REASON FOR MY SUDDEN CALL TO LEAVE SYDNEY--THE LITTLE OLD LADY OF THE
"WAKATIPU"--SHE HAD WAITED A GENERATION TO RENEW HER COVENANTS--ANOTHER
"HELPFUL VISION"--A MYSTERIOUS HALF-SOVEREIGN--SAVED FROM DEATH IN A
SWIFT RIVER.
Elders William McLachlan, Thomas Steed, Charles Hurst and Fred. Hurst
had been the last Utah Elders to labor in the New Zealand missionary
field previous to the date of my landing there. They had rendered good
service to the cause, and I discovered that the foundation which they
had laid was broad and deep, and cemented in gospel truth.
After a few days visit with Brother Nordstrand at Styx, I went to
Southbrook, where I found Elder James Burnett Jr., the young man who
had been left in charge of the mission by the brethren about a year
before.
With him and with others I labored up and down the country in that
locality, and in the ensuing three months twenty-five souls were
brought into the Church in the Canterbury Province.
One of my first meetings was held at Prebbleton. While speaking there,
I felt led to detail the strange succession of circumstances attendant
upon my coming so early to that field. When I sat down a good sister
named Mortensen arose and said:
"Brother Shreeve, I can tell you why you received the command to come
to New Zealand immediately. It was in answer to our fervent prayer.
For more than three months previous to your arrival here we had been
anxiously supplicating the Lord to send us an Elder from Utah."
About two months after I landed in New Zealand I was traveling in
company with Brother John Walker, when he said to me:
"There is a woman living in this neighborhood, who, I understand, once
belonged to the Church. I am acquainted with her husband. Let us go
over and see her."
I assented to his proposition and went to the house designated. When we
entered we saw a little old woman sitting by the stove, smoking a pipe.
She arose with some embarrassment at receiving visitors. But the moment
she fully confronted me, I saw that she was the little old woman who
had visited me in imagination on board the _Wakatipu_, while sailing
across Cook's Straits.
I learned that her name was Sister Emmas, and in conversation she
stated to me that she had become a member of the Church a generation
before, in the town of Bristol in England. It was there that the
miracle of restoration of sight was performed under the administration
of Elder John Hackwell, upon the eyes of the children of William and
Elizabeth Bounsell. Sister Emmas had been an eye witness to this
miracle. She was then firm in the faith; but the young man whom she
married--being anxious to get her away from the influence of the hated
"Mormons" had carried her to this remote nook in New Zealand, thinking
that he had separated her from the Church forever.
She had often prayed to be visited by members of the Church and to be
united with her people. Some years before I met her a man had worked
for her husband for a brief time, and then departed. After he was gone
she learned that he was a "Mormon." He had interested her greatly while
he labored for her husband, and she had been unable to account for the
interest she took in him. After he was gone the matter was explained to
her satisfaction; and she looked anxiously for his return--but in vain,
for she never saw him after that hour.
In later conversations I spoke to her of her appearance to me on
board the _Wakatipu_, and by comparison of dates I learned that on or
about the very day when she appeared to me, she had been praying most
earnestly that the Lord would bless her with a visit from a "Mormon"
Elder. She had often sat by her window and looked out with straining
eyes and anxious heart for someone to come to her, and bring a renewal
of the glad tidings which she had heard thirty years before in England.
While I remained in that region Sister Emmas was very kind to me. She
frequently helped me with money, and I was always a welcome visitor at
her house.
She loved to talk about the things of the gospel, but I found that she
was but a child. She had heard nothing of the teachings of the Church
except those earliest taught in England, and the sublime doctrines of
baptism for the dead, and other things revealed to the Saints later
than her day in the Church were entirely new and strange to her. Often
when I was talking she would clasp her hands, and look at me with the
utmost surprise, saying:
"Well, well! Now, they didn't teach that when I joined the Church--I
didn't understand it that way."
But she seemed always willing to learn, and was indeed a faithful soul.
Her husband, however, continued bitterly opposed, and after some time
both she and I agreed that for the sake of her peace it would be better
if my visits to their house ceased. But before we finally parted the
good old lady said to me:
"You will know when I am dead--I will let you know; and then, if there
is anything which you can do for my eternal blessing, I pray you to do
it."
On the 27th of February, 1879, I went to the North Island, in the hope
to do some successful labor there. At Wellington I stopped at a hotel
kept by a Mr. Daville, a relative of Brother C. W. Carter of Salt
Lake. On the night of my arrival I retired to my room, wet and cold. I
was wearied, but wakeful, because of my anxiety. I knew that several
efforts had been made in times past to open the work in this region;
but they seemed all to have been unsuccessful, and I doubted my own
ability to accomplish any good. I felt prayerful, but still despondent.
While I lay, wide awake, in my bed I suddenly saw a hand and arm,
clothed in a white sleeve which extended down midway between the elbow
and the wrist, and holding a torch in its hand--thrust out from the
side of a dark fireplace which was in the room.
