love, where no clouds veil the glory, where no storm sweeps the sky. But there is death! We have to cross the Jordan before we can enter the promised land. What of that? Our Saviour has abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light by His Gospel. He has made the dark valley to be only the valley of the shadow of death, by reason of the glorious light beyond. God goes before us with His goodness there, so that every Christian can sing, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me." And more, Christ who conquered for us is in heaven before us, our Forerunner, waiting for us; and His saints will be with Him to behold His glory, and dwell in His presence for ever. There! will be everlasting joy upon their heads; sorrow and sighing shall for ever have fled away. It will be an exceeding great and eternal weight of glory, with which our present light and passing afflictions are not to be compared. What a home there is before us; what a welcome awaits us; what an inheritance shall be ours! And when we have reached it and realise something of its glory, and gaze upon its beauty, and are enraptured with its melody, and taste its felicity, and are clothed with its perfection, then shall we sing with humble adoration and glowing ardour, as we look back on time and providence, "Thou, O Lord, hast gone before us all the way with the blessings of Thy goodness." Here, then, let there be gratitude, confidence, and hope. JAMES SPENCE, D.D. N the 28th of February, 1828, a very terrible calamity happened in the place known as Wellclose Square, Whitechapel. A new theatre, called the Brunswick, had been erected there on the site of a former building, known as the Old Royalty. It had been completed in seven months, and three days afterwards, during a rehearsal, the whole structure gave way and fell with a crash, burying ten persons amidst the ruins and fearfully injuring several others. Such a catastrophe was very awful, and the people of the neighbourhood looked with an almost solemn curiosity at the wreck of an edifice in which they themselves might have met with death suddenly. Very soon, however, they began to regard the heap of ruins with surprise, for early one morning there appeared in the midst of them two officers of the Royal Navy, surrounded by a gang of labourers with picks and shovels, and before these men (some of whom were Irish Roman Catholics) began to work they listened attentively while one of the officers offered up an earnest prayer to God for a blessing on the results of the labour they were about to undertake. Morning after morning their labour was thus sanctified, and evening after evening it was celebrated by the voice of thanksgiving, till at length the ground was cleared, and on the 10th of June, 1830, the first stone of a new building was laid. The building was to be a Home for Sailors, and as a necessary adjunct to the Home, it was intended to establish a Destitute Sailors' Asylum. The two naval officers were Captain (now | Admiral) George C. Gambier, and Captain Robert James Elliot, now gone to his rest, who with Lieutenant Robert Justice, afterwards Captain, and now with his old comrade, in the heavenly haven, had been seeking how to ameliorate the condition of seamen, numbers of whom were to be seen homeless, miserable, and frequently half naked and destitute, in that foul and wretched neighbourhood about the Docks and beyond Tower Hill. The task was a difficult one, and might have daunted less brave and hopeful men, for it was intended to demolish the piratical haunts where the enemies of the sailor lay in wait for his destruction; where crimps and thieves, and the keepers of infamous dens held their besotted victims in bondage, while they battened on the wages that had been earned during months of privation and arduous toil. It was necessary, therefore, first to provide a decent and comfortable lodging-house for the reception of sailors coming into port,-a place where they might safely deposit their clothes and their wages, and where they could "look out for another ship" without the evil intervention of crimps or pretended agents. It was a part of the intended plan also to establish a savings-bank, for securing any portion of their wages which they chose to lay by, or for safely transmitting such sums as they might wish to send to their relations. In short, the design was to provide a home for the homeless, and hold out helping hands to those who were ready to perish. Those ruins of the theatre stood on the very "ABOUT MY FATHER'S BUSINESS." 