Saved at sea

by Mrs. O. F. Walton

'On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.'

'Well now, Jem, what does he mean? He kept on saying to me, "You're on the sand, my friend; you're on the sand, and it won't stand the storm!" What do you make of it, Jem? did you hear him, my lad?'

'Yes,' said Jem thoughtfully; 'and it has set me thinking, Sandy; I know what he meant well enough.'

'And pray what may that be?'

'He meant we can't get to heaven except we come to Christ; we can't get no other way. That's just what it means, Sandy!'

'Do you mean to tell me,' said my grandfather, 'that I shan't get to heaven if I do my best?'

'No, it won't do, Sandy; there's only one way to heaven; I know that well enough.'

'Dear me, Jem!' said my grandfather, 'I never heard you talk like that before.'

'No,' said Jem, 'I've forgot all about it since I came to the island. I had a good mother years ago; I ought to have done better than I have done.'

He said no more, but he was very silent all the evening. Grandfather read his newspaper aloud, and talked on all manner of subjects, but Jem Millar's thoughts seemed far away.