Nor is our week-day life less crowded or busy, though in different ways. At gray dawn on Monday, and every morning, the _Tavaka_ (= the canoe drum) is struck in every village on Aniwa. The whole inhabitants turn in to the early School, which lasts about an hour and a half, and then the Natives are off to their plantations. Having partaken of breakfast, I then spend my forenoon in translating or printing, or visiting the sick, or whatever else is most urgent. About two o'clock the Natives return from their work, bathe in the sea, and dine off cocoanut, breadfruit, or anything else that comes handily in the way. At three o'clock the bell rings, and the afternoon School for the Teachers and the more advanced learners then occupy my wife and myself for about an hour and a half. After this, the Natives spend their time in fishing or lounging or preparing supper,--which is amongst them always _the_ meal of the day. Towards sundown the _Tavaka_ sounds again, and the day closes amid the echoes of village prayers from under their several banyan trees. Thus day after day and week after week passed over us on Aniwa; and much the same on all the Islands where the Missionary has found a home. In many respects it is a simple and happy and beautiful life; and the man whose heart is full of things that are dear to Jesus, feels no desire to exchange it for the poor frivolities of what calls itself "Society," which seems to find its life in pleasures that Christ cannot be asked to share, and in which, therefore, Christians should have neither lot nor part. CHAPTER LXXV. THE ORPHANS AND THEIR BISCUITS. THE habits of morning and evening Family Prayer and of Grace at Meat took a very wonderful hold upon the people; and became, as I have shown elsewhere, a distinctive badge of Christian versus Heathen. This was strikingly manifested during a time of bitter scarcity that befell us. I heard a father, for instance, at his hut door, with his family around him, reverently blessing God for the food provided for them, and for all His mercies in Christ Jesus. Drawing near and conversing with them, I found that their meals consisted of fig leaves which they had gathered and cooked--a poor enough dish, but hunger makes a healthy appetite, and contentment is a grateful relish. During the same period of privation, my Orphans suffered badly also. Once they came to me, saying, "Missi, we are very hungry." I replied, "So am I, dear children, and we have no more white food till the _Dayspring_ comes." They continued, "Missi, you have two beautiful fig-trees. Will you let us take one feast of the young and tender leaves? We will not injure branch or fruit." I answered, "Gladly, my children, take your fill!"