, dug up a garden and fenced it round, caused great astonishment
among the people. Before we left, my brother had already begun a
school-room, to serve also as a chapel till a larger edifice could be
erected, while he received inquirers at his own house. My sister-in-law
had also two female classes of adults and children, to whom she imparted
such religious instruction as they would receive, and some of the arts
of civilised life, while round the station resembled a busy hive, all
the natives who had professed Christianity being actively employed as
sawyers or in some other mechanical work. His aim at this early stage
of the mission was to show the natives the advantages the Christians
possessed over the heathens, and thus to make them look with favour on
Christianity. He never failed while they were thus engaged to impart so
much religious instruction as they could receive. Everything appeared
now to be going on favourably. When I remarked that I now had
reasonable hopes that he would succeed--

"Who can doubt it?" was his answer. "If I do not my successor will.
The gospel will most assuredly cover the earth as the waters cover the
sea. God has said it."

One of the saddest moments of my life was that when I parted from my
devoted brother as he stood on the beach while I returned for the last
time to my vessel. Yet I asked myself more than once, Why should I
grieve? why should I be anxious? He is engaged in the noblest cause in
which the energies of a human being can be employed--gaining subjects
for the Redeemer's kingdom.

Still I was his brother, and as such I could not contemplate without
fear the dangers to which he was exposed. I was now to return direct to
Mr Bent's station, where I proposed refitting the _Olive Branch_ to be
ready for any work she might be called on to perform. We found that
great progress had been made at the station, both spiritual and
material. There were many new converts, and several excellent little
houses built, surrounded by neat gardens and fields. It had not been
done without cost, and it was too evident to Mary and me that her
father's health and strength were failing. She spoke to him, and
suggested a change of scene.

"Here I have been planted by the Lord of the vineyard, and here let me,
if He so wills it, wither and fall, dear one," he answered.

It was too evident to us that his body was withering, but not so his
spirit--that was expanding more and more, ripe