d
brothers and sisters, but the young woman in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, to
whom he had given his affection, could not join him. Once it had been
decided that they were to go together, but during the last days the
enfeebled widowed mother's courage failed her. She could not relinquish
her daughter to what seemed to her separation for life. Mr. Talmage had to
choose between the call of duty to China and going alone, or tarrying at
home and realizing his heart's hopes. He went to China. By a special
Providence it was not much more than two years after he set sail that he
was again in the United States. The mother of Miss Abby Woodruff had died,
and the union was consummated.

Mr. Talmage kept a diary of the voyage. A few extracts will prove
interesting.

"Left Somerville April 10, 1847, via New York to Boston. Sailed from
Boston in ship Heber, April 15th. Farewell services on board conducted by
Bishop Janes, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Heber is a ship of
436 tons, 136 feet long, 27 wide. Among the passengers are Rev. E. Doty
and wife, and Rev. Moses C White and wife, and Rev. I. D. Collins. The
three latter are Methodist missionaries bound for Foochow (China)." They
were the pioneers of Methodist missions in China.

On Thursday evening, the cay of sailing, he writes: "I am now upon the
bosom of the mighty deep. But I cannot as yet feel any fear. I am in the
hands of the Being 'whose I am and whom I serve.' In His hands there is
safety. I will not fear though the earth be removed. Besides, there are
Christian friends praying for me. Oh, the consolation in the assurance
that at the throne of grace I am remembered by near and dear friends! Will
not their prayers be heard? They will. I know they will. The effectual
fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much! When I took leave of my
friends, one, and another, and another, assured me that they would remember
me in their prayers. Yes, and I will remember them."

April 17th. Speaking of Mr. Collins, he says: "I think we shall much enjoy
ourselves. We shall study, read, sing, and pray together, talk and walk
together. From present appearances we shall feel towards each other as
David and Jonathan did." Mr. Collins was a man of intense missionary
convictions, who declared if there were no means to send him to China he
would find his way before the mast, and work his way there.

"April 22. We have now been one week on our voyage. We commenced our
studies toda