THE WORLD OF ICE. 265

those dreary months, and how lonely you must have
been !”

“Nay, boy, not quite so lonely as you think. I
have learned the truth of these words, ‘I will never
leave thee, nor forsake thee ’—~‘ Call upon Me in the
time of trouble, and I will deliver thee.’ This, Fred,
has been my chief comfort during the long hours of
sickness.”

Captain Ellice drew forth a soiled pocket Bible
from his breast as he spoke.

“Tt was your beloved mother’s, Fred, and is the
only thing I brought with me from the wreck; but it
was the only thing in the brig I would not have ex-
changed for anything else on earth. Blessed Bible!
It tells of Him whose goodness I once, in my igno-
rance, thought I knew, but whose love I have since
been taught ‘passeth knowledge.” It has been a
glorious sun to me, which has never set in all the
course of this long Arctic night. It has been a com-
panion in my solitude, a comfort in my sorrows, and
even now is an increase to my joy; for it tells me
that if I commit my way unto the Lord, he will bring
it to pass, and already I see the beginning of the end
fulfilled.”

Fred’s eyes filled with tears as his father spoke ;
but he remained silent, for he knew that of late he
had begun to neglect God’s blessed Word, and_ his
conscience smote him.

It were impossible here to enter minutely into the
details of all that Captain Ellice related to Fred dur-