The Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu (Oahu), Hawaii) 1840-1841, 1840-12-26
Vol. 1.-NO. %.

surrounded by halfa dozen females, nearly
all OF whom were strangers to his person,
and in little time the whole church was
full to overlooking.
The psalm was sung, the prayer said, the
sermon delivered in the preacher best style
He dwelt particularly on the requirements
of the great precept ofbrotherly love ,-upon
the beauty of universal bencvolence, -on
the pleasure which arises not only from
clothing the uaked and feeding the hungry,
but from attention to the minute and grace
fill courtcsics and charities of life, by which
the thorny path is soitcned and adorned. In
the language OF the critics in such matters,
"thcre was not dry eye in the place." the
appeal had found its way to every heart.
All Mackay's immediate neghbors were
scnsibIy affected; he wcpt with them; the
big tears chased each other down his
checks. But while every one else was
busy with their handkerchicis wiping away
the water that the orator, like Il second
Moses, had by strokes of his cIoquencc
caused t. guSh from their iiinty hearts,
Mackay held his arms stiff and straight,
while hal! II glass of liquid sulluscd his face
The dried eyes OF the female friends were not
slow to observe this; for in addition to the
evident signs of deep feeling which he exhib-
tied, his face rather handsome face
lie wrigglcd, fidgctcd, looked confused and
interesting, but raised no hand, searched for
no kcrchict, and seemed to be in deep dis
trcSS.
At length a young widow lady, who sat
beside him, remarked that he was i'll at ease,
and Heaven bless the female heart! it al
ways mclts at any mysterious sorrow,-after
Ion ar CT nd A,tto
pauscs, she said in an under tone,
Pray, sir, is there any thing the matter
with you: You appear to be unwell''
"Ah madam breathcd Mackay in a
whisper, am poor paralyic, and have
lost the use ofmy arms. Though my tears
have flowed in answer to the touching scnti-
mcnts of the pastor, have not the power to
wipe them away"
! In an instant fair hand was thrust into a
rctculc, aud white handkerchief, scented
with otto of roses, was applied to Mackay's
eyes; the fair Samaritan, seeming to rejoice
in the first opportunity Of practising what
had been so recently preached, appeared to
polish them with + ght good will When she
had done, Nj. looked unutteaabe oblga-
tons, but whispered that she would increase
them a thousand fold if she would, as it
wanted very InuCn COndCScCnd TO wipe
his nose. The novelty Of the request was
thought nothing of; the widow was proud
of the promptitudc she had displayed in sue
corng the distressed; and to a person who
has done you one kind action, the second
seems always easy. Her white hand and
whittier handkerchief were raised to Mackay's
cutwater; but the moment that it was com
plotcly envcopcd in the folds of the cambria,
he gave such a snccZc as made the whole
church Iing-it was. in fact more like a
neigh. The minister paused in giving out
the hymn; the dcacons put on their specta-
clcs to see what could be the matter, and in
an instant every eye was turned upon
Mackay and the fair Samaritan, the latter
of whom, being so intent upon her object, or
so conloundcd by the general notoriety she
had acquired, still convusiyely grasped the
nose.
There were hundreds of persons in the
church who knew Mackay and his propen-
stiles well, and a single glance was sufficient
to convince them that Il successful hoax had
been played off for their amusement. A
general litter now ran round the place.
" mods and becks, and wreathed smiles"
were the order of the day. Men held down
their heads, and laughed outright; and the
ladies had to stuff the scented cambria into