Chapter IX: A Row on the Water

THE rain did not go on many days, but the wind did, and the sea was much too rough for any boating. Even Willie, much as he longed for it, could not deny that those great tumbling tossing waves were not quite what he would choose.

"But people do have to go sometimes, papa, even when it is rough," he said one day.

"Often, Willie, and if it were our duty now, I would go at once and take you. But to put ourselves into danger merely for the sake of pleasure would be wrong."

"Would there be danger?" asked Willie.

"Not much, perhaps; but there might be danger to a small boat. And I love my little boy too well to wish to run even a small risk with him when there is no real reason."

"I wish we had gone on the sea when it was so fine," sighed Willie.

"But we did not, Willie, and it cannot be helped now, so it is of no use sighing about it," said Mr. Gray, with a smile.

"Only, papa, we are going home in a week, and I am so afraid it will be rough all the time."

"Not very likely, I hope. I expect to see a change in a day or two."

Mr. Gray was right, except that the change was rather longer in coming than he said. It was not till two days before their return home that Willie, on looking out of his window in the morning, saw a smooth calm blue sea again. He ran downstairs as soon as he was dressed, crying—

"Mamma, mamma, it is quite fine to-day! May we go on the water?"

"I hope so, Willie. We shall see what papa says."

"I do hope he will take us, mamma. I was so afraid we shouldn't have the sea smooth in time. Oh, there he is," and Willie ran to meet Mr. Gray in the passage. "Papa, will it do to-day?"

The answer was just what Willie wanted, and Willie was so happy that he could hardly sit still or eat his breakfast.

When the afternoon came, they all went down to the beach together. Mr. Gray chose a pretty little rowing-boat, and Willie was very much pleased to see that the name painted on its side was "The Lucy." Mr. Gray then helped in Mrs. Gray and nurse, lifted in Willie and Lucy, stepped in himself, and then they were off.

The boat glided smoothly through the water, and Willie thought it very nice indeed. First he sat still, looking about him. Then he leaned over the side, dipping his hands into the fresh cool water. The sea was covered with ripples, and sometimes there came a little wave which made the boat give a lurch. The first time Willie was startled, and thought the boat would turn over. He jumped up and called out, but Mrs. Gray pulled him back, and told him to sit still.

"But I thought the boat was going over, mamma."

"Going over! What, with a little wave like that? O Willie!" said Mrs. Gray, smiling. "It is a good thing papa did not take you out on the large waves two or three days ago, or even yesterday."

"Besides, Willie," added his papa, "you must not forget that whatever you think is going to happen, when you are in a boat, you never ought to start up. Even if there were any real danger, a little boy like you could not do any good by standing up. You would only run the risk of being jerked out into the sea. Always sit quite still upon your seat."

"I should not like to be jerked out," said Willie gravely.

"No, because you might be drowned. So long as you sit still, there is little danger of such a thing. But suppose that every time the boat gave a roll, mamma and nurse and Lucy and I were all to jump up and run to the side of the boat. Why, it would be almost certain to turn over, and we might all be drowned. It would not be the first time that such a thing has happened."

"I'll try and not forget," said Willie, looking sober. "I don't mind the little waves now, mamma. And Lucy isn't afraid of them either. She was a great deal more afraid of the tunnel."

"I hope neither of you will mind the tunnel when we go home the day after to-morrow," said Mrs. Gray, smiling. "I expect to see two such brave children."

They stayed on the water for nearly two hours, when Mr. Gray thought they had had enough, so they went home. Willie was sorry to think the nice row was over, but he was glad he had been on the sea. He told nurse he meant to be a sailor some day, but nurse laughed, and said he would most likely change his mind a dozen times before then.

Willie and Lucy had a very pleasant time at the sea-side, but now that it was all over, they were not at all sorry to return home. Lucy wanted to see her pretty pussy and all her dolls again, and Willie longed for his garden, and his little dog, and his rabbits. So when the morning came to leave, instead of looking grave, they were as merry as they could be.

One thing Willie was quite sure of, and that was that he would never forget this pleasant visit to the sea-side. The bright sandy shore, the blue ripples, the angry waves, the row in the boat, the rides on the donkeys, the visit to the rocks; all, in short, that he had seen, were still fresh in his mind.

Let us hope that he never thought of the wonders of the sea without thinking also of God who made them all. Willie was a very little boy, but he was not too little to be one of Jesus Christ's lambs, and to love to think about God in all His works.

Children much younger than Willie have been led to seek their Saviour, and have known something of the sin of their own hearts, and of the love and mercy of God. The child who reads this story is not too small to follow Jesus, to love him, to believe in him, and to honour him. He has promised that all who seek him early shall find him, and every year it is put off it becomes less easy.

Little child, will not you pray to Jesus to make you one of his children, to take away your sinful stony heart, and to give you a heart of flesh? Will you not strive to follow him, to obey his commands, and to grow more like him every day of your life? You cannot do this in your own strength. But Jesus is always ready to help those who humbly ask him. And when you are one of the Good Shepherd's flock, then both in life and death you will be safe and happy.

LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET
AND CHARING CROSS