I see light spreading, darkness waning, kindness growing warmer, purity
and sobriety become the rule in quarters where they were unknown; and I
am thankful--not proud, only thankful--to have helped in a work which, I
believe, is of God. We are now near the attainment of a long dream of
mine, thanks to Robert Cassall; and, when the fulfilment is complete, I
care not when I may be called on to say my 'Nunc dimittis.' And now I
will not stand longer between you and Mr. Ferrier." Thus, with one
dexterous push Ferrier found himself projected into the unknown depths
of his speech. He was easy enough before students, but the quick
whispers, the lightning flash of raised eye-glasses, the calm, bovine
stare of certain ladies, rather disconcerted him at first. But he warmed
to his work, and in deliberate, mathematical fashion wrought through his
subject. He told of the long Night; the dark age of the North Sea. The
little shivering cabin-boy lay on his dank wooden couch, and curled
under the wrench of the bitter winter nights; he had to bear a hard
struggle for existence, and, if he were a weakling, he soon went under.
Alas! there had been instances, only too well authenticated, of boys
being subjected to the most shocking treatment--though we would not
saddle upon the majority of fishermen the responsibility for this
cruelty on the part of a few. "What could a boy know of good?" said the
speaker, with a sharp ring of the voice.
Pages:
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175