1/ 
 
 MISSIONARY ANNALS. 
 
 THE LIFE OF \ / 
 
 ADONIBAM JUDSON, 
 
 MISSIONARY TO BURMAH, 
 1813 to 1850. 
 
 / 
 
 JULIA H. JOHNSTOH. 
 
 FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY 
 New York Chicago Toronto 
 
 Publishera of Evangelical Literature 
 

 t>. 
 
 § RMC 
 
 Copyright, 18fi7, bv tne 
 Woman's Presbyterian Board of Missions 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 I. BIETH— BOYHOOD — EAKLY CHAKACTERISTICS AND AMBITIONS. 
 
 II. AFTER GRADUATIOJST — SKEPTICAL VIEWS — WANDEKINGS AND 
 ADVENTITRES — CONVEKSION — CONSECKATION TO THE MINISTRY. 
 
 ni. FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF DUTY BBGARDINCf MISSION WORK — CON- 
 VICTION STRENGTHENED — NEW ASSOCIATES — APPLICATION FOR 
 APPOINTMENT AS A MISSIONARY — ORGANIZATION OP A. B. C. P. M. 
 
 IV. JOURNEY TO ENGLAND — CAPTURE BY FRENCH PRIVATEER — 
 IMPRISONMENT IN BAYONNE — RESCUE — RECEPTION IN ENGLAND 
 — RETURN — APPOINTMENT BY THE BOARD — ACQUAINTANCE 
 WITH ANN HASSBLTINE. 
 
 V. MARRIAGE — DEPARTURE FOR INDIA — CHANGE OF ■WBW8 ON 
 BAPTISM — DIFFICULTY OF FINDING FOOTHOLD IN INDIA — SET- 
 TLEMENT IN RANGOON. 
 
 VI. BURMAH. 
 
 Vll. LIFE IN RANGOON — DEATH OF LITTLE ROGER — THE STUDY OF 
 THE LANGUAGE — THE FIRST INQUIRER — MATTHEW TRANS- 
 LATED — THE FIRST BAPTISM. 
 
 VIII. ZAYAT WORK — TRIP TO AVA — FAILURE OF THE MISSION AT 
 COTHT — MRS. JUDSON'S VISIT TO AMERICA — SECOND JOURNEY 
 TO AVA — PURPOSE TO ESTABLISH A MISSION — REMOVAL TO 
 AVA. 
 
 IX. COOL RECEPTION IN AVA — POLITICAL COMPLICATIONS — WAR 
 CLOUDS — ARREST — PRISON LIFE IN AVA — THE HEROISM OF 
 HUSBAND AND WIFE. 
 
 X. REMOVAL TO OUNG-PEN-LA — RELEASE — REQUIRED TO ACT AS 
 INTERPRETER — FINAL FREEDOM — FOUNDING OF AMHERST 
 
 iii 
 
IV CONTENTS. 
 
 XI. REMOVAL TO AMIIETJST — JOUIINEY TO ATA WITH ENGLISH EM- 
 BASSY — DEATH OF MRS. J0DSON — RETURN TO AMHEBST — 
 DEATH OP LITTLE MARIA — REMOVAL TO MAULMAIN. 
 
 XII. SOLITARY LIFE — DEPRESSION OF SPIRITS — SELF-RENUNCIATION 
 
 — RECOVERY OF EQUILIBRIUM — ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH MIS- 
 SION AT PROME — RETURN TO K.'^.NGOON — SECLUSION FOR BIBLE 
 TRANSLATION — DEATH OF MR. BOARDMAN. 
 
 XIII. RETURN TO MAULMAIN — TOURS IN KABKN JUNGLES — MARRIAGE 
 TO MRS. BOARDMAN. 
 
 XIV. MISSION TO THE JEWS PLANNED — COMPLETION OF BUBMAN 
 BIBLE — BEGINNING OF COMPILATION OF BURMAN DICTIONARY 
 
 — DOMESTIC LIFE — ILLNESS. 
 
 XV. MRS. JUDSON'S failing health — SEA VOYAGE — REVTVING 
 STRENGTH — PLAN FOR DR. JUDSON TO RETURN TO HIS WORK — 
 RELAPSE — DEATH OF MRS. JUDSON. 
 
 XVI. ARRIVAL IN AMERICA — PUBLIC HONORS — ACQUAINTANCE WITH 
 MISS EMILY CHUBBUCK. 
 
 XVII. MARRIAGE — LONGINGS TO RETURN — DEPARTURE — ARRIVAL IN 
 MAULMAIN — REMOVAL TO RANGOON — RETURN TO MAULMAIN 
 
 — "MY BIRD." 
 
 XVIII. DOMESTIC LIFE — FAILURE OF MRS. JUDSON'S HEALTH — ILLNESS 
 OF DR. JUDSON. 
 
 XIX. SEA VOYAGE UNDERTAKEN — ALARMING SYMPTOMS — DEATH AND 
 BURIAL. 
 
 XX. RESULTS OF LABOR — CHARACTER AND INFLUENCE — CONQUEST 
 AND CROWN. 
 
ADOJS"IEAM JUDSOlir. 
 
 CHAPTEE I. 
 
 BIBTH — BOYHOOD — EABIiY CHABACTEBISTICS AND AUBTnOSB. 
 
 ALL life is a book of beginnings — the end is not yet. 
 We may note the cause and watch the continuance 
 of influence and event, but the conclusion is beyond us still. 
 
 We are usually much interested in first things — the 
 earliest inception of conspicuous movements, the dawn of 
 great eras, the seed thoughts of mighty revolutions, or the 
 turning points of Vonderful victories. 
 
 The early history of the era of modern missions in 
 America is interesting to all who love the cause, and to the 
 simply curious as well, while, because we like to have a 
 personal center for all events, the story of one of those most 
 nearly concerned in the great movement enlists our atten- 
 tion at once. 
 
 For this reason the name of Dr. Judson stirs the desire 
 to know intimately " the man who fiUed a hemisphere and 
 half a century with deeds of sublime devotion;" the mis- 
 sionary whose life and labors are the heritage of the Chris- 
 tian world. 
 
 Adoniram Judson was born in Maiden, Mass., August 9, 
 1788. The distance of a hundred years, save one, may " lend 
 enchantment " to the view of that doubtless old-fashioned 
 cradle and the dark-eyed baby boy. He was the eldest son 
 of Adoniram and Abigail Judson, the father being a Con- 
 gregational minister, a man of inflexible integrity and great 
 
 6 
 
6 LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON. 
 
 strength of character ; the mother, more gentle, but devoted 
 and true. The father's family government was somewhat 
 patriarchal. His dignified authority none dared to defy, 
 his one seeming weakness being a desire for eminence for 
 his children, sometimes unguardedly shown. At this period 
 of American history, nearly every mother seemed to expect 
 her son to be " the coming man," and the record is, that 
 publishing houses were burdened with little biographies of 
 " old heads on young shoulders." Adoniram's mother must 
 have shared this prevalent feeling, for she gave him long 
 pieces to learn, and taught the precocious child to read at 
 the tender age of three. 
 
 She stimulated him to accomplish this during the father's 
 absence at one time, and upon his return, his boy surprised 
 him by reading a chapter in the Bible. Strange to relate, 
 he survived this forcing process apparently unhurt ; but he 
 neither practiced it nor recommended it for other children 
 afterward. 
 
 At four years of age he was fond of " playing church" 
 with the little children of the neighborhood, always acting 
 as preacher himself, and even then his favorite hymn was, 
 " Go preach my gospel, saith the Lord." 
 
 He was an enterprising youth, and of an investigating 
 turn. At the age of seven, becoming seriously interested in 
 the question of the sun's moving, he determined to settle it 
 for himself, as he wished to do with every diflBculty, and 
 made his astronomical observations lying flat on his back, 
 gazing through a hole in his hat. In this position he was 
 found at noon, after a long absence from the house, with 
 his eyes swollen and nearly blinded by the light. He pri- 
 vately informed his little sister that he had " found out about 
 the sun's moving," but how he reached his conclusion he 
 never told her. 
 
