The Voyage of the Steadfast | Page 3

to him earnestly on the subject, but without avail, though he
accepted some books which I offered him, and promised to read them
when he had time."
The two ladies had, since they settled in Wales, enjoyed the ministry of
one of those gifted servants of God, to whom the honour has been
given of winning souls to Christ by their preaching and private
exhortations. He had been a frequent visitor at the cottage; and mother
and daughter, having accepted the truth, had been built up in their faith,
becoming earnest yet humble Christians.
This was after Harry went to school. During his short holidays, though
his mother and sister had often earnestly and lovingly spoken to him,
they had made no apparent impression on his mind, all his thoughts
being set on going to sea. His mother had now deeply to regret that she
herself, ignorant of the truth during his childhood's days, had been
unable to instruct him while his young mind was ready to receive the
religious knowledge she might have imparted.
How many a mother must feel as she did!
Captain Graybrook had been constantly at sea, and when he came home
for a brief visit, though he remarked the change in his wife and
daughter, and found that they were unwilling to engage in any of the
frivolous amusements of society, he looked upon the opinions they
expressed as mere passing fancies, and begged to be excused from
listening to the preacher of whom they spoke so highly.

"Those sort of things are very good, my dear wife, for some people," he
answered, carelessly; "but sailors have no time to attend to them; I, at
all events, have not, for I have to see to the refitting of the ship; and
you must acknowledge that I have been a good husband and father. I
have done my duty; and what more can you want of me?"
"The best of human beings are sinful by nature, and have committed
numberless sins, and require to be washed in the blood of Jesus to fit
them to enter into the presence of a pure and holy God," answered Mrs
Graybrook, gently.
"I dare say it is all true," said the captain, kissing his wife. "You are a
good creature, and mean well; but I have not time to listen now, and
must be off; so good-bye, Betty, good-bye!" and he hurried away.
Hannah had entertained hopes of inducing her father's young mate,
Leonard Champion, to listen to the subject which occupied her
thoughts. He had been a frequent visitor at the house while the ship was
undergoing repairs in the dockyard, for he was an especial favourite of
her father.
He was a young man of superior attainments, not having gone to sea till
he had completed his education at school and had entered college. At
that time, his father, who was a merchant, dying just as his firm, by
unforeseen circumstances, had become bankrupt, Leonard was left
destitute. He had always had a predilection for the sea, and Captain
Graybrook, an old friend of his father, at once offered, in the most
liberal way, to give him an outfit and to receive him on board his ship.
Leonard thankfully accepted the offer, and, devoting all his energies
and talents to acquire a knowledge of the profession he had entered,
soon became an excellent navigator and a first-rate seaman. Delighting
in his new calling, generous and good-natured as he was cool and
daring in danger, he won the confidence of his captain, and was
beloved and willingly obeyed by the crew.
He had not seen the captain's daughter till the last time the ship
returned home, and had not expected to find her so engaging and

refined a girl. He was, in her sight, superior to any one she had ever
met, and her affections were engaged before she was aware of the state
of her own feelings. He did not conceal his, and, little versed in the
ways of the world, while utterly free from deceit, he expressed his
opinions with a freedom which many persons under the circumstances
would not have done. Hannah, though admiring his many fine qualities,
could not forget that he was destitute of the most important of all
things--sound religious principle. Not denying the interest she felt in
him, she distinctly told him that she would never engage herself to
marry one who did not desire faithfully to serve the same God and
Master whom she did.
Leonard did not clearly understand her meaning, as, indeed, no one still
following the ways of the world can comprehend the spiritually
minded.
In vain she spoke to him. Perhaps not till he had sailed did she discover
how completely, in spite of her resolutions, she had