The list of things to be borrowed was made out in accordance with a
system of barter, exchange, and loan, which had begun in necessity, and
was afterwards conducted on regular principles by Adams, who kept a
systematic journal and record of accounts, in which he entered the
nature and quantity of work performed by each family, what each had
received, and what each was due on account. The exchanges also were
made in a systematic manner. Thus, when one family had too many salt
fish, and another had too much fruit or vegetables, a fair exchange
restored the equilibrium to the satisfaction of both parties; and when
the stores of one family were exhausted, a fresh supply was raised for
it from the general possessions of all the rest, to be repaid, however,
in exact measure when the suffering family should be again in affluence,
through good harvests and hard work. All details were minutely noted
down by Adams, so that injustice to individuals or to the community at
large was avoided.

It is interesting to trace, in this well-conducted colony, the great
root-principles on which the colossal system of the world's commerce and
trade has been reared, and to recognise in John Adams the germs of those
principles of equity and method which have raised England to her high
commercial position. But still more interesting is it to recognise in
him that good seed, the love of God and His truth, spiritual,
intellectual, and material, which, originated by the Holy Spirit, and
founded in Jesus Christ, produces the "righteousness that exalteth a
nation."

When the short period of probation was past, Charlie Christian became
the happy husband of the girl whom he had all but worshipped from the
earliest rememberable days of infancy, and Dan McCoy was united to Sarah
Quintal. As in the first case of marriage, Otaheitan Sall was older
than her husband; but in her case the difference was so slight as
scarcely to be worth mentioning. As to appearance, tall, serious,
strapping Charlie _looked_ old enough to have been Sally's father.

The wedding-day was a day of great rejoicing, considerable solemnity,
and not a little fun; for the religion of the Pitcairners, being drawn
direct from the inspired Word, was the reverse of dolorous. Indeed, the
simplicity of their faith was extreme, for it consisted in merely asking
the question, "What does God wish me to do?" and _doing it_.

Of course the simplicity of this rule was, in Pitcairn as el