Then he was brought on shore, and taken to his mother's house; and after a while,

with her kind nursing, he recovered; still, he did not regain all his strength until a long time afterwards.

Henry was fond of the sea. He longed to be on it again; and while he was yet weak from his fall, he said that he was sure he was well enough to go out in a vessel. He could not go in his old ship, because that was not going another voyage for some time; so Henry got his friends to obtain a situation for him in another vessel. This was done; and as the vessel was at Liverpool, which is, you know, a long way from London, Henry had to go there in a coach.

But the young sailor had thought himself stronger than he really was. When he reached Liverpool, he was so weak and ill that he could not go on board the vessel; and, as that was quite ready for her voyage, he was left behind. Poor fellow, this was a sad disappointment for him-to lose his place in the ship, and to be left alone, ill, and quite a stranger in a large town. But he got better; and as soon as he was able, he returned to London, to look out for another situation.

And now, my dear children, I will tell you the result of his disappointment. His life was saved by it. Yes; Henry had not many weeks returned from Liverpool before the news came to England, that the ship in which he would have gone out if he had not been taken ill, was wrecked, and sunk; and that every person in it was drowned.

I have no doubt that when cousin Henry heard this sad news, he was very thankful that he had been taken ill at Liverpool; for it was this fall which had led to his being ill on that journey, and which ended in the saving of his life.

Henry has passed through many dangers since that time; but he is yet living to praise God for his goodness to him, and to remember that disappointments and crosses are often very great blessings. And now I will tell you the third story.

The third story.-You have seen a steamvessel. Yes; and you have been in one; and you remember that these vessels have large wheels at the side, called paddles, which are turned round by engines which are in the vessels. The use of these wheels, you know, is to send the vessels quickly along on the water. It is not many years since this of moving ships began to be used; and, for some time, it was thought that steam-boats,

way

But now they are made to go very long voyages, and are found to be very useful, because they go faster than sailing ships, and do not depend so much upon the wind.

One of the first steam-vessels which was built to go to a very great distance on the sea, was called the President. It was designed for going to and from England and America, which countries are three thousand miles apart. It was intended to carry passengers and goods; and as it was to go such a great way, it was made very large, so as to hold a great many people, and a large quantity of goods. It was also built very strong, or it was intended to be built so, in order that it should bear the storms which it might meet with in its passage.

I remember very well when this ship was being built; indeed, many young people can remember the time too, for it was only a few years ago. But I remember it the more because a gentleman whom I knew, wished to belong to the ship as an engineer; that is, to assist in managing its steam-engine. Indeed, at one time, I believe, he quite thought he should do so; and was glad that he had obtained such a good situation. But he was disappointed, very much disappointed, when the vessel was almost ready to begin the voyage, to find that another gentleman had been put into his place, and that he had, by some means or other, lost it.

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Now I will tell you how this gentleman's disappointment turned out for his good. The ship went to America, as was intended, and got there quite safe; and having stayed there as long as the owners thought proper, it was got ready for returning to England. But it never did return. Soon after it got out to sea, a storm arose; and it is supposed that the ship, and all the people who were in it, were swallowed up by the waves.

For

many weeks and months, the owners of the ship, and the friends of the passengers and crew, anxiously hoped to hear some news of it and them. But they never did. At length they lost all hope, and felt quite sure that all were drowned.

Now, if the gentleman of whom I spoke had not been disappointed as he was, he would have been in this ship when it was lost; he too would have been drowned, and his dear friends would have been filled with grief for him. Had not he and they, then, cause to be thankful for his disappointment?

"These," said Mr. Hardy, "are the three stories which I promised to tell you. Now, can you tell me, George, what we may learn from them?”

George. Yes, I think I can, father. You mean that it is sometimes a good thing to be disappointed.

Father. Yes; that is the lesson. And it