485 spot for such an establishment, and the two Since the opening of the institution in 1835 it captains, Gambier and Elliot, began by buying the has received 246,855 seamen of various countries ground and the wreck that stood upon it, not by and from all parts of the world. Of these 72,234 asking for public subscriptions, but mostly with have been old or returned boarders, and most of their own money, to which was added a few con- them have conducted their money transactions tributions from any of their friends who desired through the "Home," and have made good use of to join in the good work. the savings-bank. It is impossible to use more earnest or touching words than those in which the late Rear-Admiral Sir W. E. Parry spoke of the labours of his friend and fellow-supporter of the Sailors' Home, in an address to British seamen at Southampton, in 1853. "And now," he said, "let me just add that, from the first moment in which Captain Elliot stood among the ruins of the Brunswick Theatre, till it pleased God to deprive him of bodily and mental energy, did that self-denying Christian man devote all his powers, his talents, his influence, and his money to this his darling object of protecting and providing for the comfort of sailors. Connected with a noble family, and entitled, by birth, education, and station, to all the advantages which the most exalted society could give him, he willingly relinquished all, took up his abode in a humble lodging, surrounded by gin-shops, near the 'Home:' denied himself most of the comforts, it may almost be said some of the necessaries of life, in order the more effectually to carry out his benevolent design; and for eighteen years of selfdenial and devotion, made it the business of his life to superintend this institution." There are 270 inmates under that protecting roof as I step into the large entrance hall in Well Street to-day; and the two hundred and seventyfirst has just gone to look after his kit and seachest, which have been carefully conveyed from the Docks by one of the carmen belonging to the institution, who has "The Sailors' Home, Well Street," worked in red worsted on his shirt, and painted on the side of the van from which he has just alighted. It is evident that our friend No. two hundred and seventy-one has been here before, for he knows exactly where to present himself in order to deposit some of his more portable property with the cashier or the superintendent. He scarcely looks like a man who will want an advance of money, for he is a smart, alert, bright-eyed fellow, with a quiet air of self-respect about him which seems to indicate an account in the savings-bank; but should he be "hard up," he can ask for and receive a loan not exceeding twenty shillings directly his chest is deposited in his cabin. Just now the chest itself, together with its superincumbent bundle, stands against the wall along with some other inFor the noble officer lived to see the building for coming or out-going boxes, more than one of which he had wrought and prayed, complete and which are associated with brand new cages for successful. In 1835 300 sailors could be received parrots, and some odd-shaped cases evidently conand welcomed there. The piratical lairs began to taining sextants or other nautical instruments. empty of some of those who had been shown a way There is a whole ship's crew, and a smart one too, of escape, and the good work went on. In the in the hall to-day; while a small contingent adjoining Seamen's Church the congregation was occupies the clothing-department, where one or largely augmented by the boarders of the Sailors' two shrewd North-countrymen are being fitted Home, while the Honorary Chaplain and the Mis- each with a 'new rig," knowing well enough that sionary attached officially to the institution, they will be better served there than at any of the became not only parson and preacher, but friendly cheap outfitters (or the dear ones either) in the adviser and instructor, ready to speak, to hear, neighbourhood. Fine blue broadcloth, pilots, and to forbear. The addition of a book depository, tweeds, rough weather, and petershams are here where various useful publications may be purchased, to choose from "to measure," as well as a wonderand Bibles are sold at the lowest possible prices, ful collection of hats, caps, underclothing, hosiery, and in various languages, was a valuable auxiliary neckties, boots, and shoes, so unlike the clumsy to moral and religious instruction, and at once specimens that swing along with the tin pots and increased the home-like influences of the place. oilskins in some of the little low-browed shops The institution having gone on thus prosper- about the neighbourhood, that I at once discover ously, under the direction of a goodly number of the reason for the snartness and general neatlyofficers and gentlemen, added to its possessions fitted look of most of the men and lads now pacing by acquiring other plots of freehold ground, extend-up and down, talking and smoking. It is quiet ing backward to Dock Street; and in 1863 Lord Palmerston laid the stone of an entirely new block of building, which was inaugurated by the Prince of Wales in 1865, since which time 502 boarders can be received, each being provided with his separate cabin. talk for the most part, even when half-a-dozen of the inmates adjourn to the refreshment-room, where they can obtain a glass of good sound beer (though there is a much more general appreciation of coffee) and sit down comfortably at one or other of the tables, where two serious mates are already discussing some knotty point, which will probably at rest. This vast floor also contains two dormilast till tea-time. Tea-time? There is the half-past five o'clock signal gong going now, and light swift steps are to be heard going up the stairs into the large dining-hall, where the two hundred and seventy-one, or as many of them as are at home, sit down like fellows who know their business and mean to do it. It is a pleasant business enough, and one soon dispatched; for there are so many big tea-pots, that each table is amply provided by the alert attendants, who dispense bread-andbutter, watercresses, salads, and savoury bloaters and slices of ham and tongue, the latter having been already served by a carver who is equal to the occasion. It is astonishing how quickly the meal is over when its substantial quality is taken into account; but there is no lack of waiters, the number of attendants in the building being sixtyfive, some of whom, of course, belong to the dormitories and to other departments. 