Eli and Sibyl Jones Part 6

_7th._ Went ash.o.r.e and had a meeting at Edina, on the north side of the St. John's River. It proved a memorable solemnity.

_8th._ Went on sh.o.r.e and had a meeting on the south side of the St.

John's, at Ba.s.sa. The blessed Head of the Church was pleased to feed the hungering mult.i.tudes through His poor instruments. A number collected to witness our departure, and we took an affectionate leave of them, mingled with sadness, on our final departure from Ba.s.sa Cove.

Set sail about five o'clock with a brisk wind, which would take us to Monrovia by sunrise, but it soon became calm, and we came to anchor.

The Lord knows what is best.

_9th._ We are quite anxious as we approach Monrovia, for here we must decide whether to remain in Africa and wait a pa.s.sage to England (should none offer before the packet leaves), or return to Boston and thence embark to Liverpool. I trust we are resigned to either as the Lord wills.

_10th._ Anch.o.r.ed off Cape Mesurado. Dear Eli went on sh.o.r.e and found letters from home. We read them together with much joy, as they contained intelligence that all was well with the dear children and those at home. Boundless is our debt of grat.i.tude. One of the immigrants who was in good health at the time of our last meeting on board is dead. We learned that she died in peace, but was cruelly treated by her husband.

_11th._ Went on sh.o.r.e accompanied by the President's wife. I took a bundle of tracts and visited all the sick and infirm, distributing tracts and imparting such messages of gospel love as were given me.

_First day, 12th._ Went on sh.o.r.e quite comfortably, although it was wet, and attended a meeting at the Baptist house. Our meetings here have been signally blessed. Truly the Lord's name is great in Zion.

_13th._ Rainy, but got on sh.o.r.e, and made calls and distributed tracts. No way opens yet for Sierra Leone. We are wholly dependent on Him who makes a way.

_14th._ Called at U. McGill's, J. B. McGill's, Beverley Willson's. I then distributed tracts, and I think that I never saw so much grat.i.tude manifested in any part of the world I ever visited. As I pa.s.sed their little cots they followed me in numbers; even children joined, holding out their hands begging for a tract. At length all were gone, but a few more on board.

_15th._ Dear Eli went up the river St Paul, and visited New Georgia, Upper and Lower Caldwell, Virginia, and Kentucky. I spent the day making calls and giving tracts.

_17th._ It is a time of seeking the Lord among the people. The youth are flocking to the Saviour. May a glorious accession be made to the militant Church from Africa!

_19th._ Went on sh.o.r.e, and had a meeting at the Methodist house, and it was a solemn occasion, as it was our final meeting.

_20th._ Went on sh.o.r.e for the last time, as the s.h.i.+p would sail at three o'clock. Made several calls, one on a sick immigrant from Antigua. Has been sick seven months, reduced to a skeleton; said he had a wife and two children in his native land. As he spoke of them his eyes filled with tears, and "G.o.d's will be done!" fell from his trembling lips.

I went with some ladies to the highest point of this commanding promontory. Had a fine view of the town and mountains toward the interior. We met many a smiling face and heard many a "Thank you" as we stopped at the little cots to distribute tracts. The Liberians are very anxious to get these little messengers, and read them with interest. We hope they may be a blessing to them. I handed one to an aged woman, who clasped it to her bosom and exclaimed, "The Lord bless you! I will keep it to read while I live, and when I die I will have it put into my coffin."

We have left Monrovia, and as the land recedes from view the pangs of separation from many, if not all, are keenly realized, not only by us, but by the group on sh.o.r.e. But as the clouds dispersed around the setting sun his last sweet rays rested upon the rich foliage, and then, veiling his face in a mantle of crimson clouds, withdrew. We leave Africa with sheaves of peace.

_21st._ Made little progress to-day. Though our returning in the s.h.i.+p is very unexpected, yet all is peace, and it seems to us to be in the will of Him who brought us in safety across the mighty deep. No way has opened for us to go to Sierra Leone or England. We intend to return to America (if no new opening appears) and embark at Boston for Liverpool. In this way we may see our little ones; which seems almost too great a favor. We have thoughts of stopping at St. Thomas, and thence prosecuting our contemplated visit among the islands, if we can make an arrangement with the captain that will answer and it seems right.

