be pleased to know that every thing was done that could be done to ensure safety, humanly speaking. He said every vessel, before leaving port, was inspected as carefully and minutely as if it were an emigrant ship, and was not permitted to leave dock until it was certified that means for the preservation of the passengers and crew existed on board-boats, belts, mattrasses, rafts-every thing, in short, that could add to their security.

From the office they went about their shopping, and wound up a very fatiguing day by having a very delicious meat tea at Mrs. Robinson's; and, it being quite dark when Mr. Ford called for them, Frank fell fast asleep in the van, and never woke to say a word to any body, until Punch, of his own accord, pulled up at the gate of the widow's cottage.

The few intervening days were all too short, and the dulness of the weather was depressing; but Mrs. Wentworth schooled her heart, smothered her grief, that it might not fret her boy, and on the morning of Frank's departure she appeared the most cheerful person there. But she dared not trust herself to accompany him to Liverpool, to see the great ship tugged out of dock, with her only son on board. She had not sufficient command of her feelings for that; so all leave-taking was done at home, and Mr. Ford came directly after breakfast, and conveyed Frank and his well-packed sea-chest from the humble home where he had spent so many happy days.

The kind old man saw the tears welling into Frank's eyes, as he turned with a heavy sigh from

watching the last flutter of his mother's kerchief, who was standing at the garden gate with his two dear sisters, and waving her loving adieu.

The old man saw the suffused eyes, and set about to divert his attention by chatting cheerfully of his prospects, his voyage, and his return; so that Frank had no leisure for brooding over the pain of parting, the tearful gaze, the tender kisses, the loving words, and the earnest blessings. But they were all deeply impressed upon his heart and mind, to bring forth fruit in due season; to urge him on in the path of duty— to comfort him under trouble-to cheer him in times of difficulty and danger.

The parting had been still more distressing to those left behind. Mrs. Wentworth and her daughters had done their best to send their darling away in good spirits, and he had seen no signs of their sorrow. But when the last word had been spoken, the last look taken, they went their several ways, each to indulge in the grief which then, in spite of all efforts at resignation, seemed for a time to overwhelm them.

It is a good thing to be able to exert oneself when assailed by grief-when troubled by losses or partings. Time alleviates all such distresses, and we can soon think calmly over a trouble, which, at the time of its occurrence, seemed almost greater than we could bear. God has mercifully and wisely ordered this; blessed be His holy name!

Whenever they sat together in the evenings, or at their meals, Mrs. Wentworth tried to dispel the sinking at her heart by speaking only of the advantages her

boy possessed. "Going out under the especial care of so good a captain, in a teetotal ship, too, where he would learn no intemperate habits, hear no profane language; and with such an outfit, too, and such a store of comforts and nice things to remind him of home, and mother, sisters, and friends."

Thoughtful of every thing that might tend to comfort the sailor-boy, they had collected all the little books and tracts they possessed; to which his mother had added some of his father's well-used volumes on navigation, and a quadrant, which had been many voyages, but might still serve for a beginner; and having been his father's first nautical instrument, would be highly valued by the lad.

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Mr. Ford did not return until quite late in the evening of the next day he had stayed to see the "Speedwell" "steamed" out of dock, and to wave his hat as long as she was in sight. He brought back a very cheerful account of Frank.

“We'd rare fun when we got aboard," he said, “for just as we were heaving up the sea-chest, who should come alongside but the steward, and hollaring after Frank, 'Here, young 'un,' he says, 'don't you know this is a teetotal ship? How come you to be having hampers of grog put aboard?' 'Hampers of grog, sir!' says Frank, looking very red in the face. 'Hampers of grog!' says I, wondering; 'what on earth do you mean, mate ?' 'Mean!' says he, back again, 'what I say; and if you don't believe me, go and look in my berth, and see if I a'n't a-speaking the truth.' Off we goes, both of us, Frank and me, leaving some of the

sailor chaps to finish getting up the chest; and when we got into steward's cabin, there, sure enough, stood a hamper, a good-sized one, corded and labelled 'FRANK WENTWORTH.' Frank seemed afraid it was a trick, and might get him into trouble; and he was quite in a fluster. Out came his clasp knife in a twinkling, and he was right handy with it, I can tell you, the cordage was soon cut adrift; he flung the straw upon the ground, and then we both burst into a fit of laughter, for, in big letters, as big as a sign-board, was two names, 'JOHN-TUFTS,' nothing else; but that told who sent it. It was crammed chock full of apples, oranges, and nuts, and, in the middle, a halfgallon jar of prime pickled cabbage. 'Oh! tell mother, Mr. Ford,' cries Frank, 'isn't it jolly? And please be sure you ask her to let them know how pleased I am.'"

"That was nice," said Mrs. Wentworth ; "but was the steward really angry, do you think?"

"Not he," replied Mr. Ford; "that was his fun. He knew all about it, you may depend, for you know he wouldn't have shipped it if he'd thought it had been liquor. He wasn't angry. I see him afterwards, and we had a good laugh over it. But if I don't mind I shall go on chattering, and forget a bit of a commission I've got. Here's something Frank gave me, all regularly tied up, and superscribed in a proper manner (the old man loved to use long words sometimes); I'm sure you'll prize it. I should, for, bless his heart! he's as fine a lad as ever I set eyes on, and he'll be a credit to his captain and his ship any day."

So saying, Mr. Ford handed a tiny packet to the widow.

"It's very kind," she said, while her eyes filled with tears-"very kind indeed of you, Mr. Ford, to say so. You don't know how it comforts me to hear my boy well spoken of. I trust he will find friends on board ship as he has done here, and then I need not fear, with the blessing of God, but he will do well and prosper."

While Mrs. Wentworth was speaking, her fingers were busily engaged in untying the knots which secured the tiny packet. She opened the paper with much care, when, behold, snugly reposing on cotton wool, as on a pillow, lay one of her darling's glossy, brown curls. "Cut off," Mr. Ford said, "at almost the last moment. It was his last act on shore, at any rate," he went on to tell her, "and it seemed to comfort him to be wrapping it up, and writing on it, while I stood by, keeping a look-out for the signal for him to go on board.”

"God bless him!" fervently ejaculated Mrs. Wentworth: "I pray that he may be happy. I would have made any sacrifice to have kept him with me. Only my own heart knows how bitter a thing it is to lose such a child even for a time, and with the uncertainty

"Don't you go fidgeting about it now," interrupted Mr. Ford: "depend upon it all things work together for good to them that love the Lord. It's the best thing the boy could have done, it's my belief; he'd never have settled to any trade with his thoughts

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