Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-12-21
Letter from Africa.
ny MISS NJ. A. SHARP, MONRovIA.
MoNRovrA. Africa, Sept 10, 1881

MONRONlA. AFRICA, sept III, 1881.
My DEAR SISTER: Yours of date of NJ "
2Sth was received July 7th. answered
1t soon after but mlSlaid your letter and
could not remember the address. The
written letter came in sight 80 often |
finally burned it. and now your letter turns
up. set that down TO be answered, and
80 have commenced.
1t was happy thought of your society
to write to missionaries. | appreciate it
to its fullest extent, although have very
extensive correspondence besides receiv.
ing a great many letters do not answer.
need to make it rule, for politeness
sake, to answer all letters. Years ago
abandoned that, so you see simply want
ed to answer yours. You spoke of the
death of sister Taplin. and of her having
had sister die in Africa. Why didn't
you tell me the sisters namep If Of our
mission it must have been Miss Stanton.
who died at Cape Palmas. We have thir-
teen lying side by side at Monrovia. Every
mission on the west coast of Africa has
well filled graveyard. lis land of quick
promotion. Come up higher is the call
soon after coming here. Some who lie
here never did any work; they took the
African fever at once and passed into the
unseen in a short time. There is but one
white missionary and his wife who were
here, 40 miles north) when came, and
they had proceeded me but few months,
and in a few days they start in broken
health for America, to return, however.
Some have gone home to recruit. 1t is a
land of physical death. as we'll as deep,
dark moral death have had excellent
health-thanks be to God. expected to
have. They laughed at my ignorance of
the climate when assured them | was not
going to have the acclmating fever; was
assured over and over that none escaped.
| was met with "you must not do thus
and so;" you have not had the fever;"
remember you are in Africa" Nearly
three years have passed aud no evil has
come nigh me. take the 9lst P P,alm and
believe that, and all The promises in the
Bible, are tor me. "All things whatso.
ever ye ask in prayer, etc We have not
entered the suburbs of what the Supreme
One will do for US if we trust Hun or put Oul
selves in His care. If tue Almighty Faith
er cares for sparrow's. he will surely
care tor me- can power is gwen unto me
in Heaven and earth" SAID our Ilsen l. ,rd.
With IL strong mold on the all pp"el tul
One, weIl get safely through. prrsum"
that my living in this climate VIII shorten
my years; | nave every reason 10 Dcileve
this, but have 40 anXieCy or care abb 1t
that, | did want health to work, but do
not know why We should no. take 1t as
special token of Gods favor that He would
let us fiulsh our work soon and then
Away to the land where tbs seraphins soar
On to the hills Of tie UI iznt evermore.
MY live has been Il very busy one. You
must not imagine thai | am OF The prescrib
ed age; nave left for,y years in the past
ought to be forty years of good work done
vet, before reach the land of tar renOwn
Do you ever have u sort of home-sIckness
to reach that land? do. and know just
what the writer meant who wrote:
our thoughts, like palm in exile, climb up to watch
and pray,
For glimpse of that dear country that lies 80 far
away"
During the war l spent some time in
our military hospitals. After the war, in
of South Caroline, to look after the freed
men, established schools among them, was
there, with short trips north in the sum
mer, till Bishop Haven said he wanted me
to 20 to Africa. He knew that Africa Wa:
in nv plan of life from childhood, thougl
SO much had Africa been in my thought:
that everything seemed familiar to me.
But what trial of my faith and patience
have had. Here where so few live, AND
those who do have Indifferent health, ant
with good health and not copper to la,
out my work with.
A number of buildings belonging to tn
parent society, are all in Il ruinOu5 con
dition for want of repairs Two farm
belonging to the society, and not one item
of provision made for school building
mission home, or evea II place to live in
am teaching now on the third year il
the bamboo house had made at my owl
expense, with ground or mud floor an
bamboo poles withed together for seats
If the money could not be had l woul
toll on under the most disadvantageou
circumstances, but when | look over th
the missionary repor and see the numel
Gus items charged 10 and paid by the var
GUS branches !! l looked forward to th
May meeting expecting of course the
would make some provision for work here
ries repaired, (no school IN any of them)
What was my yasIon>hment toread -" 5 4Ot
IT needed Nearly four months htv
passed since the May meeting and haV
simply been informed OF that TACT ha
given the lowest estimate to repair an
one of the buildings, and the least wa
$1,000. White Plans, 20 miles up h
81. PauI's river, the years ago) msnua
labor school, and the scene OF the last Ia
bols of Ann wilkins, OF precious memory
that has il farm Of 260 acres, with brlc
building, no part Of it gool except til
walls; insects destroy wood WORK yer
rapidly in that country. Iw's 20 lishear
ened at their action IN he matter. | GaIn
TO Africa, bld farewell to home land wit
its precious associations, and left yer
wide circle If acqualnLances, and did II,
shed tear-but when expected the tim
of making brick without straw WAS abot
ended-then the piufuI SUN OF $4OO -