第 12 节
作者:一半儿      更新:2021-02-20 18:38      字数:9322
  pleasant to them; selling them provisions at cost; offering them credit at
  the store; and promising Spangenberg a list of such Indian words as he had
  been able to learn and write down。 He also introduced him to Tomochichi;
  the   Indian   Chief;   and   to   John   Musgrove;   who   had   a   successful   trading
  house   near   the  town。Musgrove   had   married   Mary;   an   Indian   princess   of
  the Uchees; who had great influence with all the neighboring tribes。At a
  later time; through the machinations of her third husband; she made much
  trouble in Georgia; but during the earlier years of the Colony she was the
  true   friend   of   the   white   settlers;   frequently   acting   as   Interpreter   in   their
  conferences with the Indians; and doing much to make and keep the bond
  of peace between the two races。
  On   the   11th   of April   the   five   acre  garden   belonging   to   Spangenberg
  was surveyed; and work was immediately begun there; as it was just the
  season for planting corn。Nine days later Nitschmann's garden was laid out
  aside of Spangenberg's。By the 14th the cabin on Spangenberg's town lot
  was finished。It was twenty feet long; ten feet wide; and fourteen feet high;
  with   a  little  loft   where they  slept;   their goods;  with   a  table  and   benches
  being in the room below。At daybreak they rose; sang a hymn; and prayed
  together; breakfasted at eight o'clock; the daily text being read aloud; then
  worked until half past eleven; when they dined and read the Bible。More
  work; an evening prayer service; and such conference as was needed that
  each might engage in the next day's labor to the best advantage; prepared
  them for their well…earned repose。
  With this simple program steadily carried out; much was accomplished。
  A fence was built around a small kitchen…garden on their town property;
  and a chicken…yard was enclosed; while the neighbors came to look on and
  opine 〃that the Moravians had done more in a week than their people in
  two years。〃 As the gardens (the five acre lots) lay at some distance from
  Savannah; a hut was built there; to serve as a shelter against sun and rain; a
  heavy storm having chased them home one day soon after their arrival。
  Either from the noonday heat; or other conditions to which they were
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  not    yet  acclimated;     Gotthard     Demuth      and    George    Haberland      became
  seriously   ill;   causing   Spangenberg   much   anxiety;   for   he   did   not   feel   at
  liberty    to  send    for  a  physician;     as  they   could    not  afford    to  pay   for
  medicine。So resort was had to bleeding; then an approved practice; and to
  such   medicine   as   remained   from   their   voyage;   and   Rose   was   fortunate
  enough to shoot a grouse; which gave them some much needed palatable
  meat and broth。Perhaps the most serious case was Gottfried Haberecht's;
  who   suffered      for  several   days   with    fever   resulting   from   a   cut  on   his
  leg。Finally     oak…leaves     were    heated    and   bound     about   the   limb;   which
  induced free perspiration and quickly relieved him; so that he was able to
  return to work!
  A day was appointed on which Spangenberg and several others were to
  ride  out   into   the  country  to   select   the   five   hundred   acre   tract   granted   to
  Count      Zinzendorf;     and    the   additional    two    hundred     acres   which     the
  Trustees     had    promised     to   hold   in  reserve;    and   grant   to   the  Count's
  〃servants〃 whenever he should request it; but there was rumor of a raid by
  hostile    Indians;    under   Spanish     influence;    so  the   expedition     had   to  be
  postponed; with the promise; however; that it should be made as soon as
  possible。
  By the close of the third week in Georgia the invalids were better; and
  matters   were   in   such   a   shape   that   the   Moravians   resolved   〃that   on   each
  Saturday work should stop early; and every Sunday should be a real day of
  rest。〃As   an   immediate   beginning;   they   on   Saturday   evening   united   in   a
  Lovefeast;      where    〃we    recalled    much    loving…kindness       which    God     has
  shown      us   hitherto;    Toeltschig    washed      the   feet  of   the  Brethren;     we
  remained together until very late; and were truly blessed。〃
  Aim and Attainment。
  When   the   〃first   company〃   left      Herrnhut   for   London   and   the      New
  World; they took with them Count Zinzendorf's formal 〃Instructions〃 for
  the conduct of their affairs:
  〃I shall not attempt to tell you what you are to do from day to day。 I
  know that in many ways Love will lead you; prepare the way; and point
  out your path。I shall only bid you remember the principles and customs of
  our Congregation; in which; if you stand fast; you will do well。Your one
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  aim   will   be   to   establish   a   little   place   near   the   heathen   where   you   may
  gather   together   the   dispersed   in   Israel;   patiently   win   back   the   wayward;
  and instruct the heathen tribes。
  〃You have and will ask nothing more than the opportunity to attain this
  end through your own labors; but you will request free transportation for
  yourselves and those who will follow you;  if they receive your present
  small number the Lord will send you more。
  〃If you should be tempted to injure any work of the Lord for my sake;
  refrain     from    doing     it;  remembering        that   I  am    under     a   gracious
  guardianship which nothing can disturb。
  〃You      will   take    absolutely      no   part    in   the   Spangenberg…Halle
  controversy; you know the mind of the Congregation regarding it。If you
  find people prejudiced against you leave it to Him who has bidden you go
  to   Georgia。   Enter   into   no   disputes;   but;   if   questions   are   asked;   give   the
  history of the Congregation; being careful not to censure our opposers; and
  saying; which is true; that the Congregation at Herrnhut gives them little
  heed。 Entire freedom of conscience must be granted you; but there may be
  points which you   can yield without   injuring the   cause of Christ;   if so
  you will find them in due time。
  〃You must live alone; establishing your own little corner; where your
  customs   will   irritate   no  one;   and   as   soon   as   you   are   settled   an   ordained
  minister   will   be   sent   you;   out   of   consideration   for   the   scruples   of   the
  Salzburgers; although our Brethren in other Colonies are served by laymen;
  as permitted by our ancient constitution。
  〃God willing; I shall soon follow you; and only wait until He opens the
  way     for   me。Our     dear   Elder    (Spangenberg)       will   quickly    return   from
  America; and in his absence I commit you to the mighty grace of God。
  Your brother and servant;Lewis Count v。 Zinzendorf。
  〃At this time one of the Elders at Herrnhut。November 27th; 1734。
  〃‘He everywhere hath way; And all things serve His might; etc。'〃
  That these sensible and liberal instructions were not fully carried out is
  at   once   apparent;   especially   in   the   two   points   of   free   transportation   and
  settlement in a quiet; secluded spot。The inability of the Trustees to grant
  their request for the first; burdened the Moravian colonists with what was;
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  under the circumstances; a heavy debt; while the location of Zinzendorf's
  five   hundred   acre   tract   was   responsible   for   their   failure   in   attaining   the
  second。
  When      Gen。    Oglethorpe      planned     the  fortifications    and    defense    of
  Savannah in 1733; he decided to erect a small fort on the Ogeechee River;
  some   miles   south;   in   order   to   command   one   of   the   trails   by   which   the
  Indians had been accustomed to invade Carolina。This 〃Fort Argyle〃   was
  garrisoned with a detachment of rangers; and ten families were sent from
  Savannah to cultivate the   adjacent   land。The tract   selected in   London   for
  Count      Zinzendorf;     was   to  lie  on   the  Ogeechee;      near   Fort   Argyle;    an
  excellent place from which to reach the Indians in times of peace; but the
  worst possible location for noncombatants when war was threatening。
  Spangenberg urged the survey of the five hundred acre tract as often
  and   as   strongly   as   he   dared;   but   from   various   causes;   chiefl