-LIFE OF ADONIKAM JDDSON. 7 
 
 At ten he studied navigation, and made great progress. 
 In the grammar school he became especially proficient in 
 Greek. The boys called him " Old Yirgil dug up," partly 
 because of a peculiar hat which he wore, and partly because 
 of his studious habits. 
 
 At sixteen he entered what is now Brown University, 
 a year in advance. He was very ambitious to excel, and 
 one of his classmates writes of him : " I have no recollection 
 of his ever faihng or even hesitating in a recitation." He 
 was graduated at the age of nineteen, and was appointed 
 valedictorian of his class, of which honor he enthusiastically 
 informed his father in a short letter : " Dear Father, I have 
 got it. Your affectionate son, A. Judson." 
 
 The president of the college, in a letter to the father, 
 testified to the uniform good conduct and diligence of the 
 promising young student. 
 
 Young Judson's early ambitions were lofty and boundless, 
 even extravagant, in their character and comprehensiveness. 
 Something great and grand he would be, and preeminent, 
 whatever the profession or position. At one time, when 
 especially indulging these anticipations, his thoughts were 
 embittered by the sudden question, " "What then ? " and his 
 mind turned toward religious pursuits, with some apprecia- 
 tion of the distinction of being " a great divine." But h« 
 was startled at the feelings roused, and was afraid to look 
 into his heart, lest he find that he did not really wish t«» 
 become a Christian. 
 
LIFE OF ADONIKAM JTJDSOS. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 AFTER GRADTTATION — SKEPTICAL VIEWS — ■WANDBRXNGS ASO ADVENTURES 
 — CONVERSION — CONSECRATION TO THE MINISTRY. 
 
 Il^ 180Y young Judson opened a private academy in 
 Plymouth, where he taught fo;!? nearly a year, and in 
 leisure moments prepared " The Elements of English Gram- 
 mar," and " Young Lady's Arithmetic," books which were 
 extremely creditable to the author, considering his years. 
 
 Though breathing a Christian atmosphere from infancy, 
 and living an upright life, the heart of this young man was, 
 as yet, untouched by the truth. 
 
 While in college he was much influenced by a brilliant 
 
 young, man named E , who was a confirmed deist, and 
 
 from him imbibed skeptical views, for which his father 
 treated him severely, while his mother wept over him. His 
 father's arguments he believed he could answer, but his 
 mother's tears he could not forget. 
 
 After closing Plymouth Academy, the young teacher de 
 termined to " see the world," and set out on a tour through 
 the northern states, an expedition filled with adventures, and 
 escapades too, perhaps, if the truth be told. At all events, he 
 afterward regretted many of the experiences and exploits of 
 this trip. The gentle and serious conversation of a young 
 minister, whom he met incidentally at Sheffield, made a 
 deep impression, which he could not quite dismiss. 
 
 The next night, stopping at a country inn, the landlord 
 mentioned that a young man lay dying in the room next 
 his, but he hoped it would not seriously disturb the night'j^ 
 rest. 
 
ilFE 01 ADUNIKAII JtJDSON. 8 
 
 Though asserting that the nearness of death made no 
 difference to him, save to excite sympathy, it was a restless 
 night for young Judson. He could not help wondering if 
 the man were ready to die, though such questionings put to 
 
 blush his new philosophy. " What would his friend E 
 
 think of him ! " 
 
 As soon as possible in the morning he sought the landlord 
 with inquiries for his feUow'lodger. " He is dead," was the 
 announcement. 
 
 '■'■Dead! Do you know who he was?" 
 
 " Oh, yes ; it was a young man from Providence College, 
 a fine fellow. His name was E ." 
 
 It was an hour before the shock of this intelligence 
 allowed connected thought. "Dead! dead! Lost! lost!" 
 The words would ring in his ears. Judson knew now, in his 
 inmost soul, that the religion of the Bible was true. 
 
 Giving up all thought of further travel he returned to 
 Plymouth, and, after conference with the theological pro- 
 fessors at Andover, entered that institution one year in 
 advance. As he was not a professing Christian, an exception 
 to the rule was made in his favor, in the hope that, while 
 pursuing the studies toward which his mind was turning, 
 light would come to the troubled spirit. 
 
 The marked day in his calendar was December 2, 1808, 
 when he solemnly dedicated himself to God. In May, 1809, 
 he united with Plymouth Congregational Church, being then 
 twenty-one years of age. His father, the pastor, received 
 him into the church. His consecration to the ministry 
 seemed inseparable from his conversion ; and now the ardor 
 of his nature emphasized and colored his whole Christian 
 life. " Holiness to the Lord " was henceforth to be written 
 on every power and faculty of body, mind and spirit. Not 
 that he immediately attained it ; long and sharp must be the 
 
10 LIFE OF ADONIKAM JTJDSON. 
 
 struggle before self and self-seeking could be erased, and tlie 
 inscription shine in letters of light. 
 
 " Is it pleasing to God ? " was the question he wished to 
 ask himself with reference to everything. 
 
 To assist his memory, he inscribed it on several articles 
 sure to m'eet his eye very often, saying of this expedient, " Is 
 it not a good plan ? But, after all, it will be of no use unless 
 I resolve in Divine strength instantly to obey the decision of 
 
LIFE OF ADONIKAM JUD80N. 11 
 
 CHAPTEE III. 
 
 FIEST IMPRESSIONS OP DUTY KEQAEDING MISSION -WOEK — ^'COTTVICTION 
 STRENGTHENED — NEW ASSOCIATES — APPLICATION FOR APPOINTMENT 
 AS A MISSIONARY — ORGANIZATION OF THE A. B. C. F. M. 
 
 IN" September, 1819, came one of the turning-points in 
 Mr. Judson's life — one of " the beginnings " ; and all 
 through the reading of a little book. 
 
 How well it was that to the Kev. Dr. Claudius Buchanan 
 "the angel said, Write," for it was his little book, called 
 " The Star in the East," that was influential in first turn- 
 ing the student's thought to the claims of foreign missions. 
 After seriously considering his own duty, he decided, in 
 February, 1810, that God had called him to the distant and 
 diificult field. He inust obey, and he would. His impetu- 
 ous and tumultuous spirit was carried into this, as well as 
 into everything else. His enthusiasm was boundless. He 
 devoured everything he could find upon this subject in the 
 most voracious way. But it is notable that, while the imme- 
 diate effect of that first book and that initial impulse natur- 
 ally passed away, and he took a more comprehensive view 
 of the subject, Jiis ardor continued unabated till life's end. 
 His " passion for missions " never cooled or wavered. He 
 was once asked, "whether faith or love most influenced 
 his decision." He replied that it was little of either in him- 
 self, but that one day, walking in the woods at Andover, 
 when all seemed gloomy and the distant field dismayed 
 him, suddenly the great command " Go ye !" came to him 
 with such power that he felt he must obey, and after that 
 he never faltered for an instant, 
 
12 LIFE OF ADONIRAM JUDSON. 
 
 His thoughts turned toward the East, and Burmah 
 especially attracted his eager heart, after reading Col. 
 Syme's "Embassy to Ava." His romantic nature found 
 these glowing pictures peculiarly congenial ; but it is again 
 remarkable that the interest thus developed was never lost, 
 though the fervid feeling excited by the book could not 
 keep its white heat. 
 
 Samuel Nott, Jr., was the first, and for a time the only 
 one, to give encouragement to the young enthusiast. 
 
 While Mr. Judson was considering the question of his 
 own duty, four young men came from WiUiams College to 
 Andover. These were Samuel J. MiUs, Jr., James Kich- 
 ards, Luther Eice and Gordon HaU. The famous "Hay- 
 stack Monument," in Williamstown, now marks the spot 
 where these young men consecrated themselves to the work 
 of Foreign Missions. Their comimg to Andover at this time 
 was most opportune. God's providences always are. The 
 germinal thought, already in Mr. Judson's mind, no doubt 
 grew into purpose partly through the influence of these 
 kindred spirits. Henceforth a common impulse moved these 
 devoted young men, and they took counsel together con- 
 cerning the matters of the kingdom in its utmost borders. 
 
