a something about this poor lad that tells me that he is bent on steering on the right course, if he can only get his anchor a-trip."

He saw the boy looking anxiously on him, while he hesitated.

"I'll try you," cried he. " Here, my lad, I'll see if something can't be done for you. Here's a guinea, go across the street to that shop, get yourself a pair of shoes and stockings, and bring me the change."

Off flew the boy.

He would never come back again, said the landlady.

Presently there was a noise heard. The shopkeeper was a Jew, and when the boy came to him with the guinea, asking for shoes and stockings, he thought the money must have been stolen, and came over to the Green Dragon to see, dragging the boy after him.

"He's an honest lad," cried Mat, "and he shan't want a friend as long as Mat Barlow can carry a guinea in his pocket."

He gave the boy a good supper and bed at the inn; and, being a cautious fellow, he was

anxious about the safety of the candle, and stole softly up to the room where the boy was lodged, to see after it. Going up the stairs, he heard a voice speaking in low murmurs; and stopping by the bed-room door, he heard the boy praying, and these words distinctly reached him. "And oh! Divine Maker, may happiness wait upon that good man who has snatched me from want and wretchedness."

"He's praying for me! he's a grateful lad, and deserves my support," said Mat.

The very next morning Matthew goes to the harbour where his ship lay nearly in the middle, moored fore and aft. A boat came from it, bearing the captain. The first thing the captain saw when he landed was Mat Barlow, absorbed in thought, leaning against a postern. He inquired what was the matter, and by and by he heard all about Mat's adventure.

"Matthew Barlow," said the captain, "it does you great credit, and shows you are as well versed in the duties of humanity as in the duties of a ship. What do you mean to make of the boy a mariner ?"

Why, yes, your honour: if your honour will allow me to take him in tow."

"Well, Matthew, you are a credit to the service; and I am always willing to encourage those whose good conduct entitles them to faBring the boy on board, and we'll see what can be done for him"

vour.

"Thank your honour; thank your honour a thousand times!"

He "steered" for the Green Dragon; got the boy completely new rigged," and conducted his prize to the captain.

The boy proved grateful, and worthy, in every respect, of the goodness shown him. He profited so well by Mat's instructions, that at sixteen he was one of the most active on board, and gained the goodwill of all the crew. They both shared in the victories of Nelson, and always had good reason to rejoice in CHARITABLE MAT'S ADVENture.

THE ADVENTURES OF COMMODORE BYRON.

THOMAS Campbell, the poet, in his Pleasures of Hope, describes the character and adventures of "the hardy Byron," one of the officers of the Wager man-of-war, which was wrecked rather more than a century ago, eighty leagues from the straits of Magellan, in South America. Campbell wrote from Byron's Narrative of the Loss of the Wager, which is a very truthful and remarkable story. As you may not have seen Byron's book, I will relate to you the most striking incidents it contains. I think they must often bring to your minds the words of King David,

Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known."