you have been good to me1 sir4 ,i'll go up again to him now4' ',all right1 ,polly1' ,i said2 ',i'll make up the fire1 and then ,i'll come and help you4 ,he's asleep now1 ,polly4' ',i'll creep quietly up1 then1 sir1' she said1 and ,i saw as she rose to go that the stony look had gone out of her face and that she was herself again4 ,that sleep lasted for hours4 ,it was a quiet night1 the wind had quite gone down1 and everything seemed more still after the tumult of the previous night4 ,i was glad to see that ,polly herself at length fell asleep in her chair2 little ,john's hand lay in hers1 and ,i knew she would wake with his least movement2 but ,i was pleased to see it1 for ,i felt sure that even a light sleep would soothe and strengthen her4 ,i had just looked at my watch1 and had seen that it was nearly half-past two1 when ,i thought ,i heard footsteps outside1 and a moment afterwards there came a gentle knock at the door4 ,it seemed a strange time for a visitor1 but ,i thought probably it was some neighbour come to offer to help ,polly in her long night watch1 or perhaps it was ,mr4 ,christie come to see how we were getting on4 ,i crept softly downstairs1 lest either ,polly or the child should wake1 and carefully unfastening the bolts ,i opened the door4 ,i nearly yelled with joy when ,i saw who was standing there4 ,never in all my life have ,i been more glad to see any man than ,i was that night to see ,duncan1 alive and uninjured1 whilst all day long ,i had been picturing him being driven backwards and forwards by the waves1 a drowned corpse at the mercy of the relentless sea4 ,he grasped my hand and came in to the fire1 but at first he could not speak4 ',sir1' he said at last1 in a broken voice1 'am ,i too late8 ,tell me the truth1 sir2 don't hide it over like2 is little ,john dead8' ',no1 ,duncan1' ,i said1 'he still lives1 and he is asleep2 and1 ,duncan1 ,i believe he will be given back to you4' ',thank ,god6' he said2 'thank ,god for that6' ,for just a moment a doubt crossed my mind as to whether ,i ought to give him this hope1 and yet ,i rebuked myself for this doubt1 for ,i was clinging to the promise1 and the word of the ,lord was sure1 and ,i believed that if what ,i asked was good for these poor souls it must be granted to me4 ,duncan had now sat down in his arm-chair1 and by the light of the fire ,i could see that he was faint and exhausted4 ,he leant back wearily for some time and seemed unable to speak4 ,i had left the kettle on the fire1 and ,i hastened to give him a cup of tea and something to eat4 ,then ,i crept upstairs to see what was going on1 but finding ,polly and little ,john were still both fast asleep1 ,i came back to him4 ,he was better for the tea1 and able to talk to me4 ',i've had an awful time1 sir1' he said1 in answer to my inquiry4 ',many and many's the time since ,i was a boy that ,i've been near the dark valley1 but this time1 why1 ,i think ,i've been half-way down it1 sir4 ,how's my poor lass1 sir8' ',very cut up1 ,duncan1' ,i said4 ',she thinks you are dead4 ,your boat came up with last night's tide4' ',poor ,polly1 poor lass6' he said2 ',i'll go to her4' ',wait a little1 ,duncan1' ,i said2 'she is asleep now1 and she will bear the joy better when she wakes4' ',and my little lad8' he asked4 ',sleeping too1 ,duncan1 so peacefully and quietly4' ',well1 it's hard not to go up1 sir1 but may be you're right4' ,he waited very patiently for an hour1 and when ,i crept up again at the end of that time ,polly and the child were both awake1 and she was giving him some milk4 ,little ,john was quite conscious1 and looked more like himself than he had done since his illness began4 ,he had no sooner finished his milk1 however1 than he began his old weary cry1 ',come1 daddy1 come to little ,john4' ,polly burst into tears again when she heard him calling for the father whom she believed to be dead2 but ,i bent over the child and said1 ',yes1 little ,john1 daddy will come to you4' ,i believe ,polly fancied that ,i thought the child was dying1 and that ,i meant his father's spirit was coming to fetch him1 for she only cried the more bitterly and said1 ',oh1 little ,john1 little ,john6' ,but when ,i added1 ',shall ,i fetch daddy1 little ,john8' she sprang to her feet and looked at me wildly1 but without speaking a word4 ,there was no need for me to say more1 for she heard the sound of a well-known footstep on the stairs1 and in another moment she was in her husband's arms4 ,i felt then that my work was over1 and that the best thing that ,i could do would be to go to bed4 ,but ,i glanced back from the door as ,i went out1 and ,i saw the little hands held out1 and ,i heard ,duncan sob like a child as he cried1 ',oh1 my little lad1 my own little ,john1 ,i never thought to see you again6' ,illustration ,chapter ,x ,,we ,,know ,the next day ,duncan was able to tell me what he had passed through during that terrible night4 ,it seems he was separated from the other boats by the very first outburst of the gale1 and never saw them again through the long hours of that night of storm4 ,for some considerable time he and his mates1 by straining every nerve1 were able to keep the water out of their boat2 but as the night went on1 and the sea grew rougher and the waves seemed mountains high1 they were compelled at last to own that their attempt was hopeless4 ',at that time1' said ,duncan1 ',i just trusted my soul again to ,christ1 for ,i expected the next wave would sweep us to the bottom4' ',was ,i frightened1 sir1 did you say8 ,no1 ,i think not2 ,i felt more awed like1 if you understand1 and in them few moments all sorts of thoughts seemed to be running through my head1 but through them all was the thought of my poor lass1 of ,polly and little ,john4 ,yes1 sir1 of ,polly and little ,john1 and ,i cried to ,him as alone could help me1 ,o ,god1 ,i said1 save me1 for ,polly and little ,john want me so bad6 ,and ,he heard my prayer1 sir4 ,i've often thought how them fishermen cried to ,him in the storm that day1 ,master1 save us1 we perish6 they said2 and ,he heard their cry1 didn't ,he1 sir8 ,and ,he heard mine4 ,yes1 ,he heard mine1 for when the wave did come which carried us over1 the ,mary ,ann was driven right past where we were struggling in the water1 and we caught hold on her4 ,we clung on for dear life1 sir1 but we couldn't have clung there many minutes1 for the sea was that cold and icy our hands was well-nigh frozen4 ,but ,god ,almighty knew how to save us1 and ,he sent a steamer to pick us up1 in less than ten minutes after we went overboard4 ,and they were good to us1 sir1 for all they were foreign folk aboard4 ,they warmed us1 and gave us hot coffee1 and lent us dry clothes1 and they ran into the ,hull docks in the afternoon and landed us there4 ,well1 sir1 you may be sure ,i came home as quick as ever ,i could1 for ,i thought maybe ,i should never see my little lad again4 ,hasn't ,god been good to us1 now hasn't ,he1 sir8' he concluded1 as he gently patted his little boy's hand4 ,the doctor gave a much better report of little ,john that day1 although he said he was not yet out of danger4 ,but from that time he improved slowly but steadily1 and before very long he was able to lie once more in his father's arms1 and to stroke his