LI VINGSTONIA — BLANTYRE—Q TJILL IMA NE. 423 
wings could be seen floating daintily downward towards 
the lake buoyant on the soft languor of the evening 
breeze. 
Often from this favourite retreat I watched the signs 
of opening and departing day, bathing with varied 
glories scenes that were lovely beyond description. 
Now, however, wearied as I was, and too conscious of 
failing strength, I followed with vacant eyes the decline 
of the orb of day slowly disappearing over the soundless 
waters of Nyassa. 
“ The whole wide lake in deep repose 
Is hushed, and like a burnished mirror glows.” 
Returning to the beach at night-time, I threw my 
miserable body upon a pile of logs, so as to get a last 
look at the shining lake and the departing sun. 
Poets for ages past have sung of thy glories, thou 
mighty orb ! for thou art the life as well as the light of 
man : but still thou art only a glow-worm in the eternal 
universe—a thing that wakes and dies ! 
Slight encouragement could be found in looking at 
the deserted streets of Livingstonia, which only aroused 
thoughts of desertion, and of the fruitless labours of 
the missionary who has sown in barren fields, and 
even sacrificed his life for his controlling belief. The 
throbbing noise I could hear was the beating of the 
batuka, mingled with the shouts of the beer-drinking 
feast-makers, the sound taking the place of the inviting 
cadence of the bells of church and school. To me the 
mission seemed to be a thing of the past. 
How strange is the Spirit of Philanthropy! Its 
failings belong to an oft-told story. We continually 
hear of the sons of the Holy Churches seeking in distant 
lands the inspiring thoughts which stir their anxious 
hearts. Setting lucre aside as a mean instrument, how are 
human lives to be considered—I mean such lives as are 
laid fearlessly down to give the Bible to the black man ? 
In thousands of streets and thousands of lanes and 
alleys in the big cities of England, the desolate, the 
degraded, the starving, are to be rescued by the million. 
