92 
GOD'S BLACK DIAMONDS. 
part, but right abundantly has John repaid it in 
loving service and devotion. On the voyage here, 
John did part-work as a helper to the ship's 
stewards. They teased him when they found him 
reading his Bible, and laughed at him for believing 
in church-going, etc., but John refused to get 
angry, or hide his light. In the month's voyage he 
so favourably impressed those with whom he had to 
do, that they made a subscription, and gave him a 
lump sum as an expression of their high regard 
for him. An action of this sort, by people who 
say hard things about missions and niggers," 
was quite unique. When he lived with the Rev. 
C. F. Gill at Shrewsbury, he attended the National 
Schools for some time. Such were his qualifica- 
tions that he was placed in Standard IV., and he 
made splendid progress throughout his stay. When 
he left in order to return to Africa, both teaching 
staff and scholars gave him testimonials of their 
appreciation. The headmavSter, addressing the 
assembled school, said: **John Enang Gill has 
never once been late, never once needed correction. 
I would be delighted to have two hundred pupils 
like him." Now, lest you should think John was 
a **prig," let me give an example of his love of 
fun. The first summer he spent in England was a 
very hot one, and the files were quite a plague. 
All kinds of means to lessen their number were 
used, amongst them the fly-paper. When one of 
these fly-catchers was almost black with captured 
flies, and some were protesting against their fate 
with loud buzzing noises, John looked up and said 
to Mrs. Gill, Ma, those flies are singing." *'Nay, 
John, how can that be?" queried Ma, they are 
