44 LEANDRO YOPAR, THE EMANCIPATED SLAVE. went to buy bread and other things for the voyage, and lost himself in the streets in the direction of the steamer. He was two days and a night in London, and met with no one who could understand him. An English gentleman took me to the house of a consul, but he did not comprehend what I said, but directed me to the Southampton railroad; so I took the telegraph wires for my guide, and walked towards Southampton. they left in a steamer; but Leandro | words that I was going to Africa. The other nights I slept in the town which I reached in the evening, when supper was given me, and the privilege of sleeping till the morning, and then I followed the road. It was five days before I arrived at Winchester, which I reached at six in the evening, and the soldiers whom I met there gave me pence. As I could not speak the English language, I spoke to all by signs. A principal officer, a major, and another, who stammered, and various gentlemen and ladies, gave me something to eat; and at seven that evening a gentleman and a policeman took me to a coffee-house and gave me food; and the policeman, in this same Winchester, paid something at a house that I might have a bed to sleep in, and besides this he gave me pence that I should have something in my pocket. From the time I left London I was calling on God every hour, and each time that I cried to Him I saw more clearly the way in which I had to walk; and never did there fail me some person or other to provide me with bread and food, and a place to sleep; and all this I thought arose from the grace and favour which God had shown me in answer to what I had asked Him, and I was always believing that my mother was also praying much to God that He would teach me His grace, as it has come to pass. The day I left London-the 20th or 22d July-I reached a good town at the right of the train near London, where a policeman put me into a house to sleep: on the road people gave me pence, and all this without understanding more than the The next day I went to the train, and a gentleman there, seeing that I was weary, handed me a little card, and put me into the train to go to Southampton, where I went to the house of Señor Ferran, who provided me with food, as a father would his son. Whilst I was praying there, it pleased God that a traveller should arrive, who told me that there were many black people in Plymouth who were going to Africa: therefore I LEANDRO YOPAR, THE EMANCIPATED SLAVE. 45 wrote to my father at Plymouth; I was always desiring, and I do desire, to stand in the grace of God. but when my letter arrived they were all setting off for Africa, so Señor Tregelles wrote to Mr Clark and to Colonel Hughes, and from that time they came both morning and evening to see if I was well or ill. When Mr Clark was in search of me I was at the head of the street, and that gentleman came asking for Leandro, and very pleasant it was to me. He said that he came from a lady of Plymonth, to know if Leandro Yopar was there. He made me understand that my mother had embarked, which afflicted me much; but I was comforted when he told me that he had come in search of me, and that I should go to the shelter of my mother, and know all about her. Mr Clark provided me with a change of clothing, and sent me to Señor Tregelles at Plymouth, who, with Mr Brown and others, is teaching me the Christian religion, and to speak the English language. Jesus Christ our Saviour looked upon me and put me in the road to heaven, having led me to the land where Christianity is more established than in any other. I was daily repeating a short prayer which Jesus Christ heard, and put me into His school, in order that I should learn the word of God, for He knew that * In the island of Cuba, from which we coloured people come, the law of God, in a general way, is neither taught nor learnt, labour being the only thing thought of from the age of six years. The masters there expect that the payment for the day's work shall be brought to them, whether there has been the power to gain it or not. The people do not like to be sent to the mountains to work, and therefore make various excuses, because in the mountains they have no feast-days, no holy-week, no nights, and there they act towards the slaves as if they were beating out a piece of iron. In this same island, in the town, there are many who wish to leave, but the sons of the masters tell them, that if they go on the sea they will be cast into it, and therefore they are afraid, and do not come ; but we came because we had a little more intelligence, and knew that the English, when they meet with vessels filled with negroes, seize them, and carry the negroes back to the land of their birth. As to the voyage from Cuba to Southampton, the English Government would do a very great favour if it could reduce the price of six ". onzas " for all those who desire * They are expected to work by night as well as day. 46 THE YOUNG IRISH GIRL. to come; and if it would solicit their coming, now that the sufferings of that land are known. I wish that the English Government would send me to Cuba, to bring thirty or forty who are prepared to come; for, seeing me, they would know where to go; and whoever could not come on that voyage, might come on a second: and the religion which has been taught me I would teach them; and when they reach their country they will instruct others; and the children of some of those who can read will follow in the steps of their parents, and thus the Christian religion will be carried more and more into the centre of Africa. Leandro has now gone back to Africa himself. May he prove an instrument of much good to his countrymen, and be privileged to behold the gospel, according to his prayer, penetrating into the dark interior!