CONCLUSION.
It was in vain that Blair tried to persuade Derry Duck to see his
mother, and accept her thanks for his kindness to her wounded boy. Derry
declared that he would hear no thanks, the odds were all on the other
side. And as for sitting down in a Christian woman's parlor, and making
himself easy there, he wasn't fit for that. A forgiven sinner he
believed he was, and could bow in the house of God with his fellow-men;
but he was a beginner in the ways of godliness, too much tainted with
his miserable past to be right company for those who had never gone so
far astray. Besides, he pleaded, he had his little flower to see, in her
own little nook. It would be a shame to him to set his foot on any
other threshold before he had spoken to her. To her his first spare
hours belonged.
Derry returned from his visit to his child with his heart more than ever
full of love to his darling. She had received his letter, and rejoiced
over it with great joy, declaring that not a treasure she possessed was
so precious. Derry had allowed himself but the usual short interview,
ever trembling lest he should mar her delight in her father by some
knowledge of the wild life he had led. Yet, when he laid his hand on her
head at parting, he could not resist speaking the fervent "God bless
you, darling," which stirred at his heart.
She had clasped and kissed his hand with a sudden gladness, as if such
words from him were both a joy and a surprise. He waited for no
questions, but hurried away.
"When the war is over, you will come home and settle down with your
little housekeeper, and let her take care of you. How glad that will
make her," said Blair persuasively.
"I shall never be fit company for her," said Derry firmly; "I know it,
my boy. True, I'm a changed man. I trust I'm forgiven for the sake of
the Crucified. But I've a pit within that needs purging thrice over. A
man like me is not made into a saint in a minute, though he may read his
pardon clear. 'Following hard after,' shall be my motto; 'following on
to know the Lord.' I'm not the one to sit down at the chimney-side with
a creature like her. No, Blair, I tell you no. Look here, my boy. Here's
my path of duty. I've a God to glorify, I've a country to serve. Rough
sailors wont think of my ways as she would. If I'm like a rock in what I
know is right, and God will help me, I can do 'em good. I can set up
the right banner among 'em. I can make the forecastle praise the great
and holy name. It is for this I mean to work. It is for this I mean to
be a sailor now. There's not a port I've ever set foot in, but I've
shamed a Christian land there. I mean to put in to every port where I've
showed my face, and let them see I've changed my colors. Where I've done
evil, there I mean to try to do good. I can't wipe out bygones. They are
written in the book _up there_. But there's One in white robes will
stand for me before his Father's throne. I'll work for Him while there's
life in me; and when I die, I hope it will be giving praise and glory to
his name. I want to do my country credit too. It's no shining thing, to
get in the papers, that I expect to do; but just a patient serving God,
that brings honor to the land where a man was born. You will pray for
me, I know, when I'm off on the water; and if I die--your mother knows
the name--she'll go to my little darling, and tell her how her father
loved her, and hopes to live with her in the kingdom of heaven. I shall
be fit to sit down with her at that marriage-feast. I shall have on the
'white robes,' and poor Derry Duck will have a 'new name,' by which the
angels will call him, and his little darling will not blush to hear it.
I shall live with her there." Derry dashed the tears from his eyes as he
spoke, but he firmly repeated, "Here, I must labor alone, and struggle
to grow like the Master. _There_, none shall lay any thing to the charge
of God's elect; and I and my pretty one will join with her mother in
singing round the throne. Good-by, my boy. God bless you. You have sent
out a Christian sailor to work for him on the seas. You have sent out a
lover of his country to strive to do her honor in his closet on his
knees, at his duty in the fight, and in his hammock when they drop him
into the deep sea."
Derry wrung the hand of the young patriot, and then moved away with
quick uncertain steps. A lonely man, yet not alone, there was a comfort
and joy in the rough sailor's heart. His life of labor was to be a glad
voyage to a better country, whose harbor lights would be ever leading
him onward, and whose shining shore would ever glisten for him in the
certain future beyond the grave.
The young patriot had indeed been blessed in winning such a devoted
servant to the Master's cause, and such a Christian sailor to maintain
the honor of his native land.
There was more such work for Blair Robertson, and for it he steadily
labored.
