ing back upon the past, where are the "oases in the desert" of the wilderness of life-even where the sparkling sand glistens with grains of real gold-but in the gifts and graces bestowed on these institutions? Where in the long retrospect of life are the green spots that memory loves to dwell upon, gladdening eye and heart, but where tears-often tears of sympathy—have fallen, those diamonds and pearls wrung from the heart -heart drops of divine origin, brighter and better, and of more real value in the balances of God and of the ages than aught that mine or oyster ever produced? Are they not in deeds such as we have chronicled ? Here is an incident recorded in The Newcastle Daily Chronicle of December 7th, 1893 : "The far-reaching efforts of an institution like the Wellesley training ship are probably never fully realised, but incidents occur now and then to show how a poor lad may rise in life when taken in hand by the philanthropic. The other day Mr. James Hall, the esteemed founder of the Wellesley ship, was met in one of our streets by a respectable and intelligentlooking young fellow, who, addressing him by name, inquired if he did not know him? The worthy J.P. was certainly puzzled; he had not to his knowledge seen the man before. The young fellow thereupon explained that he had been a Wellesley boy, and had risen step by step to be captain of a large steamer. He was able to say that he knew more than one of his old companions who were occupying positions similar to his own. The benevolent have often much in connection with their work that is disappointing, but one incident of the kind mentioned must make amends for many failures, and must show how strikingly beneficial is the work done at such institutions as the training ship. The failures on board the Wellesley are few, the successes many, and the ship remains one of the best of our Tyneside institutions." Above two thousand boys and above three hundred girls have been through these institutions, or will shortly, and more are to follow. What a noble and Godlike work! If the perfecting of humanity be the end of earthly creation, of the Christian religion, of the purpose of the Almighty, then the founders and supporters of these institutions have been working in the noblest cause, and doing the grandest work that men and women can do. And with the success that such noble purposes and such institutions deserve to have when conducted on the same self-denying, loving, large-hearted, and humanitarian principles. To all who have borne part in this great work there is much of which they may be proud; but to the originator and worker-out of these and other schemes for the benefiting of humanity, the safety and security of the State, there is everlasting honour and reward. And to those who have gone through this long record of many labours, only faintly indicated in their extent, magnitude, and beneficent results, we can only say, "Go thou and do likewise,' as far as thy purse, thy powers, and thy opportunities will permit." It is a noble example for our merchant princes and captains of industry; and shows what a splendid record of magnificent deeds may be made in the quiet walks of every-day life by men not specially gifted with more than goes to make up a good business man-" diligent in business, but fervent in spirit, and serving the Lord." There is not much brilliancy, but marked originality and great industry, in Mr. Hall; patient, plodding, and persevering, he takes a far-reaching view-alike in business and politics, in social and religious matters. In things relating to time and to eternity he has done a noble work, being in the van in some of the greatest public and social works of the day, and has shown, because of VOL.II. that foresight, a statesmanship-like career. Though he has not sat in Parliament he has won the praise and esteem of men, and the thanks of the widow and the orphan, the destitute, forsaken, and forlorn. And he may wait patiently for the call from above, "Come up higher," and receive the welcome, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was an hungered, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink : I was a stranger, and ye took Me in naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited Me: I was in prison, and ye came unto Me.” : Although in his own modest and self-deprecating way he may say to the Great Master, "Lord, when saw we Thee an hungered, and fed Thee?" the grand answer of the Divine Democrat will be given: "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these My brethren, even these least, ye did it unto Me." 23 CHAPTER XII. "AU REVOIR.” "I see myself an honour'd guest, The partner in the flowery walk The lips of men with honest praise, And all the train of bounteous hours Her lavish mission richly wrought, And He that died in Holy Land TENNYSON. 0 we close an interview-autobiography— the magnitude of which is surprising; but it is the magnitude of the work, not of the record. The important bearing of the matters dwelt with from the outset upon the lives of individuals, -the outcast on land, the castaway at sea; and upon society and the nation-nay, upon the world-has made it necessary to deal fully with some of the matters; and the value of the information got together by Mr. Hall on questions of vast moment, then and now, has made it necessary to do more than generalise. In fact, the information obtained by Mr. Hall on the subjects with which he has dealt, and the clear and concise manner in which it was put forth, with the practical results emanating therefrom, have made his life's record the handbook to more than one of the great questions that have agitated and are agitating society. The last quarter of the Nineteenth Century will be for ever noted as an era of great social reforms, in some of which Mr. Hall has taken no slight part. There has been solid work based on solid facts, worked out in a solid way; and they are likely to produce in the future the same solid results that they have done in the past. The whole of Mr. Hall's projects and undertakings have always been of an exceedingly practical character. Where they have not yet been carried out it has been because he was in advance of his time. But they will be. Everything points in that direction; and his practical politics, philanthropy, and religion are producing practical results-such works as a business man would like to see; and such works as a man of deep feeling and great human sympathies would yearn and labour to accomplish. Mr. Hall has not lived in vain. When he goes out of the world-naked so far as this world's goods are concerned-as all men must, he will, as we have seen, leave behind him a noble record of good works, of grand aims, of pure and splendid intentions; and his works will follow him --in time and eternity; the only things that do live, with the life of their originator, here and hereafter. Meek, humble, and unassuming, as he has been, while |