At first there was but a spark of light at the top of the torch, but
gradually the flame grew greater and the light stronger, until it
filled the whole room; and then from out the darkness behind the arm
and torch stepped the figure of a little girl.
I recognized it instantly as that of my young sister Sophia, who had
died six years before in England, while I was in Utah. At the time of
her death she was eight and a half years old, and had but recently
been baptized into the Church. She came toward the bed, and I saw that
she was dressed in beautiful white raiment. From her whole person a
pleasing light seemed to emanate. She approached the bed and leaned
over it, placing her arms around my neck and kissing me upon the lips.
Then, still with her hands clasped, she leaned back and looked intently
into my face, saying at the same time:
"Tom, don't be afraid! Whenever you are in danger I will come to warn
you."
She bent forward and kissed me again; afterward leaning back to take
another look at my face. Repeating the same words as before, once more
she kissed me; and then slowly withdrew her arms and moved back from
the bed. She approached the arm, which still held the torch, and as
she did so I saw that the light of the torch paled before the greater
glory which surrounded her person. When she neared the fireplace the
arm stretched out around her, and she stepped back into the darkness.
She waved her hand three times with a farewell gesture toward me. Soon
she was enveloped in the darkness of the fireplace, and the light of
the torch grew for a moment brighter; then suddenly it vanished and I
found myself leaning upon my elbow in the bed and gazing fixedly at
the blank darkness where the glorious presence and the light torch had
disappeared. So real and certain had been the presence of my sister
that after she was gone I still felt the pressure of her warm arms
around my neck.
I remained in that region for a time, but could not find any opening;
and therefore concluded to return to the South Island. At the time
I greatly regretted the necessity for this step, for it seemed like
a desertion of the field; but I was later led to thank God for the
guidance of the Spirit for taking me away from the North Island.
It had been my purpose to obtain an opening among the Maories, and
proclaim to them the gospel; but two weeks after my return to the
South Island serious trouble broke out between the government and the
Maori tribes which I had intended to visit on the west coast. This
trouble continued for a considerable time, and during it, whenever my
mind recurred to the subject, I thanked the Lord that I had been led
away from that locality; because the people of that region would have
been only too glad to attribute the Maori uprising to the "incendiary
presence" of a Mormon Elder.
One day after my return, myself and a companion had been baptizing at
Alfred Forest and it was our desire to reach Templeton as speedily
as possible. We were very tired, having walked thirty-two miles that
day, and we concluded to ride from Rakaia to Templeton, provided we
had enough money for the purpose. We emptied all our pockets very
carefully. I took especial care to feel in every corner of my clothing,
and I gave all I had to my companion, who said that with his little
stock this was barely sufficient to purchase the tickets. When we
arrived at Templeton we learned that Brother Walker was quite ill at
his home in a little town two or three miles distant.
When I arose to dress the next morning, I happened to put my hand in
my vest pocket; and to my amazement I drew forth a half-sovereign in
gold. How it came there I know not to this day: I was possessed of such
a coin so infrequently in those days that I had certainly not placed
it in my pocket and forgotten it; besides only the night previous at
Rakaia I had searched my pockets carefully and had given every penny
possessed to my fellow-laborer.
At the request of my companion, who was too weary to attempt
the journey, I trudged down that morning to Brother Walker's
house--although I myself had been so tired that I thought I could not
walk a furlong. When I reached the house I found Brother Walker was
indeed very sick; and that, owing to the confinement occasioned by
his sickness, his business had been neglected, and his folks had been
unable to leave him while they made collections of money due him, and
they were for the moment in a very needy state, not having a penny in
the house.
When I found the situation in which they were placed I said to Sister
Walker:
"I have found a half-sovereign this morning, which came to me in some
unknown way for some unknown purpose; and now I shall be glad to let
you have it for your needs."
She thanked me, and told me that she would be grateful if I would hitch
up their horse and drive over to Christchurch and purchase some bread
and medicine. I did as she requested. I hitched up the horse and went
immediately to Christchurch, a distance of three or four miles.
Arrived there I went to the baker's shop and asked for two shillings
and sixpence worth of bread, giving the baker in payment my
half-sovereign, or ten shilling piece. He gave me the proper change
I am sure, because I watched it carefully. I placed this change of
silver in the empty purse which I had in my hand, and then went to
the chemist's shop. Here I purchased medicine to the amount of two
shillings, and took that much money from the purse and paid the chemist.
Then I hastened back to Brother Walker's, and when I entered the house
I gave the folks the bread and the medicine, and tossed the purse,
containing as I supposed, five shillings and sixpence in change, to
Sister Walker. She emptied the money into her lap, counted it, and then
said:
"You did not pay for the bread and medicine which you got at
Christchurch."
I replied that I had paid for them, certainly; because, being unknown
to the baker and chemist, they would not have trusted me.
"But," she replied, "you have brought back ten shillings and four
pence--which is more than you carried away with you."
I answered that I could not help that--I had certainly paid for the
bread and the medicine and had received my exact change from the baker,
who broke the money for me.
But whatever I might say, there was the money--four pence more than I
had carried away, although I had spent four shillings and sixpence.
