THE LITTLE ONE GOES HOME. 
49 
refused, and sat down behind the house, pleading for 
help to be enabled to say, " He hath done all tilings well." 
After an hour of quiet grief (during which Ageana had 
been drinking with his friends, probably celebrating a 
kind of " wake "), we were summoned to meet the soldier 
who had gone to Coomassie for the cow, and had returned 
accompanied by an ambassador, wearing a large round 
gold plate on his breast. They were followed by two- 
soldier boys bearing six ells of coloured cloth, a third with 
a sugar loaf in a brass plate on his head, and a fourth with 
a stately ram. The king sent us greeting, and was grieved 
to hear of the illness of our child ; a milch cow could not 
be found, but the cloth he said would form a bed, and 
the ram and sugar would be useful; he had also sent 
some gold dust, in value about nine dollars, of which 
Ageana took possession. He hoped we should be easy 
and have patience, for in a short time we were to appear 
before him, and be permitted to return to our own home. 
We replied briefly that " the things had come too 
late." The ambassador then endeavoured to comfort us 
by assuring us of the friendship of the king, and his wish 
that we should be sorrowful no longer. His kind words 
found their way to our hearts, and the prospect of return- 
ing to our work and to our brethren, prevented our 
sleeping much that night. 
On Sunday, August 8th, we arose in a changed position ;, 
no longer slaves, but directing as masters the disposal of 
our presents. The sheep we told the people to kill, and 
distribute among the whole party according to rank. 
" That's right," they answered, and then went off to the 
slaughter, spoiling our Sunday's quiet by urging us to 
be present at the cutting up. As may be supposed, little 
remained for our own share, but we had the thanks 
of many, and were now for awhile important persons. 
Ageana in his new character of servant had become very 
