AFTER TIE STORM. 189

in its cradle, the sparrow upon the house-I a noble vessel seemed writhing in death
top, and the daisy among the meadow- agony. The fishermen on the shore had
grass ? Do you know I feel almost op- heard the report of the guns and knew
pressed iith humble gratitude to think the fearful story it was telling, and rushed
that I am an object of His care?" to the shore in great haste-men and
 And don't it make you feel," said boys, and many women, too, with chil-
May, "that you wished you could do dren clinging to their skirts-looking
something to serve Him ? Our efforts out to see if there was any hope for the
are all so puerile and weak and vain, and crew of the doomed vessel. The fishing
yet I know they are acceptable to Him, boats of the men along the coast were
however insignificant, if they are done but as egg-shells against the fury of the
in His name." waves. The old sailors put their heads
 "Yes, we ought to feel so, May," said together with dubious nods, and concluded
Carrie; "and there are little deeds of that the only thing to do was to launch
kindness which we can perform every day the big surf-boat, which the government
of our lives, occasions for showing that we had put in their command, as soon as
bear the Saviour's image upon our hearts they could clearly define what course to
and lives. We must not keep looking for pursue. In the meanwhile, cables and
some great work to do, but quietly do just chains, and all the life-saving apparatus
what He sends, and perform it for Him." that could be found, were brought out,
 Hark -What is that?" said May, while the women went home to make
starting aside, and looking far out to sea, warm fires, and have things in readiness
where, across the beach, and beyond, to restore the shipwrecked sufferers who
rocks were piled upon each other in gigan- might stand in need of help.
tic masses, over which the waves broke "Perhaps we shall find work to do
in a perfect fury. "Hark it sounds right here," said Effie, as they pressed on.
like a gun! What can it be ? A ship in The sun shone out now bright and
distress !-perhaps wrecked upon those clear, and, with the aid of a glass, the
fearful rocks." Again again the sig- vessel upon the rocks could be clearly
nal is fired. With hurrying steps the seen. The deck was crowded with pas-
girls pressed on to see from whence the sengers, and the sailors were straining
report proceeded. The rocks were a mile every nerve to save the ship and the
and a half from where they stood, but crew. A life-boat was lowered from the
the distance was not measured by them side of the vessel; and now some brave
as they rapidly moved on over the wave- fellows on the shore launched the big
soaked sand. surf-boat, and pushed out into the seeth-
 As they approached nearer, they could ing breakers.
 see the flash of fire as the signal gun was Between the ledge on which the ves-
 heard, and far out on a treacherous ledge sel had struck and the shore, was another