第 11 节
作者:
一半儿 更新:2021-02-20 18:38 字数:9322
Thy loving heart was moved Us Thy righteous laws to teach;Us to guide;
35
… Page 36…
The Moravians in Georgia
protect and cherish Till Thy heaven we should reach。
Without merit we; yet mercy Each returning day doth blessWith the
tokens of Thy goodness; Pledges of Thy faithfulness。O how surely and
securely Dost Thou lead and guard Thine own;O what wonderous grace
that mortals May add lustre to Thy throne。
In our souls we feel the presence Of Thine eye and heart and hand;As
we here on earth as pilgrims Journey toward the Fatherland。O give grace;
that on the pathway; Which through trial leads to heaven;Without faltering
we may hasten Till to each Thy crown is given。
Though our path be set with danger Nothing shall our spirits
shake;Winds may rage and roar and whistle; Storms from North and East
may break;Waves may roll and leap and thunder On a dark and threatening
sea;Thou dost ever watch Thy children; And their strength and peace wilt
be。)
Before the vessel sailed the Trustees had followed up their request to
Spangenberg by requiring the forty Swiss emigrants to promise
submission to his authority; and consequently numerous efforts were made
to be of service to them。It was disappointing work; in a way; for attempts
to give them religious instruction were met with utter indifference; but
their material needs were many。There was a great deal of sickness among
them; and four died; being buried hastily; and without ceremony。 The
Moravians themselves were not exempt; several being dangerously ill at
times; even Spangenberg was prostrated; from having; he supposed; stayed
too long on deck in the night air; tempted thereto by the beauty of a calm
night in a southern latitude。But having work to do among the Swiss on the
following day; he roused himself; and soon became better。 Two of the
Moravians were appointed nurses for the sick Swiss; and by the use of the
medicine provided by the Trustees; supplemented by unwearying personal
attention; they were made as comfortable as possible。
Nor were the crew forgotten。From the day when the Moravians helped
lift the anchor as they sailed from the coast of Dover; they busied
themselves in the work of the ship; always obliging; always helpful; until
the sailors came to trust them absolutely; 〃even with the keys to their
lockers。〃When the cook was suddenly taken sick they nursed him
36
… Page 37…
The Moravians in Georgia
carefully; and then appointed two of their number to carry wood and water
for him until his strength returned; and it is no wonder that such
accommodating passengers were well regarded。
Captain Thomson was disposed to favor them; but when they realized
that they were receiving a larger share of food and drink than went to the
Swiss; they courteously declined; fearing it would breed jealousy。 His
kindly feeling; however; continued; and when Toeltschig was ill he
brought a freshly killed fowl from which to make nourishing broth; and on
another occasion; after a severe attack of sea…sickness; they all derived
much benefit from some strong beer which he urged upon them。
There were a few cabin passengers on the ship; and on one occasion
Spangenberg was invited to dine with them; but their light jesting was
distasteful to him; and the acquaintance was not pursued。
Making a Start。
The vessel entered the Savannah River; April 6th; and the Captain;
taking Spangenberg and Toeltschig into his small boat; went ahead to the
town of Savannah; the capital of Georgia; now the home of about six
hundred people。Spangenberg had a letter of introduction to Mr。 Causton;
who received him and his companion in a friendly fashion; entertained
them at supper; and kept them over night。 Mr。 Causton was one of the
three magistrates charged with all civil and criminal jurisdiction in
Savannah; and his position as keeper of the Store; from which all
provisions promised by the Trustees were dispensed; gave him such
additional power that he was really the dictator of Savannah; ruling so
absolutely that the people finally rebelled; and in 1738 secured his
dismissal from office。 On his return to England in 1739; he found great
difficulty in trying to explain his accounts to the Trustees; was sent back to
Georgia to procure some needed papers; died on the passage over; and was
buried in the ocean。His treatment of the Moravians was characteristic; for
he was courtesy itself to the new…comers who had money to spend;
inconsiderate when hard times came; deaf to appeals for settlement of
certain vexing questions; and harsh when their wills were opposed to his。
The next morning; before sunrise; Spangenberg and Toeltschig went
apart into the woods; fell upon their knees; and thanked the Lord that He
37
… Page 38…
The Moravians in Georgia
had brought them hither in safety。The day was spent in gaining
information as to the customs of the place; Mr。 Causton again claiming
them as his guests at dinner; and in the evening they accepted the
invitation of a merchant to supper。 As they ate; the report of a cannon
announced the arrival of their vessel; and Toeltschig went to spend the
night aboard; Spangenberg remaining on shore to push the preparation for
the reception of the company。
Early on the following morning; April 8th; he had their town lots
assigned; (Nos。 3 and 4 Second Tything; Anson Ward); in order that their
baggage might be brought directly to their own property; for he had found
that lodgings in the town were very dear; and decided that a small cabin
should be built at once and a house as soon as possible。 Going then to the
ship he guided the company to their new home; and the entire day was
consumed in moving their belongings to the town; as it was some distance;
and everything had to be carried by hand to the little hut which was hastily
erected and roofed over with sacking。 Evening came before they had really
finished the arrangement of their possessions; but before they prepared
and shared their evening meal; they humbly knelt and thanked God for His
mercies; discussed the Bible text for the day; and joined in several familiar
hymns。A New York merchant stopped and asked them to sing one of his
favorites; which was done; and an Indian who had joined them near the
river and followed them home; stayed through the service; and at parting
beckoned them to come and visit him。Despite their fatigue; the 〃Hourly
Intercession〃 was observed throughout the night; their slumbers rendered
more peaceful by the knowledge that one and another in turn was
watching and praying beside them。
On the following day two more Indians visited the Moravians。 Their
faces were adorned with streaks of red paint; and they seemed very
friendly; rejoiced over the gift of two pewter mugs; and on leaving made
signs that some one should go with them; an invitation that could not then
be accepted。
The 10th of April; the first Sunday in America; Spangenberg attended
service in the English Church; and heard a sermon on the text; 〃Be not
overcome of evil; but overcome evil with good;〃 well fitted to be the
38
… Page 39…
The Moravians in Georgia
watchword of the Moravian settlers in the trials that were before them。
No unpleasant presentiments; however; troubled them; as they went
busily about their work during the next weeks。 Mr。 Causton was very
pleasant to them; selling them provisions at cost; offering them credit at
the store; and promising Spangenber