old. Well, we pulled out at 5 o'clock and found our-
selves out on the ocean once more. Now we have had sup-
per/dinner on ship, and after I shall have read some more
Iwill retire. Good night and may God's loving care &
tender mercy guard over us on our voyadg.

By-the-way, I was about to forget. We got word this a.m.
that a German vessel that started from Antwerp on the
same day we did was lost ina storm off the coast of
Cape Finistere. She was bound for South America, and

had about 500 people on board, and only 40 or 50 were
saved. We missed the storm entirely, but the waves were
very high and our ship tossed and pitched very much. Am
thankful that the tossing & pitching was all.

Dec. 16 = Wednesday

This a.m. we are sailing along very smoothly. We go

down the coast of Africa (out so far that we cannot see
it) on the peaceful Atlantic. I read in the life &
letters of Sam Lapsly - most interesting they are ~ more
so of course as I expect to go over the same route if

the Good Lord permits. I sit around and talk or read
nothing to do. After supper I go to the ladies saloon
(no lady on board) and at 10 o'clock p.m. I finish reading
that book so interesting and full of the works of a
noble consecrated life in the service of the Lord. Oh,
that I could be of some good to the Master who has been
so kind to mee But I am weak and wayward. I do not

live as close to the Lord as I should. I want to be more
consecrated = do more good. In the dining saloon some
Belgians are playing cards & drinking & the chief engin-
eer (with some of the passengers) is drinking very
heavily.

Dec. 17 = Thursday

A most bright and beautiful morning. The air cool and
somewhat bracing but the heat of the sun, when in it, is
quite scorching, and quite like a day in August. I have
been divising some way of getting some of the passengers
interested in the Lord Jesus Christ, but with the excep-
tion of a few it seems next to impossible. There are
several, however, three Sweeds, who are Christians -
nominal ~ and one Dutchman who says he is a Christian -

a Calvanist » but only in name as I can see for he drinks
a little and has a pleasant time - but it is no more than
one can expect from anyone who was born and reared on the
