; but I have duties to attend to
which call me away for the present; I shall therefore wish you
good-night. At all events, the Mission has had one good effect: you are
perfectly safe from Caffre violence and Caffre robbery. This homage is
paid to it even by their king and chiefs."

"I will say, that if we are only to judge by the little we have seen,
the Mission appears to have done good," observed the Major. "In the
first place, we are no longer persecuted, as we have been during our
journey, for presents; and, as you may observe, many of the Caffres
about are clothed in European fashions, and those who have nothing but
their national undress, I may call it, wear it as decently as they can."

"I made the same observation," said Alexander. "I am most anxious for
to-morrow, as I wish to see how the Caffres behave; and really, when you
consider all the difficulties which Mr S has mentioned, it is wonderful
that he and those who have embraced the same calling should persevere as
they do."

"My dear Wilmot," replied Mr Swinton, "a missionary, even of the most
humble class, is a person of no ordinary mind; he does not rely upon
himself or upon his own exertions,--he relies not upon others, or upon
the assistance of this world; if he did, he would, as you say, soon
abandon his task in despair. No; he is supported, he is encouraged, he
is pressed on by faith--faith in Him who never deserts those who trust
and believe in Him; he knows that, if it is His pleasure, the task will
be easy, but at the same time that it must be at His own good time.
Convinced of this, supported by this, encouraged by this, and venturing
his life for this, he toils on, in full assurance that if he fails,
another is to succeed,--that if he becomes a martyr, his blood will
moisten the arid soil from which the future seed will spring. A
missionary may be low in birth, low in education, as many are; but he
must be a man of exalted mind,--what in any other pursuit we might term
an enthusiast; and in this spreading of the Divine word, he merits
respect for his fervour, his courage, and self-devotion; his
willingness, if the Lord should so think fit, to accept the crown of
martyrdom."

"You are right, Swinton; nothing but what you have described could impel
a man to pass a life of privation and danger among a savage race--
leaving all, and following his Master in the true apostolic sense.
Well, they will have their reward."

"Yes, in heaven, Wilm