"WITH THY MIGHT." CARELESS workman, on being reproved by | way they can.

A his employer for doing his work badly,

pertly replied, "Oh, you need not be so mighty particular. I remember the time when you were only a drummer boy!"

"Yes, Thomas," was his master's answer, "but didn't I drum well?"

His doing everything to the best of his ability had been the secret of his rising from his humble position to one of wealth and influence and power. It is most important for the young to form the habit of doing everything they attempt in the best

MISS AGNES WESTON, THE SAILOR'S FRIEND.

PISS WESTON was "He had been made sin for her," in born in London, order that she "might be made the of cultivated and righteousness of God in Him." After Christian paren- some long time spent in this state of tage; but early unrest and spiritual conflict she emerged in life removed into the light and joy of salvation. to Bath, where But her energetic and active mind the family took found at this period a solace in music, so up their residence. that she became distinguished for her Her father was a performances on the organ. She then barrister, a Christian commenced labouring for the good of man, and one devoted others, in various ways. Sunday school work, Bible class teaching, and hospital visiting engaged her time and attention very largely. She also worked diligently in a little mission room at Walcot, carrying on there working men's Bible classes and prayer meetings, temperance meetings, and band of hope agencies; thus being trained, by means of these labours, for more conspicuous spheres of action. Self-consecration like this paved the way for higher and larger service in walks of which she never dreamt in her early days. It could be almost said that her most important work grew out of a mere accident. While busy in temperance work among the militia who were in training at Bath, Miss Weston wrote a letter of counsel and advice to a Christian soldier, bound for India, on board one of Her Majesty's troop-ships. This letter was read and re-read by others on board, and among the rest by a sailor, who, on handing it back, said to the soldier. "That is good. But we poor fellows have no friend. Do you think that that lady would write to me? I would give anything to receive a letter like this." The soldier conveyed the wish of his comrade to Miss Weston, who, in turn, responded by writing to the sailor. He, in his acknowledgment, gave the names of other sailors who would rejoice to receive a letter from the lady. Accordingly, letters were sent regularly, month by

to scientific pursuits. Agnes was a child of many prayers, possessed of a strong will, and an impulsive, passionate temper, which gave her great force of character, but required careful training.

She passed a happy girlhood in Bath, receiving all the advantages that a liberal education and a wealthy home could supply. But when about sixteen years of age she experienced the great change of heart and mind called "conversion;" and, from thenceforth, the current of her life was changed. The Rev. James Fleming was then incumbent of All Saints, Bath, and was known far and near as an earnest, faithful minister of the Word of Life. For some time she continued under conviction of sin, and strove against the truth, as if determined to keep it out. "I was obliged to go to church," she said, "but I was determined not to listen; and oftentimes when the preacher gave out his text, I have stopped my ears, and shut my eyes, that I might neither see nor hear. I put away the truth deliberately from me; and the marvel is how the Great Shepherd followed me up." The terrors of God's justice rested very heavily upon her. She would wander in the fields for hours, searching the Bible, and passing through agony of mind: and it was only by degrees that her soul rested on Christ. Then she could understand how

the United States Navy, where they have been warmly received; while the total number issued in 1882-3 has amounted to two hundred and twenty thousand!

Having succeeded so well with this agency for doing good, she commenced addressing the seamen on Temperance matters. It was with some difficulty that she gained permission to go on board ship, seeing that it was contrary to all regulations for a lady to address the sailors. Consent was, however, gained in this way. Sir W. King Hall, Admiral Superintendent of the Royal Dockyard at Devonport, was favourable to the Temperance cause, and after listening to her first address, he accorded her a kind permission to labour in this way among the men. Thenceforth every vessel of the fleet was open to her. Thousands of the men and boys became abstainers, and "Floating Branches" of the National Temperance League were formed on most of the ships of the Navy. Drunkenness is emphatically the sailor's curse, and it was to counteract this curse that Miss Weston sought to labour in the temperance cause, and to introduce its principles among the men.

