r, mother," said I.

"No, my child, I am not, but I certainly do know many things which women
in general are not acquainted with; but the reason of this is, I have
lived a life of wandering, and occasional hardships. Often left to our
own resources, when my husband and I were among strangers, we found the
necessity of learning to do many things for ourselves, which those who
have money usually employ others to do for them; but I have been in
situations where even money was of no use, and had to trust entirely to
myself. I have, therefore, always made it a rule to learn everything
that I could; and as I have passed much of my life in sailing over the
deep waters, I obtained much useful knowledge from the seamen, and this
of laying up fishing-lines is one of the arts which they communicated to
me. Now, you see, I reap the advantage of it."

"Yes," replied I; "and so do I. How lucky it was that you came to this
island."

"Lucky for me, do you mean, Frank?"

"No, mother! I mean how lucky for me."

"I trust that I have been sent here to be useful, Frank, and with that
feeling I cheerfully submit to the will of God. He has sent me that I
may be useful to you, I do not doubt; and if by my means you are drawn
towards Him, and, eventually, become one of His children, I shall have
fulfilled my mission."

"I do not understand you quite, mother."

"No, you cannot as yet; but everything in season," replied she, slowly
musing. "`First the blade, then the ear, and then the full corn in the
ear.'"

"Mother," said I, "I should like to hear the whole story of your life.
You know I have told you all that I know about myself. Now, suppose you
tell me your history, and that of your husband. You did say that
perhaps one day you would. Do you recollect?"

"Yes, I do recollect that I did make a sort of promise, Frank, and I
promise you now that some day I will fulfil it; but I am not sure that
you will understand or profit by the history now, so much as you may
by-and-bye."

"Well, but mother, you can tell me the story twice, and I shall be glad
to hear it again; so tell it to me now, to amuse me, and by-and-bye,
that I may profit by it."

My mother smiled, which she very seldom did, and said--

"Well, Frank, as I know you would at any time give up your dinner to
listen to a story, and as you will have no dinner to-day, I think it is
but fair that I should consent to your wish. Who shall I begin with--
with my husban