The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-02-16

"A GAkAAA O18 OSOE.
Among the forthcoming publications of
a well known eastern pssJf shiag house is
book which promises to be replete with
interest. 1t is the production of Miss Han
nah Durston, young lady who has spent
| her entire life among the scenes which she
describes, and who is now actively en-
| gagged in the work of promulgating the
Gospel among the idol worshipers and
pagans of the far away isles of the ocean.
In her island home Miss Darston is often
Familiarity called by her friends the
"Young Crusoe Missionary"
The fair young authoress was born in
the Tientsin district, China, in October,
1855. Her father was engaged in Gospel
| labors there at the time. The climate did
not agree with Mrs. Durston, and while
Hannah was yet very Young the family
moved to the Sandwich Islands, where
Mr. Durston, in company with another
family named Johannsen, carried on mis-
sion work. The Durstons eventually, in
1874, settled in the Island of Vita Levu,
one of the FIJI group. "Up to this time,'
| said Miss Durston, g had been as happy
as any child possibly could be- was
| great favorite with the natives wherever
we went, and learned their language
| thoroughly. Besides, father and mother
| took great pains to teach me everything,
80 my education was not neglected. |
was now old enough to realize the value
of my parents labors, and l began to
take a great interest in religious matters
In as able manner as | knew how I
talked with the worshipers of idols and
tried to impress upon them the teach
ings of Christianity.
at was on Christmas day that l re-
member 80 we'll my father telling mother
that he had decided to change his resi-,
dence to the Island of Kandayu, and there
work In harmony with the Wesleyan
ministers, who are numerous on that is
land. We made the change ere another
month had gone by. did not like Kan
davu, although there is a pretty bay and
some island scenery. We lived in little
hut made of cane several miles from
where the colony was located.
:" 1t was very lonesome and many of the
natives had ugly dispositions. They pro-
fessed disgust and contempt openly for
missionaries. Mothers soft and kind
ways seemed to have no effect upon them,
and quite frequently they stole things
from us. Theft, l willsay, though, is not
a common practice among the Fijians.
One day father reprimanded sub chief
called Ko-Ko for stealing jack-knife, and
in reply the chief threatened to wreak
vengeance on US. Father had but little
fear of him doing anything, but two days
afterwards a friendly native came and
told US that Ko-Ko and some of his friends
would pay US visit that night and prob
ably murder father and mother and carry
me into captivity, for Ko-Ko had an
evil and licentious disposition.
"Father became alarmed at this. AS
the beach was near by, we resolved to
take few things and seek safety on the
ocean in our large bark canoe until the
next day, when we could reach the col
ony overland, as Ko-Ko and his men
would surely be on the lookout. From
the door of our hut to the sandy beach
was only few steps. Here was our Ca
noe, which father used in visiting ada
cent islands. In the bow was a capacious
locker, where food and few other neces-
saries could be kept. Towards sunset we
hastened to the beach, placed our things
in the locker and father pushed the canoe
into the water. 1t would seem that we
were none too soon in getting away, for
the canoe was hardly 100 feet from the
beach when the treacherous Ko-Ko and
six other natives came bounding to the
waters edge brandishing their spears at
US in threatening fashion. They had
visited the house and found that we had
gone Ko-Ko, with an imprecation,
hurled spear at US, but it fell short and
dropped into the water. Father breathed
fervent prayer over our narrow escape
and hoisted a sail upon the slender mast
Under the impetus of gentle breeze the
canoe soon left the shore far behind.
"Mother and I wrapped ourselves up
in blankets at fathers request. and lay
down in the bottom of the canoe to rest
while he watched. 1t was some time be-
fore the tapping of the water against the
sides of the canoe lulled me to sleep.
do not know how long slumbered, but
was aroused by sharp cry from father and
fearful tossing of the canoe. My mother
was already sitting up. The stars which
had studded the sky when / dozed oA
were obscured by black masses of clouds
gusts of wind were shrieking in dismal
way about us, and the waves were large
and high, at times rolling into the canoe.
We knew that one of those terrible storms
which spring up 50 suddenly in the is.
lands was about to break upon rs.
aGod help u.s. murmured my father
revcrently, and he offered up prayer for
our deliverance. / shall never forget
what followed. The black clouds seemed
to open and belch out fire and let loose
batteries of thunder. The shrieking wind
had the velocity of gale, and the canoe
was tossed like chip npon the tops o
angry white waves and cleaned like the
white tangs Of devouring monster: Tht
sail was rent asunder snd the rain begar
to pour down in torrents. Neither father
nor mother lost their self possession
They commenced to pray again aud
ioined in. Il was all that could be done
We clasped hands aud bowed down t.
await the inevitable. ees
"Suddenly, above the roar OF the thun
der. we could distinguish continuous
rumbling sound. :.
s"Those are breakers, and we viii sool
be among them,' whispered father, addinl
words Of comfort st the same uma.