face with his little thin hand4 ,it was very touching to see the love and the gratitude of both ,duncan and ,polly2 they could not say enough about the help and comfort ,i had given them in their time of trouble1 small though ,i felt these to have been4 ,if ,i had been a prince1 ,i think they could not have made more of me1 and ,i believe ,i should have been altogether spoiled if ,i had stayed in ,runswick ,bay much longer4 ,i had not touched my picture the whole of that week1 for whilst our anxiety lasted ,i had no heart or desire to paint4 ,on ,saturday ,i saw ,marjorie and little ,jack giving out their pink papers1 and ,i went to meet them4 ',one for you1 big ,mr4 ,jack1' said the merry little rogue1 as he threw it up in the air for me to catch4 ,the subject for the following day ,i saw was to be these two words--,,we ,,know4 ,i thought1 as ,i put the paper in my pocket1 how much had passed since last ,sunday1 and ,i thought also how differently ,i felt with regard to the service on the shore1 from what ,i had done when ,i received the last pink paper4 ,i had certainly no wish to run away to ,kettleness1 to be out of the way when it took place4 ,sunday morning was bright and beautiful1 and little ,john was so much better that his father was able to leave him and to take his place in the choir4 ,i stood close to the old boat1 and ,jack put his hand in mine1 and let me look at his hymn-book as he sang4 ,there was a large congregation1 the fine day had tempted them out1 and ,i think the danger of their companions and their narrow escape from death had stirred the hearts of the fishermen1 and had made many of them feel that 'it is not all of life to live1 nor all of death to die4' ',my mates are here to-day1 sir1' whispered ,duncan1 as he went forward to take his place in the boat2 'it's the first time ,i've been able to persuade them to come4 ,they see the good of it now1 sir1 you see4' ,never have ,i heard any man pray more earnestly for a blessing than ,mr4 ,christie did that day1 but ,i do not think even he prayed more earnestly than ,i did4 ,my whole heart went out to ,god that day1 for was it not my first ,sunday on the right side of the line8 ,and then came the address1 and ,i never noticed a congregation more attentive than was that one gathered on the shore that ,september morning4 ,i can remember even now a good deal of the sermon4 ',,we ,,know1' he said2 'those are strong words1 confident words4 ,it is not1 ,we imagine1 or ,we think4 ,it is not even ,we hope1 that would be wonderful2 but it is something clearer and far more distinct than that2 it is ,,we ,,know4 ',if ,i were to ask you fishermen1 you visitors1 you mothers1 you little children1 this question1 ,do you imagine you are on the shore now8 ,do you think you are here to-day8 ,do you hope you are listening to me8 what would you answer me8 ',you would say1 ,mr4 ,christie1 it is not a case of imagining1 or thinking1 or hoping2 we know we are here2 we are sure of it4 ',now notice1 that is the strong1 confident word used in my text to-day4 ,the holy apostle ,john stands side by side with all of us who have come to ,christ1 and he bids us join with him in these glad1 happy1 thankful words1 ,we know that we have passed from death unto life4 ,we know1 we are persuaded1 we are sure1 that we are on the right side of the line4 ,we know that we have left the company of the servants of sin1 and are now the servants of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ',dear friends1 ,i would now ask each of you very earnestly1 ,can you say that8 ,can you take your stand by the apostle ,john1 and say1 ,i know that ,i have passed from death unto life8 ',i think ,i hear some one answer in his heart1 ,well1 that's a great deal for any man to say1 and ,i don't see that any man can know in this life if he is saved or not2 when he gets to heaven he'll know he is all right1 but not till then4 ',now look again at my text4 ,it does not say1 ,we shall know2 it does not say1 ,we hope soon to know2 but it speaks in the present4 ,it runs thus3 ,we know that we have passed from death unto life4 ,so you see it is possible1 nay1 it is right1 that you and ,i should1 one by one1 take up the words and say1 ,i know4 ',do ,i hear some one saying in his heart1 ,i do wish ,i could say that8 ,i should be a happier man if ,i could4 ,when ,i go out in my boat1 and the storm rages1 and ,i don't know whether ,i shall ever see land again1 it would be a good thing if ,i could look up through the wind and tempest1 and could say gladly1 ,i know that ,i have passed from death unto life4' ,i thought ,i heard a groan when he said this1 and ,i looked round1 and saw one of ,duncan's mates burying his face in his hands4 ',do ,i hear one of you mothers say1 ,when ,i lie awake at night1 and the baby will not let me sleep1 and ,i get out and look from my window at the stars shining down upon me1 ,i would give a great deal to say1 as ,i think of the heaven above those stars1 ',i know that ,i have passed from death unto life'8 ',and you1 my friend1 when the day comes1 as come it will1 when you lie on your bed1 and you see by the doctor's face that you will never get out of it again2 when you say to yourself1 as the neighbours sit round1 ,this is my dying bed1 and they are watching to see me die1 oh1 what would you not give at that solemn time to be able to say1 ,i know that ,i have passed from death unto life8 ',do you want to be able to say it8 ,you cannot want it more than ,god wants to hear you say it4 ,the ,christ stands on the shore beside us to-day1 and ,he yearns with unutterable longing1 that each man1 each woman1 each child here present1 should be able to take up the words of my text1 and say1 ,i know that ,i have passed from death unto life4' ,then he went on to tell us that it was not a long1 weary1 toilsome journey which we had to travel to reach the ,christ4 ,he was present amongst us now4 ,he was very near to each one of us2 ,his arms were wide open4 ,he was waiting to receive each one who was willing to cross the line2 one step would be sufficient1 one step into those open arms4 ,then we ended by singing a hymn1 which seemed to me a very beautiful one3-- ',only a step to ,jesus6 ,believe1 and thou shalt live3 ,lovingly now ,he's waiting1 ,and ready to forgive4 ,only a step to ,jesus6 ,a step from sin to grace3 ,what has thy heart decided8 ,the moments fly apace4 ,only a step to ,jesus6 ,oh1 why not come and say1 ,gladly to ,thee1 my ,saviour1 ,i give myself away8 ,only a step1 only a step1 ,come1 ,he waits for thee2 ,come1 and thy sin confessing1 ,thou shalt receive a blessing3 ,do not reject the mercy ,he freely offers thee4' ,i was glad to see at the end of the service that ,duncan's mate was still sitting under the old boat with his hands over his face4 ,he had evidently felt the sermon very much1 and when he rose to go home after the others had dispersed1 ,i saw ,mr4 ,christie walking by his side4 ,that was a lovely ,sunday evening4 ,the storm of the week before seemed to have cleared the air1 and there was a golden light over everything1 until the sun went down behind the hill4 ,i spent the evening at ,mrs4 ,christie's1 for ,polly was still fully occupied with the child1 and was not able to attend to much