 Although the missionary constitution, to which they 
 affixed their names, pledged each to hold himself in readi- 
 ness to go on a mission when and where God should call, 
 there was no way open whereby they might, be sent. 
 
 The only existing organization, the Massachusetts Mis- 
 sionary Society, founded in 1799, was limited to work in 
 New England and among the Indians. Advised by their 
 friends, the young men submitted to the General Associa- 
 tion, which met at Bradford, a paper presenting their wishes 
 and purposes in reference to foreign work, and asking sup- 
 port, direction and prayers. Four students signed this 
 
LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON. 13 
 
 paper. The names of two others, originally appended, were 
 stricken oflf for fear of alarming the ministers by too great 
 a number ! Acting upon this petition, the Association passed 
 'a set of resolutions, virtually organizing a new society 
 adapted to present needs, and thus came into being the 
 American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. 
 
14 LIFE OF ADONIBAM JUDSOS. 
 
 CHAPTEE IV. 
 
 JomiNET TO El^GLAOT) — CAPTUEB BT FBENCH PKIVATEEB — IMPBI80H- 
 MBNT IN BAYONKE — KESCTJE — KBCEPTION IN ENGLAND — RETURN — 
 APPOINTMENT BY THE BOARD — ACQUAINTANCE WITH ANN HASSELTINE. 
 
 THE new Board of Missions, " an infant of days," and 
 uncertain as to the support to be expected from the 
 churches, was not ready for immediate aggressive action, 
 and deemed it expedient to discover if English cooperation 
 might not be possible and advisable. To this end Mr. Jud- 
 son was sent to London to confer with the Missionary Soci- 
 ety on the question of support for the candidates, either 
 entire or partial. 
 
 He sailed for London January 11, 1811. The ship 
 " Packet " was captured on the way by a French privateer, 
 and the first real hardships of this youthful life, which were 
 then endured, brought with them the temptation to regiet 
 the choice made. He could not help thinking of "the big- 
 gest church in Boston," whose co-pastorship he had been 
 offered and had refused. It was his first moment of mis- 
 giving, but was speedily overcome by recourse to the refuge 
 with which he was familiar. 
 
 Arrived in Bayonne, while being marched through the 
 streets to prison, he exhausted his small stock of French in 
 protest against the injustice, and then began declaiming 
 violently in English, hoping to attract attention, which he 
 did, finally — a stranger advising him, in the same lan- 
 guage, to stop his " senseless clamor." " I will," said Mr. 
 Judson, "with great pleasure. I was only clamoring for 
 a listener." He then explained his position, and found 
 
LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON. 15 
 
 that the gentleman was an American, and willing to help 
 him. 
 
 "Worn and iU as he was, from the discomforts of the voy- 
 age, the prison air and filthy appointments made him faint 
 and siolf . He could not bear to lie down upon the wretched 
 straw, and so paced up and down for hours, as it seemed, 
 wondering if his new friend would come. Thoughts of home 
 and of "the biggest church in Boston" were again sug- 
 gested by the tempter, but this time with no power to dis- 
 hearten even, for courage and-faith had triumphed. 
 
 At length the friendly stranger came, in company with 
 the jailer, and wearing an immense cloak. " Let me see," 
 said the American, indifferently, " if I know any of these 
 poor feUows. No; no friends of mine," he added, care- 
 lessly, after examination ; and approaching Mr. Judson, dex- 
 terously flung his cloak over him, and concealing him in the 
 voluminous folds, slipped out with him, blinding the jailer's 
 eyes by a piece of money as they passed him. 
 
 But, though rescued from prison, six weeks of seclusion 
 passed before the necessary papers were obtained which 
 would insure safe departure from France. 
 
 When at length Mr. Judson reached England his recep- 
 tion was most gratifying. He is described as being at this 
 time " small and delicate in figure, with a round, rosy face, 
 giving an appearance of extreme youthfulness, his hair and 
 eyes being a dark shade of brown. His voice took people 
 by surprise. Being once in the pulpit with Eowland Hill, 
 and reading a hymn by request, that eccentric minister said, 
 by way of introduction afterward, that this young brother 
 intended to devote himself to the conversion of the heathen, 
 adding, "and if his faith is proportioned to his voice, he 
 will drive the devil from all India." 
 
 The London Missionary Society deemed cooperation un- 
 
IC LIFS OF ADONIEAM JUDSON. 
 
 wise, but offered appointments to the yoiing men, -which, 
 upon hearing, the American Board thought best to decline, 
 and therefore undertook their support, and formally com- 
 missioned them to labor in Asia, as Providence should open 
 the way. 
 
 With a fair prospect of his heart's desire being given 
 him, to go to " regions beyond," Mr. Judson had also the 
 hope of companionship thither in the person of Miss Ann 
 Hasseltine, whom he met at the memorable meeting at 
 Bradford, seeing her for the first time at her father's table, 
 as she waited upon the guests. A beautiful, gifted and 
 sprightly young girl she was. Her attention was attracted 
 toward the young minister whose bold missionary projects 
 had made such a stir. To her amazement he seemed absorbed 
 in his plate! She could not knovr, however, that he was at 
 that moment engaged in composing a graceful stanza in her 
 praise. He must have told her afterward, though, or how 
 should we know ? It is not probable that he wasted that 
 beautiful verse. 
 
 Miss Hasseltine, in early girlhood, was of a restless, mirth- 
 ful, vivacious spirit, and richly endowed with personal and 
 mental gifts. At the age of sixteen, the " beauty of the Lord 
 our God" gave grace to every gift, and she was thereafter, 
 in every way, divinely fitted for the life upon which she' 
 was to enter, as one of the first lady-missionaries ever sent 
 from America to a heathen laud. 
 
rjFE OF ADONIBAM JUPgCXJ^ IT 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 HAEKIAGE — DBPAETUKE FOR INDIA — CHANGE OF TIEWS ON BAPTISM — 
 DIFFICULTY OF FINDING FOOT-HOLD IN INDIA — SETTLEMENT IN HAN- 
 GOON. 
 
 ON the 5th of February, 1812, Mr. Judson was married 
 to Miss Hasseltine, having taken final leave of his 
 parents two days before. They never opposed his going, 
 although it was a costly sacrifice for them. 
 
 On the 6th of the month ordination services took place, and 
 on the 19th Mr. and Mrs. Judson, with Mr. and Mrs. Newell, v 
 sailed from Salem in the brig " Caravan," bound for Calcutta. 
 
 During the voyage Mr. Judson was led to reconsider his 
 views upon baptism, wishing to defend them before the 
 Baptist brethren he expected to meet, and also to.be "fully 
 persuaded in his own mind" concerning his course with hea- 
 then converts. 
 
 After careful and prayerful examination, and a long 
 struggle with a natural inclination to retain the views of 
 early life and associations, he relinquished his former opin- 
 ions, and accepted sincerely the interpiietations of the Bap- 
 tists. Mrs. Judson was greatly opposed to this change, 
 always taking the Pedobaptist side in argument, and insist- 
 ing that even should her husband become a Baptist, she 
 would not. However, her own views finally changed, and 
 she, with her husband, requested immersion at the hands 
 of the Baptist missionaries, upon arrival in Calcutta. 
 
 This decision must have been a conscientious one, from 
 whatever standpoint it is regarded, for it was one that cost 
 them much. 
 
IS LIFE OF ADONIEAM JTJDSOlT. 
 
 The feeling of regret and disappointment on the part of 
 the American Board and friends at home was afterward 
 allayed, and then lost in rejoicing over the achievements of 
 the messengers whom they had at least started on their way. 
 Moreover, the awakening of interest in the Baptist denomin- 
 ation, by this occurrence, which laid upon' that branch new 
 responsibilities, with an irresistible appeal, led to the form- 
 ation of another Board of Missions. 
 
 But now, on the threshold of foreign work, the open door 
 that had inAdted the workers seemed to close in their faces. 
 The East India Company was prejudiced against missionary 
 effort, believing it would tend to make the natives discon- 
 tented and rebellious. 
 
 Ten days after their arrival in Calcutta Mr. and Mrs. 
 Judson were ordered to return to America ; but finally, per- 
 mission was given to go to the Isle of France, whither they 
 went, after many difficulties, reaching Port Louis January 
 17, 1813. 
 
