John G. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides, volume 1 (of 3) : $b An autobiography edited by his brotherPaton, John Gibson
Religion
John G. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides, volume 1 (of 3) : $b An autobiography edited by his brother
Paton, John Gibson
Missionaries -- Vanuatu -- Biography; Paton, John Gibson, 1824-1907
My fever had reached the worst stage, but I struggled to my feet, got to
his bedside, and found him in a state of coma, with his teeth fixed in
tetanus. With great difficulty we succeeded in slightly rousing him;
with a knife, spoon, and pieces of wood, we forced his teeth open, so as
to administer an emetic with good effects, and also other needful
medicines. For twelve hours, we had to keep him awake by repeated cold
dash in his face, by ammonia, and by vigorously moving him about. He
then began to speak freely; and next day he rose and walked about a
little. For the two following days, he was sometimes better and
sometimes worse; but we managed to keep him up till the morning of the
21st, when he again fell into a state of coma from which we failed to
rouse him. At two o’clock in the afternoon, he fell asleep, another
martyr for the testimony of Jesus in those dark and trying Isles,
leaving his young wife in indescribable sorrow, which she strove to bear
with Christian resignation. Having made his coffin and dug his grave, we
two alone at sunset laid him to rest beside my own dear wife and child,
close by the Mission House.
In Mrs. Johnston’s account, in a letter to friends regarding his death,
she says:—
“Next morning, the 17th, he rose quite well. He slept well the night
before from having taken a dose of laudanum. He also gave some to me, as
I had been ill all the day, having slept little for two or three
nights.... Two men helped Mr. Paton to his bedside, as I found him lying
very low in fever, yet he waited on Mr. Johnston affectionately. For
some time, while he was in Mr. Paton’s hands, I could scarcely keep
myself up at all. We thought it was from the laudanum I had taken. I had
to throw myself down every few minutes.... For some weeks after, I was
almost constantly bedfast. I ate little; still I felt no pain, but very
stupid.... At times, we have services with the Natives. For a week past,
we have scarcely gone to bed without fears. One night, our house was
surrounded with crowds of armed men, ready at any moment to break in
upon us for our lives. We have had to sit in the house for days past,
with the doors locked, to prevent any of the savages from entering; for
every party seems to be united against us now. The great sickness that
prevails amongst them is the cause of this rage. They say, we made the
disease, and we must be killed for it; that they never died off in this
way before the religion came amongst them, etc., etc.”
Mrs. Johnston recovered gradually, returned by the first opportunity to
Aneityum, and for nearly three years taught the girls’ School at Dr.
Geddie’s Station. Thereafter she was married to my dear friend the Rev.
Joseph Copeland, and spent with him the remainder of her life on Fotuna,
working devotedly in the service of the Mission, seeking the salvation
of the Heathen.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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