Part 2

"'LORD, SAVE ME.'"

"'And the Lord will put out His hand, and catch you, and hold you fast, and you'll be safe then, Mr. Jonah,' she says."

"And so I came to see, my dears, that it isn't only once in our lives that we want my Jessie's prayer; it isn't only when we first feel our need of a Saviour, but it's every day and all the day that we want to have it ready. And it's wonderful how it comes to my mind, all quick-like, just when I need it. It's the Holy Spirit, that little lass said, who puts the thought so quick in our hearts; and it has saved me from many a sinking in the water, Master Stanley. When I've been going to get into a temper, or to say and do anything as I shouldn't say or do, I've cried out in my heart, 'Lord save me,' and it has been all right; He's never failed me; no, He's never failed me once."

"Well, that's the way that little lass used to talk to us; she made it all so plain, me and Polly and Granny used to say she was the best little teacher in the world; and, when a letter came to say her father was coming to take her away, we all very near cried our eyes out. Jess couldn't eat a bit of breakfast, she couldn't indeed; and as for Polly, she looked all day as if she was going to a funeral. I kept up pretty well till we had had our last reading in Polly's Testament, and then I broke down altogether."

"'Oh, my little lass,' I says, 'who will teach us all these things when you've gone away?'"

"'Why, you'll have the Bible just the same, Mr. Jonah,' she says; 'the Bible isn't going away.'"

"'But you make it so plain, my dear,' says Granny; 'even an old body like me can take it in.'"

"Well, then she looked quite serious, and she says, as grave as can be, 'There's a better Teacher than me, Mr. Jonah. The Holy Spirit will make it all plain to you. My mother told me never to read the Bible without saying this little prayer:'"

"'"O God, send Thy Holy Spirit to teach me, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen."'"

"She said her mother had written it for her in her own little Bible that was lost in the wreck, Miss Hilda. But she hadn't forgotten it, and she taught it to me, and I've often said it since before I read my Bible."

"Well, we didn't like to say good-bye; but the poor father was so glad to get his little girl, we couldn't be so mean as to grudge her to him."

"He promised he would often bring her to see us, and he kept his word, Master Stanley. She comes to see me sometimes even now—bless her!"

"She's married and has a little girl of her own, the very picture of what she was when I brought her from the wreck—she is indeed."

"So that's my yarn, Master Stanley, and the story of the last time Miss Daisy's dinner-bell rang. And as I sit mending my nets I often think about it. I've queer thoughts sometimes, little Missy. And it seems to me as if the whole lot of us was like those folks on the sinking ship. But the Lord comes out to save us—bless His name for it, Miss Hilda. Jesus is the Lifeboat to save you and me. He comes across the sea, and He bids us jump in and be saved."

"But if we won't come—if we like best being on the sinking ship, He won't force us into His boat. Each one of us must come to Him one by one; each must jump in for himself. I wonder if you and Miss Hilda are in the Lifeboat yet?"

"I don't know, Jonah," I said; "how can we get in the boat?"

"Take Jesus as your Saviour, my boy, as the Lifeboat to save you. Tell Him you want to be saved by Him. Say my Jessie's prayer:"

"Lord, save me!"

"And will He do it?"

"If I ask Him to receive me, Will He say me Nay? Not till earth and not till heaven Pass away—"

"And all in the Lifeboat get safe to shore, Master Stanley: not one in the Lord's boat is lost. I'm getting an old man now, and I've been in the boat a many years, and I sometimes think I'm getting near the shore. And I seem to see Polly waiting for me—she and Jess and Granny standing side by side looking out for me coming. They are all there now, Miss Hilda, and they're waiting for me as they waited for me that night."

"And Jess will dance for joy, and Polly will say 'Thank God!' and Granny will say 'Amen,' when the Lifeboat lands me ashore."

The sky was clear, and cloudless. And filled with sunny light; The sea was like a deep blue lake. So calm and fair and bright.

Old Jonah had been shrimping Within the shallow bay, We children often watched him When we were at our play.

