’The clear bright moon was right over my head as after a while, and after prayer with his friends, I left his room; the quiet splash of the tiny waves on our sheltered shore, and the little schooner at her anchorage:  and I thanked God that one more spirit from among the Melanesian islanders was gone to dwell, we trust, with Jesus Christ in Paradise.

’He will not be much missed in the Melanesian school work, for, for months, he could not make one of us....

’I find Trench’s Notes on the Authorised Version of the New Testament very useful, chiefly as helping one to acquire a habit of accurate criticism for oneself, and when we come (D.V.) to translate any portion of the Scriptures, of course such books are very valuable.’

’Last mail brought me but a very few letters.  The account of my dear Father’s being obliged to submit to discipline did not alarm me, though I know the nature of the disease, and that his father died of it.  It seems in his case likely to be kept under, but (as I have said before) I cannot feel uneasy and anxious about him, be the accounts what they may.  It is partly selfish, for I am spared the sight of his suffering, but then I do long for a look at his dear face and for the sound of his voice.  Five years of absence has of course made so much change in my mind in this respect, that I do not now find myself dreaming of home, constantly thinking of it; the first freshness of my loss is not felt now.  But I think I love them all and you all better than ever; and I trust that I am looking inward on the whole to the blessedness of our meeting hereafter.

’But this work has its peculiar dangers.  A man may become so familiarised with the habits of the heathen that insensibly his conscience becomes less sensitive.

’There is a danger in living in the midst of utter lawlessness and violence; and though the blessings and privileges far excel the disadvantages, yet it is not in every way calculated to help one forward, as I think I have in some ways found by experience.

’Well, this is all dull and dry.  But our life is somewhat monotonous on shore, varied only by the details of incidents occurring in school, and witnessing to the growth of the minds of my flock.  They are a very intelligent set this year, and there are many hopeful ones among them.  We have worked them hard at English, and all can read a little; and some eight or ten really read nicely, but then they do not understand nearly all they read without an explanation, just like an English boy beginning his knowledge of letters with Latin (or French, a still spoken language).

’In about a month we shall (D.V.) start to take them back; but the vessel will be absent but a short time, as I shall keep the Solomon Islanders with me in the Banks Archipelago for the winter, and so avoid the necessity of the schooner running 200 or 300 miles to leeward and having to make it up again.  I have slept ashore twice in the Banks Islands, but no other white man has done so, and that makes our course very clear, as they have none of the injuries usually committed by traders, &c., to revenge.