ip and Thy servants; but
surely, O Lord, Thou canst not forsake Tanna and leave our people to die
in the darkness! Oh, make the hearts of this people soft to Thy Word and
sweet to Thy Worship; teach them to fear and love Jesus; and oh, restore
and spare Missi, dear Missi Paton, that Tanna may be saved!"

Touched to the very fountains of my life by such prayers, from a man
once a Cannibal, I began under the breath of God's blessing to revive.

A few days thereafter, Kowia came again to me, and rousing me out of
sleep, cried, "Missi, I am very weak; I am dying. I come to bid you
farewell, and go away to die. I am nearing death now, and I will soon
see Jesus."

I spoke what words of consolation and cheer I could muster, but he
answered, "Missi, since you became ill my dear wife and children are
dead and buried. Most of our Aneityumese are dead, and I am dying. If I
remain on the hill, and die here at the Mission House, there are none
left to help Abraham to carry me down to the grave where my wife and
children are laid. I wish to lie beside them, that we may rise together
in the Great Day when Jesus comes. I am happy, looking unto Jesus! One
thing only deeply grieves me now; I fear God is taking us all away from
Tanna, and will leave my poor people dark and benighted as before, for
they hate Jesus and the Worship of Jehovah. O Missi, pray for them, and
pray for me once more before I go!"

He knelt down at my side, and we prayed for each other and for Tanna. I
then urged him to remain at the Mission House, but he replied, "O Missi,
you do not know how near to death I am! I am just going, and will soon
be with Jesus, and see my wife and children now. While a little strength
is left, I will lean on Abraham's arm, and go down to the graves of my
dear ones and fall asleep there, and Abraham will dig a quiet bed and
lay me beside them. Farewell, Missi, I am very near death now; we will
meet again in Jesus and with Jesus!"

With many tears he dragged himself away; and my heart-strings seemed all
tied round that noble simple soul, and felt like breaking one by one as
he left me there on my bed of fever all alone. Abraham sustained him,
tottering to the place of graves; there he lay down, and immediately
gave up the ghost and slept in Jesus; and there the faithful Abraham
buried him beside his wife and children. Thus died a man who had been a
cannibal Chief, but by the grace of God and the love of Jesus, changed,
transfigured