_22d._ Delightful weather. This morning in silent waiting before the Lord He gave us to feel His holy presence near, and an a.s.surance that He would still lead us and instruct us.

_23d._ The captain concludes to leave us at St. Thomas if we desire it. We had looked toward home, but the prospect seems somewhat like closing up. The will of the Lord be done!

Some swallows appeared this morning and flew into the cabin. They lingered about all day. They may be emigrants from cold New England's clime. They brought with them sweet thoughts of scenes and lands far over the blue depths of ocean.

_28th._ Clear weather. Think it may be best to abandon the thought of returning home, and stop at St. Thomas, one of the West Indies, and commence our next labors. This seems a favorable opening, for a Northern tour will be too great a change of climate. My health seems greatly improved by a warm climate.

_30th, First day._ We sat down for meeting together, it being meeting-day at home. We felt as the disciples journeying toward Emmaus; we felt our hearts warmed and tendered together.

_31st._ St. Thomas is in our minds' view, but whether we shall get there or not lies in the bosom of futurity. It will probably take two weeks longer to reach there if the s.h.i.+p touches it. Our daily prayer is to be directed aright.

_11th mo. 1st._ Dear Eli is much better, and my health is quite good.

The cook is quite sick; I fear he will not recover. He is in great distress both of mind and body. How wise to prepare for such an awful time in health!

_2d._ Last evening we read a chapter by the bedside of the distressed sailor. My heart was poured out in prayer.

_3d._ We are sailing ten knots an hour toward our native land. The captain does not think, on further reflection, that he can consistently stop at St. Thomas. We had given up to go if the way had been clear, and therefore think the hand of the Lord is in it. He will accept the will for the deed. The cook seems recovering, and truly penitent. He told me that a testimony delivered at our last meeting on board was for him. He has been previously a very profane and wicked man. This is a fresh instance of the mercy and longsuffering of the Lord.

_6th._ We are approaching our native land with the sheaves of peace, but feeling still bound to the work, not knowing the things that may await us there. May my whole life be dedicated to His service who has so remarkably blessed my going out and coming in!

_20th._ The captain concludes to set his course for Baltimore, hoping to reach Cape Henry before our stores fail.

_9th._ About ten o'clock a pilot-boat came alongside and left a pilot.

Providence permitting, we may soon set our feet on the wharf at Baltimore. Soon we must bid adieu to our home upon the ocean. We are encouraged with the regular and sober deportment of all on board, and, though our pa.s.sage has been a protracted one, we do not regret it, while we have beheld with thankfulness the operation of the Lord's hand upon the crew of our brave s.h.i.+p, to which, with its inmates, we shall now bid adieu with emotions of gladness and regret. Oh may all that have sailed together here anchor at last in the kingdom of G.o.d!

Farewell!

Soon after their return Eli Jones wrote an article for the _Friends'

Review_ setting forth the conditions of this African colony, and recommending that some more work be done to help these enterprising freedmen and the less enlightened native tribes within the republic of Liberia. The article was reprinted, and was read by many. Still later, while at work in North Carolina, he received a call from the president of the African Colonization Society to attend one of their meetings in Was.h.i.+ngton, which he accordingly did. As he entered the hall where the exercises were being held a gentleman was delivering a discourse in which he endeavored to show the impossibility of an equality between negroes and white men, and consequently the hazardousness of the experiment of allowing them to rule themselves. The chairman then announced that the next speaker was to have been Eli Jones, but that he had not yet seen him.

To his surprise, a man rose in the back of the hall, threw off his overcoat, and came to the platform. He gave his name as the one called for, and began to give his knowledge and opinion of Liberian colonization. He took as his text the remark of the former speaker, saying that he as a landowner and tiller of the soil went from Maine to Liberia, where he stood on an equality with the landowners there; but as he came in the presence of President Roberts there was not an equality, since he, the white man, stood below the vigorous, wise, strong-minded colored President of the republic. From that he spoke for an hour feelingly and emphatically on the excellence of the work going on in Africa, at the same time impressing the need of further aid.

CHAPTER VII.

_WORK IN ENGLAND AND IRELAND._

"Their single aim the purpose to fulfil Of truth from day to day; Simply obedient to its guiding will, They held their pilgrim way.

