The Story of Grenfell of the Labrador | Page 9

to make good. It is a
mighty fine thing to make good. Any of us can make good if we go at
things in the way Grenfell went at them--determined, whatever
obstacles arise, not to fail. Grenfell never whined about luck going
against him. He made his own luck. That is the mark of every
successful and big man.
"There are the fleets," said the skipper one day, pointing out over the
bow. "We'll make a round of the fleets, and you'll have a chance to get
busy patching the men up."
And he was busy. There came as many patients every day as any young
doctor could wish to treat. But that was what Grenfell wanted.
As the skipper suggested, the mission boat made a tour of the fleets, of
which there were several, each fleet with its own name and colours and
commanded by an Admiral. There were the Columbias, the Rashers,
the Great Northerners and many others. It was finally with the Great
Northerners that the mission boat took its station.
Grenfell visited among the vessels and made friends among the men,
who were like big boys, rough and ready. They were always prepared
to go into daring ventures. They never flinched at danger. Few of them
had ever enjoyed the privilege of going to school, and none of the men
and few of the skippers could write. They could read the compass just
as men who cannot read can tell the time of day from the clock. But
they had their method of dead reckoning and always appeared to know
where they were, even though land had not been sighted for days.
Most of these men had been apprentised to the vessels as boys and had

followed the sea all their lives. There were always many apprentised
boys on the ships, and these worked without other pay than clothing,
food and a little pocket money until they were twenty-one years of age.
In many cases they received little consideration from the skippers and
sometimes were treated with unnecessary roughness and even cruelty.
From the beginning Doctor Grenfell devoted himself not only to
healing the sick, but also to bettering the condition of the fishermen.
His skill was applied to the healing of their moral as well as their
physical ills. Of necessity their life was a rough and rugged one, but
there were opportunities to introduce some pleasure into it and to make
it happier in many ways. Here was a strong human call that, from the
beginning, Grenfell could not resist.
Using his own influence together with the influence of other good men,
necessary funds were raised to meet the expenses of additional mission
ships, and additional doctors and workers were sent out. Those selected
were not only doctors, but men who were qualified by character and
ability to guide the seamen to better and cleaner and more wholesome
living. Queen Victoria became interested. The grog ships were finally
driven from the sea. Laws were enacted to better conditions upon the
fishing vessels that the lives of the fishermen might be easier and
happier. In the course of time, as the result of Grenfell's tireless efforts,
a marvelous change for the better took place.
Thus the years passed. Dr. Grenfell, who in the beginning had given his
services to the Mission for a single winter, still remained. He felt it a
duty that he could not desert. The work was hard, and it denied him the
private practice and the home life to which he had looked forward so
hopefully. He never had the time to drive fine horses about the country
as he visited patients. But he had no regrets. He had chosen to accept
and share the life of the fishermen on the high seas. It was no less a
service to his country and to mankind than the service of the soldier
fighting in the trenches. When he saw the need and heard the call he
was willing enough to sacrifice personal ambitions that he might help
others to become finer, better men, and live nobler happier lives.
Looking back over that period there is no doubt that Doctor Grenfell

feels a thousand times repaid for any sacrifices he may have made. It is
always that way. When we give up something for the other fellow, or
do some fine thing to help him, our pleasure at the happiness we have
given him makes us somehow forget ourselves and all we have given
up.
And so came the year 1891. It was in that year that a member of the
Mission Board returned from a visit to Canada and Newfoundland and
reported to the Board great need of work among the Newfoundland
fishermen similar to that that had been done by Grenfell in the