66 tories; but most of the sleeping cabins are in the second and third floors. There are few sights in London more remarkable than these berths, which are, in fact, separate cabins, each closed by its own door, and containing bed, wash-stand, chair, looking-glass, towels, and ample space for the sea-chest and personal belongings of the occupant. The cabins extend round a large area rising to a great height, and surrounded above by a light gallery reached by an outer staircase, round which are another series of berths exactly resembling the lower ones; so that there are, in fact, double, and in one or two dormitories treble tiers of cabins, and the upper ones may be entered without disturbing the inmates of those below. One of the three-decker areas is of vast size, and, standing in the upper gallery and looking upward to the lofty roof, and then downward to the clear, wide, open space be tween the lower rooms, the visitor is struck by the admirable provision both for light and ventilation; the former being secured at night by means of properly distributed gas jets, which are of course under the care of the night attendants, who are on watch in each dormitory, and may be summoned at once in case of illness or accident. Not only is there provision against fire by a length of fire-hose attached to hydrants on each floor, but the water supply to lavatories and for other purposes is secured by a cistern holding 4,000 gallons at the top of the building; so that The meals here are, of course, served with the utmost regularity, and without limit to quantity. Breakfast, with cold meat, fish, bacon, and general relishes," at eight in the morning; dinner at one: consisting of soup, roast and boiled meats, ample supplies of vegetables, occasional fish, stupendous fruit-pies and puddings, and a good allowance of beer. After tea comes a substantial snack for supper, at nine o'clock, and the doors of the institution are kept open till half-past eleven at night; those who wish to remain out later being required to obtain a pass from the there is complete circulation throughout the superintendent. Of course it is requested that various floors. the boarders come in to meals as punctually as possible; but those who cannot conveniently be present at the regular time, can have the meal supplied to them on application. Indeed, two or three belated ones are arriving now, as we go to the end of the long and lofty refectory to look at the crest of the late Admiral Sir William Bowles, K.C.B., which, supported by flags, is painted upon the wall, as a memorial of a gallant officer and a good friend to this institution and to all sailors. It is time that we paid a visit to the basement of this great institution, however; for, in more senses than one, it may said to be at the foundation of the arrangements. Yes, even with respect to the amusements provided for the inmates-for while chess, draughts, and backgammon are to be found in the library and reading-room, and billiards and bagatelle hold their own on the great landings of the first storey, we have down here a skittle-alley of a character so remarkable, that Leaving the dining-hall, we notice a smaller some of us who have read Washington Irving, room, set apart for masters and mates who may think of the reverberations of the giants' pastime desire to have their meals served here; and on in the mountains, while we wonder where sailors the same extensive storey is a large and comfort- can first have acquired a taste for this particular able reading-room well supplied with periodicals, amusement. It is a good and healthy one, how(among which I am glad to know that THE QUIVER ever, and is wisely provided, since it adds one holds an honourable place), and containing a more efficient inducement to the men to take capital library consisting of entertaining and instructive books. The board-room is close by, and is of the size and shape to make an excellent mission-room, where week-night services and meetings of a religious character are held, and well attended by men who, having seen the wonders of the Lord upon the great deep, join in His reasonable service when they are at home and their pleasure among their true friends instead of seeking it amidst the evil influences of a filthy tavern, or in the garish heat of some vile Ratcliff Highway bowling-alley, where men are maddened with drugged drink, and greeted with foul imprecations by the harpies who seek to rob and cheat them. There is much to see in this