The Voyage of the Steadfast | Page 2

away, and of the dangers to which
they may be exposed. Surely there was another gun!"
She again went to the window, and, throwing it open, looked out into
the darkness. The fierce wind coming in made the curtains flutter, and
almost blew out the lamp.
"I saw the flash of a gun, mother. It is in the direction of those dark
rocks which lift their heads above the water!" exclaimed Hannah. "Ah!
I heard the sound also. There is another flash! They must have come
from some unfortunate ship. Perhaps she is already on the rocks. Can
any boat venture out to her assistance in a storm like this? I will shut
the window directly, mother," she added, looking round, and trying to
catch the fluttering curtains.
Again she looked out. "I cannot be mistaken!" she exclaimed, the tone
of her voice showing her anxiety. "There is another gun. The ship must
be in fearful peril! Can nothing be done to help the poor people?"
Mrs Graybrook, convinced that Hannah was right in her conjecture,
came to the window, and mother and daughter stood gazing out for
some minutes, and trying to penetrate the thick gloom which hung over
the wild, tempestuous sea raging below them.
A fiercer blast than before, which drove the rain and spray against their
faces, compelled them to close the window; yet Hannah could not
withdraw herself from it, for she still caught an occasional flash, and
could distinguish the roar of the guns even amidst the howling of the
wind.
"What help can we render to them?" she again asked.
"We may give them aid--all the aid which we have the power to give,"
said Mrs Graybrook, placing her work on the table. "We can pray for
them as we pray for those who are far away."
"I never cease to pray for those dear ones, mother, morning and
evening, and every hour of the day," said Hannah. "Oh, that they had

learned to pray for themselves," she murmured; "to seek that aid in time
of need which will never be withheld!"
Together the mother and daughter knelt, and offered up their prayers to
the throne of grace, that help might be sent to those near at hand, while
their petitions went up also for those loved ones at a distance. They
knew that the all-seeing eye of the God of mercy could follow them,
that His far-reaching hand could protect them, and that, feeble as were
their petitions, He heard and would grant them if He saw fit.
They rose with hearts cheered and comforted.
"I should indeed be happier if Harry had known and accepted the
truth," said Mrs Graybrook, continuing the conversation just before
begun. "He is so light-hearted, and, enjoying health and strength, so
confident in himself, that his mind has hitherto appeared incapable of
attending to spiritual things; though, when I have spoken to him, he has
respectfully listened with a grave countenance; but the subject has
evidently not been to his taste. My grief is, also, that your father so
admires his bold and daring spirit, that he encourages him to think
more of the things of this world than of the future. Excellent as your
father is, too, he has not had the same advantages of receiving religious
instruction which we have possessed, and is therefore unable to impart
it to Harry. This made me very unwilling that your brother should go to
sea before he was a confirmed Christian; but your father was so
determined to take him that I was compelled to consent."
Mrs Graybrook would not have spoken thus to Hannah of her father's
want of religious principle, but that she knew her daughter was well
aware of it, and mourned for it with her, while she had often joined
with her in prayer that he might be brought to know the truth. Mrs
Graybrook had far too much delicacy and sense of what is right, under
other circumstances, to have spoken to her daughter in any way which
might have appeared disrespectful of Captain Graybrook, for whom
they both entertained the deepest affection. Her true and faithful love
for her husband made her feel as she did; for, having learned the value
of her own soul, she was anxious about his and that of her dear boy.

"I at first had hoped that Leonard Champion would have proved an
advantageous companion to Harry," continued Mrs Graybrook. "But, if
not inclined to laugh at religion, he is, I fear, ignorant of its vital truths
or indifferent to them, and Harry therefore cannot be benefited through
his means."
Hannah sighed.
"You are right, mamma; Mr Champion cannot lead Harry to the
fountain in which he does not see the need of being washed himself. I
spoke