CHAPTER XVI. Voyage of health to Mergui-Description of Mergui-Death of little Sarah-Review of the past year. MRS. BOARDMAN's health which had generally been good, now became considerably impaired. With the hope that a short respite from her arduous and unceasing labors, and a change of air and scenery, would recruit her wasted strength, Mr. Boardman resolved on a visit to Mergui. This place lies in a southerly direction from Tavoy, and is about two day's sail, with good wind. They embarked on the 13th of May, but owing to adverse winds, they did not arrive till the 24th, having been eleven days on the passage. This circumstance, however, he regarded as a providential favor, as it gave them an opportunity to enjoy the sea-air and sea-bathing, the principal means on which he depended for the restoration of Mrs. Boardman's health. In his journal of May 25, he gives the following sketch of Mergui : "This town is healthfully situated on an island, enjoys a constant sea-breeze, and is generally considered one of the most pleasant places in all the coast. The population is upwards of four thousand, principally Burmans. But there are some Moosoolmans, and about one hundred and fifty Portuguese, with a padre or priest, and a church. It may be supposed, however, from reports, that the Christian religion is little known, and the Christian spirit little felt by either priest or people. Mergui is certainly an inviting field for missionary labor. It will be recollected that Moung Ing, the first Burman missionary, spent the rainy season of 1827 in this place; and he says the news of an eternal God and salvation is known throughout the town. "During our stay in town, we are very hospitably entertained by the civil magistrate of this place. This is the season for mangoostiens, considered by some the most delicious fruit in India. A gentleman of the deputation from the London Missionary Society, said, if he were to describe the food of the gods, he would say that they ate, not am brosia, according to heathen mythology, but mangoostiens. This delicious fruit is very abundant in this place." On the 27th they left Mergui for Tavoy, and arrived there on the evening of the 29th. They were happy on returning to find that the schools, which they had intrusted to the care of the native teachers, had been well conducted, and that the native Christians were living in love and harmony. Having completed the arrangements necessary after their trip to Mergui, they prepared to resume their missionary labors. On the ninth of July, Mr. Boardman, at the expense of the government, employed a man by the name of Richardson to teach English in the day school. This arrangement,' he remarks, secures more instruction to the youth than I could give, and saves me considerable more time for missionary duties.' "June 16. Baptized Moung Shway Kyo, Stephen Chapin, the eldest son of good old Mahmen-lay. He was the first boy admitted to our boarding-school at Maulmein, and though on our first arrival here he gave us considerable trouble and anxiety, he has since conducted with propriety, and for the last four months has given evidence of piety. "June 21st. Baptized two of the boarding scholars, Moung Lek-kyee, a Karen youth, the first who entered the school at Tavoy, and Shway Hmoung, an Indo Chinese, fifteen years of age, who was admitted to the school nine months since. These two persons, with Stephen Chapin, applied for baptism several months ago, and have ever since given pleasing evidence of piety. They are noticed in my journal for March, and were with me in my tour among the Karens. They read Burman, and are studying English. We hope they may eventually become useful to the perishing heathen around them. July 6. A rich feast on the letters and magazines brought us by the Arabella, from Boston." The following lines from Mrs. Heman's Hour of Death, beautifully express a truth, which Mr. Boardman had now been taught by painful experience in the death of his firstborn. "LEAVES have their time to fall, And flowers to wither at the north wind's breath, Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O death! Youth and the opening rose May look like things too glorious for decay, We know when moons shall wane, When summer-birds from far shall cross the sea, Is it when spring's first gale Comes forth to whisper where the violets lie? They have one season-all are ours to die. LEAVES have their time to fall, And flowers to wither at the north wind's breath, Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O death." In a letter to Mr. C. of New York city, dated July, 1829, Mr. Boardman thus speaks of that afflictive event: "Dear Brother, My letter to you now is a messenger of heavy tidings. Our first born, our dear Sarah, after an illness of more than a fortnight, has left us in tears. Our anxieties about her are now over; but O, how affection still clings to her, and