The Voyage of the Steadfast | Page 4

given him her heart.
All she could now do was to pray that the young sailor might be
brought to a knowledge of the truth.
That evening, while the storm was raging, her mind had been far away
on board the Steadfast, and her heart sickened as she remembered the
dangers to which he might be exposed, and the hazardous pursuit in
which he was engaged.
"Perhaps Mr Champion may give Harry some of the books to read
which he took with him," observed Hannah. "I chose such as I thought
most likely to interest him."
"I fear Harry is very little addicted to reading," answered Mrs
Graybrook.
"Is there no one else on board likely to speak to Harry on religious
subjects, mother? Are none of the other mates Christians?" asked
Hannah, anxiously.
"I fear not," said Mrs Graybrook. "There is, however, old Tom Hayes,

who has sailed for many years with your father, and has frequently
been at our house. I have at times heard him let drop expressions which
induced me to believe that he is a Christian man. Your father has
spoken of him as a Methodist, and observed that, though he did not
think much of his opinions, he was the most sober and steady man he
ever had with him, and one of his best boat-steerers and harpooners. I
remember being struck by the old man's calm and intelligent
countenance and his gentle and unassuming manners, which true and
simple religious faith could alone impart. When we were last on board
the ship he expressed himself more openly to me than he had ever
before done. I spoke to him about Harry, and he assured me that he
would do his best to look after him and keep him out of danger. He was
going to say more, when he was called away to attend to some duty,
and I had no other opportunity of speaking to him."
"I remember the old sailor," said Hannah. "How I wish that I had
thought of talking with him! But I am afraid that Harry will not be
inclined to listen to anything which a person whom he will look upon
as his inferior may say to him. Still the old man may be able to speak to
him, and if he is, as you think, a true Christian, he will certainly
endeavour to do so."
"After all, dear Hannah, while we rest assured that God will hear our
petitions, we must remember that He knows best how to answer them,"
observed Mrs Graybrook. "Confiding in His love, let our hearts be
comforted."
More than once the conversation of the mother and daughter had been
interrupted by the loud uproar of the storm, and Jane, their
maid-servant, who had been sitting by herself in the kitchen, came
running in, exclaiming that she was afraid the whole house would be
blown away.
"It has stood many a severer gale than this, Jane," answered her
mistress. "But bring your work in here, as you are alarmed at being
alone," she added, kindly. "We should be worse off if we were to run
out into the garden."

The girl thankfully took advantage of Mrs Graybrook's permission to
sit in the drawing-room; and her presence prevented the two ladies
from speaking further on the subject which occupied their thoughts.
The usual time for their evening prayers arrived.
It seemed to Hannah, even while they were on their knees, that the gale
blew with less fury than before. It was, indeed, one of those storms
which occasionally, during the equinox, sweep along the coast, and,
though brief, cause much damage to vessels caught near the shore,
especially to such as are ill-found and ill-manned. So do the trials of
life wreck those persons destitute of sound faith and religious principle,
while those who are resting on Jesus are carried through them and
preserved.
Next morning the wind had ceased, and the sun shone forth.
Hannah anxiously looked through the telescope in the direction she had
seen the flashes of the guns. There lay a large ship on the rocks, but her
masts were standing, and boats were passing to and fro from the shore.
She was greatly relieved when she soon afterwards heard that, though
the ship had received much damage, no lives had been lost.
"I was wrong last night in giving way to my faithless fears and running
the risk of alarming you, my dear mother," she said, with a smile. "I
feel my heart happier this morning, and believe that God will protect
those we love, and that we shall yet see the Steadfast, with a full cargo,
sailing back towards the Mersey, and, better still, that father and Harry"
(she could not bring herself to utter the name of Leonard