第 42 节
作者:一半儿      更新:2021-02-20 18:39      字数:9322
  The Moravians in Georgia
  distant;     and   only    seven     lived   there;    so   the   outlook     was    far   from
  encouraging at that point。
  Boehler   and   Schulius   then   made   their   way   from   one   plantation   to
  another;   until   they   reached   Charlestown。The   Rev。   Mr。   Garden;   to   whom
  they had a letter of introduction; advised that the school should be begun
  in   Charlestown;       where    there   was    a  large   negro    population;     perhaps     a
  thousand       souls。This     was    more     than   could    be    found    on   any    single
  plantation in Carolina; and as the slaves were strictly forbidden to go from
  one plantation to another it would hardly be possible to find another place
  where so many could be reached at the same time。Boehler and   Schulius
  were     much     impressed      with   the   advantages      offered;   especially     as  Mr。
  Garden      promised      all  the   assistance    he   could    give;   and    they   debated
  whether      Schulius     should    not   stay   and    begin    at  once;    while    Boehler
  returned to report to Oglethorpe。The lot was finally tried; and the direction
  received that they should carefully study the situation but wait until later
  to commence work。Therefore on the 1st of November the two companions
  set out for Savannah; which they reached in eight days。
  The   following   weeks   were   a   sore   trial   for   the   missionaries。   With   a
  promising   field   in   sight;   and   eager   to   commence   work   in   it;   they   were
  obliged   to   wait   for   Oglethorpe's   permission;   and   Oglethorpe   was   very
  busy on the frontier establishing the outposts for which his regiment had
  been brought over。When he did return to Savannah; it was only for a few
  hours; and he was in no frame of mind for a long argument of pros and
  cons。He told Boehler rather testily that they should not go to Charlestown
  with   his   consent;   that   if   they   were   not   willing   to   follow   the   plan   for
  Purisburg he would have nothing more to do with them; and that if they
  wanted to talk further they must wait till he came again。
  Boehler  and   Schulius   wished themselves   free to proceed   without   his
  consent;      wished     they   had    not   entered     into   an   agreement      with    〃the
  associates      of   the   late   Dr。   Bray〃;     but   under    the   circumstances        felt
  themselves bound to give the work at Purisburg a fair trial。In December;
  Schulius went to Purisburg to look over the field; and make acquaintance
  with   the   people;   while   Boehler   waited   at   Savannah   for   Oglethorpe;   and
  finally; when his patience was quite exhausted; followed the General to St。
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  Simons。      Oglethorpe      persisted    in  his   intention    to  have    the   school    at
  Purisburg; and when he learned that his wishes would be obeyed he gave
  instructions for the renting of a large house and two acres of ground; and
  for supplies to be furnished from the store at Savannah。
  In February; 1739; therefore; Boehler and Schulius settled in Purisburg。
  Young Harper seems to have been with them in Purisburg on some of their
  earlier   visits;   but   was   sent   temporarily   to   Savannah;   and   as   he   does   not
  reappear in the records; he probably went back to his English home。David
  Zeisberger; Jr。; joined Boehler and was his willing helper in many ways。
  At   first   the   outlook   was   rather   more   promising   than   they   expected。
  There were very few colored children for the school; but 〃daily more were
  bought     and    born;〃   there   was    some    interest   aroused     among     the  older
  negroes;     and   the   owners    were    disposed     to  be  friendly;   and   allow    the
  missionaries   free   access   to   their   slaves。   The   German   and   Swiss   settlers
  were unaffectedly glad to have the Moravians in their midst; and begged
  for   religious   services;   and   instruction   for   their   children;   so   Boehler   and
  Schulius agreed on a division of labor; the latter to devote himself to the
  white residents and their little ones; while Boehler spent most of his time
  visiting adjoining plantations。
  But when the warm weather came Boehler was taken with fever; and
  from June to October he suffered severely。From time to time he was able
  to be up; and even to visit Savannah; but he was so weak and his feet were
  so badly swollen that walking was very difficult; and of course missionary
  tours were impossible。
  On    the   4th   of  August;     George     Schulius    died;   after   an  illness   of
  eighteen days' duration。Boehler was in Savannah when he was taken sick;
  but returned   in time   to   nurse   him;  to soothe   him  in   delirium;  and   to lay
  him to rest amid the lamentations of the Purisburg residents。 At his death
  the school for white children was given up; for Boehler was too weak to
  shoulder      the  additional     load;   and   felt  that  his   first  duty   was    to  the
  negroes。In      September;      Oglethorpe      was    in  Savannah;      and   after   much
  difficulty Boehler obtained speech with him; and succeeded in convincing
  him     that  a   negro    school    at  Purisburg     was   hopeless。He       approved     of
  Boehler's plan to itinerate among the plantations and promised that both
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  his   own     and   Schulius'    salaries   should    be   paid   him;    that  he   might    be
  supplied      for   traveling     expenses。In      November;       when     his   health    was
  restored;   Boehler   wished   to   make   his   first   journey;   but   the   storekeeper
  declined   to   pay   him   any   money   until   the   expiration   of   the   quarter   year。
  When he went again at the appointed time the storekeeper refused to pay
  anything   without   a new  order   from  Oglethorpe;  except the   remainder   of
  the first year's salary; now long overdue。Boehler concluded that the man
  had   received   private   instructions   from   Oglethorpe;   and   that   his   services
  were   no   longer   desired   by   the   representative   of   〃the   associates〃;   so   in
  January;   1740;   he   gave   up      further   thought   of   obligation   to   them;   and
  prepared to go on his own account。 He planned to go by boat to Purisburg
  and from there on foot through Carolina to Charlestown; but on the way
  up the Savannah River the canoe was overtaken by a severe thunderstorm;
  and   forced   to   land。   Knowing       that   a   sloop  would   sail   in   two   days   he
  returned to Savannah; meaning to go to Charlestown on her; but on trying
  the lot he received direction to wait for the present in Savannah。
  While     Boehler     was    making     his  attempt     among     the   negroes;    some
  changes   were   taking   place   in   the   Savannah   Congregation。   He   had   been
  very   much   distressed   by   the   condition   he   found   when   he   arrived;   for
  owing   partly   to     their   many   difficulties    and   partly   to   Seifert's   absence
  among the Indians; no Communion had been celebrated for a year; and the
  〃bands〃 had been dropped。The Bible and prayer gatherings were steadily
  observed;  but it   seemed   to   him  there   was   a   lack of   harmony  among   the
  members; and they were by no means ready to take him at once into their
  confidence。Seifert;  too;   was   not   well;   and   had   been   obliged   to   leave  the
  Indians; and return to Savannah。
  The   Indian   work   was   most   discouraging;   for   the   men   were   careless
  and drunken; and in January; 1739; even Rose gave up; and moved back to
  Savannah   with   his   family。In   October;   Tomochichi   died;   and   was   buried
  with   great   pomp   in   Percival   Square   in   Savannah。The   Moravians   were
  asked   to   furnish   music   at   the   funeral;   but   declined;   and   it   was   hardly
  missed amid the firing of minute guns; and three volleys over his grave。
  After his death his little village was abandoned; and the question of further
  missionary efforts there settled itself。
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  During the winter John Regnier became deeply incensed at some plain
  speaking   from   Schulius;   and   decided   to   leave   at   once   for   Europe;   the
  Congregation paying his way。He   probably went to   Herrnhut; as that   had
  been    his   i