The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-01-16
How Stanley Found God in Africa,

Generally we send Americans to con-
vert the natives of Africa, but the fol-
lowing letter by the most world
renowned explorer of the present day,
Henry NJ. Stanley, will show how God
caused the trials and misfortunes of an
American in Africa to bring this in
trepid discoverer to realize that the
Bible is true, and that God always
answers prayer. In writing an account
of the Emin Pasha Relief Expedition,
Stanley says: "You who throughout
your long and varied life have -tead-
lastly believed in the Christians God.
and before men have professed your
devout thankfulness for many mercies
vouchsafed to you, will better under
stand than many others the feelings
which animate me, when | find myself
back in civilization, uninjured in life or
health, after passing through so many
stormy and distressful periods. Con-
strained at the darkest hour to humbly
confess that without Gods help / was
helpless, vowed vow in the forest
solitudes that l would confess his aid
before men. Silence as of death was
round about me; it was midnight. !
was weakened by illness, Frustrated by
fatigue, and wan with anxiety for my
white and black companions, whose fate
was a mystery. In this physical and
mental distress L besought God to give
me back my people. Nine hours later
we were exulting with a rapturous joy.
In full view of all was the crimson flag
with the crescent, and beneath its wav-
ing folds was the long-lost rear column"
In another instance he says: Each
officer had economical his rstions of
bananas. Two were the utmost that
could spare for myself. My comrades
were also as rigidly strict and close in
their diet, and cup Of sugarless tea
closed the repast. We were sitting
conversing about our prospects, discus
sing the probabilities of our couriers
reaching some settlement on this day or
the next, and the time that it would
take them to return, and they desired
to know whether, in my previous
African experience, had encountered
anything 80 grievous as this. No,
not 30 bad as this 1 replied. I'VE
have suffered, but not to such an eX-
tremity as this Those nine days on
the way into Ituru were wretched. On
our flight from Bumbire we certainly
suffered much hunger, and also while
floating down the Congo to trace its
course our condition was much to be
pitied. We have had little of some
thing and at least large hopes, and If
they die where are we? The age of
miracles is past, it is said, but why
should they be2 Moses drew water
from the rock at Horeb for the thirsty
Israelite. OF water we have enough
and to spare. Elijah was fed by ravens
at the brook Cherith, but there is not a
raven in all this forest Christ was
ministered unto by angels, l wonder if
any one will minister unto us?' Just
then there was sound as of a large bird
whirring through the air. Little Randy
my fox-terrier, lifted up a foot and
gazed inquiringly; we turned our heads
to see, and that sc cond the bird dropp4d
beneath the jaws of Randy, who
snapped at the prize and held it fast as
in wise of iron. There, boys,'
said, truly the age of miracles is not
past and my comrades were seen gaz-
ing in delighted surprise at the bird,
which was fine, fat guinea fowl. 1t
was not long before the guinea fowl
was divided, and Randy, its captor, had
his lawful share; and the little doggie
seemed to know that he had grown IN
esteem with all men, and we enjoyed
our prize each with his own feelings. -
II. M. Stanley, in Scr,bner's Magazine.