ency, she yet was permitted to rejoice in days of assurance, of sweet peace and comfort in the Holy Ghost. Of this period of her decease, her husband writes: At one time, during her first attack, when she thought she could recover, with tears and groans she said, 'my Savior hides his face from me.' Before, she had never spoken, but of his consoling presence. This, however, was also momentary. I took the Bible, and read a few verses from the New Testament and the 27th Psalm. The cloud was cleared up before the eye of faith, and her swelling soul rejoiced again in Christ. I knew of no similar doubts after this. She was particularly fond of the 27th Psalm, and often requested me to read it, saying: 'The Lord is, indeed, my light and my salvation.' She delighted also in the Gospel of St. John, particularly the 11th, 14th and 15th chapters. Again and again, did I read them to her, at her request. On one occasion, while reading the 11th, she stopped me at the 36th verse and exclaimed, 'Jesus wept! O what compas sion! what love and sympathy! How delightful!' "When in severe pain, she groaned and said, 'I want patience; and when engaged in prayer, she would say, 'Pray that I may have patience.' On one occasion, after reading in the Psalms, she said, 'I feel that God is with me. O he is precious. Yes God is my strength and my refuge.' On another occasion, she turned to me and said, 'O! I have had such sweet thoughts of heaven this morning—all the morning.' "But a few moments before she died, I said, is your Saviour as precious now, dear Susan, as he has been in times past? 'O yes!' was her faint but distinct reply, 'He is precious; the chiefest among ten thousand and altogether lovely!' She soon became speechless, and her eyes seemed fixed. I asked her if she knew me. She quietly turned her eyes upon me with an expression which left no doubt, and the next moment, as I supposed, expired without a groan or struggle.' "And does this seem to us, my friends, a mysterious and unscrutable disposition, and hard to be reconciled with the goodness and care of a gracious providence? But do we not know that He is a God who hideth himself and giveth not account of any of His matters.' 'God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform; He plants his footsteps in the sea, And shall we doubt and hesitate, my brethren, respecting the missionary work, because some fall victims to its dangers? If those of feebler constitutions sink, is the work, therefore, not of God, or cannot he command the means by which his merciful designs, long since foretold, shall be accomplished in behalf of a perishing, heathen world? Be it far from us to limit the Holy One of Israel, or, in withholding our alms and prayers, forbear our part in aid of the missionary enterprize, because we cannot fathom his councils and interpret all his ways. Did the numrous and trying disasters which attended its early settlement, prevent God's gracious purposes in behalf of our own beloved country, now teeming with an abundant population and all the fruits of civilization and religion? Why, then, should misfortunes discourage us, or bring in doubt the favorable scheme of Providence, touching the moral renovation of other benighted, pagan lands? We may not, on earth, expect a suspension of the established laws of nature, however able the Almighty is to suspend them, and may do so, whenever it shall be his sovereign pleasure." The following lines are from the gifted pen of Mrs. Sigourney: ON THE DEATH OF MRS. SAVAGE, LATE WIFE OF THE REV. DR. SAVAGE, "What I do, thou knowest not now-but thou shalt know hereafter." Say, canst thou rule thy spirit and be still? Shalt know hereafter I-Tender, faithful friend! And touch with healing balm, thine agonizing prayer. Thou know'st not, Afric! sad of heart and blind, And from her fireside, bright with hallowed glee, To dare the boisterous surge and deadly clime for thee. As her loved home, she hailed thy sultry shore, Thy dark-browed children to her side she drew, To lure them upward, where her pleasures grew, So sweet a song-bird, from her field of air, Incites her new-fledged train a bolder flight to dare. Oh Church of God! who on that darkened coast, Though clouds should gather, wild with wind and rain. CHAPTER VII. Prosperity of the Mission-Superstition of Grahwayans-Mr. Payne's removal to Cavalla-Krooman's letter-Mr. Minor returns to Africa, accompanied by his wife and Rev. J. Smith-Religious interest in the schools-Grebo hymns. THE stroke by which Mrs. Savage was so soon removed from her chosen work, fell heavily upon her sorrowing survivors. But. upon the over-hanging cloud, the bow of promise shone brightly, and their hearts were cheered by many tokens of God's blessing. The condition of the Mission was, upon the whole, encouraging. A second house had been erected on Mt. Vaughan, and another school house for the separate accommodation of the female department, which was now considerably enlarged. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins passed safely through the acclimating fever, and were soon actively engaged in their new duties. Mr. Payne continued to superintend the boys' school at Mt. Vaughan, and to preach occasionally at Grahway, eight miles east of the Cape, and at Half Cavalla, four miles farther in the same direction. At both these places, schools were established under the superintendence of Mr. Appleby and Mr. Byron. The Grahway people were proverbially superstitious, even among their countrymen. The following incident will serve as an illustration. |