IN WHICH THE VERY BEST INTENTIONS ARE SEEN TO FAIL.
The city clock strikes one as Mrs. Swiggs, nervous and weary, enters the
House of the Foreign Missions. Into a comfortably-furnished room on the
right, she is ushered by a man meekly dressed, and whose countenance
wears an expression of melancholy. Maps and drawings of Palestine,
Hindostan, and sundry other fields of missionary labor, hang here and
there upon the walls. These are alternated with nicely-framed engravings
and lithographs of Mission establishments in the East, all located in
some pretty grove, and invested with a warmth and cheerfulness that
cannot fail to make a few years' residence in them rather desirable than
otherwise. These in turn are relieved with portraits of distinguished
missionaries. Earnest-faced busts, in plaster, stand prominently about
the room, periodicals and papers are piled on little shelves, and bright
bookcases are filled with reports and various documents concerning the
society, all bound so exactly. The good-natured man of the kind face
sits in refreshing ease behind a little desk; the wise-looking lean man,
in the spectacles, is just in front of him, buried in ponderous folios
of reports. In the centre of the room stands a highly-polished mahogany
table, at which Brother Spyke is seated, his elbow rested, and his head
leaning thoughtfully in his hand. The rotund figure and energetic face
of Sister Slocum is seen, whisking about conspicuously among a bevy of
sleek but rather lean gentlemen, studious of countenance, and in modest
cloth. For each she has something cheerful to impart; each in his turn
has some compliment to bestow upon her. Several nicely-dressed, but
rather meek-looking ladies, two or three accompanied by their knitting
work, have arranged themselves on a settee in front of the wise man in
the spectacles.
Scarcely has the representative of our chivalry entered the room when
Sister Slocum, with all the ardor of a lover of seventeen, runs to her
with open arms, embraces her, and kisses her with an affection truly
grateful. Choking to relate her curious adventure, she is suddenly
heaped with adulations, told how the time of her coming was looked to,
as an event of no common occurrence--how Brothers Sharp, Spyke, and
Phills, expressed apprehensions for her safety this morning, each in
turn offering in the kindest manner to get a carriage and go in pursuit.
The good-natured fat man gets down from his high seat, and receives her
with pious congratulations; the man in the spectacles looks askant, and
advances with extended hand. To use a convenient phrase, she is received
with open arms; and so meek and good is the aspect, that she finds her
thoughts transported to an higher, a region where only is bliss.
Provided with a seat in a conspicuous place, she is told to consider
herself the guest of the society. Sundry ovations, Sister Slocum gives
her to understand, will be made in her honor, ere long. The fact must
here be disclosed that Sister Slocum had prepared the minds of those
present for the reception of an embodiment of perfect generosity.
No sooner has Lady Swiggs time to breathe freely, than she changes the
wondrous kind aspect of the assembly, and sends it into a paroxysm of
fright, by relating her curious adventure among the denizens of the
Points. Brother Spyke nearly makes up his mind to faint; the
good-natured fat man turns pale; the wise man in the spectacles is seen
to tremble; the neatly-attired females, so pious-demeanored, express
their horror of such a place; and Sister Slocum stands aghast. "Oh!
dear, Sister Swiggs," she says, "your escape from such a vile place is
truly marvellous! Thank God you are with us once more." The good-natured
fat man says, "A horrible world, truly!" and sighs. Brother Spyke shrugs
his shoulders, adding, "No respectable person here ever thinks of going
into such a place; the people there are so corrupt." Brother Sharp says
he shudders at the very thought of such a place. He has heard much said
of the dark deeds nightly committed in it--of the stubborn vileness of
the dwellers therein. God knows he never wants to descend into it.
"Truly," Brother Phills interposes, "I walked through it once, and
beheld with mine eyes such sights, such human deformity! O, God! Since
then, I am content to go to my home through Broadway. I never forget to
shudder when I look into the vile place from a distance, nevertheless."
Brother Phills says this after the manner of a philosopher, fretting his
fingers, and contorting his comely face the while. Sister Slocum, having
recovered somewhat from the shock (the shock had no permanent effect on
any of them), hopes Sister Swiggs did not lend an ear to their false
pleadings, nor distribute charity among the vile wretches. "Such would
be like scattering chaff to the winds," a dozen voices chime in.
"Indeed!" Lady Swiggs ejaculates, giving her head a toss, in token of
her satisfaction, "not a shilling, except to the miserable wretch who
showed me the way out. And he seemed harmless enough. I never met a more
melancholy object, never!" Brother Spyke raises his eyes imploringly,
and says he harbors no ill-will against these vile people, but
melancholy is an art with them--they make it a study. They affect it
while picking one's pocket.
