CHAPTER VIII. INDIA. THE HINDOO CONVERTS. THE ETC. "THERE is but little to interest in the life of an obscure individual," said Judith, thoughtfully, "and there is none more so than the wife of a common soldier, obliged to wash the shirts of her husband's comrades for the means of subsistence; however, there is no condition in life more degrading than utter uselessness, and the soldier's wife generally escapes this from necessity. In the voyage to India there is much to attract the attention, particularly to young and enquiring minds; the wild storms of the ocean were a source of pleasure rather than distress to me, for the transport was never in immediate danger. I had read Falconer's beautiful poem, 'The Shipwreck,' and all his grand imagery presented itself to my mind. I thought of Paul, and the tender care of Providence, and of Jesus walking on the bosom of the tempest, and hushing the fears of his sinking disciples; and by contemplating the wonderful works of nature, I felt a greater adoration for their Divine Author. I read my Bible more, and gradually regained that tranquil state of mind which I experienced, when dear old Susan Gray wrestled in prayer on my behalf, and which she called my first love. How often have I remembered with gratitude that interview; when wearied and faint, on the plains of Hindostan, I have recalled it; when encamped on the bloodstained fields of Spain, the remembrance has been as a bright and heavenly vision; and in that lonely convent, the vesper bell and matin hymn have brought back the peaceful thought. How often have I related it to the suffering soldier, when his wounds have led him to think of rejected counsels, the tears of his mother, the gray hairs of his father, brought with sorrow to the grave, by the disobedience of his son. It may naturally be supposed that the life I had adopted, did not admit of many indulgences. Not many weeks after landing, the regiment was under the necessity of marching from morning until night, when the thermometer was very high; necessity demanded it, for the armies were in the field. Our small but gallant band was annoyed by the flying squadrons of the enemy, but without creating any serious alarm; and we arrived safe at our destination. There is so much excitement in the movements of an army, that there is but little opportunity for reflection or collected observation. I will not relate the revolting scenes attending victorious or defeated troops, of bloodstained fields, burning villages, ghastly famine, and the wail of sorrow. The heart sickens when we think of the evil passions which the love of conquest and power create; deforming the fair face of creation, and destroying the handiworks of peace; for nowhere smiles more benignantly the God of nature than in India. 'Nothing can be more glorious than an Indian landscape, during the period, or soon after the rainy season, when the whole country is replete with fragrance and verdure; when many of the more delicate plants, which had vanished or languished under the intolerable heat, put forth their blossoms of every hue with astonishing rapidity, and seem, by their wild luxuriance, to express their gratitude to the great Being, by whose power they have sprung into life and beauty. An endless variety of shrubs adorn the hedges; bindweeds, and other climbers interlace their flexible brarches, overtop the hedges and decorate every lofty tree with festoons of living drapery. "We admire the lovely plains teeming with plenty, and the jungle rioting in wild and luxuriant grandeur, the noble rivers, and magnificent temples; but when we remember the hard lot of the poor who cultivate the plains, the blood-thirsty tigers which infest the jungle, noble rivers polluted by human sacrifices, and held sacred as Deity, and gorgeous temples, not dedicated to the pure and living God, but to the most disgraceful rites and ceremonies which priestcraft or the hideous deformities of the human mind can invent; the thousands of pilgrims who travel from remote distances, braving hardships and difficulties the most appalling, to wash in the sacred stream, or fall down before an idol, or throw themselves under the wheels of the car of Juggernaut: we turn to scenes more endearing. Our father-land, where the gentle rays of the Christian faith warms the heart and illumes the mind, temples dedicated to the Saviour of men, the peaceful Sabbath and quiet worshippers, some bending (perhaps not with age), but from the six days' toil, wearied in body, but the soul radiant with hope, looking to an inheritance which fadeth not away; no painful penances are required, no superstitious rites per 1 formed, but the uplifted heart, the joyous hymn, and contrite sigh, which are offerings meet for the Lord of lords and King of kings." "Idolatry is painful for the Christian to reflect upon," said the Pastor, "do the British army and residents use their influence to check its progress, that is by their example and teaching?" "No Sir, the teaching of the army is subjugation by the sword, and the example of the British residents is generally to gather wealth, with as little feeling as the vulture which gloats over the slain, and fattens at the expense of sorrow; the devoted Christian sometimes sees the fruit of his labour, but the cases are isolated, the intelligent Hindoo is fertile in arguments, difficult to overcome. I am referring to the educated who have become acquainted with European literature, they seem suspicious of all religious creeds, and either become Deist or practical Atheist. The dim light from the Christian's torch is not calculated to guide them in the narrow way. A Brahmin once said, 'Our system is an ants' nest of falsehoods, but when we see a devotee throw himself before an idol, and subjects himself unto the severest pain, we imagine there is at least sincerity; the Christians come from the shores of the West, and would have us all become Nazarenes, but they do not forget to rob us of our country, dethrone our princes, and those they cannot enslave fall victims to their swords, and when they tell us of missions of peace, and the love of Christ to man, what can we think of their truthfulness? Tamerlane with his remorseless hordes, pillaged our shrines, destroyed our ancient temples, trampled upon every human right, and planted his standard in the name of one of the greatest impostors, that has ever disgraced humanity. We make some excuse for infatuation, because their sacred book teaches conversion by the sword, and panders to the basest of human passions; but the Christian's banner is meekness, charity, and love, but soon as it floated in the breeze of India, it was the emblem of a destroying angel; this is a natural way of reasoning; the nominal Christian is a stumbling block to the heathen." The Pastor remarked, sorrowfully, "These are humiliating reflections, it is a stumbling block to witness our avarice and iron grasp of power. The Saviour of mankind came proclaiming peace and good will. Although rich, for our sakes he became poor, and said, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head." The common enemy of the immortal soul takes advantage of our inconsistencies, but the time will certainly come when "the lion shall lie down with the lamb." Yes, "all shall know Him from the least unto the greatest." I hope there has been some good seed sown in India, that may yet bring forth abundantly. I love to look upon the sunny side, the few grains you may have dropped by the way, may swell into a mighty -harvest at the gathering of the nations. "Alas!" said Judith, "I have been an unprofitable servant; yet I do remember, with much pleasure, some tokens of good arising from words spoken in season. The poor of India as in other countries are more open to conviction than the rich, it is a law of the natural mind to trample upon weakness, the weak feel it and are glad to flee to any city of refuge for repose. Whilst |