Book-bot.com - read famous books online for free

The Moravians in Labrador by Anonymous
page 112 of 220 (50%)
her in this disconsolate situation, and brought her to Okkak. Here the
missionaries soon perceived such an earnest desire after salvation as
they say they had never before seen in any Esquimaux, though she at
first spoke but little. In 1789, she was baptized, and soon after was
a partaker of the holy supper. She lived in constant communion with
her Saviour, for she had learned to know him as her comforter, her
counsellor and help, and often said, "He is indeed my Father; wherever
I go, and wherever I am, he is with me, and I can tell him every
thing." Esther was the first converted person among the Esquimaux who
continued faithful unto the end, without allowing herself in any thing
sinful, and though often asked in marriage by unbelievers, so far was
she from listening to such proposals, that her reply was, "I would not
disturb my present enjoyment even to marry a believer." For had she
married, she must have gone in summer with the other Esquimaux to the
distant places where they procured their furs and skins, while in her
present state she could always remain at the settlement, and enjoy
the privileges of a Christian church. She learned to read and write,
so that she wrote letters with her own hand to the sisters at Nain. In
June 1792, when she was taken ill, she sweetly repeated, "Whether I
live I am the Saviour's, whether I die I am the Saviour's--living or
dying I am the Saviour's! Yes! he hath bought me with his blood, and
he will take me to himself!" She died after three days illness, aged
thirty years.

About this time the hearts of the missionaries were revived by the
joyful news, that Tuglavina had begun to think about his soul, and
seemed in earnest. This furious savage, by strength, courage, and
activity, had procured a commanding influence among his countrymen;
who so highly dreaded him as a chief, and trembled at his supernatural
powers as an Angekok, that his word was a law; and he had only to
DigitalOcean Referral Badge