month, to all who desired them, until by-and-by, the mass of "Monthly Letters " grew too numerous for one lady's pen; and, in sheer despair of overtaking the self-imposed task, she began to look around for other methods of accomplishing it. A Monthly Letter, printed, for sailors, was the outcome of this effort, and was, from the beginning, eagerly received and warmly appreciated. This letter aimed at conveying a little familiar and wise counsel to those jack tars who were away from home, warning them against sin and drunkenness; and encouraging those who had but just commenced to tread, however feebly, and falteringly, the better way. During the first year of issue, the number of Letters, or little books printed and circulated, was five-hundred monthly; but the demand grew, until one thousand, then two thousand, and finally five thousand copies were required each month to meet all the demands made for them by the men of the Royal Navy. As these little productions were stitched up in dark blue covers, the sailors called them "Blue Backs," and the advent of each parcel is joyfully anticipated and welcomed on board the ships of Her Majesty's Navy in all parts of the world. These Blue Backs are distributed to every vessel in the service, from the monster turret-ship to the tiny gunboat. In addition to this, over two thousand copies monthly are sent to the boys of the Navy, and this, in answer to their own request to be favoured with a letter. They are also sent to the Royal Navy Hospitals, the But not the least important is that coastguard stations, and the lightships part of the crusade carried on against and lighthouses around the coast; and drunkenness and vice, at Devonport. when the Arctic Expedition was sent out Sailors are, as a class, peculiarly exposed in 1875, a supply was provided in to temptation when on land. After advance, for the poor fellows destined to serving for a long period on board, and brave the terrors of an Arctic winter. perhaps enduring many hardships on They were regularly distributed, and foreign stations, the sailor comes home to quietly read, proving no inconsiderable be beset with "sharks," "crimps," and instruments of good during the loneli- robbers of every description, prepared ness of that voyage. Quite lately, these to pounce upon him as soon as he lands, Blue Backs have been introduced into and to fleece him of his hardly earned

To the evil of drunkenness may be added those of impurity and infidelity. The Chaplain of the Fleet speaks strongly concerning these last, and Miss Weston, has, quite lately, formed a Royal Naval Union for Purity of Life. She has gained many adherents to this union, while men and boys agree in the benefit and blessing resulting from this part of the work.

56

MISS AGNES WESTON, THE SAILOR'S FRIEND.

pay. In a few days his money is gone, For many long years, Jack "fell among and he himself turned out penniless and thieves" in this fashion, and Miss Weston

friendless to starve, or to die in the determined to do something to meet the streets, for aught the "crimps" care. want. This part of her work also com

menced with very humble efforts. While on a visit to Devonport, some ten or a dozen years since, she noticed with pain the large number of young sailor lads wandering about each Sunday afternoon, having leave, but not knowing what to do with themselves. Miss Weston felt that most of these lads were like rudderless vessels, drifting about at the mercy of every temptation, and anxiously inquired of some of the officers whether they could suggest a means of doing the lads good. They could not; but she determined to make the trial. At first, she conceived the idea of gathering the lads together in a large public room, for the purpose of reading, praying, and talking with them. But this scheme failed: they absolutely refused to come. A friend's kitchen was next utilised, and additional attractions of tea and cake provided. This proved so successful that before many Sunday afternoons had passed by, the boys crowded the little kitchen to its utmost capacity. Each Sabbath afternoon additional lads came, so that it became imperative to secure or build a large room.

less than a minute the room was cleared, except about a dozen on the front bench, who had not been quick enough to fall in with the rest. I was of course put to my mettle to keep this small remnant of the scattered forces, and did so."

But this Sunday afternoon service, although it met one want, did not satisfy all the requirements of the men and boys. The temperance sailors begged for a place which should furnish the conveniences of a public house without the drink; while the Christian sailors pleaded for some accommodation for religious meetings also. It was to meet these different needs that Miss Weston established the Sailors' Rest and Institute at Devonport.

The sailor boys crowd the Hall on Sunday afternoons, from three to five o'clock. Often interesting cases of good done come to Miss Weston's notice. Here is a specimen furnished to her by a petty officer from aboard one of the vessels of the fleet: "I was going around the ship when I came upon a dozen boys with a ship's lantern. I thought they were up to mischief, and watched them She soon secured a large room near without their seeing me. The boy with one of the landing-places, and continued the lantern held it so that the light her efforts among them. As a specimen of shone on his book; it was the Bible; he her arduous labours, and the experiences read a few lines out of it, then shut she gained from failures, the following the book, set down the lantern, and they incident is worth recounting. Miss all knelt round it in a circle, and one Weston says: "On one occasion about two hundred boys were assembled, and I was to address them. While occupied in singing they were pretty quiet, but the reading and speaking were to follow. I was not then experienced as I am now in the art of dealing with sailor boys, and I forget that the cardinal point is first to engage their attention. I opened my Bible, searched for chapter and verse, while my audience, not being interested, began to think of beating a retreat, I heard a slight noise, looked up, and the whole assembly was in motion, some running over the backs of the benches like cats, some slipping underneath. In

and another prayed. I found that they met like that every night, and I thought it would do your heart good to hear about it, Miss, as it did me to listen to them. They are boys who come up to the Rest, and they say they learned to love Jesus there."

Miss Weston's work among the blue jackets is full of interest. Constantly and humbly she ascribes her success to the blessing of God upon the work. Thousands of British sailors have reason to thank God that it was ever put into her heart to enter on it.

E. R. PITMAN.