"Long ago, when the Missionaries came and preached to us, for a time we
refused to listen to them, and would not become Christians. Then, after
a while, many of us who had been in the darkness began to feel in our
hearts that what they told us was for our good; and so we accepted of
these things, and they have done us good. When I got the assurance in
my heart that I was a child of God, and had a soul that should live for
ever, I found that in working out its salvation I had something great to
live for. To do this was the great object of my life. By-and-by I
married, and then, as my family increased and began to grow up around
me, I found I had another object for which to live. To help them along
in the way to heaven, as well as to work for their comfort here, was my
second great work. Then, after a while, the Missionary gave me the
charge of a class. I was to meet with them, and we were to talk
together about our souls and God's love to us, and to do all we could to
help each other on to the better land. To do my duty as the leader was
a great and important work. While attending to these duties, I found I
had another object for which to live. These three things,--1. My own
soul's salvation; 2. The salvation of my family; and 3. To do all I
can to help and encourage the members of my class to be true and
faithful to Him Who died for us, that we may see him by-and-by,--are the
uppermost things in my heart.
"I am thankful for your confidence in me in asking me to be your chief.
I know it is a great honour, but I see it will have many
responsibilities, and that whoever has the position will have to attend
to many other things than those which I have my mind set upon. So you
must appoint some one else, for with those three things I cannot let
anything else interfere. I thank you, my brothers, and love you all."
In this strain he went on for a long while, and then sat down. No one
thought any the less of the noble Christian man; and David Bundle, who
was appointed, ever found in Big Tom a wise and judicious counsellor and
friend. I was thrilled by the address and the spirit manifested. How
few white men in like circumstances would have had grace and self-denial
enough to have acted in a similar manner!