PUBLIC REGISTER, 1847, 265 
that our heavenly Father doth not willingly 
afflict the children of men ! " 
The details which follow, respecting a serious 
accident to the pastor's eldest son, Reuben E. 
Nobbs, which resulted in what appears to be 
confirmed lameness, are so characteristic of the 
kind and brotherly feeling subsisting in the 
island, that they must be quoted in full. 
" 1847, Feb. 20th. This afternoon, as Reuben 
Nobbs was out on the mountains, shooting 
goats, his foot slipped, and he let fall his 
musket, which exploded and wounded him 
severely. The ball entered a little below the 
hip-joint, and passing downwards, came through 
on the inside of the thigh, about half-way 
between the groin and the knee. Providentially, 
some persons were within call, who immediately 
ran to his assistance, and tore up their shirts to 
stanch the blood, which was pouring forth pro- 
fusely. A lad was despatched to the village 
with the melancholy news ; and in a few 
minutes the whole of the inhabitants capable of 
going were on their way to afford relief, headed 
by his affectionate mother, who was almost 
frantic with grief. In about an hour^ they- 
returned, bearing him in a canoe, which they 
had taken up for that purpose. After some 
difficulty the blood was stanched, and the lad 
suffered but little pain. Every person ; was 
anxious to render assistance ; the greater part 
of the male inhabitants remained at night, to be 
ready at a moment's warning to do anything 
that might be required. Towards midnight he 
fell asleep; and so ends this melancholy day. 
