94 THE CRATER; CHAPTER VII. Be thou at peace! TV all-seeing eye, Pervading earth, and air, and sky, The searching glance which none may flee, Is still, in mercy, turn d on thee." MRS. HEMAIfS. THE Sabbath ever dawns on the piously-inclined, with hope and a devout gratitude to the Creator for all his mer cies. This is more apt to be the case in genial seasons, and rural abodes, perhaps, than amidst the haunts of men, and when the thoughts are diverted from the proper chan nels by the presence of persons around us. Still greater is the influence of absolute solitude, and that increased by the knowledge of a direct and visible dependence on the Providence of God, for the means of even prolonging ex istence. In the world, men lose sight of this dependence, fancying themselves and their powers of more account than the truth would warrant, and even forgetting whence these very boasted powers are derived ; but man, when alone, and in critical circumstances, is made to feel that he is not sufficient for his own wants, and turns with hu mility and hope to the divine hand that upholds him. With feelings of this character, did Mark and Betts keep their first Sabbath on the reef. The former read the morning service, from beginning to end, while the latter sat by, an attentive listener. The only proof given of any difference in religious faith between our mariners, was of so singular a nature as to merit notice. Notwithstanding Bob s early familiarity with Mark, his greater age, and the sort of community of feeling and interest created by their common misfortune, the former had not ceased to treat the last with the respect due to his office. This deference never deserted him, and he had not once since the ship was embayed, entered the cabin without pulling off his hat As soon as church commenced, however, Bob resumed hia
