LETTERS PROM THE BEV. G. H. NOBBS. 303 
rican ship from California, ostensibly bound 
on a pleasure trip, arrived at Tahiti ; when the 
owner of the vessel, in conjunction with the 
gentleman who professed to have chartered her, 
on hearing of the situation and desires of my 
children, promptly offered to convey them hither. 
They were accordingly received on board, and, 
after a lengthened passage of twenty-two days, 
arrived here. During the passage they were 
treated with the greatest kindness and sympathy 
by these gentlemen, and several other passengers, 
among whom was a lady, the wife of the princi- 
pal personage on board ; and she, too, was most 
indefatigable in her motherly attentions to my 
poor boy. Before they left us (after -a sojourn of 
two days) they sent on shore from their cabin- 
stores a very large quantity of such things as 
would be serviceable to Reuben, and moreover 
refused payment in any shape for the passage but 
the thanks of gratitude ; and these were most 
heartily accorded them by the whole community. 
" My poor boy sunk rapidly after his return. 
I saw from the first there was no probability of 
his recovery ; but this stroke of domestic afflic- 
tion was mercifully divested of much of its 
severity on finding that he was perfectly aware 
of his situation, and not only resigned to it, but 
anxiously desirous to depart, and enter into the 
joy of his Lord. Sometimes his -dear mother, 
flattered by the specious appearance of his 
insidious disease, would hint at the possibility 
of his being yet spared to us. But with a 
gentle ^shake of the head he would reply, 'No, 
dear' mother, I feel I am rapidly approaching the 
.u 
