short voyage, when I was again visited with sickness, from which I have but just now recovered. But it soon became apparent, that all we had suffered, proving insufficient to accomplish the purposes of divine wisdom and goodness, was to be followed by a still more heavy affliction. Our children again became unwell. Medical advice was immediately procured, but it proved unsuccessful, and we were concerned to see a gradual increase of their complaints. After a fortnight's illness, our oldest child was suddenly taken more unwell, and her symptoms soon became alarming. We hardly thought of losing her, however, till we found, on the morning of the third day, that the icy arms of death had embraced her. In an hour afterwards, she sweetly fell asleep. Thus, at the interesting age of two years and six months, our dearly beloved, our first-born, the beautiful and engaging Sarah Ann, surrendered her spirit to Him who gave it, and left her afflicted parents to mourn the wreck of their fondest hopes. "All our anxieties were now transferred to ourselves, and the little sickly child that survived. We considered his case as critical, and even dangerous. And on Lord'sday evening, the night after dear Sarah Ann took her heavenward flight, her little brother, as if loath to remain behind in this vale of sorrows, seemed just ready to wing his way to that brighter world, and mingle spirits with her he so much loved. And while we were watching, as we supposed, his expiring moments, it pleased God to send relief, and spare to us a little longer our son, our only child. "Such is the detail of the chastisements with which it has pleased God to visit us during the past year. What here remains for me, is merely to record my present state of feeling under these repeated corrections. I feel myself happy to be in the hands of God, assured that my afflictions were not sent in anger, but to take away sin. Yet when I have felt the divine hand tearing asunder some of the strongest cords that twined about my heart, I have said, my flesh trembleth for fear of thee; I am afraid of thy judgments.' I dare not at all times say, 'Purge me till I am pure;' but, at other times, I am ready to say, remove not thy hand, till its purpose is fully accomplished.'" The subjoined extract of a letter to Mr. N. W. W. though of a later date, will here find an appropriate place, as it has reference to events just specified. My dear Brother, "Before this letter arrives, you will have heard of the repeated afflictions with which we have been visited; that our first-born has been called away, that we have had sorrow and trouble in our church, and that, for several days in succession, during the late revolt, our lives were in constant jeopardy. But our heavenly Father delivered us, and blessed be his holy name. I feel that no outward mercies in my life call more loudly for gratitude and love, than these successive afflictions. They have led me, through sanctifying grace, to take a nearer view of eternal things. I had, for ten years, as it seems to me, been in a deep and dangerous spiritual sleep. I knew but little, and felt less of religion. I knew the Saviour, but followed him at too great a distance. A worldly temper, wholly uncongenial with the temper of the Gospel, possessed my heart. Now I see its awful sinfulness. Pray for me, that God may in infinite mercy forgive me. "But I now sometimes think that I see such a beauty and loveliness in Christ, that I would give up all for him, be poor, despised and persecuted like him. I fain would be wholly like him, would feel that I have not where on earth to lay my head, would bear his cross for him, suffer with him, would be crucified and die with him, yea, would rather live with him that new and mysterious life, which is hid with him in God. But yet I seem to know nothing of Christian experience as I ought to know. O how highly should I value an evening's interview with an old, experienced Christian, who has travelled the whole distance from earth, and is just entering the heavenly world." CHAPTER XVII. Revolt of Tavoy-Mrs. Boardman repairs to Maulmein-Mr. Boardman follows, but soon returns to Tavoy, and resumes his labors. ONLY about four weeks had now elapsed since the death of little Sarah, when another event as trying perhaps to his faith and patience as any he had yet experienced, was permitted to interrupt his labors. The event alluded to is thus described in a letter to Dr. Bolles : "Dear Sir, "Hon. Company's Steam Vessel, Diana, "The province of Tavoy has engaged in an open revolt against the British government. On Lord's-day morning the 9th inst. at four o'clock, we were aroused from our slumbers by the cry of Teacher, Master, Tavoy rebels,' and ringing at all our doors and windows. We were soon apprised of our extreme danger by the continual report of musketry within the town, and the balls that were whistling over our heads and passing through our house. In a few moments a large company of Tavoys collected near our gate, and gave us reason to suspect they were consulting what to do with us. We lifted our hearts to God for protection, and Mrs. Boardman and little George with a few attendants were hastened away through a back door, to a retired building in the rear. I remained in the house with a single Burman boy, to watch and communicate the first intelligence. After an hour of the greatest anxiety and uncertainty, I had the happiness of seeing the Sepoys in possession of the city gate, just in front of our house. We soon ascertained that a party of about two hundred and fifty men had in the first instance attacked the powder magazine and gun shed, which were very near our house, but that a guard of six Sepoys with a native officer had repulsed them. This we considered a great mercy, for had the insurgents obtained the arms and ammunition, our situation would have been most deplorable. A second party of sixty ourselves at the wharf; a large wooden building of six rooms, into which, besides the Europeans, were huddled all the Sepoys, with their baggage and ours, and several hundreds of women and children belonging to Portuguese and others, who looked to the English for protection. Our greatest danger at this time arose from having in one of the rooms, where many were to sleep, and all of us were continually passing, several hundred barrels of gun-powder, to which, if fire should be communicated accidentally by ourselves, or by the stratagems of our enemies, we must all have perished at once. The next danger was from the rebels, who, if they could rush upon us, or take us by surprise, would doubtless have massacred us on the spot. We lifted our hearts to God, and he heard us from his holy habitation. We were preserved in safety through the night, but were unable to compose ourselves to sleep. All our attempts to communicate intelligence of our situation to the people in Maulmein and Mergui were defeated, and the heavy rains soon affected the health of the Sepoys. We had but a small supply of rice near the wharf, and that was in continual danger of being destroyed. But through the kind care of our heavenly Father, we were preserved alive, and nothing of importance occurred till the morning of Thursday the thirteenth, a little before break of day, when a party of five hundred advanced upon us from the town, and set fire to several houses and vessels near the wharf. But here again God interposed in our behalf, and sent a heavy shower of rain, which extinguished the fires, while the Sepoys repelled the assailants. Soon after, on the same morning, we had the happiness of seeing the steam vessel Diana coming up the river with Major Burney on board. Our hearts bounded with gratitude to God. It was soon agreed that the Diana should return immediately to Maulmein, for a reinforcement of troops, and Major Burney had the kindness to offer a passage for Mrs. Boardman and our family, together with his own. After looking to God for direction, I concluded to remain behind, partly in compliance with Major Burney's advice, and partly in hope of being useful as an interpreter and negotiator, and a preserver from bloodshed. With painful pleasure I took a hasty leave of my dear family, and in the evening the Diana left us, not however without having several heavy shots |