John G. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides, volume 2 (of 3) : $b An autobiography edited by his brotherPaton, John Gibson
Religion
John G. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides, volume 2 (of 3) : $b An autobiography edited by his brother
Paton, John Gibson
Missionaries -- Vanuatu -- Biography; Paton, John Gibson, 1824-1907
Next after God’s own Word, perhaps the power of Music was most
amazingly blessed in opening up our way. Amongst many other
illustrations, I may mention how Namakei’s wife was won. The old lady
positively shuddered at coming near the Mission House, and dreaded
being taught anything. One day she was induced to draw near the door,
and fixing a hand on either post, and gazing inwards, she exclaimed,
“Awái, Missi! Kái, Missi!”—the Native cry for unspeakable wonder. Mrs.
Paton began to play on the harmonium, and sang a simple hymn in the old
woman’s language. Manifestly charmed, she drew nearer and nearer, and
drank in the music, as it were, at every pore of her being. At last
she ran off, and we thought it was with fright, but it was to call
together all the women and girls from her village “to hear the _bokis_
sing!” (Having no _x_, the word _box_ is pronounced thus.) She returned
with them all at her heels. They listened with dancing eyes. And ever
after the sound of a hymn, and the song of the _bokis_, made them flock
freely to class or meeting.
Being myself as nearly as possible destitute of the power of singing,
all my work would have been impaired and sadly hindered, and the
joyous side of the Worship and Service of Jehovah could not have been
presented to the Natives, but for the gift bestowed by the Lord on my
dear wife. She led our songs of praise, both in the family and in the
Church, and that was the first avenue by which the New Religion winged
its way into the heart of Cannibal and Savage.
The old Chief was particularly eager that this same aged lady, his wife
Yauwaki, should be taught to read. But her sight was far gone. So,
one day, he brought her to me, saying, “Missi, can you give my wife
also a pair of new glass eyes like mine? She tries to learn, but she
cannot see the letters. She tries to sew, but she pricks her finger,
and throws away the needle, saying, ‘The ways of the white people are
not good!’ If she could get a pair of glass eyes, she would be in a new
world like Namakei.” In my bundle I found a pair that suited her. She
was in positive terror about putting them on her face, but at last she
cried with delight,—
“Oh, my new eyes! my new eyes! I have the sight of a little girl. I
will learn hard now. I will make up for lost time.”
[Illustration: “OH, MY NEW EYES!”]
Her progress was never very great, but her influence for good on other
women and girls was immense.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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