Mary Liddiard Part 7

We had been many days on board, and Maud and I were able to enjoy the fresh air on deck, where Captain Hudson warmly congratulated us, in his fatherly manner, on our recovery; arranging cushions on which we could recline--for we were still too weak to sit up--and kindly doing all he could for us. How glad we were again to see Abela and her companions, and to comfort them in their sorrow, for they believed that they should never again see their native land.

Young Tofa, however, was perfectly content. "I shall learn more about the religion of Jehovah, and that will be my support wherever I am," he observed.

Mr Norton came up and spoke to us so gently, and yet with unmistakable earnestness in his mariner. "Oh Miss Liddiard," he said, "I am now more than ever sure that our merciful Father in heaven hears the prayers of the greatest of sinners who have returned to Him. I have never ceased beseeching Him that you might be restored to health, and that while you may enjoy happiness yourself, you may prove a blessing to many of our fellow-creatures."

"I do indeed hope that I may be of use to some," I answered. "I desire no greater happiness than to be employed in G.o.d's service."

"Such will, I believe, be the occupation of the blessed throughout eternity, although He has not revealed to His creatures the way in which they are to be employed. That surpa.s.ses human comprehension," he observed.

A few days after this we came in sight of a high and picturesque island, even more beautiful than the one we had left.

"My dear young lady," said Captain Hudson, "I should be very sorry to part with you, and would gladly have carried you with me to old England, but the poor natives are, I am sure, anxious to be put on sh.o.r.e, and as an English missionary resides on yonder island, and all the inhabitants are Christians, I thought it best to go there to land those who desire to land. Will you and your sister remain with us? The ship's time in these seas will soon be up, and when we get to England our house shall be your home. We have no children of our own, and my wife and I will do our best to act the part of the parents you have lost."

My heart swelled with grat.i.tude to the kind captain and his wife. I could scarcely speak. I had often thought of England, and how delightful it would be to see it, but I had resolved to devote myself, as my dear father and mother had done, in endeavouring to make known the gospel among the heathen islanders. I knew their language and customs, and felt that I was suited for the task. I was sure also that Maud would not consent to leave me; still, I did not wish to bias her should she desire to accept Captain and Mrs Hudson's offer. My eyes filled with tears as I took the captain's hand, and expressed my grat.i.tude for his generous proposal. I told him the object on which my heart was set, and had it not been for that, how thankful I should have been to accept his offer. I then explained that Maud was not my sister, and gave him her history, adding, that she would indeed be fortunate to have such kind protectors as I was sure he and Mrs Hudson would prove.

"I will ask her," said the captain. "But I should like to have had you both."

I waited anxiously to hear what Maud would say, earnestly praying meantime that she would be directed aright. I had closed my eyes, when I felt Maud's arms round me. "I cannot, no I cannot leave you, dear Mary, where you go I will go," she whispered. "If you had said yes to the good captain I would gladly have accompanied you. If you remain out here I will remain also."

As we neared the harbour a canoe, manned by natives in white jackets and trousers and straw hats, came off. One of them, in good English, announced himself as a pilot, and under his charge the "True Love" was safely conducted into a secure and beautiful harbour, where her anchor was dropped. Neat white-washed houses lined the sh.o.r.e; beyond them rose several buildings of good size, the largest of which was a stone church with tower and belfry. Plantations extended on every side as far as the eye could reach. Everything wore an aspect of peace and contentment.

How different from that of the heathen island we had left! Yet a short time before the numerous dark skinned natives, well clothed and in their right minds, were naked heathen savages, such as those among whom we had dwelt, and often despaired would ever be brought to know the truths of the gospel.

The boat was lowered, and Maud and I, with Mr Norton, Abela, and Tofa, were seated in her, accompanied by Captain and Mrs Hudson, on our way to the house of Mr Arnold, the missionary of which they had before spoken, and to whom, they had told us, they were well-known. On landing we proceeded along a well made clean road, at the further end of which, some way from the sh.o.r.e, stood Mr Arnold's house. How neat and beautiful it looked, with its garden full of flowering shrubs, and a broad verandah in front!

Mr Arnold came out to meet us, followed by his wife. A few words from Captain Hudson served to explain who we were.

"Indeed you are welcome, most welcome," he exclaimed, taking our hands.

"We have enough and to spare, and there is work for all of you if, as I trust, you are willing to labour in the Lord's vineyard."

We were soon seated around the missionary's hospitable board, for Captain Hudson's ship was well-known, and Mrs Arnold had been preparing for the guests she was sure would come before they left the Pacific.