of the work downstairs4 ,duncan did the cooking now1 and the washing up and the cleaning1 and ,i never saw a more handy man4 ,he waited on me hand and foot1 as if ,i was a lord2 but ,i felt that ,i was giving the dear fellow a great deal of trouble1 and was glad1 therefore1 to accept ,mrs4 ,christie's invitation to have tea and supper at their house4 ,little ,jack welcomed me with the greatest joy4 ,he was so delighted to have me at tea1 and contemplated me with so much delight and interest from his high chair by my side1 that he quite forgot to eat his own tea1 and had to be recalled from his admiration of me1 time after time1 by his mother4 ,after tea he told her he had a great secret to confide to her2 he dragged her from the room and led her upstairs1 and then with closed doors1 and in a whisper so low that she could scarcely distinguish the words1 he told her solemnly1 ',i do love big ,mr4 ,jack very much1' which secret his faithless mother was treacherous enough to reveal to me1 after we had been upstairs that evening to see little ,jack in bed4 ,after we came down1 ,mrs4 ,christie lighted the lamp1 and we were sitting cosily round the fire talking of my mother1 when suddenly there came a knock at the outer door4 ',who can it be8' said ,mrs4 ,christie hastily2 'some one must be ill1 ,i think1 so few people come on ,sunday4' ,she was going to the door1 but her little maid had already opened it1 and coming into the parlour she announced1-- ',there's a gentleman1 sir1 at the door1 says as how he wants ,mr4 ,villiers1 sir4' ',a gentleman6' ,i repeated in astonishment1 'wanting me6' ',yes1 sir1 he says he wants you very pertickler1 he does4' ,i went quickly to the door1 wondering very much who could be there1 and to my great astonishment ,i found my friend ,tom ,bernard1 with a black bag in his hand1 eagerly awaiting my approach4 ',found at last1 old chap1' he cried when he saw me2 'why1 ,i've been hunting for you all over in this rabbit-warren of a place1 till at last some of these fisher-lads told me you were in here4' ',and what are you doing here1 ,tom8' ,i exclaimed4 ',doing here6 ,why1 ,i've come to see you1 of course1 old fellow2 what else should ,i have come for8 ,i set off early this morning1 and ,i thought ,i would give you a bit of a surprise4 ,are these your diggings8' ',no1' ,i said1 ',i'm only spending the evening here2 but ,i'll come back with you at once4' ,i went in for a moment to explain my sudden departure to ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,christie1 and then ,i went with ,tom to my lodgings4 ,he looked vastly amused when he saw ,duncan's house1 and when ,i told him that ,i had been there all the time he seemed to think it a capital joke4 ',there's no room for me1 ,i'm afraid1' he said1 as he looked with an amused smile round my bedroom4 ',no1 indeed1 ,tom1' ,i said1 'and1 joking apart1 ,i would not ask you to come here if there was room2 the hotel at the top of the hill will suit you better4' ,polly was sitting beside little ,john1 but ,i tapped at the door1 and told her a friend of mine had just arrived from ,london1 and asked her if she thought it would be possible to get him some tea4 ,just at this moment ,duncan came in1 and the two good souls did all in their power to do honour to my guest4 ,the whitest tablecloth was spread on the round table1 the very finest herrings were cooked1 round after round of crisp brown toast was buttered and put before the fire to keep hot1 and all was ready in so short a time that ,tom was astonished4 ,he did full justice to the meal1 and seemed to appreciate my quarters better after he had partaken of it4 ,then he declared himself tired out1 so ,i walked with him up to the hotel4 ,he was in high spirits1 and was much looking forward to the time we were to have there together1 and to all the walks we should take to the places round4 ,was ,i glad that he had come8 ,i asked myself this question many times that night4 ,i was fond of ,tom2 he had been like a brother to me1 and yet--and yet--,i wished he had not come to ,runswick ,bay4 ,why was this8 ,why would ,i have kept him away if ,i could8 ,i asked myself this question many times1 as ,i came slowly down the hill that night4 ,was it because it would be a hindrance to my work8 ,no1 for my picture had made good progress1 and ,i could work it up even better in my studio at home4 ,besides which1 ,tom was a good-natured fellow1 and would sit smoking and chatting in the old boat whilst ,i painted4 ,was it that ,i wanted to be quiet1 and to enjoy my present surroundings without interruption8 ,no1 surely1 for ,tom's company had always been pleasant to me1 and ,i could not look upon him as a stranger4 ,why was it1 then1 that ,i felt almost sorry that he had followed me here8 ,i had a suspicion of the right answer to that question1 but ,i did not own it1 even to myself1 till ,i entered my lodging4 ,duncan was reading a chapter aloud to ,polly1 as he always did before going to bed4 ,he stopped when he saw me come in1 but ,i said1 ',go on1 ,duncan1 never mind me2 ,i shall like to listen4' ,and the very first words that ,duncan read seemed to me to contain the answer to my question4 ',he that is ashamed of ,me and of ,my words1 of him shall the ,son of ,man be ashamed4' ,yes1 that was the reason4 ,i was sorry that ,tom had come1 because ,i was ashamed of my ,master4 ,since ,i had seen him last ,i had changed my service4 ,i used to be a servant of sin1 living for self1 pleasing self in all things4 ,now1 ,i had crossed the line1 ,i had joined the company of ,christ's servants1 and ,i was afraid of ,tom finding it out4 ,in ,london ,i thought ,i should have seen less of him1 and it would have dawned on him gradually2 but here he would discover it at once4 ,and ,i dreaded his doing so4 ,yes1 ,i was a downright coward1 ashamed of the ,one who had died for me4 ,this was not a comfortable reflection1 but ,i was convinced that it was the truth4 ,what would be the best thing to do8 ,should ,i say anything to ,tom about it in the morning8 ,i thought at first that ,i would speak1 and ,i made up several sentences with which ,i meant to begin2 but the more ,i thought of it so much the more my heart failed me1 and ,i decided at length that my best plan would be to let ,tom find it out for himself4 ,chapter ,,xi ,,little ,,jack ,,and ,,big ,,jack ,i think ,tom very much enjoyed that week at ,runswick ,bay4 ,the more he saw of the place the more he liked it4 ,he and ,duncan got on famously together4 ,they smoked together on a seat above the house1 and ,duncan told him stories of shipwrecks and storms1 whilst ,i sat painting just below them4 ,one night he even persuaded ,duncan to let him go out with him fishing1 and ,duncan confided to me afterwards1 ',that there friend of yours1 sir1 he's a real handy chap2 knows how to use his fingers1 sir1 and isn't afraid of a drop of salt water neither4' ,we came across ,mr4 ,christie on the shore the very first time that we went out together1 and ,i introduced him as a friend of my mother whom ,i had been delighted to find in this out-of-the-way place2 and ,tom talked very pleasantly to him1 and ,i think liked him4 ',what is he doing here1 ,jack8' he said4 ',he does not look like the rest of them4' ',he is