One after another drew his lot. A sailor, who had drawn the lot of
death, walked to the railing and said to a comrade in a life-boat:
"When you reach the shore, see my wife, tell her good-bye for me and
help her in getting my back pay, for she will need it," and he stepped
back and took his place with the doomed.

Finally the old mate thrust in his brawny hand and drew a lot for the
life-boats. He stepped aside to watch those to follow in the drawing,
when a very popular officer of the ship drew his lot. He was doomed to
go down with the ship. Though a brave man, the thought of his loved
ones at home overcame him, and dropping upon his knees he said: "O
God, have mercy upon my wife and little children."

The old mate went up to him and taking his hand said: "We have been in
many storms together and have been good friends for years. You have a
wife and three sweet little children, while I have no one that will
rejoice at my coming, nor will any one weep if I never return. It
might have been my fate to go down instead of you, and it shall be.
You take my lot, and I'll take yours."

The offer was refused, but the mate forced his friend into a boat
saying, "Good-bye, I'll die for you like a man."

The greatness of this world doesn't all belong to your Solons,
Solomons, Washingtons, Napoleons, Grants, Lees or Gladstones, but
yonder in the humbler walks of life are heroes and heroines, who in
the final reckoning day, will pale the lustre of some whose names are
engraved on marble monuments and whose praises are perpetuated in
poetry and song.