The body now resolves itself into working order. Brother Spyke offers up
a prayer. He thanks kind Providence for the happy escape of Sister
Swiggs--this generous woman whose kindness of heart has brought her
here--from among the hardened wretches who inhabit that slough of
despair, so terrible in all its aspects, and so disgraceful to a great
and prosperous city. He thanks Him who blessed him with the light of
learning--who endowed him with vigor and resolution--and told him to go
forth in armor, beating down Satan, and raising up the heathen world. A
mustering of spectacles follows. Sister Slocum draws from her bosom a
copy of the report the wise man in the spectacles rises to read. A
fashionable gold chain and gold-framed eye-glass is called to her aid;
and with a massive pencil of gold, she dots and points certain items of
dollars and cents her keen eye rests upon every now and then.
The wise man in the spectacles rises, having exchanged glances with
Sister Slocum, and commences reading a very long, and in nowise lean
report. The anxious gentlemen draw up their chairs, and turn attentive
ears. For nearly an hour, he buzzes and bores the contents of this
report into their ears, takes sundry sips of water, and informs those
present, and the world in general, that nearly forty thousand dollars
have recently been consumed for missionary labor. The school at Corsica,
the missions at Canton, Ningpo, Pu-kong, Cassaba, Abheokuta, and sundry
other places, the names of which could not, by any possibility, aid the
reader in discovering their location--all, were doing as well as could
be expected, _under the circumstances_. After many years labor, and a
considerable expenditure of money, they were encouraged to go forward,
inasmuch as the children of the school at Corsica were beginning to
learn to read. At Casaba, Droneyo, the native scholar, had, after many
years' teaching, been made conscious of the sin of idol-worship, and had
given his solemn promise to relinquish it as soon as he could propitiate
two favorite gods bequeathed to him by his great uncle. The furnace of
"Satanic cruelty" had been broken down at Dahomey. Brother Smash had,
after several years' labor, and much expense--after having broken down
his health, and the health of many others--penetrated the dark regions
of Arabia, and there found the very seat of Satanic power. It was firmly
pegged to Paganism and Mahomedan darkness! This news the world was
expected to hail with consternation. Not one word is lisped about that
terrible devil holding his court of beggary and crime in the Points. He
had all his furnaces in full blast there; his victims were legion! No
Brother Spyke is found to venture in and drag him down. The region of
the Seven Churches offers inducements more congenial. Bound about them
all is shady groves, gentle breezes, and rural habitations; in the
Points the very air is thick with pestilence!
A pause follows the reading. The wise man in the spectacles--his voice
soft and persuasive, and his aspect meekness itself--would like to know
if any one present be inclined to offer a remark. General satisfaction
prevails. Brother Sharp moves, and Brother Phills seconds, that the
report be accepted. The report is accepted without a dissenting voice. A
second paper is handed him by Sister Slocum, whose countenance is seen
to flash bright with smiles. Then there follows the proclaiming of the
fact of funds, to the amount of three thousand six hundred dollars,
having been subscribed, and now ready to be appropriated to getting
Brother Syngleton Spyke off to Antioch. A din of satisfaction follows;
every face is radiant with joy. Sister Swiggs twitches her head, begins
to finger her pocket, and finally readjusts her spectacles. Having
worked her countenance into a good staring condition, she sets her eyes
fixedly upon Brother Spyke, who rises, saying he has a few words to
offer.
The object of his mission to Antioch, so important at this moment, he
would not have misunderstood. Turks, Greeks, Jews, Arabs, Armenians, and
Kurds, and Yesedees--yes, brethren, Yesedees! inhabit this part of
Assyria, which opens up an extensive field of missionary labor, even
yet. Much had been done by the ancient Greeks for the people who roamed
in these Eastern wilds--much remained for us to do; for it was yet a
dark spot on the missionary map. Thousands of these poor souls were
without the saving knowledge of the Gospel. He could not shrink from a
duty so demanding--wringing his very heart with its pleadings! Giving
the light of the Gospel to these vicious Arabs and Kurds was the end and
aim of his mission. (A motion of satisfaction was here perceptible.) And
while there, he would teach the Jews a just sense of their Lord's
design--which was the subjugation of the heathen world. Inward light was
very good, old prophecies were very grand; but Judaism was made of
stubborn metal, had no missionary element in it, and could only be
forced to accept light through strong and energetic movement. He had
read with throbbing heart how Rome, while in her greatness, protected
those Christian pilgrims who went forth into the East, to do battle with
the enemy. Would not America imitate Rome, that mighty mother of
Republics? A deeper responsibility rested on her at this moment. Rome,
then, was semi-barbarous; America, now, was Christianized and civilized.