 Here they met the heavy tidings of the death of Mrs. 
 Newell, the beloved friend and missionary associate of Mrs. 
 Judson. She had just endured the perils of a rough voyage 
 from Calcutta, and on the 30th of November, immediately 
 after landing, she was called hence where there is " no more 
 sea." That it was in her heart to serve was set co her 
 account, and she was early called and crowned. 
 
 As there seemed a chance of establishing a mission in 
 Prince of "Wales Island, the Judsons concluded to go there, 
 and embarked for Madras, as the only way to reach that 
 point ; but in Madras they were again under the jurisdiction 
 of the East India Company. Arrest, and orders to go to 
 England, threatened them, and their only escape was in the 
 direction of Kangoon, Burmah, a place which they had always 
 regarded with horror and dread. All other paths being 
 
LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON. 19 
 
 closed they embarked June 2, in a crazy old vessel, for Ean- 
 goon. On the wearisome voyage Mrs Judson was taken 
 violently iU, but the ship being driven into a quiet though 
 dangerous channel, the relief of this rest from the tossing 
 waves brought restoration, and on reaching Eangoon she 
 was carried into the town, and a resting-place was found in 
 the mission house belonging to Mr. Felix Gary, then absent 
 in Ava. 
 
 Everything appeared forlorn and gloomy enough, and at 
 first the brave hearts of the missionaries almost sank with- 
 in them; yet they looked up, took courage, and addressed 
 themselves to their work. 
 
20 LIFE OF ADONIBAM JUDSON. 
 
 CHAPTER YI. 
 
 BUBMAH. 
 
 AT the time Mr. and Mrs. Judson reachea Eangoon, what 
 are now two countries, British and Independent Bur- 
 mah, formed one' empire, ruled by one monarch with his 
 throne at Ava. 
 
 The geographical area was 280,000 square miles, or four 
 times as great as that of New England. The population 
 numbered from six to eight millions, including Burmans, and 
 several tribes of half -wild people, with habits and language 
 differing from the ruling race. 
 
 Three rivers run southward through the country, the 
 Irriwaddy being the largest, and there are high mountains, 
 fertile valleys, ranges of hills, fine forests, lakes and streams, 
 and tropical fruits and flowers. During two months in the 
 year the heat is extreme, but for the rest, the climate is not 
 particularly trying. Wild and fierce animals and offensive 
 reptiles abound, so that lizards dropping from the roof may 
 season one's dinner, and poisonous serpents frighten the 
 children from the thickets in the yard. 
 
 The Burmans belong to the Mongolian race, with almost 
 beardless faces, dark skin, high cheek bones, and eyes usu- 
 ally obliquely set. They are described as being cheerful, 
 ignorant, inquisitive when mental exertion is not required, in- 
 different to blood-shedding, yet not specially cruel as individ- 
 uals, idle, averse to discipline, not reliably truthful, without 
 fixedness of purpose or perseverance, and Imppily free from 
 prejudices of caste or creed, and disposed to yield to the 
 superiority of Europeans. 
 
LIFE OF ADONIKAM JDDSON. 21 
 
 The government was an absolute despotism. The whole 
 country was divided into provinces, townships, districts and 
 villages, over each of which was placed a governor, signifi- 
 cantly called an " Eater," who, through his subordinates, 
 taxed every family to the utmost, and the whole system was 
 one of extortion to the last degree. 
 
 Buddhism is the religion of Burmah, found here and in 
 the island of Ceylon in its purest form. It is a religion 
 "without God, prayer, pardon or heaven." Mrs. Judson 
 writes of it: "The Burman system is like an alabaster 
 image — perfect and beautiful in its parts, but destitute 
 of life, providing for no atonement for sin, without power 
 over the heart, or restraint upon the passions." 
 
 Mr. Judson felt assured that God had called him to Bur- 
 mah, where, at the time of his coming, there was not a sin- 
 gle native who had accepted the religion of Jesus Christ. 
 
 Eangoon, though a wretched place of from eight to ten 
 thousand people, was ruled over by a savage governor in 
 high favor at court, and was in reality a strategic point. 
 
 A year and a half after setting forth, the missionaries 
 found themselves settled, and began the study of the lan- 
 guage, though with few helps at command. 
 
22 LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON. 
 
 CHAPTEK YLT. 
 
 LIFE IN RANGOON — THfi STUDY OF THE LANGUAGE — DEATH OF LITTLE 
 BOGER — THE FIRST INQUIREE — MATTHEW TRANSLATED — FIRST BAP- 
 TISM. 
 
 THE Burman language is, with the exception of the Chi- 
 nese, one of the most difficult to acquire. Its mono- 
 syllabic structure makes it peculiarly hard to manage, so 
 that in translating even the simplest sentences of the Gospel, 
 they had to be " chopped up and decomposed, in order to 
 adapt them to this peculiar tongue." Yet such was Mr. 
 Judson's natural facility for acquiring language, and such 
 his indomitable will and his diligence in study, that in a 
 short time he was able to make himself understood, and 
 also to prepare several translations of tracts in the uncouth 
 language in which he afterward became remarkably profi- 
 cient. 
 
 Mrs. Judson, with characteristic energy and quickness, 
 gained command over Burman speech, and used it to advan- 
 tage. 
 
 In addition to the tracts prepared, which, it is worthy of 
 note, were the original means of exciting the first inquirer, 
 Mr. Judson began a translation of the New Testament. 
 Exactly three years after his arrival iu Burmah, he com- 
 pleted a grammar, which, though an unpretentious little 
 volume, was one of the most perfect of its kind, and remark- 
 able for its clearness and adaptability to the student's 
 need. 
 
 AE these efforts he considered incidental to the great 
 work of oral teaching, and he constantly sought opportuni- 
 
ZIFB OF ADONIKAM JtTDSON. 23 
 
 ties for personal contact and converse with the people 
 "teaching and preaching Jesus Christ." These early- 
 preparatory years were very full, and very trying. 
 Think of the dauntless courage of this young missionary. 
 Standing on the lower levels of Burmai, confronting an 
 almost unbroken line of heathenism, feeling his own limita- 
 tions, longing to hasten the victory, yet set about with 
 vast difficulties, he nevertheless held fast his confidence. 
 In the darkest hour of the history of missions this fearless 
 leader at the front sent back this ringing cry to the rear 
 and to the base of supplies : " If they ask what promise of 
 ultimate success is here, tell them, ' as much as that there is 
 an almighty and faithful God who will perform His prom- 
 ises, and no more.' And if that does not satisfy them, beg 
 them to let me stay here and try it, and to give us our bread, 
 or, if they are unwilling to risk their bread on such a forlorn 
 hope as has nothing but the word of God to sustain it, beg 
 them at least not to prevent others from giving us bread, 
 and if we live some twenty or thirty years, they may hear 
 from us again." 
 
 On the 4th of May, 1816, a shadow fell on the happy 
 home in Burmah, where Christian love relieved the darkness 
 of surrounding heathenism. The fair boy, Eoger "Williams, 
 who for nearly eight months had been " a little comfort in 
 a dreary place," was taken from them. The touching grief 
 that breathes in the letters, written at this time, shows the 
 tender and loving hearts of these brave missionaries — strong 
 to endure, yet sensitive to suffering. 
 
 Under date of March Y, 1817, Mr. Judson mentions the 
 first genuine inquirer, wlio, having seen the little tracts, 
 came to ask for " more of this sort of writing," and bemg 
 very urgent, received two folded proof-sheets of Matthew's 
 Gospel, then going through the press. 
 
24 LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSOlf. 
 
 A year afterward he came again, but no further mention 
 is made of him. 
 
 Four years of incessant labor having broken down .Mr. 
 Judson's health, he planned a short sea-voyage to Ohitta- 
 gong, up the coast. An opportunity occurred to go and re- 
 turn by the same vessel, and he hoped, meantime, to collect 
 the few scattered disciples of that place, and perhaps bring 
 back one or two who might assist him as " helpers." 
 
