"Certainly; it can be no other," he said. "Now, Grace, it is your turn."
"Mine is in the New Testament," she said—"the eighth chapter of Matthew, beginning with the twenty-third verse. 'And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And behold there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him and awoke him, saying, Lord save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him.'"
"It is such a pretty story," said Little Elsie. "How kind Jesus was never to get angry, though they waked him out of his sleep when he must have been so very, very tired. He might have scolded them, and asked didn't they know they couldn't drown while he was with them in the ship."
"Yes," her father said; "and let us learn of him to be patient, unselfish, and forgiving."
It was Walter's turn, and he read: "'And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them; and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out; for they all saw him and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.'"
"This is mine," said Elsie. "'And he went forth again by the seaside: and all the multitudes resorted unto him, and he taught them.'"
It was Ned's turn, and he read: "And he began again to teach by the seaside: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.'"
"I think this was a very nice lesson," Elsie said as they closed their books. "I shall think of it often while we are on the sea. This—Lake Erie—is as much of a sea as the Lake of Tiberias or Sea of Galilee, isn't it, papa?"
"I think so," he said; "and in a few days we are likely to be on a real sea—the great Atlantic Ocean."
"And God can take care of us there just as well as anywhere else, can't he, papa?" asked Ned in a tone that was half inquiry, half assertion.