Ben Hadden | Page 5

they are gone. At the end of the year,--I have said
it, and I know it,--by following God's commandments, simply because
He has commanded, I have been a richer man than those who
disobeyed them; and I know surely that I have been a stronger, a more
healthy, a happier, and a more contented one.
"Again, sir, look here; many say they can't work on from the beginning
to the end of the fishing season without drink: no more they can, maybe,
but rest is better far than drink; and if they would take the
Sabbath-day's rest they might save the cost of the week's drink, and
that's more by a long way than the Sabbath-day's toil gives them. So, as
I say, when we obey God we do the best thing for ourselves, even in
this life; and that to my mind shows what a merciful and loving God He
is. He does not want to make us suffer pain or grief, He wants to make

us happy; and so all His laws are such that if we would obey them, we
should be happy. It is because men do not obey them that they are
unhappy. There, sir, that's my belief. I'm an old man now; but I thought
so when I was a young one, and every year since I have had good cause
to think the same."
"You speak nothing but the truth, my friend," observed the gentleman;
"I will tell others what you have said to me, and how you have acted,
and I will try to persuade them to follow your example."
"My example, sir!" said John Hadden gravely. "Say rather, sir, the
same example I try to follow."
"You are right, my friend," said the gentleman, wringing the
fisherman's rough hand and walking thoughtfully away.
Some time after this, John Hadden was sitting with his spy-glass resting
across his knees, at the top of the highest sand-hill near the village. A
strong gale from the north-east, which would not let any of the
fishing-boats put to sea, was blowing. It was at the time of the year
when the larger fishing-vessels are laid up. John had more than once
put his glass to his eye; he now kept it there, and made a crutch of his
left arm to hold it up. While thus employed, he was joined by one of his
sons.
"If he don't take care he'll be on the bank as sure as my name is John
Hadden," he cried out, pointing to a large ship which had stood in from
the offing (that is, from the sea far off), and was trying to work to the
northward. A slant of wind which would allow the stranger (see note 1)
to lay well up along shore, had tempted him to stand in closer than he
should have done. Old Hadden and his son watched the strange vessel
for some time with great interest. Still he stood blindly on.
"There, I feared that it would be so!" exclaimed John; "and if help don't
go to them before high water, not a soul of all on board will escape."
Too true: the fine ship lay fast, her broadside struck again and again by
the heavy seas, which came rolling in from the eastward.

"Jem, we must go to her!" exclaimed John Hadden suddenly. "Call
your brothers, lad; it won't do to let these poor fellows perish for want
of help."
Scarcely two minutes passed after this, before John Hadden and his five
sons--for Ben also went--were launching their yawl through the surf
which broke on the sandy beach. A few of the people of the village
nearest the water came running down to see the boat off, but John had
not time to tell his wife and daughters of what he was going to do. He
would fain have given them a parting kiss, but time was precious. He
sent up a lad, though, to his home. "Tell them," he said, "we are doing
our duty; we shall be cared for." Away through the foaming sea the
brave men pulled their stout boat. The spray flew over her, and speedily
wetted them through, but for that they cared nothing. The seas,
however, sometimes broke on board, and little Ben was kept hard at
work, baling out the water.
"She is well out at the end of the spit, lads," observed old Hadden; "we
may get close enough for them to heave a rope on board us, if she
hangs together, and I don't see that there is much doubt about her doing
that."
They pulled on for some time, without any one again speaking. "She
will hang very well together," observed John; "but, oh! more's the pity,
they seem to be lowering one of