 He prepared for an absence of only a few weeks, but the 
 ship changed her course, and met with various adversities 
 and detentions. Mr. Judson's iUness increased, and the 
 fever, the moldy food, insufficient clothing, and other se- 
 vere privations, reduced him almost to the point of death, 
 while his involuntary absence was lengthened to almost two- 
 thirds of a precious year. 
 
 Meanwhile, cholera broke out and raged in Eangoon, 
 and political comphcations arose, which made it seem unsafe 
 for Mrs. Judson and the associate missionaries to remain 
 there. Eev. Mr. Hough and family went on board ship for 
 Bengal, persuading Mrs. Judson against her will to embark 
 with them. The ship being detained in the harbor, she 
 finally insisted upon returning and taking the risk of her 
 husband's finding her in Kangoon, although from Christmas 
 until July no word reached her and she knew not where he 
 was. With heroic determination she remained in the de- 
 serted mission house alone, and there Mr. Judson found her 
 on his return, after the untold sufferings and anxieties of his 
 voyage. After this troublous time, the mission prospects 
 brightened. Ee-enforcements arrived — Messrs. Colman 
 and Wheelock and their wives. And now Mr. Judson's 
 long-cherished plan of opening a zayat, or preaching-place 
 g,nd school-house combined, was accomplished, and he be- 
 gan public services in the little chapel built for this purpose. 
 
LIFE OF ADONIRAM JUDSON. 25 
 
 He was thirty-one years old, and had been in Eangoon six 
 years before he ventured to preach a sermon in the Bur- 
 mese tongue. Seven years and four months after leaving 
 America, and six years after coming to Eangoon, the first 
 Burman convert was baptized. Oh, the joy over the first 
 sheaf! His son says of the missionary, " The secret of the sub- 
 lime faith that made him endure without misgiving so many 
 weary years of sowing, without seeing a single blade of grain, 
 may be found in the lines penciled on the cover of a book 
 used in compiling the Burman dictionary :" 
 
 " In joy OT sorrow health or pain, 
 
 Our course is upward still, 
 We sow on Burmah's barren plain, 
 
 We reap on Zion's hill." 
 
86 UFK OF ADONIRAM JUDSON. 
 
 CHAPTEK VIII. 
 
 ZAYAT WORK — TRIP TO AVA — FAILTJRB OP THE MISSION AT COURT ^ 
 MRS. JCDSON'B visit to AMERICA — SECOND JOURNEY TO AVA — PUR- 
 POSE TO ESTABLISH A MISSION — REMOVAL TO AVA. 
 
 IN the year 1818 the mission at Eangoon seemed to reach 
 its''most interesting period. 
 
 With remarkable and increasing command of the lan- 
 guage, Mr. Judson not only continued his arduous work of 
 translating the Scriptures and multiplying Burman tracts, 
 but was enabled to do the personal work which he consid- 
 ered of supreme importance. Into this he entered with a 
 devout and tireless enthusiasm. 
 
 Blessed be enthusiasm! What aggressive, heartsome 
 work is ever done without it ? 
 
 Suppose there is danger of excess and misdirection. 
 ShaU we put out the fire that heats the room, generates 
 steam, melts the iron ore and purifies the gold, simply 
 because we may burn our fingers with it ? Nay, verily ! 
 Eather try to keep the fire in the right place — and the 
 fingers too. 
 
 Zayat-work very largely filled the days at this time. 
 Mrs. E. C. Judson gives us a vivid picture of this phase of 
 labor. By the power of her pen we see the worn and often 
 wearied missionary, seated under the fragile frame-work, 
 upon which the Burman sun pours its fierce rays through 
 the fever-laden air. The long day counts its minutes slowly, 
 slowly. The thoughts fly to the study-table at home — the 
 unopened periodical, the waiting letters — and to the frail 
 wife, busied with household cares, all unrelieved. 
 
LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON. 27 
 
 The fainting spirit longs for a "word of refreshment for 
 itself, and the fingers touch a little book of devotion hidden 
 in the pocket. But no! The resolute will forbids any 
 diversion for a moment that may cause a single soul to pass 
 unheeded, and the familiar Burman tract is taken up again 
 and read aloud, while an old water-bearer pauses at the 
 sound of a human voice, and listens awhile to the words ; 
 and priest and philosopher and little child pass in and out, 
 with curious look or haughty stare or lingering interest. At 
 last the sunset gates close on the day's work " by the way- 
 side"; but long after the formal evening worship is over, 
 and physical strength seems spent, the fervent spirit pleads 
 with God for the old water-bearer, for priest and peasant, 
 philosopher and little child. The opening of a place of pub- 
 lic service seemed to quicken and concentrate the interest in 
 the services. Inquirers multiplied. Two other converts 
 were baptized soon after the first. But dangers threatened. 
 The death of the emperor and the accession of his heir gave 
 a new aspect to affairs. 
 
 The government was unfavorable toward the "new 
 religion." The foreign teachers were restricted even in thei 
 walks. The viceroy issued an order that " ISo person wear- 
 ing a hat, shoes or umbrella should approach within the 
 sacred ground belonging to the sacred Pagoda," which 
 ground extended so far as to include all the principal roads. 
 The Great Pagoda was considered the most sacred in the 
 country, because of the extraordinary possession of five or 
 six hairs of Guatama. 
 
 Attendance at the zayat fell away. Fear prevailed, and 
 there was no alternative but to petition the emperor in per- 
 son for religious toleration. 
 
 Mr. "Wheelock, one of the young recruits of the mission, 
 had been cut ofE by death in a very sad manner. Mr. Col- 
 
28 LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON. 
 
 man remained and accompanied Mr. Judson to " beautifii/ 
 golden Ava," to see the "golden face" and to present th» 
 request that involved so much. 
 
 They carried as a present the Bible in six volumes, richly 
 ornamented with gold-leaf, in Burman style, each volume 
 enclosed in a handsome wrapper. After a somewhat dan- 
 gerous boat-journey, and many detentions, formalities and 
 difficulties, requiring time and tact to overcome, they were at 
 length admitted to " behold the golden face and the golden 
 feet " ; or, in other words, allowed to see the emperor, and 
 present their petition. 
 
 After some curious and some indifferent questions put by 
 the monarch, the request was emphatically denied and the 
 petitioners and their present "huddled up and hurried away 
 without much ceremony." Some further effort was made, 
 but in vain, and the two missionaries went back to their 
 boat for the return journey, wearied in body and mind ; for 
 they had walked eight miles a day for three days, under the 
 scorching sun, and had endured great mental strain in addi- 
 tion. "Cast down but not destroyed," not even greatly dis- 
 couraged, they returned to Kangoon to wait for a way to 
 open. _ 
 
 A removal 'of the mission to Chittagong was thought 
 wise, and Mr. Cohnan did indeed establish himself there, 
 where, after a short, heroic career, he died. But at the earn- 
 est entreaty of the few native converts that the Judsons 
 would remain with them till, at least, a church of ten be 
 gathered, they gladly stayed in Eangoon. 
 
 The converts soon numbered ten, and the outlook grew 
 more promising. Only sincere inquirers braved the danger 
 of persecution. But the failure of Mrs. Judson's health 
 made a voyage to Calcutta necessary. After three months' 
 absence they returned, and days of prosperity continued for 
 
LIFE OF ADONIEAM JTJDSON. 29 
 
 ft season. Then Mr. and Mrs. Judson were both very ill at 
 the same time, and although Mr. Judson recovered, his wife's 
 condition grew more and more alarming, so that a voyage to 
 America became imperative. 
 
 The pain of this separation was so grievous that Mr. Jud- 
 son said "he felt as if signing his death warrant in sending her,'* 
 and during her absence even his buoyant spirits suffered 
 occasional depression. Mrs. Judson sailed for America by 
 way of England, and was absent two years, returning quite 
 recovered in health. Dr. "Wayland, who saw her while in this 
 country, says that he does not remember to have met a more 
 remarkable woman. He describes at length her clear intel- 
 lect, large powers of comprehension, reliant courage, devout 
 spirit, and profound feelings, though the grace of womanly 
 delicacy veiled from open view the strong characteristics 
 which occasion strikingly revealed. 
 
