Ke Kumu Hawaii, Volume II, Number 26, 24 May 1837 — Page 102
102 KUMU HAWAII. (MEI,
season, and, from her own testimony, a pe culiarly sweet and refreshing season to her soul. The next day she was taken sick with a cold, attended with the inflammatory sore throat. By this sickness her strength was much reduced, and her system much enfeebled. Eight sabbaths passed away in which no sanctuary privileges were hers. Much of this time she spent alone, as there was no sister associated with her, and the cares and duties of the station, now greatly increased, occupied the tune of her companion. Her mind, though often perplexed with clouds and darkness, seemed to be making rapid advances in grace. Many of her lonely hours she devoted to reading the scriptures and devotional books, to self examination, and to secret prayer. She held communion with God and heaven. Her sickness was not such as to contine her to her bed. For most of the time, she was able to attend to her domestic concerns, vet obliged to suspend all her school operations. Opportunity was sought for removing to another station, with the impression that a change of climate, place and circumstances might prove beneficial to her health. But such an opportunity, Providence did not deem proper to furnish. About the first of May, a vessel was sent to Hawaii, to convey the missionary families to Honolulu, for the annual meeting. On this Mrs. L. with her husband and others embarked, and in a few hours she found herself on Honolulu Mission premises, among missionary friends, and in the bosom of a beloved sister who had just come from that far distant land, to join her in the toils and pleasures of a missionary life. They met, and angels might have gazed with interest upon the happy meeting. They talked together of the things they had seen and known and felt, and of the dealings of the Lord towards them and their father's house. - They prayed together, and seemed to enjoy a little heaven upon the earth. They fondly thought that for them were reserved many prectons praying seasons. But so thought not the Sovereign of the world. Their meeting was but the beginning of another and a different separation. In a week after her arrival she was attacked with the diarrhea. Medical aid was employed to stay the progress of the disease, but to little purpose. It raged with an obstancy which no medicine could subdue. The system was too debilitated from her former sickness, to resist the force of the new disorder by which it was assailed. Pain and suffering followed in its train, and on the 14th of May, 1837, after a sickness of seven days, she expired, aged 24 years, and 4 months.
"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." And that she died in the Lord there is strong evidence, both from the manner of her life, and the circumstances of her death. Hers was a life of meekness, humility, tenderness, benevolence, faith, decision, energy, prayer, and devotedness to God. Her spirit of humility and prayer, she carried with her to the very threshold of the other world. Not till the struggle with the agonies of death commenced did she cease to pray. When she was apprized of her approaching dissolution, but a few hours but a few hours before it took place, she received the intelligence with perfect composure. But the announcement of such unexpected tidings, added to the influence of stupifying medicines, seemed to involve her in doubt and perplexity concerning her spiritual state. She could not speak of the glories of the upper world, with that confidence and rapture which have characterized the dying hours of many christians. Yet there is cheering evidence that she had the presence of Christ, while passing through death's dark valley, and over Jordon's swelling current. While her missionary brethren and sisters were around her dying bed, there were seasons of prayer and singing in which she expressed great delight. Passages of scripture were repeated to her, and by her own request a portion of the last chapter of Doddridge's Rise and Progress, embracing the prayer of the dying christian, was read. When asked, if she had any message for the native children of her formercharge, she said, "Tell them to repent speedily and turn unto God without delay.''
For some hours previous to her death, she was much engaged in prayer, sometimes in a whisper, and sometimes breaking out in an audible voice. In her prayers she confessed her sins and unworthiness, and took a firm hold of Christ.
At one time she broke the surrounding silence by repeating in a most distinct and impressive manner the following stanza.
"Sweet the moments, rich in blessing,
Which before the cross I spend;
Life, and health and peace possessing,
From the sinner's dying friend."
When an attending sister mentioned the three following lines.—
"Jesus can make a dying bed
Feel soft as downy pillows are,
While on his breast I lean my head,"
She emphatically added the remaining line.
"And breathe my life out sweetly there." She was heard uttering such expressions as the following. - "Have mercy on me, Oh Lord, have mercy on me for my soul trusteth in thee. Not unto us, not unto us, but unto thy name. Oh blessed Savior, receive me to thyself, that I may sup with thee and thou with me. Manifest thyself unto me as thou dost not unto the world. Do thou love me to all eternity, and may I love thee to all eternity."
Her soul seemed dead to things around her, and absorbed in the things of heaven. One time, after praying most intensely for her son and many others, she roused up as it where from an extasy, and casting her eye upon the personages about her, she exclaimed, "Oh, I thought I was in heaven, and that these were the heavenly host; but I have not got there yet."
Death's cold sweat was gathering over her, and his icy arms were grasping her dissolving system, and just as the Sabbath was ushering in its consecrated hours, the dying struggle ceased. She sweetly fell asleep and doubtless suddenly awoke amid the joys and employments of that eternal Sabbath which remains for the people of God.
"Be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not, the son of man cometh."
L. L.
NO KA MAKE ANA O LAIANA WAHINE.
Ua make ma Honolulu, Mei. 14, 1837, Mi. Laiana wahine, kekahi kumu no Waimea, ma Hawaii: he 24 kona mau makahiki a me na malama, he 4. Holo mai la oia me na misionari e ae i ka halawai makahiki ma Honolulu. I kona hiki ana ilaila, aole ikaika loa, ua nawaliwali no. He nawaliwali kona i na malama elua mamua aku. Halawai pu oia me kona kaikuaana i pae iho nei mai Amerika mai. Olioli laua i keia halawai hou ana ma ka honua nei. I ka manawa i hookaawaleia'i laua ma kela aina, kuhi laua, o ka halawai hope no ia ma keia ao. Kuhi hewa. A hiki mai kela maanei, a halawai pu me kona kaikaina, kuhi laua, liuliu ka noho pu ana a me ka hana pu ana, ma keia pae aina. Kuhi hewa hou.
A hala na la ehiku, loohia oia i ka mai hi. Ua lapaau koke ia no, aole nae i ola. Ikaika ka mai, ikaika ka eha.
A poaono, mamua iki aku o kona make ana, i aku la ke kahuna lapaau. "He mai make paha kou: e hoomakaukau oe no ka hele ana i kela ao." Lohe oia me ka pihoihoi ole no; a mahope ai, lilo oia i ka pule. Pule ekekemu manawa. A pau kekahi pule ikaika ana, nana mai oia i ka poe hoahanau e ku puni ana, a ninau mai. "Owai keia? kuhi au, ua hiki au i ka lani, a o ko ka lani poe keia: aole hoi.''
I aku la kekahi. "Kokoke nae oe ilaila." Kupaa kona manao ia Iesu; a nonoi nui aku la ia ia e hookipa i kona uhane ma kona wahi ponoi. Pule oia i kekahi manawa penei; "E aloha mai ia'u, e ka Haku, e aloha mai ia'u, no ka mea, ke hilinai nei ko'u naau ia oe."
Ikaika oia ma ka pule, no kana keiki, a me na makamaka ona, maanei, a ma Amerika; o kona makuakane no kekahi.
Ninau aku la kana kane ia ia, "Heaha kau olelo i na kamalii ma Waimea?" I mai la kela, "O ko'u manao ia lakou keia. E mihi koke lakou, a huli mai, ano, me ka hoopanee ole aku."
Aneane pau kona leo no ka nui loa o kona nawaliwali ana.