basement, and to "ABOUT MY FATHER'S BUSINESS." begin with here is No. two hundred and seventyone sending his chest up by the great luggage-lift to the second floor, where he will find it presently in his cabin. We cannot stay to speak to him, however, for we are on the very verge of the kitchen, to which we are, as it were, led by the nose; for wafted thence comes an appetising perfume of new bread just taken from one of the great ovens devoted to the daily baking. There are lingering odours also of to-day's dinner, though the meatovens and the great boilers and hot plates are clean and ready for the morrow. The pantry door, too, is open, and there are toothsome varieties of "plain-eating" therein, while the storerooms savour of mingled comforts, to which the gales of Araby the blest offer no parallel, and the butcher's shop has a calm and concentrated sense of meatiness which is suggestive to a robust appetite not already satiated with a chunk from one of a whole squadron of soft, new currant-cakes. After a peep at the large and busy laundry with its peculiar moist atmosphere, the coal and beer cellars, the pumping machinery and boiler-room may be passed by, and little, curiosity is excited by this long and convenient apartment, where hot and cold baths are prepared to order at a merely nominal charge. There is a door close by, however, where we stop instinctively, for there is a cheerful light inside, and a sound of easy and yet interrupted conversation which can belong to only one department of society. There can be no mistake about it-a veritable barber's shop, and a gentleman with a preternaturally clean chin complacently surveying himself in a looking-glass of limited dimensions, while another waits to be operated upon by the skilled practitioner who carries in his face the suggestion of a whole ropery of "tough yarns," and was-or am I mistakentonsor to the Victory or to some ship of war equally famous when the British seaman shaved close and often, and pigtails had hardly gone out of fashion. There is no time for testing the great artist's skill this evening, though I could almost sacrifice a well-grown beard to hear some rare old fo'c's'le story. But no story could be more wonderful than the plain truth, that for all the generous provision in this excellent institution the rescued sailor brought within its wholesome influence pays but fifteen shillings a week. Yes, men and apprentices, fifteen shillings; and officers, eighteen and sixpence. The evening lowers over the outer world of Mint Street and Leman Street, and the great blank void of the Tower ditch is full of shadow. Standing again in the large entrance hall, which reminds one more of shipboard, now that the lights are dotted about it, leaving it still a little dim, I hear the trickling of a drinking-fountain, and associated with its fresh plash hear as pleasant 487 a story as any yarn that ever the barber himself could have spun for my delight. The fountain, which is of polished Aberdeen granite, was opened last November in proper style, a platform being erected, and the chair being taken by the Secretary to the "Metropolitan Drinking Fountains Association," supported by several ladies and gentlemen. Mr. Lee made an appropriate speech, and called attention to the gift, and pointed to the inscription; and it was quite an emphatic little observance for the inmates who had gathered in the hall on the occasion. And well it might be, for the fountain bears this modest inscription:-"The gift of William McNeil, Seaman, in appreciation of the great benefits he has derived on the various occasions during which he has made the Institution his Home, for upwards of 25 years." I think very little more need be said for the Sailors' Home than is indicated by this plain, earnest testimony to its worth. Yet it is necessary to say one more word. This Sailors' Home is in a way self-supporting, and at present seeks only the kindly interest of the public in case it should ever need another response to an appeal for extending its sphere of usefulness. Not a farthing of profit is permitted to any individual engaged in it, and even fees to servants are prohibited, though the crimps and touts outside endeavour to bribe them sometimes, to induce sailors to go to the common lodging-houses, where land-rats seek their prey. All the profits, if there are any at all, are placed to a reserve fund for repairs, improvements, or extensions. At any rate, no public appeals are being made just now. But there is another institution next dooranother branch of the stem which has grown so sturdily from the seed planted by the good captain the Destitute Sailors' Asylum. That is a place full of interest, though there is nothing to see there. Nothing but a clean yard, with means for washing and cleansing, and a purifying oven for removing possible infection from clothes, and a great bare room, just comfortably warmed in winter, and hung with rows of hammocks, like the 'tween decks of a ship. That is all; but in those hammocks, sometimes, poor starved and destitute sailors go to sleep, after they have been fed with soup and warmed and comforted; and in the morning, when they turn out, they are fed again with cocoa and