 In December, 1821, Kev. Jonathan Price, M. D., came 
 to Eangoon to share Mr. Judson's solitude, and when Mrs. 
 Judson returned, in 1823, Eev. Mr. Wade and wife came 
 with her. 
 
 A second visit to Ava being deemed advisable at 
 this juncture, Mr. Judson and Dr. Price undertook the mis- 
 sion. This time the " golden face " and the " golden feet" 
 were propitious, and after some delays a piece of ground 
 was given them for a zayat, and they were urged to estab- 
 lish" a mission in Ava. Dr. Price remained in the city, and 
 Mr. Judson promised to return with his wife. The two mis- 
 sionary families, the Houghs and Wades, assigned to Kan- 
 goon, were enough to hold that station, and Ava was an im- 
 portant post. The opening for labor there was hailed with 
 
 joy- 
 Mr. Judson, now known in America as Dr. Judson, spent 
 
 the intervening ten. ittOiLths, until his wife's return, in com- 
 
30 LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUD80N. 
 
 pleting the translation of the New Testament into Burmese. 
 Eight days after her arrival he set out with her for Ava, the 
 great capital, with anticipations of enlarged opportunities, 
 and arrived January 23, 1824, upon the ground of hoped-for 
 activities, which proved to be the scene of those sufferings 
 which were the crucial test of his energetic and impetuous 
 nature. "Behold we count them happy which endureP' 
 
UFE OF ABONIBAM JTTDSON. 81 
 
 CHAPTEE IX. 
 
 COOL RECEPTION IN ATA — POLITICAL COMPLICATIONS — ■WARCLO'JDS — 
 ARREST — PRISON LIFE IN ATA — THE HEROISM OP HUSBAND ANIT' WIPE. 
 
 ON reaching Ava the Jndsons found that a yedx had 
 wrought changes. A new privy council had been 
 formed. Yarious things had occurred to bring foreigners 
 into disfavor. Dr. Price was no longer popular at court, 
 and Dr. Judson found that the king's face was " not toward 
 him as before," and that the former advocates of /lis cause 
 were missing. 
 
 A house to live in and to protect from heat and heavy 
 dews was the first consideration. Small congregations of 
 from fifteen to twenty persons were gathered in T'r. Price's 
 house, but little aggressive work could be done, A mis- 
 understanding arose between the Bengal and Bi/irman gov- 
 ernments, and the forebodings of war were soon realized. 
 
 The strip of country known as Chittagong was the occa- 
 si5n of the controversy. This district was under British 
 rule, and Barman refugees had fled there. The despotic 
 king insisted that they should be returned. Moreover, he 
 considered the whole province rightfully his, and, in his 
 arrogance, thought himself able to recover it, an<i subjugate 
 Bengal as well. All white foreigners were looked upon 
 with suspicion as possible spies and conspirators. 
 
 For a time the distinction between the English and 
 Americans was understood and observed ; but presently it 
 became known that the American missionaries received 
 remittances of money by way of Bengal, and through the 
 Jiands of an English gentleman. The principles of money- 
 
32 LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON. 
 
 exchange were so little understood that this was thought 
 to be proof that the Americans were in the pay of the 
 English. 
 
 The whispered accusation prevailed, and an order was 
 given to " arrest the two teachers." 
 
 With the exceptional and touching reserve of his nature, 
 Dr. Judson himself consigns his sufferings to oblivion, and 
 crowds the long history of horrors into a brief letter ; but 
 from Mrs. Judson and other eye-witnesses we have fuH 
 accounts of the protracted months of fiery trial. 
 
 The arrest occurred on the 8th of June, 1824, when a 
 dozen Burmans, in company with one having a spotted face 
 which marked him as an executioner, came to the house at 
 dinner time on their cruel errand. The " son of the prison" 
 seized Dr. Judson, saying, j' you are called of the king," and 
 throwing him upon the floor, drew out the torturing cord 
 and bound him fast. The entreaties of wife and followers 
 to be pitiful, only made the fiendish fellow tighten the 
 bonds, till breathing was scarcely possible. 
 
 In the midst of frightful confusion the two missionaries 
 were dragged away and committed to the death-prison. 
 After destroying aU letters and journals that might possibly 
 be seized, Mrs. Judson took with her" the two adopted Bur- 
 man girls, and retiring to an inner room, barred the doors. 
 The clamorous guard outside ordered her to unfasten them, 
 and compelled her to do so by torturing her two Bengalese 
 servants. 
 
 After a night of sleepless agony Mrs. Judson sent the 
 Burman, Moung Ing, in the early morning, to find out Dr. 
 Judson's condition. He reported the two teachers confined 
 in the death-prison, fastened to a pole, and each fettered 
 with three pairs of irons. 
 
 After repeated and desperate efforts and pleadings, and 
 
LIFE OF ADONmAM JUDSON. 83 
 
 the payment of a large sum of money, on the third day 
 Mrs. Judson secured an order from the governor admitting 
 her to the prison, though the iron-hearted warden allowed 
 her to come only to the door, where her husband crawled to 
 meet her, and was permitted to hold only a few minutes' 
 conversation. 
 
 Thus began the slow torture that lasted eleven months 
 in Ava, only to be lengthened into seventeen at Oung-pen- 
 la, while twenty-one months intervened between the first 
 imprisonment and final release. 
 
 The Oriental prison was a building forty feet long by 
 thirty wide, five or six feet high at the sides, with a sloping 
 roof that made the room higher in the center. The door 
 was generally closed, and the only ventilation was through 
 the chinks in the boards, while the thin roof was a poor pro- 
 tection against the burning" heat of a tropical sun. In this 
 room were confined nearly a hundred prisoners, of both 
 sexes and aU nationalities. It was said that the prison had 
 never been washed or even swept since it was built, and its 
 condition confirmed the statement. The teeming filth and 
 intolerable odors were beyond all description. The room 
 was furnished only with the cruel stocks and the poles to 
 which the sufferers were fastened at night. Th^ jailer ex- 
 hausted a fiendish ingenuity in physical torture and sardonic 
 jeers and mockery. 
 
 The contemplation of sucfc- scenes is almost more than 
 any sympathetic nature can endure ; yet it is right to dwell 
 upon them long enough to realize what some of God's ser- 
 vants have suffered for His sake, proving His grace suflBcient. 
 
 Dr. Judson was of a nature peculiarly susceptible to phys- 
 ical, mental and moral suffering. 
 
 His body had been racked by frequent illness. His com- 
 mon-sense remembrance that a missionary needed a body as 
 
34: UFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON. 
 
 well as a soul, had indeed kept him in better preservation 
 than many by means of daily exercise and careful observance 
 of simple rules of health, yet fever and chills had burned and 
 shaken him. 
 
 Naturally he was a gentleman of most fastidious tastes 
 and habits. Order was a passion with him. Neatness and 
 daintiness seemed second nature. His linen was always 
 spotless, though it might be coarse. If he denied himself in 
 the fineness of it, he luxuriated in its freshness. His coat 
 was always well cared for, though a Bengalee-tailor might 
 " caricature European fashion" in the make thereof. His 
 sensitive and refined spirit shrank from everything unseemly 
 or coarse. 
 
 His sympathies were easily roused and wrought upon, 
 and his tender heart longed for nearness to his loved ones. 
 Thus constituted, every fiber of his being was wrenched and 
 pained by his present surroundings. 
 
 Moreover he was not, at this time, of an even tempera- 
 ment. In the prime of his manhood (for he was just thirty- 
 six), his restless, eager spirit spurned inaction, and nothing 
 could have tried it so sorely as this long setting-aside from 
 life's activities. 
 
 " For the waiting- time, my brothers. 
 Is the hardest time of all." 
 
 Tet, in aU these things, suffering wjought perfection. 
 The "good soldier" endured the harduess and came off 
 " more than conqueror, through Him thwt loved him." He 
 must have perished, humanly speaking, but for the heroic 
 attendance of his faithful wife. The other prisoners were 
 also deeply indebted to her. By means of incessant pleas 
 and repeated gifts and sacrifices, she won a pitiful measure 
 of relief from the worst forms of cruelty. "With unfailing 
 assiduity she provided meals, and such changes of raiment 
 
LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON. 35 
 
 as were allowed. The only English-speaking woman in 
 Ava, and the only foreigner out of prison, she faced every 
 danger with dauntless courage, and arrayed in the royalty 
 of her queenly womanhood she walked unharmed among 
 the cruel Burmans, who ventured no farther than to demand 
 fresh extortions upon every occasion. 
 