She was an interesting looking lady, but there was an expression of sadness in her countenance, which at once struck me. Our host and hostess had, of course, many questions to ask, and we gave them an account of the dreadful events which had occurred to us. Captain Hudson told them of his wish to carry us on with him to England.

"We only desire to have willing labourers," observed Mr Arnold, "and they having counted the cost must decide for themselves. They have some experience what it is; and you, Mr Norton, do you intend to return home?" he asked.

"My desire is, the Lord helping me, to prepare myself for a missionary among the heathen islanders of these seas," he answered. "I have counted the cost, and with G.o.d's grace I hope not to turn back."

Mr Arnold warmly pressed his hand. "We will pray that His grace will ever continue with you," he said. I felt an infinite satisfaction at hearing this.

While the gentlemen went out to walk we remained with Mrs Arnold, who gave us much interesting information about their island, and her account raised my hopes that our own poor savages, as I called them, might some day enjoy the same inestimable blessings, and that smiling villages and churches and schools might appear throughout the island.

On Mr Arnold's return I saw that he was greatly agitated, and cast an eager inquiring glance at Maud. He advanced towards her, but seemingly restrained himself, and taking his wife by the hand, led her from the room.

During their absence Captain Hudson, sitting down by Maud, to my great surprise said, "Do you think, my dear, that the poor lady you supposed was your mother was really so?"

Maud started, then seemed lost in thought. "She was very, very kind to me, and I used to call her 'mamma,' because I had no other mamma then, but I have a faint idea that there was some one else whom I loved still better, and who had given me to her, saying, that we should meet again."

"Then I think there is no doubt it," exclaimed Captain Hudson. "Suppose you were to find your real father and mother, could you bear the joy of meeting them?" he asked.

Maud trembled all over, and I now began to suspect the truth. In a few minutes Mr and Mrs Arnold re-entered the room. I was surprised at the wonderful command which Mr Arnold had over himself. He placed his wife on a sofa, and then led Maud up to her.

"It may be that we are in error," he said, "but G.o.d's goodness is great, and such as this dear girl is might have been our child."

Mrs Arnold gazed at Maud's features for a few moments, then hastily took off her tippet. On her neck was a well-known mark which a.s.sured her that her hopes were realised. She drew her to her bosom and sobbed aloud.

We truly grieved to part with good Captain and Mrs Hudson, but we were to meet ere long again. Our heathen crew were soon distributed among the inhabitants, and all of them earnestly desired to be instructed in the truth. Tofa made rapid progress in his studies under Mr Arnold, and expressed his ardent wish to return as a missionary to his native land. Mrs Norton laboured devotedly as a catechist, and rendered the greatest service to Mr Arnold in his work, while Maud and I a.s.sisted Mrs Arnold in the girls' school, as we had been accustomed to do under my dear mother, while Abela was of great use among the older women.

Two years pa.s.sed by, when it was announced that the "True Love" was once more entering the harbour. We hastened down to the landing-place to meet our kind old friend. We saw the boat coming with the captain and his wife and a gentleman with them. Captain Hudson a.s.sisted him to land. He gazed anxiously at us as we approached, then tottered towards me with arms outstretched.

My joy was full. He was my dear father. He had supposed we had all perished, till Captain Hudson, a short time before, had put in to visit Mr Hilton's station. His former faith had supported him through all his afflictions, and now, how full was his heart with grat.i.tude at having me restored to him. I saw by his thin and wasted figure and pale countenance how much he required a daughter's care. He brought glorious intelligence from our island.

Masaugu had become a devoted Christian, and having made peace with his former foes, had, accompanied by Lisele, returned home, many of his people having also cast aside their idols.

I have not hitherto said that a short time before Mr Norton had asked me to become his wife. My father, hearing of his character from Mr Arnold, gave his full consent. Captain Hudson was bound in the direction of our island. With my devoted husband and father, accompanied by Abela and Tofa and several of our formerly heathen crew, we embarked on board the "True Love."

I could not have borne parting with Maud had I not known that she was left with loving parents, who would amply supply my place as my husband supplied hers in my heart.

I need not say how joyfully we were welcomed by Lisele and her Christian husband, the young chief. We had, notwithstanding, many difficulties to encounter. The heathens offered all the opposition in their power, but at length they were conquered,--not by force of arms, but by the power of gospel truth, and ere my dear father was laid beside my mother's grave, he had the happiness of seeing the once heathen inhabitants of our island, as also of many others in the Pacific, cast aside their idols and become faithful worshippers of Jehovah, trusting to the all-cleansing of the blood of the Lamb slain on Calvary for sinners.

FINIS.