Hence she would be held more accountable for the dissemination of light.
In those days the wandering Christian Jews undertook to instruct the
polished Greeks--why could not Americans at this day inculcate the
doctrines of Jesus to these educated heathen? It was a bold and daring
experiment, but he was willing to try it. The Allwise worked his wonders
in a mysterious way. In this irrelevant and somewhat mystical style,
Brother Spyke continues nearly an hour, sending his audience into a
highly-edified state. We have said mystical, for, indeed, none but those
in the secret could have divined, from Brother Spyke's logic, what was
the precise nature of his mission. His speech was very like a country
parson's model sermon; one text was selected, and a dozen or more (all
different) preached from; while fifty things were said no one could
understand.
Brother Spyke sits down--Sister Slocum rises. "Our dear and very
generous guest now present," she says, addressing the good-natured fat
man in the chair, as Lady Swiggs bows, "moved by the goodness that is in
her, and conscious of the terrible condition of the heathen world, has
come nobly to our aid. Like a true Christian she has crossed the sea,
and is here. Not only is she here, but ready to give her mite toward
getting Brother Spyke off to Antioch. Another donation she proposes
giving the 'Tract Society,' an excellent institution, in high favor at
the South. Indeed I may add, that it never has offended against its
social--"
Sister Slocum hesitates. Social slavery will not sound just right, she
says to her herself. She must have a term more musical, and less grating
to the ear. A smile flashes across her countenance, her gold-framed
eye-glasses vibrate in her fingers: "Well! I was going to say, their
social arrangements," she pursues.
The assembly is suddenly thrown into a fit of excitement. Lady Swiggs is
seen trembling from head to foot, her yellow complexion changing to pale
white, her features contorting as with pain, and her hand clutching at
her pocket. "O heavens!" she sighs, "all is gone, gone, gone: how vain
and uncertain are the things here below." She drops, fainting, into the
arms of Sister Slocum, who has overset the wise man in the spectacles,
in her haste to catch the prostrate form. On a bench the august body is
laid. Fans, water, camphor, hartshorn, and numerous other restoratives
are brought into use. Persons get in each other's way, run every way but
the right way, causing, as is common in such cases, very unnecessary
alarm. The stately representative of the great Swiggs family lies
motionless. Like the last of our chivalry, she has nothing left her but
a name.
A dash or two of cold water, and the application of a little hartshorn,
and that sympathy so necessary to the fainting of distinguished
people--proves all-efficient. A slight heaving of the bosom is detected,
the hands--they have been well chaffed--quiver and move slowly, her face
resumes its color. She opens her eyes, lays her hand solicitously on
Sister Slocum's arm: "It must be the will of Heaven," she lisps,
motioning her head, regretfully; "it cannot now be undone--"
"Sister! sister! sister!" interrupts Sister Slocum, grasping her hand,
and looking inquiringly in the face of the recovering woman, "is it an
affection of the heart?--where is the pain?--what has befallen you? We
are all so sorry!"
"It was there, there, there! But it is gone now." Regaining her
consciousness, she lays her hand nervously upon her pocket, and pursues:
"Oh! yes, sister, it was there when I entered that vile place, as you
call it. What am I to do? The loss of the money does not so much trouble
my mind. Oh! dear, no. It is the thought of going home deprived of the
means of aiding these noble institutions."
Had Lady Swiggs inquired into the character of the purchaser of old
Dolly she might now have become conscious of the fact, that whatever
comes of evil seldom does good. The money she had so struggled to get
together to aid her in maintaining her hypocrisy, was the result of
crime. Perhaps it were better the wretch purloined it, than that the
fair name of a noble institution be stained with its acceptance.
Atonement is too often sought to be purchased with the gold got of
infamy.
The cause of this fainting being traced to Lady Swiggs' pocket book
instead of her heart, the whole scene changes. Sister Slocum becomes as
one dumb, the good fat man is seized with a nervous fit, the man in the
spectacles hangs his head, and runs his fingers through his crispy hair,
as Brother Spyke elongates his lean body, and is seen going into a
melancholy mood, the others gathering round with serious faces. Lady
Swiggs commences describing with great minuteness the appearance of Mr.
Tom Toddleworth. That he is the person who carried off the money, every
one is certain. "He is the man!" responds a dozen voices. And as many
more volunteer to go in search of Mr. Detective Fitzgerald. Brother
Spyke pricks up his courage, and proceeds to initiate his missionary
labors by consulting Mr. Detective Fitzgerald, with whom he starts off
in pursuit of Mr. Tom Toddleworth.