114 LADY BRASSEY'S VISIT TO THE SHETLANDS. but into wool-fit covering for a mermaid, so light, fleecy, and blow-together is it in appearance. At Fair Island the style and texture of the knitting is quite different, the material being thick and close, while the manycoloured pattern is always arranged in form of squares, half-squares, or straight lines, never in a curve of any sort. The genuine goods are made from Fair Island wool, dyed by the islanders themselves with dyes made from seaweeds and herbs, such as madder, rag-wort, and others that grow in this desolate spot, where, not long ago, weeks and months used to pass without the visit of a single ship. It is said that the custom of dyeing the wool was first taught to the poor islanders by the survivors of the wreck of "El Gran Griffone," the flag-ship of the Spanish Armada. Certain it is that nowhere else in the world are knitted goods of the same style and colours now made, while it is also a fact that in the Dulwich Gallery there is a picture by Murillo of a woman wearing a shawl of the orthodox Fair Isle pattern. A certain quantity of ready-dyed wool is now sent to Fair Island to be knitted by the inhabitants in their own peculiar fashion but the bright new colours are not half so pretty, though much gayer than the old ones. 66 It was on the coast of Fair Island that a large German emigrant ship Lessing," was wrecked, on the 22nd May, 1868. The shores of the island are indented by long narrow fiords, with high precipitous sides, which in many cases penetrate far inland, till they at last become subterranean passages, terminating in openings in the ground above, called "blowholes." Through these, in stormy weather, the sea is often forced with great violence, producing the strange effect of waves and spray tossed into the air almost in the midst of cultivated fields. Into one of these fiords the unfortunate "Lessing," a large German emigrant ship, sailed during a dense fog. The consternation of the poor emigrants, when the vessel suddenly crushed upon the rocks may be imagined, while their astonishment and alarm, when the fog lifted, at discovering themselves hemmed in closely on all sides by steep and inaccessible rocks, in a narrow channel from which there was apparently no outlet, must have been very great. The attention of the inhabitants of the island were at last attracted, and the crew and passengers were all drawn up one by one through the the blow-hole at end of the fiord, the ship itself sinking shortly afterwards and remaining at the bottom of the sea for many months, at the end of which time she was successfully raised. Mr. John Williamson, of Kirkwall, on the occasion of our recent visit to that port in the "Sunbeam," very kindly presented us with a few articles that had been recovered from the wreck of the "Lessing" after two months' submersion, and it has occurred to me that they might form a suitable addition to the little collection of curiosities now E give (through the kindness of Mrs. H. Grattan Guinness from her interesting publication Regions Beyond) a picture of this young evangelist, Adam M'Call, with a brief reference to his work; in the hope that some young Christian sailor, whose heart God has touched, may be led to volunteer for Christ's service. Elderly men, worn out men, after a life of toil, think with what they have saved, they might settle down for their few remaining years to mission work! We appreciate the offers of such old veterans, but what the work demands, and the Master calls for, is the best life's blood of youth and manhood. We are all the more interested in Adam M'Call, because he was a near relative of my much esteemed friend, Mr. William Johnstone, who formally gave me, according to our good old English law, a treasure, so quickly transplanted to the Paradise of God. Young M'Call, so quickly called from service on earth to the perfected service of Heaven, possessed many of the heroic qualities which go to make a true Missionary. It is pleasing to see such a nature suffused with the heroism of faith. "He died at Madeira, and his mortal remains were laid to rest in Leicester Cemetery in presence of the Mayor and a large number of spectators. The funeral service, which was held in Bond Street Chapel, was conducted by the Rev. H. Grattan Guinness, the Rev. I. M. Wright, and the Rev. F. B. Meyer. The son of Dumfries parents, an architect and surveyor by profession, Mr. M'Call had during the seven years from 1872 to 1878, inclusive, travelled between 15,000 and 20,000 miles in South and South Central Africa. He visited Cape Colony, the Orange Free State, Griqualand West, Natal, the Transvaal, Bechuana Land, the Matabele Country, the Zambesi Valley, the celebrated Victoria Falls, and the Upper Waters of the Zambesi, some 2,000 miles inland from Capetown. During the last two years of his life there he traversed regions almost untrodden by white men, and for twelve months did not even receive a letter. During the last two years of this time he visited the remote stations of the London Missionary Society among the Matabele, and the stations of other societies in Bechuana Land and elsewhere. Two years ago he left England for the purpose of leading an expedition up the Stanley Pool, on the Upper Congo, accompanied by four young men, all thoroughly fitted for pioneer work. Six Missionaries had preceded them. The object was to make the mission industrial and self-sustaining, to plant stations at all advantageous points on the river, and to pass the terrible rapids which extend over a distance of nearly 200 miles, and establish a mission on Stanley Pool. Despite the difficulties, which were enormous, excellent stations had been planted at five points on the river, the furthest one near the foot of the falls. A splendid steamer had been given for conveying