 The attendance of the faithful Burman convert, Moung 
 Ing, and the Bengalee cook formed her only earthly depend- 
 ence, and their fidelity deserves the highest praise, particu- 
 larly as no wages could be paid. 
 
 One day, having a little more time than usual, and pleas- 
 ing herself with the thought of a pleasant surprise, she pre- 
 pared a mince pie for her husband's dinner after much con- 
 trivance, using buffalo meat and plantains, and sent the 
 dainty by the hand of the cook. Alas for her hope to give 
 pleasure ! The prisoner had borne up bravely before, and 
 had even felt a thrill of pride in his wife's magnificent cour- 
 age, but this little homely touch of womanly tenderness 
 overcame him completely. And as 
 
 " Sorrow's crown of sorrow 
 
 Is remembering happier things," 
 
 SO, by the thought of all she had been to him in the sweet 
 home ties, and of stiU earlier days in the dear New England 
 home, the strong man was melted to tears. A fellow pris- 
 oner received the dainty, for he could not eat it. 
 
 Perhaps the most pathetic incident of these bitter days 
 was the father's first sight of his infant daughter, when, but 
 twenty days old, she was brought to him, a " feeble, wailing, 
 blue-eyed blossom," in her faithful mother's arms. Some 
 touching verses composed immediately afterward, and com- 
 mitted to paper in happier days, show how his heart was 
 moved. 
 
 About two months after the imprisonment Mrs. Judson 
 
36 LIFE OF ADONIHAM JUDSON. 
 
 was allowed to make a little bamboo room adjoining the 
 prison, and remove her husband to it ; but later, when ill 
 news came from the seat of war, the prisoners were thrust 
 into the inner prison and their fetters multiplied. 
 
 Soon after, a lion, given some time previous to the king, 
 but disgraced by the suggestion that the British bore a lion 
 on their standard, and that this beast might be a demoniac 
 charmer of the king's heart, was placed in a cage in the 
 prison yard and starved. The piteous and fearful roarings 
 of the starving animal added to the horrors till he died. 
 
 The lion's cage being preferable to the prison, Mrs. Jud- 
 son, after much entreaty, secured it for Dr. Judson, as the 
 fever which racked his frame threatened his life, in the close 
 air of the common prison. So the slow months wore away. 
 
UFE OF ADONIKAM JUDSON. 37 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 BEMOTAIi TO OTTNG-PEN-LA — RELEASE — EEQtriBED TO ACT AS rNTBR" 
 PRETEB — FINAL FREEDOM — FOUNDING OP AMHERST. 
 
 ONE morning the governor sent for Mrs. Judson, on 
 pretense of asking her something about his watch, and 
 detained her some time. After the interview was over she 
 was met by the alarming news that the white prisoners were 
 gone. By persistent inquiries she discovered, at length, that 
 they had been removed to the death-prison at Oung-pen-la. 
 
 Securing a pass, she set forth at once, with little Maria 
 in her arms, through the burning heat and over a weary 
 way. Partly by boat and partly by means of a wretched 
 cart, whose jolting almost crazed her, she reached the place, 
 and was guided to the prison, a decayed and shattered build- 
 ing unfit for human habitation. The scene of unspeakable 
 misery that met her there was a perfect heart-break. 
 
 The prisoners had been hurried off without warning, 
 robbed of their outer garments, and urged and driven along 
 the rough way under the noonday sun over nine miles of 
 burning sand, and with the imminent prospect of death upon 
 arrival. Exhausted with fatigue and heat, life was scarcely 
 more than a faint breath when the devoted wife found her 
 husband at last. 
 
 His first exclamation was, "Why did you come? I 
 hoped you would not follow, for you cannot live here." 
 
 There was no available shelter for Mrs. Judson, .but one 
 of the keepers, yielding to her entreaty for a night's lodging 
 place, gave her the use of a small room half full of grain, 
 and in that filthy and forlorn place she spent the next six 
 
38 LIFE OF ADONIEAM JTJDSON. 
 
 months. Here the children (the adopted Bunnans and httle 
 Maria) had the small-pox. After their recovery Mrs. Jud- 
 Bon's own health gave way and for two months she was 
 unable to go to the prison, the faithful Bengalee cook 
 ministering to her husband in her stead. 
 
 The Pakan-woon, who had ordered and intended witness- 
 ing the execution of the white prisoners, was mercifully 
 removed, being disgraced by the failure of his boasted plans 
 to conquer the Enghsh, suspected of treason, and executed. 
 Thus the lives of the white men were preserved. Negotia- 
 tions of peace were well advanced before the prisoners even 
 heard of them, but at length an order for Dr. Judson's 
 release arrived, Dr. Price being set free afterward. He was, 
 however, desired to act as interpreter and was ordered to 
 the Burmese camp. Ill as he was, he was forced to go, and 
 on the way and during six weeks' absence, he suffered 
 exposures, privations and trials almost equal to prison life, 
 except its fetters. He translated papers until the insanity 
 of fever relieved him of the duty. 
 
 Mrs. Judson returned to Ava, only to be stricken with 
 spotted fever and lose consciousness of outward things. 
 
 After untold adversities, dangers and delays — being 
 remanded to prison through a mistake whose correction took 
 time — Dr. Judson was finally sent back to Ava. Hastening 
 as fast as his maimed ankles would allow, he reached his 
 home only to be startled on entering by the sight of a fat, 
 half-clothed Burman woman, holding a wan baby so covered 
 with dirt as hardly to be recognized as his own child. On 
 the bed he discovered a figure scarcely more familiar ; for 
 the wife was worn and pale from long illness, her glossy 
 curls all gone, and her fine head covered with a disfiguring 
 cotton cap. 
 
 But she was soon well enough to leave Ava, where it was 
 
LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON. 39 
 
 painful to stay, and by way of preparation the hidden 
 valuables were unearthed or reclaimed. Among the most 
 valuable things that survived the time of peril was the 
 manuscript of the Burman translation of the New Testa- 
 ment, which had caused much solicitude, and had been 
 remarkably preserved. It was buried in the earth at the 
 beginning of troublous times, but fearing it would mold, 
 Mrs. Judson sewed it into a pillow and gave it to her hus- 
 band to use. When the prisoners were robbed and removed 
 to Oung-pen-la, the jailer took possession of this pillow, and, 
 doubtless wondering at the missionary's taste when he 
 found it was so hard, he tore off the mat which covered it 
 and threw the inside away. The Burman, Moung Ing, found 
 it, and treasuring it as the sole memento of the teacher, 
 carried it to Dr. Judson's house, where the precious manu- 
 script was found within, unhurt. 
 
 At length the whole family left Ava. Long after, when 
 a company of persons were discussing " the highest type of 
 enjoyment derived from the senses," and giving illustrations. 
 Dr. Judson said : " Pooh ! These men were not qualified to 
 judge. I know of a much higher pleasure than that. What 
 do you think of floating down the Irriwaddy on a cool moon- 
 light evening, your wife by your side, and your baby in your 
 arms, free, all free ? But you cannot understand it either, 
 for it needs twenty-one months' qualification ; and I can 
 never regret my twenty-one months of misery when I recall 
 that one delicious thrill. I think I have had a better appre- 
 ciation of what heaven may be ever since," 
 
40 LITE OF ADOKIEAM JUDSOH. 
 
 CHAPTEE XI. 
 
 POUNDING OF AMHERST — JOUKNEY TO AVA WITH ENGLISH EMBAS8T — 
 DEATH OF MKS. JUDSON — BBTTTEN TO AMTTF.BST — DEATH OF LITTLE 
 MARIA — REMOVAL TO MAULMAIN. 
 
