NOTES. 297 



come more dissolute by becoming a Christian? Have you 

 ever known a village to become less thrifty and prosperous 

 in consequence of the observance by its inhabitants of the 

 precepts of the Bible ? Is there, on the surface of this globe, 

 a more intelligent, virtuous, prosperous, and happy communi- 

 ty than is to be found in the dwellings of New England, 

 and is there any other portion of earth's inhabitants over 

 whom the religion of Jesus Christ has greater supremacy ? 

 Give, then, your influence to aid this cause, and your fellow- 

 men shall bless you, and conscience shall reward you, and 

 your heavenly Father shall welcome you as his co-workers 

 and his sons. N. Y. Evangelist. 



B, p. 152. 



A boat-steerer in an American whaler, a man of more than 

 ordinary thoughtfulness and intelligence, addressed an inter- 

 esting communication to the Honolulu Seaman's Friend, while 

 the author of these sketches was at the Sandwich Islands. It 

 is feared that he has since been lost, it being a very long time 

 since his ship was heard from. The communication referred 

 to, being a slice of a sailor's autobiography, will be a good 

 comment on the text that there's many a heart under the rough 

 pea jacket. 



When I look back (he says) upon my past life, with all its 

 various scenes and occurrences, both by sea and land, it is on 

 my lips to say, what hair-breadth escapes from death, what 

 deliverance from threatening dangers have I experienced, 

 even from my childhood. Surely goodness and mercy have 

 followed me all the days of my life. 



When a man is placed in a situation where no danger is ap- 

 parent, where all is cheerful and happy, how apt he is to 

 think and talk lightly of death ; but let him be placed in the 

 midst of the ocean, in a solitary bark, at the mercy of the 

 winds and waves ; let the tempest arise, and the wild waters 



