Heap up the measure, load the scales,
And good to goodness add.
The generous soul her Saviour aids,
While peevish obloquy degrades;
The Lord is great and glad.”
THE POWER OF KINDNESS.
Early in the passage to California the men were at work about the ropes on deck, when one of them was told to loosen a topgallant halyard which was foul. He laid hold of the wrong rope. The voice of upbraiding came from one of the oldest of the crew; “Have you been on board this ship a fortnight and don’t you know the topgallant halyard?” Another sailor answered, “O, Daniel is learning fast; he’ll come all right soon; trust him.” Daniel was evidently touched by this unexpected expression of kindness; he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand; but whether from perspiration or not I could not tell.
THE BOY BEN AT THE WHEEL.
In the straits of Lemaire, going round Cape Horn, we overtook and were likely to pass a British ship, wire rigged, a ship of fine style. The sea was rough; we were coming too near. The boy Ben was having his trick at the wheel. He was the youngest on board. The little fellow did his best to keep the ship from broaching to, but the sea was too strong for his young arms. I pitied Ben, for I knew how mortified he would be to have another supplant him; and he was ambitious of making good his standing as a sailor. Just then a kind voice called to him; “Ben, you are a good little steersman; you can steer as well as any of them most of the time; but just now the sea is getting up; we should like to pass that ship and not get too near her; one of the able bodied sailors ought to be at the helm; ring the bell and call Nelson to come and take the wheel.” Nelson came, and worked the ship so that she soon shot ahead. Ben left the wheel with the proud satisfaction that his efforts were appreciated and praised; that only Nelson could do better than he; and Nelson was twenty years his senior. The little incident made me also sensitive about the eyes. I would rather do such an act of kindness to a young man than outstrip a British clipper.