a lay-preacher1' ,i said4 ',whatever in the world is a lay-preacher8' said ,tom laughing4 ,i did not answer1 but called his attention to little ,jack1 who was running along the shore after his red cap1 which had been carried off by a gust of wind4 ',that's his little boy1' ,i said1 'and my namesake2 they lived in my father's parish in ,london1 and ,mr4 ,christie and his wife adored my mother4 ,it was seeing her photograph on the wall of their room which made them discover who ,i was4' ',what a splendid little fellow6' said ,tom as the child came up to us4 ',so you are ,jack1 are you8' ',yes1 ,i'm little ,jack1 and he's big ,jack1' said the boy roguishly1 looking at me4 ,i was not surprised that ,tom made friends very quickly with my little favourite1 for he was wonderfully fond of children1 and many were the games which he and the two children had together whilst ,i was at work4 ,every evening ,tom and ,i walked together1 and we explored all the country for miles around4 ,sometimes we went by train and walked back by the cliffs4 ,the train seemed to land us at each station in the midst of fresh beauty1 and ,i came to the conclusion that ,yorkshire was indeed1 what ,i had always been told by my mother1 the most beautiful county in ,england4 ',now1 ,jack1' said ,tom on ,saturday morning1 'we'll have a really good day to-morrow4 ,you won't want to paint1 will you8' ',no1' ,i said hurriedly1 ',i don't paint on ,sundays4' ',all right1' he said1 'it's much the best plan2 you come fresher to it on ,monday4 ,all work and no play makes ,jack a dull boy4 ,that old couplet must have been made for you1 ,jack4 ,well1 then1 let's see1 where shall we go8 ,suppose we make a long day of it1 and go to ,scarborough4 ,we must see ,scarborough before we go home1 must we not8 ,we will go by the early train1 and come back as late as we can4 ,the worst of it is there are not so many trains to choose from on ,sunday1 but ,i daresay we shall find one that will suit'2 and1 without saying another word1 he went off to my lodging for a ,bradshaw4 ,what was ,i to do8 ,a few weeks ago a ,sunday spent in pleasure would have been just what ,i should have chosen1 and many a time had ,tom and ,i been up the river on ,sunday together4 ,there was hardly a place within easy distance up the ,thames which we had not visited in this way4 ,but now ,i felt very differently about these things4 ,sunday was my ,master's own day3 every moment of it1 ,i felt1 must be consecrated to ,him4 ,no one had talked to me about ,sunday observance1 but my conscience told me very clearly what was right in the matter4 ,yet1 although ,i had no doubt as to what ,i ought to do in the matter1 ,i am ashamed to say that for some time ,i hesitated4 ,tom would be so terribly disappointed1 ,i said to myself1 and he had been a good friend to me1 and ,i did not want to vex him2 surely there would be no great harm in obliging him this once6 ,besides1 when ,i get to ,scarborough ,i may have time to go to church1 and then1 after all1 where is the difference8 ,i argued with myself2 ,i shall take a longer journey to church1 that is all4 ,and then ,tom came back1 full of his plans for the day4 ,he had already settled the train we were to catch1 and he told me that he looked forward to seeing ,scarborough immensely1 as his mother had stayed there a year ago1 and she had told him it was the most beautiful watering-place she had ever visited4 ,i tried to feel pleased with what ,tom had arranged1 but in my heart ,i was very miserable1 and just at that moment who should appear but ,marjorie and ,jack1 distributing the pink papers containing the invitation to the service on the shore4 ,i turned away when ,i saw them coming4 ,i looked towards the sea1 and took my little telescope from my pocket1 that ,i might seem to be intent on watching a distant steamer4 ,what would ,duncan say8 ,what would ,mr4 ,christie say8 ,what would my little friend ,jack say1 when ,i did not appear at the shore service8 ,and how shocked they would be when they heard ,i had gone off for a day's pleasure6 ,i hoped that the children would pass us by1 and would go to a large group of fishermen standing on the shore just beyond us4 ,but ,i was not to escape thus4 ,marjorie came up to ,tom and presented him with a paper1 and she was going to give one to me1 but my little friend stopped her1 ',no1 no1 ,marjorie1' he said in his most fascinating tones1 'let me give one to my own ,mr4 ,jack4 ,i always give you one my own self1 don't ,i1 big ,jack8' ,i patted him on the head and took the paper1 but ,i did not answer1 and the children passed on4 ,tom opened his paper and read it aloud1-- ',there will be a short service on the shore next ,sunday morning4 ,oh1 indeed1' he said1 'that's what they're after1 is it8 ,distributing notices for some ,methodist meeting4 ,is that where ,christie holds forth8' ',yes1' ,i said1 'he preaches every ,sunday4' ',well1 ,mr4 ,christie1' he went on1 'you won't have me there to hear you4 ,i hate those canting meetings1 don't you1 ,jack8 ,subject4 ,ah1 he tells us his subject beforehand1 does he8 ,very kind of him1 ,i'm sure6 ,subject3 ,where are you going8 ,ah1' said ,tom1 'that's soon answered3 ,i'm going to ,scarborough1 old fellow1 and a jolly good day ,i hope to have there'2 and he threw the little pink paper into the air1 and the wind carried it far out to sea4 ,illustration ,all this time ,i had never spoken a word4 ,a great battle was going on in my heart4 ,conscience was speaking very loudly1 and telling me that ,i could not possibly take my pleasure on my ,master's own day1 but the tempter's voice was arguing that the time to speak had not yet come1 and that perhaps for this once it would be better to yield to ,tom's wishes1 and that ,i might talk to him quietly about it1 and make a fresh start after our return to ,london4 ,and so the day wore away1 and evening came1 and ,tom had no idea whatever that ,i had even hesitated about going with him to ,scarborough4 ,i never spent a more unhappy day4 ,i avoided ,mr4 ,christie1 lest he should say anything to me about the service on the following day4 ,i was not even happy with ,duncan4 ,tom had gone off to ,saltburn1 leaving me1 as he supposed1 to put some finishing touches to my picture2 but ,i had no heart for painting1 and only got my easel and painting materials out to put them away again directly4 ,polly was in good spirits that day1 for little ,john was so much better that he was able to sit on the floor and play1 and1 as ,i stood looking out of my small casement window1 ,i watched her washing up in a tub standing on a wooden stool outside her door1 and ,i heard her singing to herself as she did so4 ,most of the visitors had left ,runswick ,bay now1 for it was late in the season1 but the shore was covered with the village children--boys and girls without shoes and stockings1 wading in the pools and running far out into the shallow sea4 ,it was a pretty sight1 the grey1 quiet water1 the strips of yellow sand1 and the cliff covered with grass and flowers4 ,but ,i could not enjoy the scene that ,saturday evening2 even my artistic eye1 of which ,i used sometimes to boast1 failed me then4 ,i was feeling thoroughly uncomfortable1 and the most lovely view on earth would have