CHAPTER VII. 
HIS FIRST RETURN TO ENGLAND. 
T he arrival of Mr, Comber in this country, as will 
be readily understood, excited feelings of no 
ordinary interest. No one can have read the 
previous pages without perceiving how strong 
were the ties of affection binding him to his relatives 
and personal friends. The home circle had indeed 
lost much when it lost the gentleness of his presence, 
the advantage of his good common-sense, and the 
influence of his earnest devotion. In depth of nature, 
kindly considerateness, and prudent counsels, he had 
been almost more than son, and more than brother. 
And beyond the home many had been the true and 
noble friendships he had formed. When “ Tom 
Comber therefore came back from Africa, warm 
indeed was the welcome he received. 
But an interest attached to this home-coming 
extending far wider than immediate relatives and 
friends, and an interest necessarily over and above 
that generally connected with the return of mission- 
aries for had not Mr. Comber been sent forth where 
no other missionaries had gone ; had he not been in 
parts where no white men had ever travelled ; and 
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