The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean
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CHAPTER XXXV.
Conclusion.
To part is the lot of all mankind. The world is a scene of constantleave-taking, and the hands that grasp in cordial greeting to-day, aredoomed ere long to unite for the last time, when the quivering lipspronounce the word--"Farewell." It is a sad thought, but should we onthat account exclude it from our minds? May not a lesson worth learningbe gathered in the contemplation of it? May it not, perchance, teach usto devote our thoughts more frequently and attentively to that land wherewe meet, but part no more?
How many do we part from in this world with a light "Good-bye," whom wenever see again! Often do I think, in my meditations on this subject,that if we realized more fully the shortness of the fleeting intercoursethat we have in this world with many of our fellow-men, we would try moreearnestly to do them good, to give them a friendly smile, as it were, inpassing (for the longest intercourse on earth is little more than apassing word and glance), and show that we have sympathy with them in theshort quick struggle of life, by our kindly words and looks and action.
The time soon drew near when we were to quit the islands of the SouthSeas; and, strange though it may appear, we felt deep regret at partingwith the natives of the island of Mango; for, after they embraced theChristian faith, they sought, by showing us the utmost kindness, tocompensate for the harsh treatment we had experienced at their hands; andwe felt a growing affection for the native teachers and the missionary,and especially for Avatea and her husband.
Before leaving, we had many long and interesting conversations with themissionary, in one of which he told us that he had been making for theisland of Raratonga when his native-built sloop was blown out of itscourse, during a violent gale, and driven to this island. At first thenatives refused to listen to what he had to say; but, after a week'sresidence among them, Tararo came to him and said that he wished tobecome a Christian, and would burn his idols. He proved himself to besincere, for, as we have seen, he persuaded all his people to dolikewise. I use the word persuaded advisedly; for, like all the otherFeejee chiefs, Tararo was a despot and might have commanded obedience tohis wishes; but he entered so readily into the spirit of the new faiththat he perceived at once the impropriety of using constraint in thepropagation of it. He set the example, therefore; and that example wasfollowed by almost every man of the tribe.
During the short time that we remained at the island, repairing ourvessel and getting her ready for sea, the natives had commenced buildinga large and commodious church, under the superintendence of themissionary, and several rows of new cottages were marked out; so that theplace bid fair to become, in a few months, as prosperous and beautiful asthe Christian village at the other end of the island.
After Avatea was married, she and her husband were sent away, loaded withpresents, chiefly of an edible nature. One of the native teachers wentwith them, for the purpose of visiting still more distant islands of thesea, and spreading, if possible, the light of the glorious gospel there.
As the missionary intended to remain for several weeks longer, in orderto encourage and confirm his new converts, Jack and Peterkin and I held aconsultation in the cabin of our schooner,--which we found just as we hadleft her, for everything that had been taken out of her was restored. Wenow resolved to delay our departure no longer. The desire to see ourbeloved native land was strong upon us, and we could not wait.
Three natives volunteered to go with us to Tahiti, where we thought itlikely that we should be able to procure a sufficient crew of sailors toman our vessel; so we accepted their offer gladly.
It was a bright clear morning when we hoisted the snow-white sails of thepirate schooner and left the shores of Mango. The missionary, andthousands of the natives, came down to bid us God-speed, and to see ussail away. As the vessel bent before a light fair wind, we glidedquickly over the lagoon under a cloud of canvass.
Just as we passed through the channel in the reef the natives gave us aloud cheer; and as the missionary waved his hat, while he stood on acoral rock with his gray hairs floating in the wind, we heard the singleword "Farewell" borne faintly over the sea.
That night, as we sat on the taffrail, gazing out upon the wide sea andup into the starry firmament, a thrill of joy, strangely mixed withsadness, passed through our hearts,--for we were at length "homewardbound," and were gradually leaving far behind us the beautiful, bright,green, coral islands of the Pacific Ocean.