A small sailing vessel was wrecked of the coast of Ireland. The life-saving crew went out and took off all that they saw; but when they were leaving the wreck, they looked back and saw one poor fellow clinging to a spar, whom they had overlooked. Some asked, “Shall we go and get him?” Others said: “No, we cannot do it. We should be dashed onto the rocks by the fury of the waves, and all perish. Better to lose one than all.”

When they landed, one young man said, “If somebody will go with me, I will go and get the man on the wreck.” His mother was there, and she put her arm around his neck, and said: “Don’t go. Stay with your mother. Your father was a sailor, and was lost at sea. Your brother William went to sea years ago, and you know we have never heard from him. And now if you go and perish, I shall be alone.” But he kissed his mother, and said, “Mother, I am going after the man on the wreck.”

Then he and the one who volunteered to go with him got into the boat, and went out through the darkness, the fog, and the roar of the breakers. The people on the shore watched and waited long, peering into the fog. By and by they saw a boat coming, trying to make the shore. After a while, it came near enough that the people on shore called. They said, “Did you get the other man?” The young man replied, “Yes, I got him; and tell mother I got my brother William.”

He went and found his lost brother. That is your work and mine. There are many Brother Williams that are wrecked. May God help us to get them, and bring them safe to the haven of rest.

By George B. Thompson, Signs of the Times, June 19, 1917. With permission from Dale Galusha dalgal@pacificpress.com