previously swallowed. His wonder was now transferred from the cause of her death, to the manner in which she had possessed herself of so deadly a morsel; and to solve this mystery, he inquired of all connected with the menagerie; but none could at all elucidate the matter, and he was constrained to leave it shrouded in conjectural uncertainty.

But time, that great revealer of secrets, not long after brought the very captain by whom the Emu had been conveyed to the British shores to the keeper's door. And the conversation turning upon the occasion of their former interview and acquaintance, he was told the circumstances of its death, and subsequent examination; and as the several particulars were related, an unlooked-for surprise and anxiety, accompanied by deep blushes, settled upon his countenance. At the close of the brief narrative, he paused a moment, and then said, "You will not wonder, Mr. that your statement has so affected me, when I tell you that I fear it will too truly explain an event which occurred on my homeward voyage, and which now pains me exceedingly. Yet I would not but have heard that statement for a thousand times the value of the poor bird. Can you shew me the inkstand ?" O yes!" replied the keeper, as he took it from among similar curiosities on his mantel-shelf, and put it into his hand, “here it is." "This is the very thing," rejoined the captain, "this inkstand was on the quarter-deck close by my side, when I last used it, and the hapless Emu was within an iron coop not far off. I had occasion to go into my cabin ere I had finished my letter, and, on my return, the inkstand had disappeared. Positive that I had left it on the deck, I made every inquiry, and ordered the strictest search after it, but in vain; none had touched it, none had seen it, nor was it any where to be found.

Far from imagining the true cause of my loss, the amount of which I was compelled to estimate not by cost, but the difficulty, if not the impossibility, of then replacing it, I became excessively angry, and at once accused and condemned the poor fellow whom I had left in its neighbourhood, to be flogged for the suspected crime, notwithstanding his solemn protestations of innocence. He bore the grievous infliction with patience; for though a black, he was, I believe, a Christian. And now, Sir, I cannot rest till I have found him out, and made him full reparation." So saying, the captain took up his hat, and hastily departed, leaving his host and family wondering not more at his recital, than at the power of that principle which drove him so unceremoniously from their company.

Reader, where is not the man who has so misjudged, so miscondemned, if not so unjustly punished, his brother? but where is he to be found who is equally prompt to retrace his steps, equally anxious to repair his fault?

SAILOR MISSIONARIES.

66

BY THE AUTHOR OF LABOURERS FOR THE HARVEST."

As a subject which has hitherto been only discussed theoretically becomes of so much more importance when corroborated by facts, I may be allowed to bring forward one or two "illustrative anecdotes," in order to prove the position I maintained, that sailors may be reckoned among the best agents for scattering abroad the precious seed of saving truth. In their own descriptive manner, I must likewise be permitted to relate the circumstances as they occurred, for which I make no apology to those who, from frequent association with seamen, are accustomed to

sea terms.

In the spring of the year 1833, a small vessel left the port of Liverpool for the West Indies; she had scarcely cleared the channel, when it came on to blow a hurricane; the gale now at N. W.; and then suddenly backing to S. and S. S.W., and then hauling round again to its former point; in consequence of which there was a dirty cross sea on; and because the ship did not very well answer her helm, there was a constant danger of her broaching-to. The crew were very profligate, with the exception of the master, who was a member of the Seamen's Church in the port from which he had just sailed. Though in the commencement of the gale much profane swearing had been heard, yet all hands becoming sensible of the danger to which they were every moment exposed, the efforts to keep the ship in order

were at length made in silence. The storm, though violent, was of short duration; towards evening the weather moderated, and at length the anxious master quitted his station beside the man at the wheel, and, worn and wearied, threw himself into his berth. "It was but a dog's watch," said the helmsman who related the story, "and he was again on the quarter-deck; but the weather had changed entirely, and the day was dawning auspiciously, with a fine steady breeze. All hands were quickly mustered: "My boys," said the captain, "here is as fine a wind as heart could wish, and we will`take every advantage of it, and cover her from the trucks to the ridge-ropes; but, avast there! before we start a haulyard or a reef-point, all hands turn to, and praise God for preserving us to see this glorious morning." Down he fell on his knees, just where he stood; and the men, taken by surprise, or seeming to catch his feelings, sunk down one after another, some of them trying to stow themselves away behind the capstan, or the jolly-boat, while I hung over the wheel; but never did my ears listen to such a prayer as that! Methought, while he spoke of angels praising God, who were never exposed to the perils by which sinners are surrounded, it might fill an angel's eye and heart to see our gallant crew at their morning devotions. And just then as I glanced my eye along the deck, I saw the rising sun upon our larboard beam, as if in admiration of the sight. When the master had done praying, all hands began making sail; but I could see many a shirt sleeve, as the men ran up the tacklings, employed in brushing away the tear, and drying the cheek. That evening, all hands were summoned aft, to prayers. master read a chapter out of the Bible, and made a short address. He said, that to preserve a conscience void of offence toward God and man, and to walk in the fear of the Lord, was to have the wind abaft the beam, and clear heavens, during the

The

whole voyage of life. Afterwards he prayed; and throughout the voyage, (and a happy time we had of it,) we had prayers every morning and evening; and the sabbaths were much the same as ashore.

By the time we reached Antigua, the captain was not the only religious man on board; but, as the second mate said, we might be a cargo of Missionaries, sent to drive the devil out of the island. Indeed we tried to do it, to the best of our power, for we held meetings on board, and on shore, to which sailors came continually, and several hands could preach as well as the captain himself; and we saw black and white turning to God with tears and cries, and not a few obtained mercy, and blessed God for the "Sailor Missionaries."

In the same year, (1833,) J. P. arrived in Jamaica, and shortly after was seized with the malignant fever of the country; he was carried ashore to the hospital, and then pronounced incurable. An aged black woman, who attended on him, hearing that his case was considered desperate, obtained permission to carry him to her own dwelling; and there God so blessed her charitable efforts, that the young man was speedily restored to health. As soon as he was able to speak, prompted as well by gratitude as duty, he sought to shew his affectionate nurse that her soul was yet more diseased than his body had been. The patient in turn became the physician, and the same divine blessing rendered successful his more important efforts. When she had administered his medicine, the nurse would kneel down by his bedside, while he read to her a portion of the word of God, and poured out his soul in prayer for the daughter of Ham.

As soon as his strength permitted, a few of the negroes who resided near, were called in to listen to his conversation, and