116 



set apart occurred, they desired him to postpone tlie meeting, because 

 the weather, which for a number of da3's previous had been too bois- 

 terous to allow them to visit the iishing ground, liad then become mode- 

 rale. To this request, says his biographer, he would not consent. 

 Finding that they were determined to "make up their lost time," he 

 addressed them as follows: "If you are resolved to neglect your duty 

 to God, and uill go awa}', I say unto 3-ou, catch fish if 3'ou can ; but 

 as for you who will tarry and worship the Lord, I will praj* unto him 

 for yon, that you may catch fish until you are weary." The story con- 

 cludes with the averment that of the thirty-five to whom this address 

 was made, thirty went to the fishing-ground, and that five remained 

 with the good man Brock. The thirty caught but four fish, though 

 they labored all day; while the five, who followed at the conclusion of 

 the religious services, caught ^'re hundred. "After this," says the nar- 

 rator, the week-day meetings "were well attended." It is related of 

 INIr. Brock, that on another occasion he said to a poor fisherman, who 

 had been very useful in carrying persons who attended meeting across 

 from island to island, and who had lost his boat in a storm, " Go home, 

 honest man, I will mention the matter to the Lord: you will have your 

 boat again to-morrow." On the next daj- — so closes the account — "in 

 answer to earnest prayer the man recovered his boat, which was brought 

 up from the bottom by the anchor of a vessel, cast upon it without 

 design." 



A saying still familiar among nautical men, is said to have had its 

 origin in the following circumstance : While Mr. Moody was the 

 minister at the isles, a fishing shallop, with all on board, was lost in a 

 gale in Ipswich bay. " Mr. Moody, anxious to improve this melancholy 

 event for the awakening of those of his hearers who were exposed to 

 the like disaster," put home the case in " language adapted to their 

 occupation and understanding," thus: "Supposing, my brethren, any 

 of v'ou should be taken short in the h^\, in a northeast storm, 3'our 

 hearts trembling with fear, and nothing but death before you ; whither 

 would your thoughts turn? what would you do?" "What would I 

 do?" replied a fisherman, ^^ichy, 1 should hoist the foresail and scud aimy 

 for Siftunny To explain the wit or point of the answer, it is necessary 

 to add that Squam harbor, on the north side of Cape Ann, was a noted 

 place of shelter for fishing vessels when in the position supposed by 

 Mr. Moody. 



At a time when piracies were committed on the coast, a fisherman of 

 the name of Charles Randall, with others, were taken by some liree- 

 booters and whipped with great sevei'ity. This act perpetrated, the • 

 pirates said, "\(ju know old Dr. Cotton Mather, do j-ou?" "Yes," 

 was the reply, "we have heard of him as a very good man." " Well, 

 then," rejoined the gang, "our orders are, to make each of 3'ou jump 

 up three times, and sa3' each time, 'Curse Parson Mather,' otherwise 

 you are all to be hanged." Randall and his companions complied. 



In ccaiclusion. A worthy deacon, reading a line in the old version of 

 the Psalms, said, "And I know more than all the Indians do;" when 

 he should have read, "And I know more than all the ancients do." 

 Whejeupon "one of the assembh', who had mon; wit than pietv, ac- 

 quainted with the craftiness and shrewdness of Indians, rose antl ad- 