Yet dream not hence the beautiful and old Were wasted on their sight Who in the school of Christ had learned to hold All outward things aright."

WHITTIER.

Eli and Sybil Jones reached Baltimore in the middle of winter, and experienced the joy of being once more among Friends and in their own loved country. Having been kept and continually supported to accomplish their work, they now were filled with thanksgiving to Him whose pillar of cloud and fire had gone before them by day and by night, and they were prepared in spirit for the still longer journey which was before them. They visited friends and relatives on their way to Maine, and were everywhere joyfully received. Their children had all pa.s.sed the time of their absence pleasantly, and had gained in mental and physical growth.

It was an interesting sight when their townsmen met to welcome them home. One can see them in the monthly meeting, which was held at this time. Many who came but seldom, rode over the hills that day to sit down on the unpainted seats and listen if they did not wors.h.i.+p, and an unusually large number were present when the hushed stillness told that meeting had begun. One father and the mothers of the two ministers were there, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts; many who had always known them, and some who had never seen them,--all bowed their heads before the Mighty One, and

"Low breathings stole Of a diviner life from soul to soul, Baptizing in one tender thought the whole."

Even the cold-hearted felt a warmth steal in, and the low-spirited were exalted in their minds. No one who sat under that silence doubted that the Lord was speaking to "the spirit's finer ear;" and when the seal was broken and the moved lips opened in vocal thanksgiving many hearts rose in harmony. A brief, quiet prayer from a full heart, when the spirit of the whole meeting rises with it, reaches where eye cannot see, and comes not back void. Words are human, but power is divine.

We can see Eli Jones rise from his wonted seat and slowly speak his text: "When the poor and needy seek water and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the G.o.d of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water." His companion sees many before her who have grown cold while they have been answering the call from Ethiopia, and sweetly she asks them to whom they will go if they forsake Him who alone has the words of eternal life. Together they sound the alarm and call upon their friends and neighbors to stand firm and quit them like men while they go out again to reap in other vineyards. At the close of this day Sybil Jones could say, "He brought us unto his banqueting-house, and the banner over us was Love."

Once more they separated from home-friends and took their little children to West Hill, N. J., the lovely home of Eliza P. Gurney, who had asked that the two youngest boys, Eli Grelet and Richard Mott, might be left with her during their parents' absence.... On First day they attended the meeting at Burlington, and sat in company with Stephen Grelet and Richard Mott, for whom the boys had been named.

Stephen Grelet, that great apostle, who had given messages from the King of kings to potentates and princes in all the countries of Europe, who had shown men's equality by holding his finger to the Pope's extended finger, and who was now waiting to be ushered into another and a higher court, addressed them thus: "The Lord has provided for your children in your absence, and thus given striking demonstration of His love to you; and now this testimony is applicable to you, my dear friends: 'I will be with thee whithersoever thou goest, and will guide thee with mine eye, and afterward receive thee into glory;' so go, dear friends, cheerfully, for the Lord will be your all-sufficient Helper."

After visiting their other children, at Haverford College and at Providence, they finally sailed from Boston the 31st of 3d mo. on the steamer "Niagara" for Liverpool. A goodly company of Friends from Lynn and elsewhere were on the wharf to wave them adieu.

It was an uneventful pa.s.sage, except that an iceberg was discovered exactly in their course just in time to turn the s.h.i.+p from the danger.

Sybil Jones writes of it: "I got on deck while it was in full view, and gazed with wonder and delight upon this magnificent frosty traveller from the frigid North to milder skies. It seemed like an island all of light consolidated into form, or as a cathedral whose stately spires pierced the eternal suns.h.i.+ne. The first rays of the morning sun gave to its pure, spotless whiteness a brilliancy and beauty that seemed almost of heavenly extraction. It reminded us of the infinitely more splendid and soul-ravis.h.i.+ng charms of nature's G.o.d and heaven's eternal King, of whose mercy it seemed the white-robed harbinger."

On their return voyage, the s.h.i.+p, sailing at a rapid rate in a dense fog, found itself almost upon a gigantic iceberg, a mighty pyramid of ice. It seemed to all on board that the s.h.i.+p must be crushed. An infidel who was a fellow-pa.s.senger hurried on deck and cried out, "In an hour we shall all be lost, but let us die like philosophers."--"No,"