第 14 节
作者:
一半儿 更新:2021-02-20 18:38 字数:9322
others came the cows had again escaped to the woods; and the swine had
been drowned!
In July Spangenberg wrote to Herrnhut that he had given his fifty acres
of land; including the town lot; to the Moravian Congregation at Savannah;
and that he would at once apply to the Trustees to vest the title in that body;
and if he left Georgia before this was accomplished he would give a full
Power of Attorney to Toeltschig。 From the first his land had been used as
the common property of the party; and he desired that the nine men; who;
with him; were bound to the repayment of the 60 Pounds; borrowed from
the Trustees; should have the use of it until that obligation was met; and
then it should be used as the Savannah Congregation thought best。
Nitschmann's land seems to have been held in a different way;
although granted at the same time; and under similar circumstances。 July
11th; Spangenberg sent him a detailed description of the town and garden
lots; explaining the advantages and difficulties of cultivation; suggesting
several methods by which it could be done; and giving the approximate
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cost; urging that instructions be sent as to his wishes。Later he wrote that
the company had decided not to wait for Nitschmann's reply; but to clear
the garden on the terms usual in Georgia; e。g。; that the man who cleared a
piece of ground held it rent free for seven years; when it reverted to the
owner。 This had been done; and the garden was ready to plant and fence;
and if Nitschmann approved they intended to clear the farm; and would
build a small house on the town lot。Zinzendorf had suggested that negroes
be employed on Nitschmann's land; but at that time slavery was prohibited
in Georgia; and any negroes who ran away from Carolina were at once
returned to their masters。
The two farms lay side by side about four miles from Savannah; the
gardens; also adjoining; were about two miles from town; so it was
necessary to build cabins at both places; as shelters from sun and storm;
which the settlers found equally trying。 Two additional cabins had been
built in Savannah on Spangenberg's lot; and by the end of the year a house;
thirty…four by eighteen feet in size; was under roof; though not yet
finished。This gave an abundance of room; not only for themselves; but for
the second company to whose arrival they were looking forward with such
eagerness。
When this reinforcement came they hoped to move to Zinzendorf's
tract; and then; as soon as they could be spared; Demuth; Haberecht;
Waschke and the two Haberlands wished to claim the twenty acres apiece
which the Trustees had promised to the Count's 〃servants〃。 Riedel was of
the same mind; but he did not live to see the arrival of the second
company。Some months after reaching Georgia; he was dangerously ill
with fever; but passed the crisis successfully; and recovered his full
strength。He was one of the party who went to survey Zinzendorf's tract;
but was taken sick again three days after the boat left Savannah; and by
the time they returned he was obliged to go to bed; and soon became
delirious。 The other Moravians were greatly distressed; but could do
nothing except nurse him carefully and pray for him earnestly; and toward
the end his mind cleared; though his body had lost the power to recuperate。
He died on the 30th of September; the first Moravian to 〃fall asleep〃 in the
United States; though others had given up their lives for the mission work
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The Moravians in Georgia
in the West Indies。His spiritual condition had at times caused much
concern to Toeltschig; who was especially charged with the religious
welfare of the first company; many of whom had been under his care in
Germany; but in the main he had been an earnest man; a willing and
industrious partaker in the common toil; and his death caused much
regret。The burial customs in Savannah included the ringing of bells; a
funeral sermon; and a volley of musketry; but learning that these
ceremonies were not obligatory the Moravians declined the offer of the
citizens to so honor their Brother; and laid him to rest in the Savannah
cemetery with a simple service of hymns and prayer。
As they were robing Riedel for his burial; a young man came to the
door; and asked if he could not make them some pewter spoons。In the
conversations that followed it developed that he was a native of
Switzerland; the son of a physician; and after his father's death he had
sailed for Pennsylvania; intending there to begin the practice of medicine。
But his fellow…passengers stole his books and everything he had; he was
unable to pay for his transportation; and forced to sell his service for seven
years as a redemptioner。At the end of five years he had become quite ill;
and his master; having waited six months for his recovery; heartlessly
turned him out; to live or die as the case might be。Instead of dying; his
strength returned; and then his former master demanded 10 Pounds
Pennsylvania currency; for his unexpired term; although only 5 Pounds
had been paid for him; and he had served five years。The young man was
obliged to promise to pay this; and Spangenberg encouraged him to push
his spoon…making; in order to do it as speedily as possible。Meanwhile the
Moravians were so much pleased with his appearance and speech; that
they agreed to receive him into their company for as long as he chose to
stay; and John Regnier soon became an important factor in their comfort。
Spiritually he was somewhat at sea。At one time he had desired to be a
hermit; and then he had drifted from one sect to another; seeking
something which he could not find; but acquiring a medley of odd customs。
Spangenberg advised him to turn his thoughts from men to God; learning
from Him 〃what was better and higher; Faith; Love; Hope; etc。〃; and under
the Moravian influence he gradually laid aside his unwise fancies; giving
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them encouragement to believe that he would eventually come into the
clearer light; as they knew it。
In material things John Regnier was of great assistance; owing to his
ability to turn his hand to almost anything。The shoes of the party were
badly torn; but though they had brought leather and tools from England
none of them knew the cobbler's trade。John Regnier had never made a
shoe; but he took it up; and soon provided for them all; and then he
mended their clothing; and added new garments。He also showed much
aptitude for nursing; and Spangenberg put him in charge of several cases。
A man from a neighboring village sent word that he had severed an artery
and could not check the bleeding; and asked for help。Regnier went to him;
and was so successful in his treatment that in two weeks the man was
entirely restored。Some one discovered a poor Scotchman; dying with
dropsy; lying utterly neglected upon the floor of a miserable hut; and
appeal was made to the Moravians to take him and care for him。 They did
so; moving him to one of their cabins; where they made him a bed; and
Regnier nursed him until death ended his sufferings。 Another man had
high fever; and no friends; and him also the Moravians took; and cared for;
the Trustee's agent furnishing food and medicine for the sick; but offering
no recompense for the care they received。
Indeed; as the months passed by; the Moravians established a
reputation for charity and for hospitality。Not only had they kept free of
dispute with the Salzburgers; but the friendliest relations existe