Some time afterward I was requested by Jeppe C. Jeppeson to go to
Alfred Forest to perform for him and his family the ordinance of
baptism. I was then at Prebbleton, and Alfred Forest was more than
seventy miles away.
The second day of my journey I had thirty-two miles to travel on foot
from the Rakaia River to Alfred Forest. My way lay for ten miles along
the bank of the Rakaia; and thence along a level stretch for twenty
miles, to the North Ashburton River. This I would be obliged to cross,
and from the crossing to travel for two miles to the residence of Mr.
Jeppeson. The Rakaia is a broad river flowing between high and steep
banks.
The day was extremely hot, with a north-west wind blowing. This
"north-wester" as it is called in that region is something like the
desert simoon--it dries the sap out of everything. It is intensely hot
and parching in its nature, and quickly enervates any person exposed to
its influence. Especially is this the case with a person unaccustomed
to the climate.
Whenever I wanted to moisten my lips I had considerable difficulty in
descending to the stream and reascending the steep and high bank. But
I was soon spared this annoyance; because when I began to cross the
plain I found no water whatever. There was not a drop to be found for
a stretch of nearly fifteen miles. Several times during this painful
journey I lay down, feeling utterly exhausted; and once or twice I felt
that death would be a relief.
About a mile before I reached the north fork of the Ashburton, I saw a
stick about six feet long and two inches thick, lying across my path.
I passed it by, but could not help feeling greatly surprised at seeing
it there; because I had not, during the whole time that I was walking
across this plain seen any tree or shrub or even a willow of any kind.
After I had gone some distance, I felt an impression that I ought to
turn back and get the stick. I endeavored to put this idea from my
mind, but without avail; and so I returned and picked up the stick and
carried it with me.
When I reached the river I expected to find someone there to meet me;
because Mr. Jeppeson had promised that his son would await me on the
north side of the river with a horse, and help me across. But I found
no one there.
The sun had long gone down, and darkness was swiftly descending upon
the earth. The river was rapidly rising for the north-wester was the
warning of a storm which had been raging in the mountains. This branch
of the Ashburton was about a furlong in width, and was naturally a
rapid though not deep stream. Its fall was so great that an immense
quantity of water could be carried with a shallow depth. As with many
other New Zealand rivers, for a single person to cross on foot was a
dangerous experiment, because the water flows so rapidly that one is
easily lifted off his feet; and once down he could never get up again.
I was debating in my mind whether I should pass the night on the north
bank of the river, or run the risk of death in crossing, when I saw a
rift like a triangle open in the clouded sky to the south. From this
rift sufficient light came to enable me to see the surface of the
stream. I looked from the roadway and saw that at various points in the
river were shifting sand bars, which I could detect by the rippling
over them of the rising waters.
I knelt down and prayed for guidance from my Heavenly Father, and when
I arose it was with a determination to cross the stream. I descended
into the water, but some influence immediately forced me back to shore.
This influence was so powerful that it lifted me back to the bank like
a cork.
Then I bent over and looked at the stream, and by the aid of the light
from the open space in the sky I saw that where I intended to enter the
river was a deep, dark current. Higher up I could see that the light
shone on a line of ripples, betokening sand bars, extending almost
entirely across the stream. I ascended to a favorable point and saw
that here the light shone at its brightest; and I took this line for my
ford.
I had the stick which I had providentially picked up, and this I put
into the water down stream from me, and grounded it on the bottom,
and then I entered without fear. I leaned up stream as far as I could
without falling, and, although the stream was only up to my knees, the
pressure of the swift current against my body threw it as high as my
waist. As soon as I could gain a firm footing upon the bottom, I moved
my stick from point to point; and in this way progressed safely to the
first bar. Then I stepped into a hole with my right foot, and caught
myself just as I was going down.
A cold sweat broke out on me, because, while I had not had much
experience with New Zealand rivers, I knew perfectly well that to lose
my footing was to die. I stood a moment to breathe and to recover my
composure, and then I started on.
Guided by the light, and supported by my stick, I was able to zig zag
from one bar to another, until I was within twenty yards of the south
bank. Then again I missed my footing, and was whirled around and nearly
cast down. The stick once more saved me, and in a few minutes I was
safely landed on the shore.
Wet, exhausted with the long battle in crossing the river, my shoes
full of sand and my feet raw; I sank down upon the ground, wearied
but joyful. I thanked God for the preservation of my life through the
struggle with the fierce river.
When I rose from my knees I looked up at the sky, and saw that the
providential light (which had undoubtedly been the means of saving my
life) had disappeared. I felt convinced from this that there were no
more streams; and the result proved the correctness of that idea.
I walked on two miles and found the house of Mr. Jeppeson; but it was
closed up, all the people having retired to bed. When I found that they
had preferred to retire, rather than to fulfill their engagement with
me, I went to the house of Brother Olsen, who kindly gave me supper and
a bed.
A few days later, Mr. Jeppeson came to me with profuse apologies, and
at his request I baptized him and his family.