CANNIBALS

The Story of Mary Slessor of Calabar

by A.J.  Bueltmann

Contents

1.  A Drunkard’s Home 2.  A Brave Girl 3.  In Africa 4.  On Her Own 5.  Into the Jungle 6.  A Brave Nurse 7.  Witchcraft 8.  The Poison Test 9.  Victories for Mary 10.  A Disappointment 11.  Clouds and Sunshine 12.  Among the Cannibals 13.  Blessings Unnumbered 14.  Journey’s End

#1#

A Drunkard’s Home

“On the west coast of Africa is the country of Nigeria.  The chief city is Calabar,” said Mother Slessor.  “It is a dark country because the light of the Gospel is not shining brightly there.  Black people live there.  Many of these are cannibals who eat other people.”

“They’re bad people, aren’t they, Mother?” asked little Susan.

“Yes, they are bad, because no one has told them about Jesus, the Saviour from sin, or showed them what is right and what is wrong.”

“Don’t they have any missionaries out there, Mother?” asked blue-eyed Mary.

“Yes, there are a few and they are doing wonderful things for Jesus, but there are still thousands and thousands of people who have never heard a missionary.  They need many, many more missionaries.”

“When I get to be a big man, I’m going to be a missionary,” said Robert, “and preach to the black people of Calabar and Nigeria.”

“I want to be a missionary; too,” cried Mary, tossing her red hair about.

“Girls can’t be preachers,” said Robert.

“I want to preach to the black people,” said Mary, the tears racing down her cheeks.

“When I’m a missionary,” said Robert, “I’ll take you into the pulpit with me.”

This made Mary happy and she was much happier when Mother Slessor said, “Perhaps you can be a teacher and teach the little black children of Calabar.  Now, children, I want to be sure you know your memory verse for Sunday school tomorrow.  Let’s all say it together.”  And Mother Slessor and her six children joined in saying: 

Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

As they finished reciting the memory verse they heard a hoarse voice singing: 

Gin a body-hic, meet a body-hic,
Coming-hic, through the rye-hic.

“It’s your father, children.  Off to bed with you quickly now.  Oh, I do hope Robert has brought some money home with him so that we can buy some food for tomorrow.”

“Where’sh the shteps?  Somebody alwaysh moving the shteps,” said the father, Robert Slessor, as he staggered drunkenly to the door.

Mother Slessor took hold of him and led him to a chair.

“Hello, dear,” he said thickly.  “Howsh my, besht gurl?  There ish no shoemaker’s got a prettier wife-hic-than I have.  Yesh shir, we drank a li’l toash to you, my dear.”

“Oh, Robert,” said Mother Slessor to her husband, “I do hope you brought home some of your paycheck.  We need it badly for food.  We don’t have any money in the house.  All the food we have is what I kept back from the children’s supper so you could eat.”