2. For the hardships he expected to meet with at sea, James sought to prepare at home by accustoming himself to want many of the luxuries of which others partook. His father, moreover, took pains to mould the character of his son to all that was manly and good. One lesson he early received was never forgotten.

3. When James was about seven years of age he rode a pony which had a trick of bolting in at the stable-yard instead of going round with its rider to the front door of the house and allowing him there to dismount. His father judged this a favourable opportunity for a lesson in perseverance, and accordingly one evening he insisted on his son riding the animal backwards and forwards until he had completely mastered the pony's wilfulness, and had no difficulty in making it quietly pass the stable door.

4. The strength of character and love of justice of the future sailor were early displayed. In all nursery and school-room disputes it was James who was invariably chosen as judge, and his decisions were uniformly respected by all his brothers and sisters.

5. Goodenough's first ship was the Collingwood, and his first cruise in the same southern waters of the Pacific in which he was afterwards to lose his life. So eager was the young apprentice, or cadet as we should call him, to learn his profession, that he chose to be on watch by night rather than by day, and, although it was not required by the laws of the ship, he chose to study French, German, and other languages in addition to the ordinary studies of those in his position.

6. Many quiet hours which his companions frittered away in play or idle conversation were spent by him in the cabin of the naval instructor in reading and study. His bearing and character attracted the attention of the

captain, who wrote on the certificate with which, at the end of four years, he returned to England, "An officer of promise."

7. James's career after this was not free from peril and adventure in various parts of the world. During the Crimean war, when some of the forts in the Baltic were bombarded, he was officer in a boat in which a rocket burst and wounded several of his men. He was also wrecked in the neighbourhood of Hong Kong and took part in the capture of Canton. For any hazardous work that was to be done, Goodenough was always among the first to volunteer.

8. In June, 1873, he became Commander of Her Majesty's Ship Pearl. His headquarters were at Sydney and his cruising ground was in the South Pacific. In 1875 it was his duty to visit an island belonging to the group lying between Fiji and Australia, where an English man-ofwar had been attacked some months before.

9. In the principal bay of the island the water was shallow and the Pearl could not approach the shore. Goodenough accordingly manned the boats and landed. with a small body of the crew. The natives seemed to be friendly and invited the sailors into their houses. When, however, the savages urged them to proceed to another village the Commander's suspicions were excited and he refused. The islanders were evidently disappointed, and, as this seemed to justify his suspicion, Goodenough thought it prudent to order his men to return to the ship.

10. All had embarked in the boats but the Commander and three of his men. At that moment one of the savages deliberately aimed an arrow at Goodenough, which struck him in his side. A volley of arrows followed, and six men in all were wounded.

11. Goodenough at once pulled out the arrow which had struck him, and one of his attendants sucked the wound to prevent the poison, in which they feared it had been dipped, from doing its deadly work. The ship was reached without further annoyance. The Commander forbade his men to retaliate on the natives. Thinking it necessary, however, to mark his displeasure with the base treachery of which they had been guilty, Goodenough sent men on shore to burn down their huts, but strict orders were given that, before they landed, blank cartridges should be fired to scare the natives away and thus prevent the effusion of blood.

12. The Pearl then left the island and sailed to the south, that its chief officer might be as favourably situated as possible for the healing of his wound. After a few days alarming symptoms set in. The poison had passed into his blood and he was told that he must die. He received the announcement in silence and with perfect calmness.

13. When the end was near, Goodenough gathered all the officers of the ship into his cabin and affectionately bade them good-bye. To each he addressed a cheerful, kindly word, and before they left him each was required to kiss him that he might be assured that no unguarded or hasty word was unforgiven. Wrapped in blankets he was then carried out and laid on the quarter-deck that he might take leave of his men.

14. He entreated them not to be sad but to smile to him. He spoke to them of the love of God, and advised them as to their conduct in life and especially in times of temptation. "As to these poor natives," he said, "don't think about them and what they have done. It is not worth while. They could not know right from wrong." Before parting with them he asked "God bless you"

a

from them which the brave fellows gave him with choking voice but right good will.

15. Another day of suffering and then, quietly and peacefully, he passed away. In this brave sailor," as was said of him, "self was absorbed in duty, duty transfigured into happiness, and death swallowed up in victory."

Canton, capital of one of the provinces of China, the first Chinese port open to Europeans.

Fiji Islands, numbering about 250, in the Pacific Ocean. They belong to Britain.

Hong Kong, a small island at the mouth of the Canton River, ceded to the British in 1842.

Sydney, capital of New South Wales, in Australia.

bearing, behaviour.
blank, empty, without shot.
career, course.

certificate, a written declaration
of some fact.

deliberately, slowly and carefully. effusion, pouring out.

embark, to go on board a boat. fritter away, to spend in trifling. hazardous, dangerous.

navy, the war-ships of a nation. retaliate, to do the like. symptom, indication of disease. volley, a discharge.

THE PLAGUE OF LONDON, 1665.

1. Know ye what you will meet with in the city?
Together will ye walk through long, long streets,
All standing silent as a midnight church.
You will hear nothing but the brown-red grass
Rustling beneath your feet; the very beating
Of your own hearts will awe you; the small voice
Of that vain bauble, idly counting time,

Will speak a solemn language in the desert.

2. Look up to Heaven, and there the sultry clouds,
Still threatening thunder, lower with grim delight,
As if the Spirit of the Plague dwelt there!
Know ye that hideous hubbub? Hark, far off
A tumult like an echo! on it comes

Weeping and wailing, shrieks and groaning prayer,
And, louder than all, outrageous blasphemy.

3. The passing storm hath left the silent streets;
But are these houses near you tenantless?
Over your heads from a window, suddenly
A ghastly face is thrust, and yells of death
With voice scarce human. Who is he that flies
As if a demon dogged him on his path?
With ragged hair, white face and bloodshot eyes,
Raving he rushes past you, till he falls,

As if struck down by lightning, on the stones;
Or in blind madness dashed against the wall,
Sinks backward into stillness.

Stand aloof

And let the Pest's triumphal chariot

Have open way advancing to the tomb!
See how he mocks the pomp and pageantry