The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-03-12
THE AFRICAN MISSION.
HER MOTHER By MISS
ALICE LYLE.
MID OCEAN, Dec. 18th, 1883.

MID OCEANy Dec. IlLny 1905.
Ny DEAR MAMMA: l am now sew
enteen days on my voyage across
the Atlantic. More than two weeks
have passed in which 1 have nor
been able to write a word to you. II
has been so rough, the vessel tossed
from side to side, this is the first
time | have tried to write. / thank
the dear Lord for this precious
privilege. 1t is doubly sweet now,
dear mamma; and though my back
is toward You and my face toward
the "dark continent" yet my heart
goes home TO you with love more
and more intense. Oh dear man.
ma, / love you more than when 1
was at home with you. I ask the
dear Lord every day to let me meet
you once again before he takes you
to rest with Himself. l believe the
Lsrd will let me live and work in
Africa and return home again to see
you. &.
The vessel sailed from New York.
Saturday, 1st inst, IL a. m. :.
l stOed on deck and took the last
look at the hills and trees of our
dear country. For awhile l was
glad, yea, happy, that 1 could be
counted worthy to go hence to the
heather. But | asked the Lord 10
permit me to come back home again.
| went to my cabin, a very nice
room in the rear of the vessel. o,
mamma dear, the dear Lord was
precious to my heart and glorious
to my life. o that l might always
hold such relations with the Savior
of my soul and the Savier of the
heather. At o'clock the Captain
called me to dinner. There were
two colored men and their wives,
missionaries under the Baptist So
ciety. 1t was quite breezy that af-
ternoon, and the vessel rocked some,
yet / had a very pleasant time.
When l retired, the ship was rolling
so 1 could not long stay on my
knees to pray. i had a pleasant
and sweet sleep, disturbed quite of
ten by the great waves above my
head. Sunday morning ! awoke
quite early. Tried to pray and read
my Bible, but my head was so diz-
zy / got out of my cabin and went
to the deck. The vessel was rolling
so that / could only walk by hold
ing on to something. After break
fast, went again on deck. l was
not sick, / only felt badly in my
head. / could only think and pray.
/ could not read. About 10 o'clock
l looked at the Sunday School Jour
nal, but the vessel was shaking and
il was quito cold, and / could not
hold by book. - The Captain offered
me a great coat which put on over
my heavy ulster, so / was shielded
from the cold completely. / talked
with him of the blessedness of the
holy Sabbath and OF the service we
should render the dear Lord. He
seemed interested. Was very kind
to me. At noon he sent my dinner
on deck. My head whirled like
drunken man, it seemed to me,
when / tried to walk in the vessel.
o what a trial, thought, to sit
wrapped all day and hear not a
word of religious comfort from NOR
tai lips. What shall l gain this
holy day, rang through my soul
again and again. | went to supper
at evening and came on deck again.
At nine o'clock went down in the
cabin and sat by the stove to warm
my feet. 1t was very close and the
air there was very impure. L rose
to go to my bed, and l got, o, so
sick, began to vomit just as | en-
tered my cabin. The Steward gave
me basin, but was too late. / fell
into bed, o, so sick. l vomited my
supper. / soon was better and
went to sleep. Next morning i
woke quito early. 1 had my Bible
in bed with me and tried to read be-
fore / got up, but was so sick it fell
over. 1 rose up to dress me. Was
so sick / vomited a while, put on a
garment, vomit, lie down, rise up
put on a garment, and so at last l
was dressed. l went en- deck. Felt
better all day. Had my meals to
i was so cold in the eve
ming / had to stay in the cabin. |
was too sick to get up from my bed
without vomiting. Tuesday
morning / woke sick. Could not
look at my Bible. tried put on
my dress. Was SO sick thought
never would get it on. / fell back
on the pillow o, so sick, and the big
tears flowed from my eyes. No one
to speak to, could only weep be-
fore God and look trustingly to Je-
sus. And his promise came to me
'' And nothing shall by any means
hurt you" Luke x. 10. o, how
my heart grasped this precious