ly in Aniwan, "There is
a Happy Land." As they sang, the old man grasped my hand, and tried hard
to speak, but in vain. His head fell to one side, "the silver cord was
loosed, and the golden bowl was broken."

CHAPTER LXXXI.
RUWAWA.

His great friend, Ruwawa the Chief, had waited by Nerwa like a brother
till within a few days of the latter's death, when he also was smitten
down apparently by the same disease. He was thought to be dying, and he
resigned himself calmly into the hands of Christ, One Sabbath afternoon,
sorely distressed for lack of air, he instructed his people to carry him
from the village to a rising ground on one of his plantations. It was
fallow; the fresh air would reach him; and all his friends could sit
around him. They extemporized a rest--two posts stuck into the ground,
slanting, sticks tied across them, then dried banana leaves spread on
these and also as a cushion on the ground--and there sat Ruwawa, leaning
back and breathing heavily. After the Church Services, I visited him,
and found half the people of that side of the Island sitting round him,
in silence, in the open air. Ruwawa beckoned me, and I sat down before
him. Though suffering sorely, his eye and face had the look of ecstasy.

"Missi," he said, "I could not breathe in my village; so I got them to
carry me here, where there is room for all. They are silent and they
weep, because they think I am dying. If it were God's will, I would like
to live and to help you in His work. I am in the hands of our dear Lord,
If he takes me, it is good; if He spares me, it is good! Pray, and tell
our Saviour all about it."

I explained to the people that we would tell our Heavenly Father how
anxious we all were to see Ruwawa given back to us strong and well to
work for Jesus, and then leave all to His wise and holy disposal. I
prayed, and the place became a very Bochim. When I left him, Ruwawa
exclaimed, "Farewell, Missi; if I go first, I will welcome you to Glory;
if I am spared, I will work with you for Jesus; so all is well!"

One of the young Christians followed me and said, "Missi, our hearts are
very sore! If Ruwawa dies, we have no Chief to take his place in the
Church, and it will be a heavy blow against Jehovah's Worship on Aniwa."

I answered, "Let us each tell our God and Father all that we feel and
all that we fear; and leave Ruwawa and our work in His holy hands."

We did so with earnest and unceasing cry. And when all hope had