ntful, but at about 1.30
the Stella ran into a dense fog. The ship's speed was not reduced, but
the fog-horn was kept going. There is nothing more depressing at sea
than the dismal hooting of the fog-horn, and it is not surprising that
some of the ladies aboard the Stella became nervous. These Mrs.
Rogers, the stewardess, in a bright, cheery manner endeavoured to
reassure.

Mary Rogers' life had been one of hard work and self-denial. Eighteen
years previous to the Stella making her last trip Mary Rogers' husband
had been drowned at sea, and the young widow was left with a little
girl two years old to support; and a few weeks later a boy was born.
To bring her children up carefully and have them properly educated
became Mrs. Rogers' chief object in life, and to enable her to do this
she obtained her position as stewardess.

Her experience of the sea had been slight, and for five years after
becoming stewardess she scarcely ever made a trip without being
sea-sick. Many women would have resigned the appointment in despair,
but Mary Rogers stuck to her post for the sake of her children. Ill
though she might herself be, she always managed to appear happy, and to
attend promptly to the requirements of the lady passengers. When at
last she was able to make a voyage without feeling sea-sick, her
kindness to the ladies in her care became still more noticeable. In
foggy or rough weather her bright, sympathetic manner cheered the
drooping spirits of all who might be ill or nervous. At night she
would go round, uncalled, and if she found any lady too nervous to
sleep she would stay and talk to her for a time.

Only a few months before the Stella's fatal trip, a lady passenger
assured Mrs. Rogers that her bright, cheery sympathy had done much to
make her trip pleasant. 'Well, you see, ma'am,' Mrs. Rogers replied,
'I don't believe in going about with a sad face, and it is such a
pleasure when one can help others.'

At this time Mrs. Rogers' prospects were very bright. Her children,
whom she declared 'any mother might be proud of, they are so good,' had
grown up, and her daughter was to be married in the summer. In three
years her son would finish his apprenticeship to a ship-builder, and it
was settled that then she was to retire from sea-life and live with her
daughter, continuing, as she had done for several years, to support her
aged father. But the days to which she was looking forward with
pleasure she was neve