THE FINGER-POSTS OF GOD.
I HAD often said that I would not again leave my beloved work on the
Islands unless compelled to do so either by the breakdown of health, or
by the loss of our Mission Ship and my services being required to assist
in providing another. Very strange, that in this one season both of
these events befell us! During the hurricanes, from January to April
1873, when the _Dayspring_ was wrecked, we lost a darling child by
death, my dear wife had a protracted illness, and I was brought very low
with severe rheumatic fever. I was reduced so far that I could not
speak, and was reported as dying. The Captain of a vessel, having seen
me, called at Tanna, and spoke of me as in all probability dead by that
time. Our unfailing and ever-beloved friends and fellow-Missionaries,
Mr. and Mrs. Watt, at once started from Kwamera, in their open boat, and
rowed and sailed thirty miles to visit us. But a few days before they
arrived I had fallen into a long and sound sleep, out of which, when I
awoke, consciousness had again returned to me. I had got the turn; there
was no further relapse; but when I did regain a little strength, my
weakness was so great that I had to travel about on crutches for many a
day.
In the circumstances of our baby Lena's death, every form of
heartrending tenderness seemed to meet. On Friday, 28th March, at 3 A.M.
she came from God, and seemed to both of us the Angel-child of all our
flock. Alas, on Saturday I was seized with sciatica, so dreadful and
agonizing, that I had to be borne to my bed, and could not stir a limb
any more than if my back had been broken. My dear wife struggled to
attend to the baby, with such help as Native girls could give; and I
directed the Teachers about the Services in Church next Sunday, the
first time as yet that I had been unable to appear and lead them. From
the beds where we lay, my wife and I could hear each other's voices, and
tried to console one another in our sorrowful and helpless state. On
Tuesday, 1st April, the child was bright and vigorous; but the mother's
strength had been overtaxed, and she fell back, fainting in her bed,
when helping to dress the baby. Next morning, to our dismay, there were
symptoms of wheezing and feverishness in the little darling. All due
measures were at once taken to check these; and Williag, an experienced
Native, now having charge, kept everything warm and cozy. Before tea,
when receiving a little food, Lena opened her dark blue eyes, and gazed
up peacefully and gladly in her mother's face. But, immediately after
tea, within less than an hour, when the nurse brought her and placed her
in the mother's arms, the Angel-Soul fled away. Poor Williag, seeing the
mother's pathetic look, and as if she herself had been guilty, fell on
her knees and cried,--"I knew it, Missi, I knew it! She gave two big
sighs, and went! Awai, Missi, Awai!" When the mother called to me
something about the child having "fainted," I was talking with Koris,
but my heart guessed the worst. Alas, all means were seen to be vain! I
could not rise, could not move, nor could the mother, but we prayed, in
each other's hearing, and in the hearing of our blessed Lord, and He did
not leave us without consolation. In such cases, the Heathen usually fly
away in terror, but our Teachers were faithful and obedient; and our
little boys, Bob and Fred, six and four respectively, followed all our
tearful directions. One of their small toy-boxes was readily given up to
make the baby's coffin. Yawaci brought calico, and dressed the precious
body at the mother's instructions. I then offered a prayer to the clear
Lord, whilst the mother clasped the coffin in her arms. The little
grave, dug by the Teachers in the Mission plot, was within earshot of
where we lay, and there Bob and Fred, kneeling in their snow-white
dresses, sang "There is a Happy Land," as their sister's dust was laid
in the Earth and in the arms of Jesus who is the Resurrection and the
Life. God only can ever know how our hearts were torn by the pathos of
that event, as we lay helpless, almost dying, and listened to our
children's trembling voices! Johna, the Teacher, then prayed; while the
Heathen, in groups of wonder, but holding far aloof, had many strange
ideas wakened in their puzzled brains. The mother and I gave ourselves
once more away to God, and to the Service of our dear Lord Jesus, as we
parted with our darling Lena; and when, by and by, we were raised up
again, and able to move about, often, often, did we find ourselves
meeting together at that precious grave.
Being ordered to seek health by change and by higher medical aid, and if
possible in the cooler air of New Zealand, we took the first opportunity
and arrived at Sydney, anxious to start the new movement to secure the
_Paragon_ there, and then to go on to the sister Colony. Being scarcely
able to walk without the crutches, we called privately a preliminary
meeting of friends for consultation and advice. The conditions were laid
before them and discussed. The Insurance Company had paid £2000 on the
first _Dayspring_. Of that sum £1000 had been spent on chartering and
maintaining the _Paragon;_ so that we required an additional £2000 to
purchase her, according to Dr. Steel's bargain with the owners, besides
a large sum for alterations and equipment for the Mission. The late Mr.
Learmouth looked across to Mr. Goodlet, and said, "If you'll join me, we
will at once secure this vessel for the Missionaries, that God's work
may not suffer from the wreck of the _Dayspring_."
Those two servants of God, excellent Elders of the Presbyterian Church,
consulted together, and the vessel was purchased next day. How I did
praise God, and pray Him to bless them and theirs! The late Dr.
Fullarton, our dear friend, said to them, "But what guarantee do you ask
from the Missionaries for your money?"
Mr. Learmouth's noble reply was, and the other heartily re-echoed
it--"God's work is our guarantee! From them we will ask none. What
guarantee have they to give us, except their faith in God? That
guarantee is ours already."
I answered, "You take God and His work for your guarantee. Rest assured
that He will soon repay you, and you will lose nothing by this noble
service."
Having secured St. Andrew's Church for a public meeting, I advertised it
in all the papers. Ministers, Sabbath School Teachers, and other friends
came in great numbers. The scheme was fairly launched, and Collecting
Cards largely distributed. Committees carried everything out into
detail, and all worked for the fund with great goodwill.
I then sailed from Sydney to Victoria, and addressed the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in session at Melbourne. The work
was easily set agoing there, and willing workers fully and rapidly
organized it through Congregations and Sabbath Schools. Under medical
advice, I next sailed for New Zealand in the S. S. _Hero_, Captain
Logan. Reaching Auckland, I was in time to address the General Assembly
of the Church there also. They gave me cordial welcome, and every
Congregation and Sabbath School might be visited as far as I possibly
could. The Ministers promoted the movement with hearty zeal. The Sabbath
Scholars took Collecting Cards for "shares" in the New Mission Ship. A
meeting was held every day, and three every Sabbath. Auckland, Nelson,
Wellington, Dunedin, and all towns and churches within reach of these
were rapidly visited; and I never had greater joy or heartiness in any
of my tours than in this happy intercourse with the Ministers and people
of the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand.
I arrived in Sydney about the end of March. My health was wonderfully
restored, and New Zealand had given me about £1700 for the new ship.
With the £1000 of insurance money, and about £700 from New South Wales,
and £400 from Victoria, besides the £500 for her support also from.
Victoria, we were able to pay back the £3000 of purchase money, and
about £800 for alterations and repairs, as well as equip and provision
her to sail for her next year's work amongst the Islands free of debt. I
said to our two good friends at Sydney:
"You took God and His work for your guarantee. He has soon relieved you
from all responsibility. You have suffered no loss, and you have had the
honor and privilege of serving your Lord. I envy you the joy you must
feel in so using your wealth, and I pray God's double blessing on all
your store."
Our agent. Dr. Steel, had applied to the Home authorities for power to
change the vessel's name from _Paragon_ to _Dayspring_, so that the old
associations might not be broken. This was cordially granted. And so our
second _Dayspring_, owing no man anything, sailed on her annual trip to
the New Hebrides, and we returned with her, praising the Lord and
reinvigorated alike in spirit and in body.