"  In  another  instance  I  supplied  a  seaman  with  books,  who
had  up  to  that  time  led  an  abandoned  and  profligate  hfe.  He
was  brought  to  conviction  by  reading  the  experience  of  our  pastor,
Rev.  Mr.  Jones,  as  related  in  the  'Sailors'  Companion.'  He
found  peace  in  believing  in  the  Saviour,  and  at  once  began  to  try
to  l)e  useful  in  the  Master's  service.  On  the  next  voyage  some
.  Testaments,  tracts  and  books  were  put  on  board  of  the  vessel,  and
as  the  distribution  of  them  was  rather  distasteful  to  the  captain,  he
confided  it  to  the  Christian  sailor.  On  their  arrival  at  a  Spanish
port,  he  engaged  in  that  work  with  alacrity  and  zeal.  When  he
saw  the  Spaniards  coming  in  crowds  to  the  vessel  for  the  Spanish
Testaments,  he  was  delighted,  and  enthusiastically  cried  out,
•  Cuba  will  be  Protestant  before  ten  years  expire. ' "

As  far  as  my  own  observation  extends,  I  have  never
known  a  seaman  who  has  been  converted  and  tasted  of  the
joys  of  redeeming  love,  who,  settling  down  upon  his  lees


1 88  FIFTY  YEARS  AMONG  SAILORS.
and  hiding  his  religion,  passed  though  life  satisfied  with
getting  to  heaven  alone.  A  young  Spanish  seaman  whom
I  supplied  with  Testaments  and  tracts,  while  he  remained
on  shore,  brought  several  of  his  Roman  Catholic  country-
men to  the  office  for  good  books.  When  he  returned
from  sea,  he  bought  a  Spanish  Bible  for  his  fatlier  and  a
primer  for  his  sister.  These  he  sent  home  to  them  in
Spain.  He  said,  his  sister,  who  was  sixteen  years  old,
would  read  aloud  in  the  Bible  to  tlie  whole  family,  and
that  his  father  said  it  was  a  good  book.