often sets her ruddy, beauteous form before our eyes * * * It comforts us to think that her sufferings were comparatively light. But ah, what a void has her loss made in our little family, and in our aching hearts! It grieves me to think, that I was so sinful as to need such an afflictive stroke. "George, our only surviving child, is very ill, and we scarcely hope for his recovery. Mrs. Boardman's health, as well as my own, is also feeble. I think I can bless God for affliction as well as for prosperity. The hand that afflicts is no less kind, than that which is opened for the supply of our daily wants. Affection clings round its be > loved object, and when it can cling no longer, it hovers However, all is peace within, and I think I can say, 'Thy will, O God, be done."" Speaking of this event in his journal, he says, July 13th, "At 7 o'clock this morning, we committed the dear remains of our first-born to the grave. By her side are reserved places for her heart-stricken parents to sleep. May we, at this time of the Lord's dealings with us, be able to lay open our hearts to the influence of divine grace, and receive any impression which the Holy Spirit may see fit to impart." Letter to Dr. Bolles. "Tavoy, July, 1829. "Dear Sir, "Totally deprived as we are of the personal Christian intercourse which tends to alleviate burdens and soothe the spirit of care,' we most highly prize the devotional hints and expressions of pious condolence, which the epistles of our Christian friends in America generally contain. We particularly value every assurance we receive of our having a remembrance in the daily intercessions of those who frequent the throne of grace. Such hints and assurances are to us 'rills of comfort,' which tend, I hope, to keep alive and heighten our relish for the blessed fountain, from which all holy joys and sympathies emanate. "The decease of our lamented brother Price has disappointed many an ardent hope respecting Ava. Surely, God's ways are mysterious, and it becomes short-sighted, erring men to bow in submission to divine sovereignty. The unsettled and critical state of affairs between the Honorable Company and the Burman Government, seems unfavorable to our renewing missionary operations at the Burman capital, especially as we have heard since brother Price's death, that our mission is watched by the King and Court with an eye of confirmed jealousy. "In reference to schools, we have found it extremely difficult to establish and sustain them in Tavoy. The day school now consists of a few Karens, a few Portuguese, eight or ten Indoo Chinese, and five others who accompanied us from Maulmein. More than half of them belong to the boarding school, and it gives me pleasure to add, that the five eldest, including Moung Shway-Bwen, who was baptized at Maulmein, are hopefully pious. Three of them were baptized a few days since. It is a circumstance which argues strongly in favor of boarding schools, that while none of those who are not boarders seem affected with divine things, there is not one boarder of those arrived at years of reflection, who has not manifested more or less religious concern. I have been endeavoring for three months past, to establish boys' day schools throughout the town; but up to this day, I have found only one competent person who is willing to engage under my direction for a fair compensation; and he has hitherto failed for want of scholars. "Mrs. Boardman has, for a long time, been endeavoring to establish girls' day schools on the plan of those in Bengal, but has met with one continued series of opposition and discouragement, till within the last three months. At first, she could find no person who was competent and willing to teach. But the prospect at present is more encouraging. She has now a most interesting and flourishing school of twenty-one scholars, taught by a Tavoy female. We consider the existence of this school, and its continuance and increase amid so much opposition, a very important point gained. Nothing but the divine blessing on Mrs. Boardman's most untiring efforts, could have gained it. We hope the charm is now broken, and that prejudice will now gradually give way. Indeed, when we reflect, that in Bengal the missionaries were eighteen months in collecting the first five scholars, and that shortly after, hundreds were collected in their schools, and that female education received the approbation of many learned and rich and respectable Hindoos, we feel greatly encouraged. As to the expenses of a day school, we are not prepared to speak with certainty. Mrs. Boardman has adopted a plan by which the teacher's pay is in proportion to the progress of her pupils. Four rupees is the price for teaching a single girl to read. A plan somewhat similar is under consideration in reference to those who have already learnt to read. If this plan can be brought into general use and |