We liked to see him wading, His great net in his hand; We loved to see him come ashore And shake it on the sand.

To-day his work was ended, He sat him down to rest Upon a coil of tarry rope. The seat he loved the best.

There, basking in the sunshine. He leaned against the wall. I saw him light his little pipe, And then I heard him call.

Come here, young Master Stanley, And bring your little boat, And let me see what can be done To make her rightly float.

And sit ye down beside me 'Tis far too hot to play, I'll may be spin another yarn Like mine the other day.

I've been a jolly sailor The best part of my life; I never settled down at home Until I got my wife.

But Polly, she said: "Jonah, Now stop at home my dear;" And when I looked in Polly's eye I thought I saw a tear.

And somehow, Master Stanley, I lost the love to roam, And settled down at fishing here With Polly, and at home.

But what I tell you now lad, It happened long ago, When I was far across the seas Amidst the ice and snow.

'T was on Newfoundland island, A dismal place and drear, My master owned some fishing-boats. I'd worked for him a year.

One night we sailed as usual And all at first went right; We filled the boat with large cod-fish And turned back when 'twas light.

But up then rose the breakers, The wind blew wild and strong, The waves were dashing on the rocks And hurled our boat along.

How should we reach the harbour? How should we rightly steer? Oh! Who would give a helping hand? Our hearts were filled with fear.

There was no bonny lifeboat To skip above the wave, To come across the raging tide, To rescue and to save.

The people on the island Were running to the pier: The master stood upon the shore. And watched as we drew near.

But all of them were helpless As helpless as could be, They cried aloud, they rushed along, They waded in the sea!

Not one of them could reach us Not one could give us aid; It was a fearful time my boy, And we were sore afraid.

But standing by my master, And gazing on the sea. Was Neptune, his Newfoundland dog, A noble fellow he!

He leapt into the water. And met the billows' strife. Fighting each big wave as it came, And struggling for his life.

At last we saw him near us, We wondered what he meant, We called to him to come on board. His strength was almost spent.

But Neptune would not heed us, Though he swam round and round; What could the dog have come to do? What reason could be found?

At last Bill Fisher shouted; "Throw him a rope, my lad; He may have come to give us help, I only wish he had!"

At once the dog plunged forward To catch the rope we threw; We knew he meant to save us then. Our trusty friend and true.

He passed the rocks in safety. Then leapt upon the sand; We heard them give a shout of joy When he had reached the land.

They seized the rope, they dragged us, You should have seen, my boy, How Neptune watched us come ashore, And wagged his tail for joy.

They hoisted up the signal To spread the news around: That every man of us was there, That all were safe and sound.

And each man on the island, Both near and far away, Came over to pat Neptune's head For his good work that day.

Now I must hurry homewards, There's Harry's wife and lad, They've caught sight of the father's boat He likes to meet his dad!

You'll see him come ashore now; Ah! There he is! I'm right, I thought when they jumped off the boat That Harry was in sight.

It's like the old days over To watch him come from sea. She looks for him as Polly then So often looked for me.

I live with her and Harry. The rest are all away, My Magpie's married to a man, Who lives in Plymouth Bay.

See, there are Harry's children, And now he's got his net To carry home the baby in. She's Harry's little pet.

So good-day, Master Stanley. But come again, my dear, I've many another yarn to spin, If you should care to hear.

And bring your sister with you. There's something in her eyes That makes me think of little Jess. She's just about her size.

I often sit and wonder, If children older grow; I lost her, Master Stanley, Some thirty years ago.

They say old folks love dreaming, Of things long since gone by: I know when I begin to dream A tear comes in my eye.

But I am sailing Homewards The Harbour is in sight, And we shall be together lad, Within the Home of light.

It was upon her birthday, The day she was eleven, Just ask your Mother if she thinks That they grow old in Heaven.

I sit and think about her, And think of Polly too; I seem to hear them speak to me, I sometimes think they do.

Printed by Meissner & Buch. Chromo-Lithographers. LONDON & LEIPZIG.