In one of my early journeys, says Moffat, with some of my companions,
we came to a heathen village on the borders of Orange River, South
Africa. We had travelled far, and were hungry, thirsty, and fatigued.
From the fear of being exposed to lions, we preferred remaining at
the village to proceeding further during the night. The people of the
village rather roughly directed us to halt at a distance. We asked
for water, but they would not supply it. I offered the three or four
buttons which still remained on my jacket for a little milk; this also
was refused. We had the prospect of another hungry night at a distance
from water, though within sight of the river. We found it difficult to
reconcile ourselves to our lot; for in addition to repeated rebuffs,
the manner of the villagers excited suspicion.
When twilight drew on, a woman approached from the height beyond which
the village lay. She bore on her head a bundle of wood, and had a
vessel of milk in her hand. The latter, without opening her lips, she
handed to us, laid down the wood, and returned to the village. A second
time she approached with a cooking-vessel on her head, a leg of mutton
in one hand, and water in the other. She sat down without saying a
word, prepared the fire, and put on the meat. We asked again and again
who she was. She remained silent until affectionately entreated to give
us a reason for such unlooked-for kindness to strangers. A tear stole
down her sable cheek as she replied: "I love Him whose servants you
are; and surely it is my duty to give you a cup of cold water in His
name. My heart is full; therefore I cannot speak the joy I feel to see
you in this out-of-the-way place."
On learning a little of her history, we found she was a solitary light
burning in a dark place. I asked her how she kept up the life of God
in her soul, in the entire absence of the communion of saints. She
drew from her bosom a copy of the Dutch New Testament, which she had
received from brother Helm when in his school several years since,
before she had been compelled by her connections to retire to her
present seclusion. "This," she said, "is the fountain whence I drink:
this is the oil which makes my lamp burn."
I looked on the precious relic, and the reader may imagine how I felt,
and my companions with me, when we met with this disciple, and mingled
our sympathies and prayers together at the throne of our heavenly
Father.