bread, and if they are naked they are clothed. There are not very many applicants, for, strange as it may appear, since sailors' homes have come in fashion there are but few destitute seamen; but there need be no unrelieved destitute sailors at all in London, for anybody can send such a one to the Asylum in Well Street, London Docks, and he will be admitted. Here then, is an institution that may claim support. ONE LIFE ONLY. BY F. M. F. SKENE, AUTHOR OF "TRIED," ETC. CHAPTER VI. T is not often that any of the inhabitants of this world are able to say that they consider it an entirely pleasant place to live in; but such was, undoubtedly, the conviction at which Una Dysart had arrived, after she had spent a little time longer at her new home in Valehead. She and her father speedily became, not only intimate, but thoroughly friendly with the Northcotes and Crichtons, and they were on terms of pleasant acquaintanceship with various other families; but it was with those, their first friends, that they chiefly associated. They met constantly-riding out together, and spending the evening at each other's houses, and both Will Northcote and Lilith Crichton became very dear to Una. Will was, however, the one whose society she most enjoyed; she was So racy and original, so unfashionably honest and sincere, and so very much better in all essential good qualities than she chose to appear. With Lilith, though it was impossible for any one to know her without loving her, Una often felt a sense of awe and constraint, from the very extent of her child-like innocency and goodness, which seemed to make her unable even to understand the possibility of any compromise with evil. Happily her brother Hervey was quite pleasantly human, and he managed somewhat persistently to make his way to Miss Dysart's side, whenever and wherever he could succeed in catching a glimpse of her. It chanced one especially bright warm day, however, that Colonel Dysart and his daughter were going to ride out alone together, and as they passed through the gates of Vale House, Una asked her father if there was any particular direction in which he wished to go. "None whatever, my dear; I am quite at your service, and I conclude from your asking the question with such extreme politeness, that you have entirely made up your mind what we are to do." "Yes, I have," she answered, laughing, "you are quite right; I want to go to Atherstone Abbey." "What! to pay a visit uninvited to Mr. Atherstone? Would not that be rather an eccentric proceeding for Miss Dysart?" "Possibly; but I do not mean to go near him. I only want to see the place; and Will Northcote told me that any one who leaves their card at the lodge can have leave to drive through the grounds, which are splendid, I believe, and also, if they like, they may see the fine old house, where there is a good gallery of pictures amongst other attractions." "That is very public spirited on the part of Mr. Atherstone; most English proprietors seem to grudge letting their beautiful parks be seen by any one but the rabbits and hares, and even those they shoot for their temerity. We will by all means profit by his benevolence, only we must not go to the house, Una; for I made his acquaintance the first day we went to Northcote Manor, and he said he should call upon me, but he has not appeared." 'What did you think of him? You have never told me, and people do spread such extraordinary stories about him." "There is, undoubtedly, a strong prejudice against him in the county; but I saw nothing to justify it in the few minutes during which I conversed with him. There is, certainly, a rather peculiar reserve in his manner, and he looks proud enough to be descended from Lucifer himself; but he is a perfect gentleman, and he was very courteous and agreeable to me. You did not meet him, I think." " 'Not at the house-he was gone before we came in; but I just saw him when I was out with Will." "Northcote told me his history, and a strange enough one it is?" "I heard it all from Will. Do you think he really has done anything wrong as people imagine ?" "It is hard to say. Northcote said Atherstone himself had told him that he considered himself in a sense guilty of his uncle's death, as he had driven the old man into the fit of rage which killed him; but I am sure I should have acted precisely in the same way with regard to the forger, with only this difference, that I should not have let him off as he did afterwards. I cannot conceive anything more intolerable than to be obliged, as Atherstone was, to associate continually with such an unmitigated scoundrel as that fellow Edwards seems to have been." "Yes, and to see his uncle so miserably deceived by him, that must have been the worst of all; but let us go on a little quicker, father. I want to reach the place while the sun is still high, so as to get all the effects of light and shade on the grand old house." They cantered on, and soon reached the nearest gate of Atherstone Abbey, which was not more than four miles from their own home. Here they found a very urbane lodge-keeper, who was quite willing to let them enter, and just as the heavy iron gates rolled back and they rode in, a horseman came at a |