ly after this he died.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER IV.

MARRIAGE, AND ARRIVAL AT LATTAKOO.

Up to this time, Robert Moffat had pursued his course alone. No loving
helpmeet had cheered him in his efforts, or with womanly tenderness
ministered to his wants. But though far away, he was fondly remembered
and earnestly prayed for, especially by one noble Christian lady, over
whose fair head scarce twenty-three summers had passed, and whose heart
had been torn with the severe struggle, between filial love and regard
for her parents on the one hand, and her sense of duty and affection for
her missionary friend on the other, which for two and a-half years had
been carried on therein.

At last, when hope seemed to have vanished, the parents of Mary Smith,
to whom the idea of parting with their only daughter was painful in the
extreme, saw so clearly that it was the Lord who was calling their child
to the work which He had marked out for her, that they felt they dare
not any longer withhold her from it, and therefore calmly resigned their
daughter into His hands. Thus it came to pass that,--after a short stay
in London, and at Cowes, in the Isle of Wight, at which places she won
all hearts by her unfeigned and exalted piety and zeal, and by her
modest, affectionate manner,--we find her on board the sailing-ship
_British Colony_, on her way to South Africa, in the care of the Rev. R.
Beck, a minister of the Dutch Church, and his wife.

As arranged, the deputation, accompanied by Robert Moffat, left Cape
Town on their tour of inspection of the stations in the eastern part of
the Colony and in Kafirland. This journey necessitated an absence of
twelve months, during which time Robert expected his bride to arrive.
This was a trial of faith, as it seemed hard that she should be obliged
to land in a strange country, and find none of her own to welcome her.
But with Moffat even love followed after duty.

It so happened, however, that after visiting the line of stations
through the eastern districts as far as Bethelsdorp, the party, at that
place, found their progress effectually barred through war with the
Kafirs. They were therefore obliged to return to Cape Town, thus giving
Moffat the opportunity and great joy of receiving his affianced wife
upon her landing from the vessel. She reached Cape Town in safety, and
on the 27th of December, 1819, the happy couple were united. They
received each other as from