Stories and Poems

BOB THE CABIN BOY by Rev. George C. Smith A FEW months since, a vessel sailed from England with a captain whose habitual blasphemy, drunkenness, and tyranny so disgusted the crew, that some of the most fatal consequences might have taken place, but for his sudden and alarming illness. The mate took charge of the ship, and the captain, greatly afflicted in his cabin, was left by the unanimous voice of a hardened crew, to perish. He had continued nearly a week in this neglected state, no one venturing to visit him, when the heart of a poor boy on board...

The Way-Side Hearers Three girls were sitting together at public worship one Sunday afternoon, listening to a very solemn and impressive sermon, in which the minister spoke much of the sufferings that Christ endured in the garden of Gethsemane, and on the cross for our salvation. They were Sunday scholars, so that the minister knew them all by name; and, as they sat near the pulpit, his eyes rested upon them occasionally; perhaps with a hope that, through God's blessing upon his words, their hearts might be touched with a sense of the Redeemer's exceeding love in thus dying for...

The Bible Calendar "I do not know what is the reason," said Harriet, just after she had returned home from a walk with her mother, "but I am not so happy as I expected to be at my new school. Yet our governess is very kind; and as for my schoolfellows, there is not a nicer set of girls anywhere, I am sure." "Since that is the case," replied her mother, "I should be inclined, if I were you, to suspect that the fault must be in myself." "I suppose so; and I have tried sometimes to find out what...

THE GIN-SHOPOR, A PEEP INTO A PRISONBy Hannah More Look through the land from north to south,And look from east to west,And see what is to EnglishmenOf life the deadliest pest. It is not want, though that is bad;Nor war, though that is worse;But Britons brave endure, alas!A self-inflicted curse. Go where you will, throughout the realmYou’ll find the reigning sin,In cities, villages, and towns,—The monster’s name is Gin. The prince of darkness never sentTo man a deadlier foe;“My name is Legion,” it may say,The source of many a wo. Nor does the fiend alone depriveThe laborer of his wealth;That...

PATIENT JOEOR, THE NEWCASTLE COLLIERBy Hannah More Have you heard of a collier of honest renown,Who dwelt on the borders of Newcastle town?His name it was Joseph—you better may knowIf I tell you he always was called Patient Joe. Whatever betided, he thought it was right,And Providence still he kept ever in sight;To those who love God, let things turn as they would,He was certain that all worked together for good. He praised his Creator whatever befell;How thankful was Joseph when matters went well!How sincere were his carols of praise for good health,And how grateful for any increase in his...