Part 22 (1/2)

She had soood work in the army before she took to the navy The 2nd Somerset Militia assembled every year for drill; and for their benefit coffee and reading rooed, Miss Weston taking an active part in their promotion The soldiers' Bible class which she conducted ell attended; and altogether, as one of the officers remarked, ”the ht under her influence

The way Agnes Weston was first introduced to the sailors was singular

She had written to a soldier on board the troopshi+p _Crocodile_, and he showed the letter to a sailor friend, who reood: we poor fellows have no friend Do you think she would write to me?”

”I am sure she will,” replied the soldier; ”I rite and ask her”

The good news that there was a kind friend willing to write to theradually spread; and sailor after sailor wrote to Miss Weston, and their correspondence grew so large that at length she had to print her letters

Even in the first year she printed 500 copies a month of her letters (”little bluebacks” the sailors called them, on account of the colour of their cover); but before many years had passed as many as 21,000 a month were printed and circulated

Then the sailor boys wanted a letter all to the they could not fully understand the men's bluebacks Miss Weston could not refuse; so she printed them a letter too; andher of their trials and difficulties, and the help her letters had been to theht it would be useful if she went on board the vessels, and had a chat about teood deal of difficulty in the way to begin with A h, but a _woman_ to invade her Majesty's shi+ps,--it was not to be thought of!

At length Ad Hall became interested in the subject He determined to hear what Miss Weston had to say to thewould benefit the of dockyard workmen, and asked her to speak to them

So pleased was he with her address that the ent abroad to all the shi+ps in the harbour: ”Don't be afraid to let Miss Weston come on board and speak to your shi+p's corand audiences on the shi+ps, those she addressed so as uard_ that vessel was getting up stea received sudden orders to put out to sea But, when the captain heard Miss Weston was there to keep an appointment, he put out the accommodation ladder, took her on board, had the notice piped that she had coive an address; and soon a crowd of sailors ar, lying, kneeling--all earnestly listening

Then the pledge book was brought out and placed on one of the big guns, and about forty signed

On HMS _Topaze_ the grog tub was used as a table for signing the pledge book, one sailor re (to the tub): ”Sixty odd nails in your coffin to-day, old fellow! If they all hold firive much for your life”

At the present day on board every shi+p in the service there is a branch of the Royal Navy Teed to beco seen to Jack's welfare afloat, the next thing was to look after hi says:--

If love's the best of all that can aof all--for they all love Jack;

yet as a matter of fact there are always sharks on the look-out to cheat and rob Jack whenever he has money in his pocket

Miss Weston took counsel with sos at Devonport The first Sunday one boy alone came, and next Sunday not a solitary lad made his appearance; so Miss Wintz, in whose house she was staying, offered a kitchen as more homely, and tea and cake as an attraction Soon the audience reached a dozen; then all the chairs were filled, and very soon the e that the kitchen would not contain all who ca was provided

Of course money was needed to enable Miss Weston to develop her scheht way; and before long, from one source and another, a suht and fitted up a Sailors' Institute and Rest

Great was the rejoicing of Jack ashore to have a place where he could thoroughly enjoy hi drunk In fact, so great was the enthusiasht before the house was to be opened, three sailors presented themselves, and said they had asked for special leave to be ashore that night, that they

It turned out that they were the right sort of jacks; for, when the attendant went round to see if all was safe for the night, he found the three seated together, one of the aloud the Bible

Not only has this home prospered, but similar homes have been founded in other places In Portsmouth Miss Weston's Sailors' Rest is one of the s in the tohilst the principle that Jack, who fights our battles at sea, and keeps our country prosperous by his labours aboard shi+p, needs to be ed than it used to be

Miss Weston's hoood food, tea and coffee both hot and fresh, plenty of light, lots of periodicals and gas for prayer and praise