ER PO aD 6 SID 
VIL 
THE FRUIT. 
LOAD 
YZANY persons wonder exceedingly how the missionary who 
has enjoyed the high pleasures of refined christian society can 
go down among the low-living people of heathen lands, and 
bring up his children among them with any cheerfulness and 
comfort of life. They can understand a man conducting 
an expedition, and heading an assault upon the strong places 
of heathenism ; for there is an infinite pleasure in overthrowing 
the works of darkness. But should there not be a still 
greater pleasure in building up the works of righteousness, and 
goodness, and truth? True, it is much slower work; and 
when it is accomplished, what has been gained? Mr. Geddie 
didn’t add to the low stature of the Aneityumese—nor organise 
them into a political body—nor make fine creatures of their 
women. I suppose that he would have told us that’ these were 
not the things he tried to do. But he tried to put down the 
murderous propensities and practices of the people—to make 
them truthful, honest, chaste—with a reverent fear of God 
about them, and loving obedience to Christ. He would have 
told us, moreover, that it was the delightful consciousness that 
God’s Spirit was breathing on the dry bones of Aneityum and 
making them live, that sustained him and his wife in their long 
years’ toil; and the delightful proofs that were meeting him 
every day, of the quiet happiness which the kingdom of Heaven 
was diffusing over the homes of the people. Every one, who 
has helped any poor sunken fellow-creature out of the misery 