failed to charm me at that moment4 ,there is a verse in the ,bible which says1 ',a little child shall lead them1' and whenever ,i hear that verse ,i think of that evening in ,runswick ,bay4 ,for ,i was still gazing out of my window1 looking at ,i knew not what1 when ,i heard a well-known little voice just beneath me4 ,it was ,jack4 ,he had come down the hill beneath ,duncan's cottage1 so that ,i had not seen him until he spoke to me below the window4 ',mr4 ,jack1' he said1 'what are you doing up there8 ,are you very busy8' ',no1 old man1' ,i said1 ',i'm not busy4' ',then do come out1 that's a dear1 big ,mr4 ,jack2 ,i do want you so much4' ,who could resist the pleading little face1 and the pretty1 fascinating voice of that child8 ,he would have a hard heart who could do so4 ,i ran downstairs1 and a minute afterwards ,i was racing with ,jack on the wet sands1 for the tide was fast going out1 and was helping him to fly a small kite which his father had bought for him in ,whitby4 ,we had a fine time together on the shore1 until at last a towel was hung out of the top window in the ,christies' house1 as a sign that it was ,jack's bedtime4 ,though he was wild with joy and excitement1 the obedient little fellow at once stopped his play1 and told me mother wanted him1 and he must go4 ',i'm coming for you to-morrow morning1 ,mr4 ,jack1' he said4 ',to-morrow morning1 ,jack8' ',yes1 for church1' said the child1 putting up his dear little chubby face to be kissed4 ',don't go without me1 will you1 ,mr4 ,jack8' ',well1 ,i'm not sure ,i'm going to-morrow1 little man1' ,i said reluctantly1 'so you had better not call for me4' ',not going to church6' said ,jack1 in a very shocked voice4 ',why not1 ,mr4 ,jack8' ',i'm going to ,scarborough for the day with my friend ,tom1' ,i said4 ',i shall go to church in ,scarborough1 ,jack4' ,i shall never forget the expression of that child's face as long as ,i live2 it was a mixture of surprise1 sorrow and dismay4 ',mr4 ,jack1 do you know it's ,god's day to-morrow8' was all that he said1 however2 and as at this moment his mother called him from the bedroom window1 he ran off without another word4 ',do you know it's ,god's day8' ,i asked myself when the little boy had gone4 ',yes1 ,i do know1' ,i answered aloud1 'and ,he is my ,master1 and my ,master's day shall be kept for ,him and for ,his service4' ,i walked to a lonely place on the shore where the sea had undermined the cliff1 and had made strange holes and caves1 which could only be entered at low tide4 ,i clambered over the rocks1 and crossed about half a mile of slippery seaweed1 until ,i came to one of these weird places4 ,creeping inside1 ,i felt myself safe from any human eye4 ,i was alone--alone with my ,master4 ,i cannot tell you all that passed during the half-hour that ,i spent in that lonely cave1 but ,i know this1 that ,i came out of it feeling that my ,master had indeed given me the strength for which ,i had pleaded1 the strength to act as ,his faithful and true servant4 ,i was waiting outside the station when ,tom's train came in from ,saltburn4 ,he had not expected to see me again that night1 and seemed pleased that ,i had come to meet him4 ',i think we shall have a fine day to-morrow1 old boy1' he said2 'what a dew there is6 ,my feet are quite wet with it4' ',tom1' ,i said1 ',i came to meet you to-night because ,i wanted to tell you something4 ,i am sorry1 very sorry1 to disappoint you1 but ,i can't go with you to-morrow4' ',why ever in the world not1 ,jack8' he said4 ',i thought you were so keen on seeing ,scarborough4' ',yes1 ,tom1' ,i said1 'but ,i am still more keen on something else4' ',what's that8' he asked2 'do you mean ,redcar8 ,it's a stupid place1 ,jack3 nothing in the world to see1 ,i assure you4' ',no1 ,tom1 ,i don't mean that4 ,i don't want to change our plan4 ,i had rather see ,scarborough than any other place2 ,i'll give myself a holiday on ,monday1 and go with you gladly1 ,tom2 but ,i can't go to-morrow4' ',nonsense1 ,jack6' he said angrily4 ',you can go if you like2 what's to hinder you8 ,if you are willing to go at all1 why on earth can't you go to-morrow8' ',simply because to-morrow is ,sunday1 ,tom4' ',and if it is ,sunday1 what of that8' said my friend4 ',the better the day1 the better the deed1 and it's ridiculous your talking in this saintly way about ,sunday1 when to my certain knowledge you've spent every fine ,sunday boating on the river for the last two years or more4 ,no1 no1 my friend1 that won't go down with me4' ',tom1' ,i said1 'it's all quite true what you say4 ,i have1 ,i know ,i have1 spent my ,sundays in boating or in taking my pleasure in some other way1 and ,i am more sorry for it1 ,tom1 than ,i can tell you4 ,but since ,i came here--' ',since you came here1' ,tom interrupted me1 'you've gone and turned ,ranter or ,methodist1 or something of that sort1 and you've got your head full of all sorts of insane and ridiculous ideas4' ',since ,i came here1 ,tom1' ,i said1 taking no notice of his last remark1 ',i have seen what ,i never saw before--that ,i am a great sinner2 and ,i have found what ,i never found before--that ,jesus is a great ,saviour4' ',well1 ,i wish you had never come to ,runswick ,bay1 if this is the absurd way you are going on1 ,jack1 and after all the good old times we've had together too4' ',and why shan't we have good times together still1 dear old ,tom8' ,i said4 ',i have entered the service of a new ,master1 that's all2 and1 ,tom1' ,i said timidly1 ',i wish ,he was your ,master too4' ,tom made no answer1 but swung his stick round and round1 and slashed at the thistles and the ox-eye daisies which grew by the roadside4 ,i tried to make one or two remarks1 but ,i saw he was very much upset by what ,i had said1 and he did not answer me4 ,he was vexed with me1 and perhaps he was a little uncomfortable besides1 and ,i felt it was far wiser to say no more4 ,he did not speak again until we reached the hotel1 and then he simply said1 ',good-night1 ,jack1 ,i'm sorry you've gone and made such a fool of yourself'2 and ,i went down the hill1 feeling as if ,i had lost my friend1 and as if the old days and old companionship were dead and buried for ever4 ,but if ,i had lost one friend1 ,i felt ,i had gained another4 ,mr4 ,christie was waiting for me at the bottom of the hill1 and he proposed that we should take a turn together on the shore4 ,nellie was expecting me to supper1 he said2 he had told ,duncan ,i was going there1 and the moon was coming out1 and a good stretch on the sands would make us enjoy it all the more4 ,we had walked across the bay1 and were standing gazing out seawards1 when he suddenly put his arm in mine4 ',what is it1 ,jack8' he said kindly1 'something is troubling you this evening4' ',yes1 you are right1' ,i said4 ',however did you know1 ,mr4 ,christie8 ,i am bothered a bit2 the fact is1 ,i'm ashamed of myself1 ,i've been such a coward4' ',what have you been doing1 ,jack8 ,you don't mind telling me1 do you8' ',not at all1 ,mr4 ,christie1 ,i would rather tell you1' ,i said2 and then ,i gave him an account of the last week1 of my fear of ,tom1 and how very nearly--,i was ashamed to say it--,i had yielded to him about the outing to-morrow4 ,then ,i spoke of my friend1 and ,i told him ,i was