rnwall'; they are our natural
shipmates, and if by God's grace we are not yet with them, thank Him,
help them, and be humble.

Brave lads, there is still a chance for you here. England is to blame as
well as you that you have been sucked by the eddies of life into criminal
streams. England also rescues you. It is but _dragging_ out indeed, but
you are out of the mire. Take heart, you may carry the British flag
proudly yet; the career of the sailor is open to _you_ also, and who
shall say that some gallant three-master may not yet be commanded by a
sailor bred in the 'Cornwall' Reformatory school-ship at Purfleet?

As for the 'Worcester,' the lads there are already well up on the ladder
of life. Sometime, if things go on thus well, we shall have Christian
gentlemen as our sea-captains, for already in many things the waves are
better than the shore.

When the Rob Roy returned from France, we had put on board of her some
fireworks to amuse the 'Worcesters' at Erith, and in a quiet night the
rockets sped aloft, and the Roman candles ejaculated fireballs, and the
Chinese floats spat flame as they blazed on the flowing tide, and the red
light made our sails blush deeply, and the "jack in the box" fizzed and
caracoled over the deck scorching us all inordinately.

When everything pyrotechnic was burned out on the yawl, the show was yet
to begin.

'Worcester' was not to be beaten by Rob Roy. Up sprang the blue-lights
from her tops and yards. Ports blazed with lamps, and skyrockets whizzed
into the ether. Then came best of all from young and gladsome hearts
those ringing cheers, and the lively band roused up the quiet night waves
with "Rob Roy MacGregor O!"

If I know a lad for the Merchant Navy, he shall go to it best taught by
companions as well as by officers, in the school for sea life aboard the
'Worcester.'

At Greenhithe the 'Chichester' and her sister ship the 'Arethusa'
(presented by the Baroness Burdett Coutts) are for poor lads without
home, without friends, nay, without hope from man unless you and I will
help them. Can we refuse so strong a plea from England's little sons?
Patriotism, Religion, Duty, and the most unthinking Love say, No!

Our country just at this time wants more seamen and better seamen. The
Royal Navy needs young England, and the Commercial Navy _will_ have him,
bad or good, ignorant or well taught. Our Government finding this to be
so had thought of placing Training ships at var