NINE MONTHS IN THE AECTIC. 231 



men are scattered abroad, even to the farthest 

 limits of civilization, there the sailor will be re- 

 membered, and the recorded experience of his 

 ocean life will be read again and again with 

 thrilling emotions. But this is not all. There 

 are hundreds of young men, from inland country 

 towns, and from every part of the United States, 

 whose home is now on the ocean wave, and ex- 

 posed to the dangers and perils of the deep. It 

 is, therefore, reasonable to suppose, that many a 

 father's and mother's heart follows in affection, 

 hope, and imagination, the absent son upon the 

 unknown waste of waters, or into distant lands ; 

 or the wife, anxiously looking for favorable intel- 

 ligence, offers daily prayer for the successful and 

 speedy return of her husband. Thus, in these 

 respects, those living in the country share in a 

 mutual sympathy with those on the seaboard. 



In those places, especially, where large num- 

 bers of seamen usually congregate, Bethel ser- 

 vices on the Sabbath are means of securing to 

 them a great amount of moral and religious in- 

 struction. Besides, colporteur seamen become 

 an efficient instrumentality in directing many a 

 weather-beaten mariner to the house of God, and 

 to the Saviour of sinners. 



When whale ships are about to leave our port 

 for a cruise of two, three, or four years, it is the 



