Judson, Adoniram, 1788-1850; Missionaries -- Burma -- Biography; Missionaries -- United States -- Biography
“During the first seven months of Mr. Judson’s imprisonment, there was
but little change. The white men all wore three pairs of fetters; but
they were suffered to walk about the prison-yard, as well as they
could with their ankles only a few inches apart, and always followed
by keepers. They were from time to time subjected to almost
innumerable annoyances, vexations, and extortions; and they were
obliged to be the witnesses of wanton cruelties which they could not
prevent, and of intense sufferings which they could not alleviate. For
the most of the time, through Mrs. Judson’s continual exertions, and
by help of occasional presents, they were allowed to spend the day in
the open shed in the yard, and Mrs. Judson was even permitted to build
a little bamboo shelter for her husband, where he could be, some
portion of the time, by himself. Mr. Judson was exceedingly nice in
his personal habits, nice even to a fault; and this herding together,
even if he had been permitted to choose his associates, would have
been exceedingly unpleasant to him. They were not all, belonging as
they did to five different nations, educated in his notions of
cleanliness, and even he was often, from necessity, offensive to
himself. Sometimes he was denied the use of water, and sometimes the
admission of clothing was forbidden; and the act of dressing, with the
ankles made fast by fetters, proved to be no simple art. With all his
efforts, and the care taken by his wife of his wardrobe, he was
sometimes in a very forlorn state. His food was such as Mrs. Judson
could provide. Sometimes it came regularly, and sometimes they went
very hungry. Sometimes, for weeks together, they had no food but rice,
savored with ngapee—a certain preparation of fish, not always
palatable to foreigners. But once, when a term of unusual quiet gave
her time for the softer and more homely class of loving thoughts, Mrs.
Judson made a great effort to surprise her husband with something that
should remind him of home. She planned and labored, until, by the aid
of buffalo beef and plantains, she actually concocted a mince pie.
Unfortunately, as she thought, she could not go in person to the
prison that day; and the dinner was brought by smiling Moung Ing, who
seemed aware that some mystery must be wrapped up in that peculiar
preparation of meat and fruit, though he had never seen the
well-spread boards of Plymouth and Bradford. But the pretty little
artifice only added another pang to a heart whose susceptibilities
were as quick and deep as, in the sight of the world, they were
silent. When his wife had visited him in prison, and borne taunts and
insults with and for him, they could be brave together; when she had
stood up like an enchantress, winning the hearts of high and low,
making savage jailers, and scarcely less savage nobles, weep; or
moved, protected by her own dignity and sublimity of purpose, like a
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account