Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1888-01-11
A GIRL CRUSOE.

NAIOA SHO ueSCIlDeS, anu VINO IS now act
lively engaged in the work of promulgat-
ing the Gospel among the idol worshipers
and pagans Of the far away isles of the
ocean. In her island home Miss Durston
is often famhiarly called by her friends
the young Crusoe Missionary"
The fair young authoress was born in
the Tientsin district, China, in October.
1896. 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 a family
named Johannsen, carried on mission
work. The DurstOns eventually, in 1874,
settled in the Island of Vita Lew, one of
the Fiji group. Cup to this time" said
Miss Durston, 81 had been as happy as
any child possibly could be- l was great
1aVorlte with the natives wherever we
went, and learned their language thor
oughly. Besides, father and mother took
great pains to teach me everything, so my
education was not neglected. was now
old enough to realize the value of nv
parents labors, and I began to take a
great interest in religious matters. In as
able manner as l knew how I talked
with the worshipers of idols and tried to
impress upon them the teachings of Chris
tianity.
1T was on a Christmas dav that 7 re-
member so well my father telling mother
that he had decided to change his resi-
dence to the Island of Kandavu, and there
work IN harmony with the WESLEYAN min
listers, who are numerous on that island
We made the change ere another month
had gone by, did not like Kandavu
although there is pretty bay and some
inland scenery. We lived in a 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
progressed disgust and contempt openly for
missionaries Mothers soft and kind
ways seemed to have no effect upon them,
anu quite frequently they stole things
from US. Theft, l will say, though, is not
a common practice among the Fiiians
One day father reprimanded a sinh chief
called KO-KO for stealing a jacknife. and
in reply the chief threatened to wrealx
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 a visit that night and proba-
bly, murder father and mother and carry
me into captivity, for Ko-Ko had an evil
and licentiOus disposition
Rather 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 dav,
when we could reach the colony overland.
as hO-ko and his men would surely be on
the lookout. From the door of our hut to
the sandy beach was only q few steps.
Here was our canoe, which father used in
visiting adjacent islands. In the bow was
q capaclous locker, where food and a few
other necessaries could be kept. Toward
sunset we FASTENED to the beach. placed
our things in the locker and father pushed
the canoe into the water. 1t would seem
ChaC we were none too soon in getting
away, for the canoe was hardly 100 feet
from the beach when the treacberous 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 a spear at us, but it fell short and
dropped into the water. Father breathed
a fervent prayer over our narrow escape
and hoisted a sail upon the slender mast.
Under the impetus of a gentle breeze the
canoe soon left the shore far behind.
Mother and 1 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 before the
tapping of the water against the sides of
the canoe lulled me to sleep. I do not
know how long l slumbered, but 1 was
aroused by a sharp cry from father and a
fearful tossing of the canoe. NV mother
was already sitting up. The stars which
had studded the sky when 1 dozed off
were Obscured by black masses of clouds.
gusts of wind were shrieking in a 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 so suddenly in the
! islands was about to break upon us.
God help u.s. murmured my father
reverently, and he offered up prayer for
our deliverance. I 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 a gale, and the canoe
was tossed like a chip upon the tops of
angry white waves that cleaned like the
white fangs of a devOuring monster. The
sail was rent asunder and the rain began
to pour down in torrents. Neither father
AAOA AAAONAACA AOSb AllGlI sell POSSESSION.
They commenced to pray again and I
Joined in. 1t was all that could be done.
We clasped hands and crouched down to
await the inevitable.
Suddenly, above the roar Of the thun-
der, we could distinguish a continuous
rumbling found.
Those are breakers, and we will soon
be among them,' whispered father, add
ing words Of comfort at the same time.
1t did not look as though our canoe would
ever reach the breakers, as it was in
danger of upsetting each moment, the
waves becoming wilder all the time. Our
condition was truly miserable Obi 1
cannot dwell upon It'll My dear mothers
pale face rises before me as she leaned
down and kissed me, but she said not
word. The next thing I remember is a
deafening crash and sharp cry from
mother. was struck by something and
consciousness left me.
81 can recollect opening my eyes as if
from a profound sleep. The sun was
smiling down from blue and cloudless
sky. l raised myself and found the ocean
at my feet. 1t was as placid as a lake.
l was lying on the wet beach not three
feet from where the waves were ripping
on the sand. My clothes were dripping
wet. The occurrences of the storm came
to me like an electric shock. My first
thoughts were regarding father and
mother. Were they safe or-but I
reached the horrible alternativei About
thirty feet away I saw the canoe cast
high and dry upon the beach. Its side
was stove in where it struck the rock.
Running up to it 1 saw it was empty
Along the stretch of beach no other object
was discerllible.
81 eyed the expanse of water and per-
ceived a dark object bobbing up and down
in the surf. A closer view revealed what
caused my blood to almost freeze in my
veins. That which was the sport of the
waves were the bodies Of my dear parents
They were clasped together. Overcoming
the feeling Of horror and sickness that
came over me, dashed into the water up
to my waist, and, with almost superhu-
man strength, brought the bodies out of
the water. Dragging them to a dry spot
l fell over the cold forms in deathly
faint. recovered my senses only to
faint again. will not dwell upon what
followed. I sObbed and moaned where
lay oil day and night, and prayed that I
might die beside my father and mother
The following day was calmer, and
using one Of the broad bladed oars of
the canoe, which I found under one Of
the seats Of the vessel dug deep
hole in the sand and laid the bodies Of
my father and mother in the grave. I
was so stunned and overcome with an
guish that the occurrences Of the two or