The Coral Island
Page 35
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.
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 landwhere we 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 realised more fully the shortness of the fleeting intercoursethat we have in this world with many of our fellow-men, we would trymore earnestly to do them good, to give them a friendly smile, as itwere, in passing (for the longest intercourse on earth is little morethan a passing word and glance), and show that we have sympathy withthem in the short, quick struggle of life by our kindly words and looksand actions.
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.And we felt a growing affection for the native teachers and themissionary, 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 Rarotonga 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 obedienceto his wishes; but he entered so readily into the spirit of the newfaith that he perceived at once the impropriety of using constraint inthe propagation of it. He set the example, therefore; and that examplewas followed 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 thatthe place bid fair to become, in a few months, as prosperous andbeautiful as the 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 helda consultation in the cabin of our schooner--which we found just as wehad left her, for everything that had been taken out of her wasrestored. We now resolved to delay our departure no longer. The desireto see our beloved native land was strong upon us, and we could notwait.
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 ofthe pirate 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 canvas.
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 grey 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.