She had found
that while sorrow and suffering may drive one to despair in regard to
God and self and all terrestrial things, joy frequently softens.

Surely it is the "goodness of God that leadeth to repentance." This
life, as it were, from the dead proved to be life from death to herself,
and she talked and prayed with her drunken friend until that friend gave
her soul to Jesus, and received the Spirit of power by which she was
enabled to "hold the fort,"--to adopt and keep the pledge of which her
ribbon was but the emblem.

Although we have now described the end of the _Lively Poll_, it must not
be supposed that the crew of that ill-fated smack was dispersed and
swallowed up among the fishing fleets of the North Sea. On the
contrary, though separated for the time, they came together again,--ay,
and held together for many a long day thereafter. And this is how it
came about.

One morning, a considerable time after the events we have just narrated,
Stephen Lockley invited his old comrades to meet him in the Gorleston
coffee-tavern, and, over a rousing cup of "hot, with," delivered to them
the following oration:

"Friends and former messmates. I ain't much of a speaker, so you'll
excuse my goin' to the pint direct. A noble lady with lots o' tin an' a
warm heart has presented a smack all complete to our Deep-Sea Fishermen
Institootion. It cost, I'm told, about 2000 pounds, and will be ready
to start as a Gospel ship next week. For no reason that I knows on,
'xcept that it's the Lord's will, they've appointed me skipper, with
directions to choose my own crew. So, lads, I've got you here to ask if
you're willin' to ship with me."

"_I'm_ willin', of _course_," cried Pat Stiver eagerly, "an so's Bob
Lumpy. I'll answer for him!"

There was a general laugh at this, but Bob Lumsden, who was present,
chose to answer for himself, and said he was heartily willing. So said
David Duffy, and so also said Joe Stubley.

"I on'y wish," added the latter, "that Jim Freeman was free to j'ine,
but Fred Martin's not likely to let _him_ go, for he's uncommon fond of
him."

"He's doin' good work for the Master where he is," returned Lockley,
"and we'll manage to catch as true and able a man among the North Sea
fleets afore long. There's as good fish in the sea, you know, as ever
came out of it. Our mission smack is to be called the _Welcome_."

"At this rate," observed Dick Martin, who was one of the party, "we'll
soo