I presume most of you have heard of Grace Darling, the brave girl who
lived with her father and mother at Longstone light-house. On the 6th
of September, 1838, there was a terrible storm, and W. Darling,
knowing well that there would be many wrecks, and much sorrow on the
sea that dark, tempestuous night, waited for daybreak; and when at
last it came, he went to look out. About a mile away he saw a ship in
great distress, but the storm was so awful he had hardly courage to
venture through it for their relief. His daughter Grace, who was
watching the wreck through a glass, could no longer bear to see the
poor fellows clinging to the piece of wreck which remained on the
rocks where it had been broken, and make no effort to help them. She
knew they must be lost. So she implored her father to launch the
life-boat and let her go with him to the rescue. He consented, and
father and daughter, she taking the oars while he steered, went
pulling away for the wreck; and I can fancy how the poor fellows
watched the life-boat like a speck on the waters, counting each minute
as it neared them, then fearing, as it seemed to be almost lost amid
the mountains of hissing and boiling waves, lest it should never come
to them at all. But at last they are alongside; the sufferers hesitate
not a moment, but jump for the life-boat, and so nine precious lives
were saved from a watery grave.
Every one sang the praises of brave Grace Darling. A sum of $3,500 was
presented to her as a testimonial, and she was invited to dine with
the Duke of Northumberland. She died at the early age of twenty-seven,
of consumption.
Now, my readers cannot all be Grace Darling, but they can come to the
help of the perishing; those that are weary and ready to die. They can
all do something, by working, by little efforts of self-denial, and by
praying for those who are in danger of being lost; and then one day
they will hear those wonderful words, "Inasmuch as ye have done it
unto the least of these, ye have done it unto me." A testimonial worth
having indeed!