Peace came with its illuminations and festivities. The sword was laid
aside on sea and land, yet Blair might still be serving the country he
so dearly loved. His example, his fireside talk, and his glowing words
in the assemblies of his people, might ever cast their weight in the
right balance. The outcasts and the immigrant were still to be so
trained and ennobled as to make them fit citizens of our free and happy
land. Above all, by his prayers and his holy living, he might call down
on his home and country such a blessing as ever encompasses the dwelling
of him who feareth the Lord.
To be such a patriot was the aim of Blair Robertson. Would that there
were many so to live and labor. Then might we be sure of victory over
all our enemies, and of the abounding blessings of lasting peace.
* * * * *
ILLUSTRATED VOLUMES
FOR
CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY.
* * * * *
FLOWERS OF SPRING-TIME.
A beautiful quarto, with colored frontispiece, and one
hundred and fifty engravings. $1 50, or $2 gilt.
Songs for the Little Ones at Home.
A favorite companion of the nursery. Sixty-two engravings.
40 cts. cloth, 50 gilt.
Dr. Scudder's Tales about the Heathen.
For little readers; finely illustrated. 25 cts., 35 gilt.
THE ILLUSTRATED TRACT PRIMER.
Containing alphabets, spelling lessons, etc., with multiplied
engravings. 20 cts., or 25 gilt, 10 cts. paper.
LETTERS TO LITTLE CHILDREN. 15 cts., or 20 gilt.
GREAT TRUTHS IN SIMPLE WORDS FOR LITTLE
CHILDREN. 15 cts., or 20 gilt.
PEET'S SCRIPTURE LESSONS. Twenty-seven cuts.
15 cts., or 20 gilt.
THE INFANT'S PRIMER. 5 cts.
THE CHILD'S PRIMER. 3 cts.
PICTURE ALPHABET, in colors. 5 cts.
FOR SALE AT 150 NASSAU-STREET, NEW YORK; 40
Cornhill, Boston; 929 Chestnut-street, Philadelphia; 75
State-street, Rochester; 163 Walnut-street, Cincinnati;
170 South-Clark-street, Chicago; 9 South-Fifth-street, St.
Louis; 73 West-Fayette-street, Baltimore.
Books for Children, neatly Illustrated.
SQUARE SIZE.
* * * * *
First Footsteps in the Way of Knowledge.
Beautiful lessons for young children. 30 cts., 40 gilt.
CHILD'S HISTORY OF THE APOSTLE PAUL.
By the author of "That Sweet Story of Old;" embodying
the great outlines of his life, teachings, and labors, in a
manner adapted to the young. 30 cts. cloth, 40 gilt.
SKETCHES FROM THE HISTORY OF JERICHO.
In illustration of the power of faith. By an accomplished
lady. Cloth gilt 30 cts., paper gilt 20 cts.
Strangers in Greenland.
Depicting the adventures of Dr. Kane, and the greater
courage and patience of the first Danish missionary, and
his heroic wife Ann Egede. By a favorite authoress. Cloth
gilt 25 cts., paper gilt 15 cts.
BETHLEHEM AND HER CHILDREN.
Containing the Grave at Bethlehem, the Bride, the King,
and the Babe of Bethlehem. With colored frontispiece. 30
cts. cloth gilt; paper gilt 20 cts.
THE MORNING STAR,
Or, Stories about the Childhood of Jesus.
Colored frontispiece. 30 cts. cloth gilt; paper gilt 20 cts.
EASY LESSONS FOR THE LITTLE ONES AT HOME.
Colored frontispiece, and other engravings. 30 cts. cloth
gilt; paper gilt 20 cts.
"THAT SWEET STORY OF OLD;"
Or, the History of Jesus.
Colored frontispiece. 25 cts. cloth gilt; 15 cts. paper gilt.
Joseph and his Brethren.
Colored frontispiece. 25 cts. cl. gilt; or 15 cts. pap. gilt.
PUBLISHED BY THE
AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY,
And for sale at its Depositories, 150 Nassau-st., New York;
40 Cornhill, Boston; 929 Chestnut-st., Philadelphia; Baltimore,
Rochester, and Cincinnati.