afraid ,i had lost him through my plain speaking4 ',never mind1 ,jack1' he said1 'the ,master must come first1 and it does happen very often that when ,he is put in ,his right place we have to give up a great deal4 ,he knew we should have to do it1 and ,he spoke some very plain words about it3 ,he that loveth father or mother more than ,me is not worthy of ,me1 and he that loveth son or daughter more than ,me is not worthy of ,me4 ,you would like to be worthy of ,him1 ,jack8' ',i shall never be that1 ,mr4 ,christie1' ,i said4 ',no1' he said2 'you are right1 we are all unworthy of ,him2 but when we love ,him1 we do long to do that which is pleasing in ,his sight4 ,and1 remember1 there is always the hundredfold1 ,jack1 always the ,master's reward for anything we give up for ,him4' ',yes1 in heaven1' ,i said softly4 ',no1 ,jack1 not in heaven1 but on earth4 ,do you remember how the ,master's words run3 ,he shall receive an hundredfold now1 in this time1 and in the world to come1 life everlasting4 ,the hundredfold is to be enjoyed here1 the everlasting life there4' ',i never noticed that before1' ,i said4 ',i have proved it true1 ,jack1 abundantly true4 ,i sometimes think ,i have got beyond the hundredfold4 ,and then beyond1 there lies the life eternal4' ',my mother is enjoying that1' ,i said4 ',yes1 indeed1' he answered2 'and her boy will enjoy it too in ,god's good time1 for does not the ,master say of all those who belong to ,him1 ,i give unto them eternal life8 ,i am come that they might have life1 and that they might have it more abundantly8' ,illustration ,chapter ,,xii ,,where ,,are ,,you ,,going8 ,i shall never forget my last ,sunday in ,runswick ,bay4 ,it was at the end of ,september1 and was one of those gloriously brilliant days which we get in the early autumn1 when the sky is cloudless1 when the air is fresh and clear1 and when the autumnal tints on trees1 hedges1 ferns and brambles make the landscape gorgeous and extremely beautiful and fascinating4 ,the high cliff above the bay was a perfect study in colour that morning2 ,i have never seen more splendid colouring1 every varied shade of red and gold and green was to be found there4 ',tom will be off to ,scarborough1' ,i said to myself as ,i dressed4 ',what a grand day he has got6' ,but ,i did not wish myself with him2 no1 ,i was both glad and thankful to look forward to a quiet and peaceful ,sunday4 ,there were not many visitors still at ,runswick1 most of them had left the week before2 but the fishermen came in great numbers to the service1 and the green was covered with them when little ,jack and big ,jack appeared1 hand-in-hand as usual4 ,duncan was in the choir1 but ,polly thought the wind rather cold for little ,john1 so had remained with him at home4 ,a good many women and children were present1 however1 and the bank was covered with mothers and babies1 sitting at a little distance1 lest the noise of the children should disturb the preacher or the listeners4 ,what was it that made me think of ,tom just as the service began8 ,was it a shepherd's plaid cloth cap1 of the kind ,tom wears1 which ,i saw on the head of some visitor who was sitting almost out of sight on the seaward side of the bank8 ,such small things bring people and things before us sometimes1 and my thoughts wandered to ,scarborough for a few minutes1 and ,i wondered what ,tom was doing at that moment4 ,i thought to myself how he would smile1 if he saw me sitting under the old boat and listening attentively to an open air preacher4 ,but my thoughts did not wander long1 for when the service began every word of it seemed to be for me4 ,,where ,,are ,,you ,,going8 ,i had worked the subject out in my mind before ,i came to the service1 and had quite decided what line of thought ,mr4 ,christie would take4 ,i thought he would picture the two roads1 the one leading to life1 the other to destruction2 and then ,i imagined that he would speak of the blessedness of being on the narrow road1 and would dwell very vividly on the awful consequences of continuing to walk on the road leading to hell4 ,but ,i found that my idea of what his sermon would be was quite a mistaken one4 ',where are you going8 ,my question to-day1' he said1 'is addressed only to some of you2 would to ,god it were addressed to you all6 ,i speak to-day to those who have crossed the line1 who have run into the loving ,saviour's arms1 who have become servants of ,christ4 ',my friends1 my dear friends1 where are you going8 ,what does the ,master say8 ,he calls to every one of ,his servants1 and ,he says1 ,if any man serve ,me1 let him follow ,me1 and where ,i am there shall also ,my servant be4 ',servant of ,christ1 where are you going8 ,the ,master answers you1 ,,where ,i ,,am4 ',and where is that8 ,a little group of men are standing on the ,mount of ,olives2 above them is the deep blue sky1 and they are gazing earnestly upward1 for their ,master is rising far above them1 and even as they watch a cloud receives ,him out of their sight4 ,yet still ,he ascends higher and yet higher1 and as ,he rises countless angels attend ,him4 ,he is joined by company after company of the heavenly host1 who have come out to meet their ,king4 ,at length heaven's gates are reached1 and the cry goes forth1 ,lift up your heads1 ,o ye gates1 even lift them up1 ye everlasting doors1 and the ,king of ,glory shall come in4 ,amidst heaven's most joyful music the ,master passes within to the ,heavenly ,jerusalem1 the glad1 glorious ,home4 ,every care1 every sin1 every sorrow is left outside2 within all is sunshine1 all is joy4 ,and as heaven's gates are closing1 we hear the ,master's voice4 ,he leaves us a word of hope1 ,where ,i am1 there shall also ,my servant be4 ',oh1 fishermen1 oh1 friends1 think of that6 ,if you are ,his servants1 those gates will open for you4 ,your life may be hard now3 some of you have large families1 and heavy work1 and long1 cold1 comfortless nights tossing on the stormy sea2 but never mind1 home is coming1 heaven is coming1 for ,where ,i am1 there shall also ,my servant be4 ',but that is not all4 ,there is something more wonderful still4 ,for where is the ,master now8 ,he is not only inside the gates of the city1 ,he is not only walking through the golden streets2 but ,he is in the midst of the glory of ,god1 ,he has sat down on the right hand of the throne of ,god4 ,will you and ,i1 dear friends1 ever dare to go near that throne8 ,will not the glory be too dazzling8 ,will not the place be holy ground1 too holy for us to approach8 ,will ,he allow us to draw near to ,his footstool1 and even there1 close to ,his glory1 to lie low before ,him8 ',listen1 ,o servant of ,christ1 again the ,master says1 ,where ,i am1 there shall also ,my servant be4 ',what1 on the throne of ,god6 ,yes1 even there ,he bids you come2 for what does ,he say8 ,to him that overcometh will ,i grant to sit with ,me in ,my throne1 even as ,i also overcame1 and am set down with ,my ,father in ,his throne4 ,oh1 what a wonderful promise6 ,we could never have thought of it2 we could never have believed it2 we could never even have dreamt of such a thing1 if the ,master had not told us ,himself4' ,and then he concluded by asking us to remember our glorious future4 ',sometimes1' he said1 'you get