me; and, on my making known our wants, a conversation ensued, in which, to show that his will lo serve us was greater than his ability, he spoke of the afflictions of his family. Still, he said, we were welcome to all that his house could afford us. Returning to the subject of his family, he said, with deep feeling, "I suppose. Sir, that I have the most afflicted family on this Island. I have one daughter who has been lying on her bed in that house, more than eleven years, and the physicians can do nothing for her. Her sister has worn herself out in watching over her, and now she is a cripple, and has to be moved about the house. Another daughter is deranged, and my wife is old and feeble, and troubled with a bad cough. She does all she can, Sir; but I cannot work as I used to do: and I have had very heavy doctors' bills to pay. It is but a little while since I paid more than four hundred dollars. I have been obliged to mortgage my little farm; and it is almost all gone. I hope it will be enough to carry us through this world to a better. It is all right. I know that the Supreme Ruler of the Universe does what is best for us."
I informed him that I had left you waiting for the ferry-boat, and he seemed highly pleased to learn that you were a Christian minister.[1] Your own words, after the interview, that "we were as much interested in this scene, as in almost any other that we ever witnessed together," show that I was not wrong in my anticipations when I requested you to visit the family.
They spoke of the manner in which their daughter Cynthia passed the time; and the verses which she had written were shown to us. I do not sup-
- ↑ Mr. J. C. Richmond was not at that time admitted to the ministry.
