touched here. If
you had left a wife and a little boy at home as I have, you would wish
to get back to set your eyes again on them, and hold them in your arms."

"A wife and a little boy!" exclaimed Peter, unable longer to restrain
his eagerness to learn who the old man was. "Tell me their names, and
where they lived."

"It was at a place, maybe, you have not been to nor heard of either,
seeing it's of no great size," answered the old man; "it's called
Springvale, and is not far from the little town of Oldport; and my name
is Gray, sir, at your service."

"Gray!" exclaimed Peter, taking the old man's hand, and scarcely able to
speak. "Come into my cabin, I wish to tell you more about your wife and
son."

Peter had no longer any doubt that his long-lost father stood before
him, but he was unwilling to make himself known in sight of his crew,
fearing also the effect the announcement would have on the old man.

Conducting the old sailor, whose countenance wore an expression of
astonishment, down into the cabin, he closed the door, and placing him
respectfully on a sofa, still holding his hand, sat himself down by his
side.

"You were telling me," he said, "that you have learned the truth, and
you know, therefore, God's love and mercy, and that He orders all things
for the best. You have been very many years from home, and must be
aware that though your son when you saw him last was a little boy, he
must now be a grown man; your wife, too, would be an old woman. Have
you ever thought of the hardships and trials to which she would probably
have been exposed, left all alone to struggle with the hard world, and
still having to go through them? But suppose God in His mercy had taken
her to Himself, and you knew that she had been spending all these years
in happiness unspeakable, would you not have cause to rejoice?"

The old sailor gazed at the young captain, scarcely able to comprehend
him clearly.

"God is very merciful; He loves me, though I am a sinner, and orders all
for the best. I know that is what Mr Wilson says, and he speaks the
truth, for he turned me from little better than a savage into a
Christian man," answered the old sailor.

As he spoke his eyes fell on Peter's Bible, which lay on the table with
the leathern case beside it.

"What are you driving at, sir?" he exclaimed in an agitated tone. "I
remember that book, as if I had seen it but yesterday; it was my wife's.
Do you know her? tell me,