"Things went on in this flourishing way for several years; my husband,
deeply impressed with the responsibility of his position, as a chosen
servant of God, devoted himself so entirely to the great work he had
undertaken, that he often seemed to overlook the claims upon his
attention of her he had chosen as his partner in his struggle against
the powers of darkness. Sometimes I did not see him for several days;
and often when we were together he was so abstracted he did not seem
aware I was present. Whenever I could get him to speak of himself, he
would dilate on the unspeakable felicity that he felt in drawing nearer
to the end of his work. I affected not to know to what he alluded; but
I always felt that he was referring to the impression he entertained of
his own speedy dissolution, which he had taken up when he first embraced
this mission.
"I tried to get rid of my misgivings, by recalling the dangers and
difficulties we had triumphantly passed, and referring to the
encouraging state of things that existed at the present time;
nevertheless, I could not prevent a sinking of the heart whenever I
heard him venture upon the subject; and when he was absent from me, I
often experienced an agony of anxiety till his return. I saw, however,
no real cause of apprehension, and endeavoured to persuade myself none
existed; and very probably I should have succeeded, had not my husband
so frequently indulged in references to our separation.
"Alas," she exclaimed, mournfully, "he was better informed than I was of
the proximity of that Celestial Home, for which he had been so long and
zealously preparing himself. He, doubtless, had his intimation from on
high, that his translation to the realms of bliss was no remote
consequence of his undertaking the mission he had accepted; and he had
familiarised his mind to it as a daily duty, and by his constant
references had sought to prepare me for the catastrophe he knew to be
inevitable."
Here Mrs Reichardt became so sensibly affected, that it was some time
before she could proceed with her narrative. She, however, did so at
last; yet I could see by the tears that traced each other down her wan
cheeks, how much her soul was moved by the terrible details into which
she was obliged to enter.
"In the midst of our success," she presently resumed, "when we had
established a congregation, had baptised hundreds of men, women, and
children; had completed a regular place of worship and an extensive
school-house, both of which were fully and regularly attended, some
European vessel paid us a short visit, soon after which, that dreadful
scourge the small-pox broke out amongst the people. Both children and
adults were seized and as soon as one died, a dozen were attacked.
"Soon the greatest alarm pervaded the natives my husband was implored to
stop the pestilence, which power they felt convinced he had in his
hands. He did all that was possible for him to do, but that
unfortunately was very little. His recommendation of remedial measures
was rarely attended with the desired results. Death was very busy. The
people died in scores, and the survivors, excited by the vindictive men
who had formerly sought his death for disparaging their gods began not
only to fall off rapidly in their regard and reverence for my husband;
but murmurs first, and execrations afterwards, and violent menaces
subsequently, attended him whenever he appeared.
"He preached to them resignation to the Divine will; but resignation was
not a savage virtue. He was indefatigable in his attentions to the
sick; but those of whom he was most careful seemed the speediest to die.
The popular feeling against him increased every hour; he appeared,
however, to defy his fate--walking unconcernedly amongst crowds of
infuriated savages brandishing heavy clubs, and threatening him with the
points of their sharp spears; but his eye never blinked, and his cheek
never blanched, and he walked on his way inwardly praising God, careless
of the evil passions that raged around him.
"It was on a Sabbath morn--our service had far advanced; we could boast
of but a limited congregation, for many had died, some had fled from the
pestilence into the interior; others had avoided the place in
consequence of the threats of their countrymen. A few children, and two
or three women, were all their teacher had to address.
"We were engaged in singing a psalm, when a furious crowd, mad with
rage, as it seemed, screaming and yelling in the most frightful manner,
and brandishing their weapons as though about to attack an enemy, burst
into our little chapel, and seized my husband in the midst of his
devotions.
"I rushed forward to protect him from the numerous weapons that were
aimed at his life, but was dragged back by the hair of my head, and with
infuriate cries and gestures, that made them look like demons broke
loose from hell, they fell upon him with their clubs and spears.
"Reichardt made no resistance, he merely clasped his hands the more
firmly, and looked up to heaven the more devoutly, as he continued the
Psalm he had commenced before they entered. This did not delay his
fate.
"They beat out his brains so close to me, that I was covered with his
blood; and I believe I should have shared the same fate, had I not
fainted with terror at the horrible scene of which I was a forced
spectator.
"I learned afterwards that some powerful chief interfered, and I was
carried away more dead than alive; in which state I long remained. As
soon as I became sufficiently strong to be moved, I took advantage of a
whaler calling at the island, homeward bound, to beg a passage. The
captain heard my lamentable story, took me on board as soon as he could,
and showed a seaman's sympathy for my sufferings.
"I was to have returned to England with him, but off this place we
encountered a terrible storm, in which we were obliged to take to the
boats, as the only chance of saving our lives. What became of him I
know not, as the two boats parted company soon after leaving the wreck.
I trust he managed to reach the land in safety, and is now in his own
country, enjoying all the comforts that can make life covetable.
"What became of that part of the crew that brought me here in the other
boat, led by the fires you had lighted, I am in doubt. But I think on
quitting the island, crowded as their boat was, and in the state of its
crew, it was scarcely possible for them to have made the distant island
for which they steered."