Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 3.djvu/264

 myself, and, with extreme good breeding, mildly requested that, if it were possible, I would confide to him the cause of my affliction.

"Be not afraid or ashamed, my good lad," said he, "to tell me your sorrows. If we have temporal blessings, we do not forget that we are but the almoners of the Lord: we endeavour to follow his example; but, if I may judge from appearance, it is not pecuniary aid you have come to solicit."

"No, no," replied I; 'it is not money that I want:" but, choked with excess of feeling, I could say no more.

"This is indeed a more important case than one of mere bodily want," said the good man.

"That we might very soon supply; but there seems something in your condition which requires our more serious attention. I thank the Aimighty for selecting me to this service; and, with his blessing, we shall not fail of success."