ucted the young men and boys, as was his custom. The night was
as calm as the preceding one. The comet could be seen winding its
solitary course through the heavens, appearing even brighter than
before. After Maud and I had gazed at it for some time we retired to
our beds. I heard her sobbing, giving way at length to the sorrow she
had restrained in my presence--not that she could have felt my mother's
loss more than I did, but I was older, and had endeavoured, though the
strife was a hard one, to command my feelings. At length I heard her
sobs cease, and I in time forgot my sorrow in sleep.

We were both suddenly awakened by a fearful noise. We started up--all
was dark. There came the sound of the wind howling in the trees and
falling timber, and the roaring of the sea, as it dashed upon the reef
with tremendous force, and rocks crashing down from the mountain
heights. A hurricane was raging. We sat up trembling with alarm. My
first thought was for my dear father, should he now be at sea returning
to us. Then other dreadful sounds, like thunder breaking overhead.
Something else terrific besides the hurricane was occurring, it seemed
to us, yet we dared not leave the house for fear of being blown away by
the wind. After some time we assisted each other to dress, as well as
we could, in the dark, for we expected every moment that the roof would
be carried off, or the house itself blown down. We remembered several
hurricanes, but this appeared more violent than any that had before
occurred. We had been protected during former ones, and we knew that
the same power would take care of us now. I had proposed lighting the
lamp, when Maud observed, should the house be blown down, it might set
the thatch on fire, and the whole village would be burnt.

"Let us remain in darkness, for remember God sees us as if it was light,
she said. Darkness is no darkness with Him--the day and night to Him
are both alike."

I agreed with Maud, and together we knelt down side by side to pray for
protection. Although the tempest continued to rage without, our house,
built by my father's hands, stood firm. It was, like his own faith,
well knit and bound together. He had not forgotten, when erecting it,
that such hurricanes were likely to occur, and he had accordingly
prepared for them.

So should we go through life, not trembling with the fear of
misfortunes, but ready to encounter them should they overtake us.

Hour after