And the natives
were very kind. We could not understand one another; but they saw
my baby on my breast, and they came out to me, and brought me rice
and milk, and sometimes flowers--I have got some of the flowers
dried. Then, the next morning, I was so tired; and they wanted me
to stay with them--I could tell that--and tried to frighten me from
going into the deep woods, which, indeed, looked very strange and
dark; but it seemed to me as if Death was following me to take my
baby away from me; and as if I must go on, and on--and I thought
how God had cared for mothers ever since the world was made, and
would care for me; so I bade them good-bye, and set off afresh.
And once when my baby was ill, and both she and I needed rest, He
led me to a place where I found a kind Englishman lived, right in
the midst of the natives."
"And you reached Calcutta safely at last?"
"Yes, safely! Oh! when I knew I had only two days' journey more
before me, I could not help it, ma'am--it might be idolatry, I
cannot tell--but I was near one of the native temples, and I went
into it with my baby to thank God for His great mercy; for it
seemed to me that where others had prayed before to their God, in
their joy or in their agony, was of itself a sacred place. And I
got as servant to an invalid lady, who grew quite fond of my baby
aboard-ship; and, in two years' time, Sam earned his discharge, and
came home to me, and to our child.
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