—Chris. Miss. Gleaner. THE YOUNG IRISH GIRL. BRIDGET SULLIVAN was the daughter china cup, and pouring into it the of an Irish peasant, who was withal a milk which had been left for her own bigoted Catholic. His temper had dinner, ran after him and gave it to lately been aroused by the arrival of him. After drinking of it he sat down a Protestant minister at his town, by her side, and began to speak to her who was both to preach and to open about her soul and the way to be a school for the children; and he determined to make his stay there as uncomfortable as possible. One day, while he was absent from home, a stranger called at the door of his cottage where Bridget sat spinning, and in a pleasant voice asked her for a glass of water. There was no tumbler in the house, and the child supposing he would not use a wooden bowl, had just sent him away without a drink, when, remembering how hot the day was, and thinking he must be weary and thirsty, she caught up an old saved. It was all new to her, for she So she became very THE YOUNG IRISH GIRL. 47 would not let her attend the Pro- One cold evening she lay down testant school; but Bridget had a upon the grass, hungry, and weary, playmate who went there, and so they and faint, when she would have died arranged to meet in a quiet spot where from exposure, had not her heavenly was the stump of an old hawthorn, for Father sent a friend to aid her. their school. Johnny Ryan was a It was so ordered that the Proteslittle boy two or three years younger tant minister was passing the spot than Bridget. He had an old torn where she lay. And he took her up book which she mended, and out of and carried her to a pleasant home, this she learned her letters, and then and cared for her wants. Here she little words, and so at length was able soon began to recover. And when to read for herself. One day she her father, who had repented of the found at home an old book which had wrong he had done her, found her in been left her father by an aunt. It the midst of kind friends, he learned proved to be a Bible in the Irish a new lesson in true piety, that taught language. No one can tell the plea- him his own sinfulness. He took her sure it gave Bridget to find that she again to his home, and loved her more possessed the word of God. dearly than ever. And what to her while she carefully hid her treasure was far better, he began to pray to from all but her young teacher. One God, and confessed his sins to him, day, however, her father caught sight and then at length in the little Proof it, and when he showed it to his testant church which he had so long priest, it was taken away, and Bridget hated, he professed his faith in Christ, saw it no more. But its truths had and renounced his former errors. entered her heart. She learned that had no longer any objections to letting it was foolish and wrong to pray to Bridget go to school, but gave her the saints and to the Virgin. And when best advantages he could, and had the the priest insisted on her coming to pleasure of seeing her, in time, the confession, she told her father that teacher in the very house which he she could confess and pray only to had once forbid her to enter. God. For a He was very angry, and beat her, and turned her out of doors, and so she wandered away in great distress, nor would her Catholic neigbours help or comfort her. He The little narrative of Bridget Sullivan teaches the way to do good to those who are Roman Catholics. They pray to saints, and think that they can secure pardon only by confessing their sins to the priest. They pre 48 POETRY-LONGINGS FOR PEACE. sume this is right, because they have seat is open to all, that they have no been thus brought up. To abuse need to invoke saints to pray for them, their church, and their priests, and their mode of worship, will only make them angry, or hurt their feelings. or to seek absolution through their priests; since Christ is the only Mediator and Priest of his people, and all that come to God through him will find acceptance and pardon. Let us then pity those who are in error, and seek by love and with prayer to deliver them from their darkness and What they need is kind instruction. If we would lead them away from their errors, we must lead them to Christ, and teach them to depend on him alone as their Saviour, and let them know that the way to the mercy- ignorance.-S. S. Visitor. Poetry. LONGINGS FOR PEACE. "As I directed their attention to Jesus, their Saviour, whose word is 'Peace on earth, good will to men,' they called out, We are tired of fight! Give us rest and sleep.' It was no wonder that they eagerly seized the idea of peace. Their country has been visited by a series of scourges, during the last half century, and they are indeed a nation scattered and peeled."-Dr Livingstone's "Missionary Travels," p. 592. THE sun was hiding in the west, When to a village, ere the daylight's close, With rude yet kindly care, These sons of Afric bring their choicest food, Old veteran warriors came, Then first a Saviour's name He told how Jesus gave To sinful men, good-will and peace from heaven, This precious boon is given. "Oh, speak those words once more! Is there a time when strife and blood shall cease? "When nature fain would rest, Our very dreams are all of fire and blood; To many a hapless head The walls of home no shelter can afford; "We dare not court the grave; "Then tell thy message o'er! Is there a time when strife and blood shall cease, ANNA. -Carrier Dove. Price 6d. per doz. or 3s. 6d. per 100; 20 copies sent free by post for 10d., paid in advance. Published by GALL & INGLIS, 6 George Street, Edinburgh, HOULSTON & WRIGHT, London. |