supplies from the coast up the Lower Congo, and another equally suitable for the Upper Congo from Stanley Pool into the interior, where, for nearly 1,000 miles, the river is navigable and the climate salubrious. It was when almost within view of the realisation of his desires Mr. M‘Call was stricken down by illness, which proved fatal a few weeks since, on his arrival, as already mentioned, at Madeira." The Rev. John M. Allen, who was at Madeira, and was the last to minister to him, writes a most touching letter to M'Call's honoured mother. We have only space for the following quotation: 6 "We then talked together, he saying he was not afraid to die. Why should I? Jesus died for me.' He then spoke of his dear father, telling me he had lost him about a year ago, and what a remarkable man he was in his love and work for Christ, in connection with Sunday schools, and also of his sudden death. He asked me in a simple boyish way, 'Perhaps you'd like to hear about it?' and when I said I would, he told me; adding, 'he went to the Sabbath school on that day, but not the one he spoke of!—to a better one!' and then he added almost abruptly VOICES OF THE RIVERS. 117 as if going back to the thought with which he began the narrative of his father's death, abruptly but with his heart in the thought, and he'll welcome me there, won't he?' "Perhaps you might like if I were to indicate some of the thoughts and expressions of your son at the throne of grace, in all probability the last time he met there with a brother on earth. "Almighty-Eternal-God,-I am very near-Thy presence-at this time, I am not able—to use—many words to Thee,—but that—is not necessary. Thou --knowest-all I want. Thou knowest-the circumstances, Lord; do-as Thou -pleasest, I have-nothing to say. I am not-dissatisfied that Thou art-about to take me-away. Why should I be! I gave myself,—body, mind, and soul— to Thee; consecrated-my whole life and being-to Thy service; and now if it please Thee-to take myself—instead of the work I would do for Thee,—what is that to me? Thy will be done. He then prayed on, ejaculating, fervently but with difficulty, and as if speaking closely to his Saviour. I remember this: Yes, blessed Jesus, I shall be with Thee !' his voice mingling with his tears. He concluded afterwards with a very sublime ending, showing how completely under control were all his faculties, as indeed they were to the very close of life." No. 1-VOICES OF THE RIVERS. (Written for "Chart and Compass" by a blind lady, author of "A Flower from Italy.") "Rivers arise, whether thou be, Of utmost Tweed, or Ouse, or gulphy Don." N our January number, "Voices of the Mighty Sea" were heard, proclaiming their Maker's messages, and the rivers, wishing to add their note to the great song of praise, have asked for a little space for them.selves. To men of the sea, who do business in great waters, the voice of the rivers will not be wholly uninteresting. They speak of the wisdom and providence of God; "He cutteth out rivers among the rocks, and His eye seeth every precious thing. He bindeth the floods from overflowing, and the thing that is hid bringeth He forth to light." (Job xxviii. 10, 11.) Cradled in a lofty mountain, a little river is born, or rather sent, to be nursed; for the high hill is but the foster mother. Tenderly she nursed her darling, and covered it with downy snow-flakes; but soon the little river, acquiring strength, left its nurse's breast, and, obedient to the call of God, began its course in life. "The mountain sent forth her little rivers unto all the trees of the field," for all God's works are intended to do His service. "They gently wander downward, As the sun sinks low, And linger amongst the pleasant flowers In the purple glow H 118 VOICES OF THE RIVERS. Yet they do not wish to linger in such a scene as this, for life is ever activity and work. "Sweet brooklet ever gliding, Now high the mountain riding, With pilgrim course I flow, For oh! by high behest, To my parent ocean's breast, -R. GRANT. Descending with rapid course towards the plain, the river gains strength even by its usefulness, and becomes the centre of civilization among men. On either side of her verdant banks the populous city rises, and she bears on her bosom the riches and hopes of nations to distant lands, bringing them good news from afar. Yet "the river floweth on." To rivers is given the task of fertilizing great districts, which otherwise would have been sandy deserts, but which by their periodical inundations become fertile plains. Such is eminently the case with the Nile, in Egypt (the Gihon of Eden). The same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia (Gen. ii. 13); and we read in Joshua that the Jordan overfloweth all its banks all the time of harvest. And now the river speaks of judgment; having been sometimes used as an instrument of wrath. As it was said to Moses: "If they will not believe, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon dry land; and the water which thou taketh out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land. He turned their rivers into blood, and their floods that they could not drink." (Ps. lxxviii. 44.) Ethiopia is spoken of as a land spoiled by rivers. (Nahum i. 4.) "The Lord rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drink up all the rivers." And again, Jordan speaks of mercy: "I will sing of mercy and of judgment." Basking in the sunshine of His love Jordan appears, typical of the blood that cleanseth from the leprosy of sin. To her the lepers were sent to wash and be clean; and on Jordan was bestowed the highest honour ever conferred upon a river, for the meek and lowly Saviour was baptised therein. Rivers, also, have served as boundaries to countries from the most ancient timesthe passing of which was considered as an act of aggression. |