14

HARRY'S VOYAGE.

WE E are familiar with the thought that the England of to-day is not the England of a hundred years ago. Time, the Destroyer of many old and venerable usages and customs, becomes, as he advances at least in the estimation of the men and women of the present—Time, the Improver. In almost every particular we observe a gradual and silent change. Το take a single instance, suggested by the picture before us, how great an advance in art and skilled labour is represented by our ships of war. Look back to the rude boats and war galleys of olden times; look back even to what our fathers, with a pardonable pride, were wont to call the wooden walls of England, and contrast them with the magnificent Ironclads and War Vessels that protect us from a foreign invasion.

The central figure in our picture could tell a story of yet greater change, and more real improvement, in far shorter time. Our friend Harry there, resting on that gun, looking out with his clear eye on the blue waters of the Mediterranean, the picture of manly independence-how trig and comfortable and happy he seems! To look at him, you would hardly recognise the wild boy of the streets, who lived, but a few years back, a very Ishmael, his hand against every man, and every man's hand against him. No kind mother to care for him; a drunken father only to repel him from his door; no man regarding him or caring for his soul, till the law, which in these hundred years is changed too, and is no longer vindictive but philanthrophic, laid hold of him. And so Harry, brought before the magistrate, had the good fortune to be sent, much against his own will, to a training ship. There, with kind hearts around him, and softening influences of love and gentleness, with many a prayer, the iron was welded into shape. The misdirected energies of his boy-life found their proper sphere; and when the captain was offered a post in the navy for one of his boys, there was none whom he deemed

worthier than Harry. And now, a gunner's boy, on board Her Majesty's Ship Tornado, he is steaming for Besika Bay, under orders to protect British interests. Let us hope he will go no further. There are higher than British interests involved in this great struggle in the East-the interests of humanity and justice; and these, we trust, will ever hold the first place in a Briton's heart.

This terrible war, which has desolated some of the fairest countries of Europe, and has already slain its thousands, has, at the same time, shown that the heart of Britain beats true to the call of humanity. Whatever may be the thought and wish of some of our public men, the great heart of the nation bleeds in sympathy with our oppressed fellow-Christians, whose battle is being fought. We cannot doubt that the end will be freedom for the oppressed, deliverance for the captive. The arm of the oppressor shall be laid low; and though it has been in storm and tempest, yet the voice of the Lord has been heard, and the end shall be peace.

What are Harry's thoughts as he looks out over the sea? Thoughts, doubtless, of the past, which seems now so very far away-thoughts of the present, full of thankfulness and tranquil peace-thoughts of the future too. For Harry has entered on another voyage than that in which you see him. He has another port than any earthly port to make for. It is this that makes Harry so happy-that lends swiftness to his foot, and readiness to his hand, when any of his mates require his help. He has learned the royal maxim, to do to others as he would be done to himself. And it is thus he sails the sea. He knows that he may look for storm and tempest, but the Bible is the chart he sails by; and when the storms of life are past, there is a haven of rest and peace.

'God speed the bark, dear friend, that bears
Thee onward to thy destined home;
Though storm and tempest round thee rage,
Be Christ the helmsman of thy bark.
The storm shall pass, the sunshine break,
And thou hast reached the land of rest.'

THE figure of a stork is carved on some buildings in a village in Norway, and an interesting legend is told concerning its origin.

It is said that long ago a stork came to that village every summer, and built its nest near the cottage of a poor widow and her son. Conrad, the boy, often fed the bird, and became very fond of it. As soon as he became old enough, Conrad went to sea, for he wished to earn money to provide for his mother, as well as for himself. first voyage was a successful one; but on his second voyage, the ship he was in was seized by pirates, and poor Conrad was landed on the shores of Africa, and there sold into slavery.

His

One day, while toiling in the fields, sad and lonely, he saw a stork coming towards him; and when it came near, to his astonisment, Conrad recognised the same stork that he had often fed and played with in

his own much-loved, hut far distant home. The frequent visits of the stork cheered him in his solitude, and many a time he saved a portion of his own scanty meal to feed the stork. Its companionship revived his spirit, and awoke in his mind a faint hope of deliverance from his sad captivity. He remembered that when summer days came the bird would fly away to his old home in Norway; and he wondered if it would not be possible for him to send a message to his mother by it. Getting a small scrap of paper, he wrote his name upon it, and the name of the place where he was toiling as a slave. This he wrapped round the bird's leg and tied it with a string.

The stork returned to the old spot in Norway, and the poor widow fed it for her son's sake. While doing so she observed something on the bird's leg, and untying the string she read her own son's writing

on the paper. With mingled feelings of joy and grief, the poor woman told her friends and neighbours the news of her son's sad captivity. They resolved to do what they could for his deliverance, but the sum required to ransom him was larger than they could provide. The king alone could procure his freedom. So the widow appealed to the king, who ordered a ship to be built immediately, and sent away to Africa to ransom Conrad and bring him home. It is said that the figure of the stork was carved on the church to commemorate the return of the widow's son from his captivity.

God has many ways of delivering His people. When He wills it even the birds of the air become His messengers. Who guided the stork to the very field where Conrad was toiling? It was God.

And who put it into the boy's mind to make the bird his messenger? It was God.

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.'

God was with Joseph in Egypt, and delivered him out of all his afflictions. He was with Moses in the wilderness, with Daniel in the lion's den, and with the Hebrew children in the fiery furnace; and he is ever with all who put their trust in Him. Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.' 'If God be for us, who can be a

gainst us?'

A little boy was running about in an apartment, amusing himself, as children are accustomed to do. His money was potsherds, his house bits of wood, his horse a stick, and his child a doll. In the same apartment sat his father at a table, occupied with important matters of business, which he noted and arranged for the future benefit of his young companion. The child frequently ran to him, asked many foolish questions, and begged one thing after another as necessary for his diversion. The father answered briefly, did not intermit

his work, but all the time kept a watchful eye over the child, to save him from any serious fall or injury. Gotthold was a spectator of the scene, and thought within himself, "How beautiful an adumbration of the fatherly care of God! We, too, who are old children, course about in the world, and often play at games which are much more foolish than those of our little ones. We collect and scatter, build and demolish, plant and pluck up, ride and drive, eat and drink, sing and play, and fancy that we are performing great exploits, well worthy of God's special attention. Meanwhile the Omniscient is sitting by, and writing our days in His book. He orders and executes all that is to befall us, overruling it for our best interests in time and eternity: and yet His eye never ceases to watch over us, and the childish sports in which we are engaged, that we may meet with no deadly mischief.'

'Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.' 'THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE IN EVERY PLACE, BEHOLDING THE EVIL AND THE GOOD.' A father must often be absent from his children, and then his eye cannot be upon them. Conrad's mother could not watch over her boy when he was on the ocean or toiling as a slave; but God's eye was upon him all the time.

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, and He is ever watching over His children, to do them good and to keep them from evil. 'Behold, He that keepeth Israel, shall neither slumber nor sleep.' He only waits for us to call upon Him in sincerity, and in truth, and He will hear our cry.

'Among the deepest shades of night, Can there be One who sees my way? Yes! God is like a shining light

That turns the darkness into day.

When every eye around me sleeps,

May I not sin without control? No! for a constant watch He keeps On every thought, of every soul. If I should find some cave unknown, Where human footstep never trod, Even there I could not be alone,

On every side there would be God.