’Our Saviour, the first of all Christian Missionaries, was thirty years of His life preparing and being prepared for His work.  Three years He spake as never man spake, and did not His work at that time look a failure?  He made no mistakes either in what He taught or the way of teaching it, and He succeeded, though not to the eyes of men.  Should not we be contented with success like His?  And with how much less ought we not to be contented!  So!  The wonder is that by our means any result is accomplished at all.’

These are remarkable words for a young man of twenty-seven, full of life, health, and vigour, and go far to prove the early ripening of a spirit chastened in hopes, even while all was bright.

In the latter part of February, Bishop Patteson, after about six days of warning, was prostrated by a very severe attack of internal inflammation, and for three days—­from the 20th to the 22nd—­was in considerable danger as well as suffering.  Mr. Nobbs’s medical knowledge seems, humanly speaking, to have brought him through, and on the 28th, when an opportunity occurred of sending letters, he was able to write a note to his brother and sisters—­weak and shattered-looking writing indeed, but telling all that needed to be told, and finishing with ‘in a few days (D.V.) I may be quite well;’ then in a postscript:  ’Our most merciful Father, Redeemer and Sanctifier is merciful indeed.  There was a time when I felt drawing near the dark valley, and I thought of Father, Mother, of Uncle Frank, and our little ones, Frankie and Dolly,’—­a brother and sister who had died in early infancy.

But it was not the Divine will that he should be well in a few days.  Day after day he continued feeble; and suffering much, though not so acutely as in the first attack, Mr. Nobbs continued to attend him, and the treatment was approved afterwards by the physicians consulted.  All the clergy took their part in nursing, and the Melanesian youths in turn watched him day and night.  He did not leave his room till the beginning of April, and then was only equal to the exertion of preparing two lads for Baptism and a few more for Confirmation.  On Easter Sunday he was able to baptize the first mentioned, and confirm the others; and, the ‘Southern Cross’ having by this time arrived for the regular voyage, he embarked in her to obtain further advice at Auckland.

Lady Martin, his kind and tender hostess and nurse, thus describes his arrival:—­

’We had heard of his illness from himself and others, and of his being out of danger in the middle of March.  We were therefore much surprised when the “Southern Cross,” which had sailed a fortnight before for Norfolk Island, came into the harbour on the morning of the 25th of April, and anchored in our bay with the Bishop’s flag flying.  We went down to the beach with anxious hearts to receive the dear invalid, and were greatly shocked at his appearance.  His beard, which he had allowed to grow since his illness, and his hair were streaked with grey; his complexion was very dark, and his frame was bowed like an old man’s.