A Sailor's Lass

, was very anxious when she saw Tiny lying so quiet and lifeless-looking, the white bandage on her forehead making her poor little face look quite ghast

rt a little 'un like that," he said, drawing his sleeve

said his wife, by w

savage as a bear; and yet I let it get the mastery of me. But it's the last, mother; I took the bottle to the farm last night, and they'

to Fellness, with the teal and widgeon he had shot; but when she began to get better, and the craving for the drink made itself felt, then began the tug of war. During the first few days o

very night, as the hour drew near when he usually came back from Fellness, a positive dread and terror of him se

child in the daytime; but he only shook his head. "She hate

re he went out with his gun in the morning. At length, as he sat at breakfast one d

e?" she said, with a little gasping

, gathering her in his arms, and kissing her, whi

" said Tiny; "that you didn't

om yer," he went on; "I thought you'd never want to see yer cruel old daddy any more; and as for me, why I'd punish myself by not tryin

ted you all the days," said Tiny,

e one of God's own bairns, as well

y; but-but-don't-come-at-night,"

me, little 'un," he said, drawing his

I can't help it," said th

you know. I've done with the bottle now; and it wasn

" and from that time the little girl set herself strenuously to overcome the terror and dread that nig

lt marshes along the coast, only a few unsaleable old gulls would reward Coomber's toil. They were not actually uneatable by those who were on the verge of starvation; but they were utterly unfit for a child like Tiny, in her present weak, delicate condition;

's getting on a bit, for never have I had such a bad shooting season as this s

the store of biscuits by this time; and although Dick and Tom often spent hours wandering along the shore, in the hope of finding another wonderful tr

the authorities to keep her until this bitter winter was over; and then, when the

though he shrank from the task himself-that she should be told what they thought of doing. "She is

earned to love so tenderly, but with a mighty effort she choked back her tears, for she saw how grieved Mrs. Coo

let her come back soon. "I will, I will!" said Dick through his tears; "I'll say what you told me last night-I'll say it e

afraid and half ashamed to meet them; but he was obliged to go, for he wanted Peters to go with him, and tell the workhou

uld have stated his errand in a few words. He had found instead that all the village was astir with the news of a tea-meeting, that was to take pl

Coomber's hand. "Well now, mate, I'm in a fix," he said, slowly, and pointing round the room; "I've got all these forms to move, and to fix up the tables for 'em by four o'clock; but if you'l

look decided him. "Would you like to have some of it?" he said, with a faint smile. The little girl's face

d to one of them, and she seated Tiny by the fire, and gave her some bread and butter at once. When the tea was all ready, and the company began to arrive, Coomber fetched Tiny to sit with him, and the two had a bountiful tea, and such cake as the little girl

as to follow, the fisherman drew her aside, and whispered: "I do believe God has heard what you'

ogether again," exclaimed Tiny, lo

d-little 'un, I've been a bad man, and I dunno as God'll have anything to

across his eyes, and turned his

daddy, He will! He will!" she whispered, earnestly; "He loves you, and He's been wa

, for he was hungering to hear something that might set his doubts at rest. At length he heard the words that have brought help and gladness to so many souls: "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Then followed a simple address, enlargin

followed the speaker into the little vestry. "Beg pardon, sir," he said, pausing at the door, "but 'tain't often as I gets the chance of hearing such

a shameful, painful death-not, mark me, that they may continue in sin. To say we believe in God, and to live in sin, makes our belief of no effect. We must learn of Christ, or He will have died in vain for us. We must learn

e's done a deal for me lately, bad as I am,"

s son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to

w what the asking means; this little 'un here has taught me that praying

ou into all truth. Without His help you can do nothing; but, seeking His help, trusting in his

od will forgive

away our sin, to set our conscience free from guilt, and to a

ad been hungering and thirsting after righteousness, an

-meeting, had been handed to Coomber to take home, and Peters whispered, as he went out: "I've heard of another job for yer, so be along in good time in the morning

hild in his wife's arms. "He's been good to me, better than I deserved

oul. "Now, mother," he said, as he concluded, "you and I must both begin a new life. We must ask God to help us like this little 'un, and we must teach our boys to