downhearted1 full of sorrow and fear1 and you say1 ,i shall never hold on to the end4 ,oh1 dear friends1 it is worth an effort1 for at the end lies home1 at the end stands the throne of ,god1 with a place waiting for you upon it4 ,where ,i am1 there shall also ,my servant be4 ',what if you have to bear something for the ,master's sake8 ,what if you have to give up friends or comforts for ,him8 ,what if you have to take up your cross and follow ,him8 ,it is only for a few days1 only for a little while1 and home is coming4 ,where ,i am1 there shall also ,my servant be4 ,is it not worth while8' ,then1 as he ended1 he spoke a few words to all who were there1 and he begged those who were not servants of ,christ1 to consider what they were losing4 ',all this might be yours1' he said1 'the wide-open gates1 the ,heavenly ,city1 the seat on the glorious ,throne2 but you are turning your backs on it all1 and you are choosing instead--what8 ,a few of earth's fleeting pleasures1 a little of this world's passing enjoyment4 ,oh1 dear friends1 think before it is too late1 what your eternal loss will be6' ,he said much more1 but ,i cannot remember it now4 ,i only know that ,i came away feeling that ,i had been very near the golden gates of which he spoke1 and had heard the ,master's voice saying to me1 ',where ,i am1 there shall also ,my servant be4' ,the tide was coming in as we left the service1 and ,i was standing on the shore watching the waves rolling in over the rocks1 when ,i felt an arm slipped in mine1 and when ,i looked round1 to my great surprise1 ,i found that it was ,tom4 ',why1 ,tom6' ,i said1 'back already8 how early you have come home6' ',back1 ,jack8' he said1 laughing2 'why1 ,i've never been4' ',do you mean you haven't been to ,scarborough8' ',no1 of course not2 you didn't think ,i would go without you1 old boy4 ,we'll go to-morrow1 of course4 ,i thought we settled that last night4' ',why1 ,i've been thinking of you in ,scarborough all day6' ,i said4 ',then your thoughts have gone in a wrong direction for once1 ,jack1' he replied1 'for ,i've been here all the time4' ',i'll walk with you up the hill1' ,i said2 'it isn't quite dinner-time4' ,i was very pleased to see him1 and to find that he did not appear to be vexed with me4 ,we chatted for some time1 and then he said casually1 ',he does not speak badly1 that lay preacher of yours1 ,jack4' ,i stood still in astonishment4 ',who8' ,i said1 ',mr4 ,christie8 ,why1 you surely were not at the service1 ,tom6 ,oh1 ,i know1' ,i cried1 before he could answer1 'you were behind the bank2 ,i saw a black and white cap1 and ,i thought how much it was like yours4' ',it could not be much more like1 seeing that it was the very same1' said ,tom4 ',i'm so glad you heard him1' ,i ventured to say4 ,he made no answer1 so ,i thought it was better to say no more2 but when we reached the top of the hill1 and he was just leaving me1 he said3 ',jack1 ,i'm afraid ,i was a bit crusty last night4 ,you must not think any more of it1 old fellow4 ,we'll have a jolly day at ,scarborough to-morrow4 ,and1 ,jack1' he went on1 ',i was very much annoyed at the time1 ,i own ,i was2 but ,i'm not sure after all that you're not right4' ,he said no more1 but hurried away1 and it was many years before he referred to the subject again2 but the day came when he did mention it1 and when he told me1 with tears in his eyes1 that he looked upon that ,sunday at ,runswick as the first link in the chain of ,god's loving ,providence1 by means of which ,he had led him to ,himself4 ,he told me then that he had never forgotten my firm refusal to go with him1 and he had never forgotten the sermon to which he had listened hidden from sight by the bank4 ,our day at ,scarborough exceeded all our anticipations4 ,the weather was glorious1 and ,tom was in excellent spirits1 and we thoroughly enjoyed everything4 ,i could not help feeling sorry when ,thursday came1 which was to be my last day at ,runswick ,bay4 ,it had been such a happy and so eventful a time4 ,i seemed to have passed through so much1 and to have learnt so much unknown to me before1 that ,i felt very reluctant to bring my holiday to a close4 ,as for ,duncan and ,polly1 they were quite melancholy as the time for my departure drew near4 ',we shall feel lost without you1 sir1' said ,duncan4 ',we shan't know what to do'2 and there were tears in ,polly's eyes as she said mournfully1 when she set the herrings on the table for my supper1 ',them's the last herrings ,i shall fry you1 sir1 and ,i feel as if there was going to be a death in the house4' ',cheer up1 ,polly1' ,i said1 'who knows8 ,perhaps you may have to put up with me next time ,i get a holiday1 and you may be sure ,i shall want plenty of herrings then4' ,she brightened a little at this1 and little ,john1 who was quite well now1 and who had become very friendly with me since his illness1 climbed up on my knee1 and stroked my face with his little thin hand1 as if he were trying to coax me to come back to them again4 ,there was one thing which ,i had a great desire to do before leaving ,runswick4 ,i knew that ,duncan was much troubled about the ,mary ,ann4 ,she had been terribly knocked about in the storm1 which was no wonder1 seeing that she had drifted about1 bottom upwards1 and had been driven hither and thither on the waves4 ,when ,duncan had examined her the day after his arrival1 he had found that she leaked in several places1 and was altogether unseaworthy1 and he had been obliged to hire a boat until such time as the ,mary ,ann could be properly repaired4 ,then he went over to ,whitby1 and brought an experienced man back with him1 and he overhauled her thoroughly1 and gave it as his opinion that it would be a waste of money to try to patch her up4 ,when ,duncan came in that night ,i saw that the poor fellow was terribly downcast4 ',the ,mary ,ann's days are numbered1 sir2 she'll never be able to rough it again1' he said4 ',she's been a good old boat to me and my father before me1 and it will be like parting from an old friend to give her up4 ,yon man1 he says she might be cobbled together a bit2 but you would never make a good job of her2 she'd do maybe well enough for fine weather1 but you couldn't trust to her in a storm4' ,i saw ,polly turn pale as he said this4 ',duncan1' she said1 going up to him1 and laying her hand on his arm1 'you'll never go in her again2 promise me that4 ,think of me and little ,john1 ,duncan4' ',ay1 my lass1' he said2 'ay1 ,polly1 ,i do think of thee and little ,john2 but the worst of it is there's bread must be earnt for thee and little ,john4 ,i can't let thee starve1 wife4' ',what about the bank-book1 ,duncan8' ,i said4 ,he went to the old oak-chest1 and brought it out4 ,i was much touched by his handing it to me1 and bidding me see how it stood4 ,he was perfectly open with me1 and spoke to me as freely as if ,i had been an old and tried friend4 ,i added up the amount and read it out to him4 ',well1 sir1'he said1 'it's getting on2 but it's a good ten pound short yet4 ,we shall have to hire ,brown's boat a bit and do as well as we can1 though it isn't a very paying business when one takes to hiring3 it will be hard enough to make two ends meet1 you see1 sir1 let alone saving up for the new boat4 ,but ,i can't see nothing else for it1 sir2 that is1 if ,polly won't let me risk it in the ,mary ,ann4' ',duncan1' she said solemnly1 'if thee went to sea in the ,mary ,ann1 and she went to the bottom1 ,i could never say1 ,the will of the ,lord be done1 for ,i don't believe it would be ,god's will for thee to go in that rotten old thing4' ',polly is right1 ,duncan1' ,i said2 'you must never go in the ,mary ,ann again4' ',well1 sir1' he said1 ',i see what you mean1 you and ,polly too1 and the ,lord will show us what's to be done4' ,nothing more was said about the ,mary ,ann at that time1 but ,i had already made my own plan about the new boat4 ,my aunt had just left me her little property1 and a very nice little property it was4 ,i felt myself a rich man1 for in addition to money invested in various ways1 about ,l#bjj of ready money had been placed to my account at the bank4 ,what could be more delightful1 ,i thought1 than to spend the first ten pounds of this in helping ,duncan to complete the purchase of the new boat8 ,the only difficulty would be to get ,duncan to accept the money1 for he had all the honest independence of a ,yorkshireman1 and ,i knew would hesitate about receiving help from any one4 ,but1 at the same time1 ,i knew that in this instance his need was great1 and his kindly feeling towards myself was so strong1 that ,i was not without hope that ,i might be able to manage what ,i had contemplated without giving the dear fellow offence4 ,i thought1 at one time1 that ,i would take ,mr4 ,christie into my confidence1 and would consult with him1 but on second thoughts ,i decided that it would be wiser not to do so1 and felt that ,i should be more likely to succeed if no one else was in the secret4 ,so ,i folded my bank-note in paper1 put it into an envelope1 and wrote outside1 ',with little ,john's love to his daddy1 to help him to buy another ,little ,john4' ,this ,i determined to slip into the child's hand when ,i said good-bye4 ,that evening ,i had supper with the ,christies4 ,they were kindness itself1 and told me what a great pleasure it had been to them to meet me4 ',not only because you are your mother's son1 ,jack1 but for your own sake as well as hers1' said ,mr4 ,christie with a smile4 ,i wanted to say something in return1 but the words would not come--at least not then4 ,but1 just before ,i left1 ,i went with ,mr4 ,christie into his study1 and he said1 ',jack1 ,i thought perhaps we might have a little prayer together before we part'2 and then the words came1-- ',mr4 ,christie1' ,i said1 ',i can never1 never thank ,god enough that ,i came here4' ',let us thank ,him together1 ,jack1' he said4 ,then we knelt down1 he by the table1 and ,i with my arms resting on the old organ1 and he thanked ,god for ,his mercy in bringing me across the line1 and he committed me to ,his care and keeping to bring me safely along the road which leads home4 ,the next morning ,i was up early1 for our train started at eight1 and we had two miles to walk4 ,i had told ,polly ,i should want nothing but a cup of tea before ,i set off1 but when ,i came down ,i found a most tempting breakfast prepared for me--ham and eggs1 and toast in abundance1 and fresh lettuces from ,duncan's small garden4 ',well1 ,polly1' ,i said1 'you are spoiling me to the last4' ',we can never make enough of you1 sir1' said ,polly1 and there were tears in her eyes as she said it4 ,i ran up to pack my bag and collect my things1 and ,i determined to start in good time1 so that ,i might allow myself a few minutes to say good-bye to the ,christies4 ',i must be off1 ,duncan1' ,i said4 ,he was standing outside with little ,john in his arms1 and ,polly1 with her hat on1 was standing beside him4 ',we're coming along with you1 sir1 to the station1' said ,duncan4 ',you won't think it a liberty will you1 sir8 but me and ,polly and little ,john would like to see the last of you4' ',come1 that is good of you1' ,i said4 ',i shall have a grand escort up the hill6' ,polly took the child from his father1 and ,duncan carried my bag and easel1 and would not even hear of my giving him a hand with them4 ,i ran into the ,christies1 but could find no one below2 however1 ,i heard a great running backwards and forwards overhead1 and presently ,mr4 ,christie called out of the bedroom window1 ',wait one moment1 ,jack2 we are all coming to see you off4' ,so my escort increased as ,i proceeded1 and ,tom1 as he came out of the hotel1 said he thought the whole of ,runswick must be going by the early train1 when he saw us1 one after another1 come toiling up the hill4 ,little ,jack rode up the whole way on my back1 and his horse was very hot when the top was reached4 ,though it is now so many years ago ,i can see that little party of friends standing together on the platform1 as the train moved out of the station4 ,i can feel again the warm grasp of ,mr4 ,christie's hand1 and can hear his whispered1 ',god bless you1 ,jack6' ,i can see ,mrs4 ,christie holding ,marjorie by the hand1 and waving her handkerchief to me1 and can hear little ,jack crying out1 ',come back soon1 do1 big ,mr4 ,jack4' ,i can see ,duncan bareheaded1 with little ,john in his arms1 the child waving the envelope which ,i had put in his hand as ,i stepped into the carriage1 and which was still unopened4 ,i can see ,polly wiping her eyes with her apron1 and then holding it up and waving it till ,i was lost to sight4 ,i can see them all as they appeared to me that day1 kind hearts and true1 not one of them ranking amongst the number whom the world counts great1 and yet all of them well known to ,him who calleth ,his own sheep by name and leadeth them out4 ,i must just mention here that ,i had a very touching letter from ,duncan at the end of that week4 ,the spelling was most wonderful1 and the grammar was quite of his own making2 but it was full1 from end to end1 of the most simple-hearted affection1 and of the deepest gratitude4 ',me1 and my missus1 and little ,john1 can never be thankful enough1 sir1' he said1 'and when the other ',little ,john' is afloat1 as please ,god she soon will be1 we hopes as how you will come and have a sail in her4' ,so ended my visit to ,runswick2 and when ,i consider all that happened during those few weeks1 ,i think it is small wonder that the little bay is still fresh in my memory1 and that ,ella's yellow ragwort made me dream of it so distinctly4 ,for surely that month was the most important month in my life1 for was it not the beginning of a new life1 which1 thank ,god1 has continued ever since8 ,i can say to-day1 even as ,i said then1 ',one is my ,master1 even ,christ1' and ,i can look forward1 humbly but hopefully1 to the time when the golden gates will open to me1 and when the ,master's promise will be fulfilled to me1 ',where ,i am1 there shall also ,my servant be4' ,o ,jesus ,christ1 my ,master1 ,i come to ,thee to-day2 ,i ask ,thee to direct me ,in all ,i do or say3 ,i want to keep my promise ,to be ,thy servant true1 ,i come to ,thee for orders2 ,dear ,lord1 what shall ,i do8 ,i want a heart not heeding ,what others think or say2 ,i want a humble spirit1 ,to listen and obey4 ,to serve ,thee without ceasing1 ',tis but a little while1-- ,my strength1 the ,master's promise1 ,my joy1 the ,master's smile4 ,a4,c4,w4