 ON the 24th of February, 1826, the treaty of peace was 
 signed by the English and Burman commissioners. 
 Dr. and Mrs. Judson and little Maria reached Eangoon 
 on the 21st of March. 
 
 For two years the friends in America had heard nothing 
 from them or of them, but, after reaching Eangoon, Mrs. 
 Judson wrote home a full account of the long captivity, 
 confessing that, aside from other hmdrances, her mind was 
 so absorbed by the one object of obtaining her husband's re- 
 lease, and her every faculty so intensely strained by the sur- 
 rounding horrors, that it scarcely occurred to her that she 
 had friends outside of Ava or that "never-to-be-forgotten 
 place" Oung-pen-la. 
 
 But now the Christian world was thrilled with the story 
 of suffering and heroic endurance. "Who shall say that the 
 "peaceable fruits" did not ripen in America, in sympathy 
 and enthusiasm, as well as in the perfected characters of 
 those who suffered and grew strong ? 
 
 Eefusing the offer of the English to retain him as inter- 
 preter at a salary of $3,000, the devoted missionary returned 
 to his labors with all the fervor of his early efforts, and a 
 faith that had triumphed always through his long trial, 
 while his chastened spirit longed more than ever to devote 
 itself to the single purpose of " this one thing I do." 
 
 The little mission at Eangoon, which ten years' labor 
 
LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON. 41 
 
 had built up, was broken and scattered. The missionary 
 families of Messrs. Hough and "Wade had been driven to 
 Calcutta, and the native church membership was reduced 
 from eighteen to four. Ee-enforcements had arrived from 
 America, eager to join Dr. Judson when he should be heard 
 from. Kev. George Dana Boardman, the gifted and saintly 
 man whose brief career has its enduring record on earth and 
 in heaven, had come to the field with his beautiful and de- 
 voted wife, pronounced by English friends in Calcutta to be 
 " the most finished and faultless specimen of an American 
 woman they had ever known." 
 
 It was impossible to re-establish the mission in Eangoon, 
 owing to the state of anarchy and of famine which followed 
 the war, and the exasperated state of mind of the monarch 
 throned in Ava. 
 
 The most propitious opening seemed to be in the Tenas- 
 serim provinces, a strip of coast country ceded to the Brit- 
 ish, but peopled with Burmans, and likely to become a place 
 of refuge for many more. 
 
 ■A site for a new town was selected, and a settlement de- 
 termined upon, to be called Amherst in honor of the gov- 
 ernor-general of India. 
 
 Here the Judsons began missionary life once more, July 
 2, 1826, with four Eangoon converts, expecting to be joined 
 shortly by Mr. and Mrs. Boardman and Mr. and Mrs. Wade. 
 
 Soon after the initial steps were taken, Dr. Judson was 
 reluctantly compelled to visit Ava, in company with Mr. 
 Crawfurd, the civil commissioner, to assist in the negotiation 
 of a commercial treaty — his accurate and ready command of 
 the language fitting him for this delicate diplomatic task. 
 The promise of a clause giving religious liberty, in the treaty 
 to be effected, was the only thing that won Dr. Judson's final 
 consent to an expedition for which he had small liking. 
 
42 LIFE OF ADOKIEAM JUD80N. 
 
 Mrs. Judson, who had projected a girls' school, and was 
 beginning her work in good health and good heart, urged 
 him to go, and he yielded to what he believed to be the dic- 
 tate of duty, though not of desire. 
 
 But the two and a half months spent in Ava covered 
 one of the saddest periods of his life. Engaged in an uncon- 
 genial, tiresome and finally fruitless service, upon the scene 
 of his former sufferings without the companionship that 
 had lightened them, he chafed under the detention, and 
 before it was over he received sore tidings from Amherst. 
 On the 4th of November a sealed letter brought news of 
 the death of Mrs. Judson. 
 
 In the midst of her fresh activities she was stricken with 
 fever, and the constitution, so weakened by past hardships, 
 could not endure the strain. 
 
 In the thirty-seventh year of her age, after fourteen 
 years of married life fiUed with wifely devotion, and a her- 
 oism scarcely paralleled, and abundant in missionary toils as 
 weU, her frail hands unclasped, and dropped forever the 
 weapons and the work of earthly life. 
 
 "With no missionary friend at hand, with the weeping 
 Burmans bewailing "the white mamma," and with the 
 touch of gentle strangers only, to soothe her last unconscious 
 hours, the wonderful life went out — went upward — to the 
 waiting joy and crown. 
 
 The stricken husband hastened homeward, to find the 
 grave made near the spot where they landed, under a hopia 
 (hope) tree, " with a rude enclosure to protect it from intru- 
 sion." 
 
 Little Maria, cared for by Mrs. Wade, was for six months 
 the solace of her father's loneliness, and then this fragile 
 flower faded, and after two years and three months of earthly 
 life, the little one was laid by her mother under the hopia tree. 
 
LIFE OF ADONIEAM JTTDSON. 43 
 
 So great was Dr. Judson's mastery over himself that he 
 did not allow even his great sorrow to interfere with his 
 missionary labors, though he could not help its effect upon 
 his own life. He continued his regular duties faithfully, 
 holding worship, teaching, preaching and translating. 
 
 The circumstances of the mission now made a change 
 imperative. Expectations of increasing population in Am- 
 herst were disappointed. The establishment of a military 
 post up the river at Maulmain, twenty-five miles north, at 
 the mouth of the Salwen, caused that point to eclipse the 
 Amherst settlement, and yielding to the pressure of new 
 developments, the mission was removed to Maulmain. 
 
44: UFE OF ADOI^IBAM JUDSOH. 
 
 CHAPTEE Xn. 
 
 BOLITAET LIFE — DEPEEBSION OP BPIEITS — SELF-RBITONCIATION — EECOV- 
 EBT OF BQUILIBBIUM — ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH A MISSION AT PBOHK 
 — RETURN TO RANGOON — SECLUSION FOB BIBLE TRANSLATION — 
 DEATH OP MB. BbAEDMAN. 
 
 THE period in Dr. Judson's life following his great 
 bereavement was a marked one in his personal experi- 
 ence. It was very lonely and sad. He was human, of 
 course, or he would not have had a home and history here 
 on earth. 
 
 But a shallow mind, with low aspirations, would have 
 been incapable of the deep experiences through which he 
 passed, and of that approach to extremes which may be 
 called " A generous nature's weed," or " A choice virtue 
 gone to seed." 
 
 Worn out and broken by his captivity with its anguish 
 of body and mind, feeling keenly the loss of wife and child, 
 longing, with the fervor of an intense, concentrated nature, 
 for perfect conformity to God's wUl and God's likeness, he 
 was led into such introspection and such outward austerities 
 as might have ended in fanaticism in a less perfectly bal- 
 anced character. "Without pronouncing upon the entire 
 manifestation of it, the spirit of renunciation commends 
 itself as an acceptable sacrifice, as the evident aim was to 
 bring every thought and imagination into captivity to 
 Christ. 
 
 Dr. Judson was of a very social temperament, but at this 
 time he quite withdrew from society. His innate love of 
 preeminence, fostered by his parents from babyhood, he cru- 
 
LIFE OF ADONIEAM JPDSON. 4-5 
 
 ciiied t)y destroying everything that might be used in mak- 
 ing hini famous — all papers, testimonials and records of 
 achievements in the past. 
 
 He denied his natural love of literature and poetic taste 
 all indulgence in the wide reahn opened to him by his nec- 
 essary acquaintance with Burman literature; and though 
 thoroughly conversant with its finest treasures, would not 
 allow himself to translate any gems of poetry or thought 
 which might divert his mind, please his fancy, or bring him 
 fame. He declined the doctorate conferred upon him, long 
 after it had been given, though in vain, as far as this was con- 
 cerned, for he was called Dr. Judson universally. 
 
 He made over his personal property, the accumulations 
 of thrifty business management, and the salaries received 
 from government, without reserve, to the Board. He 
 fasted forty days, taking only a little rice to sustain life. 
 FiUed with mortal dread of the physical aspects of death, 
 he strove to conquer it by causing a grave to be dug, and, 
 sitting beside it, gazed into it, and meditated upon all the 
 successive stages and details of dissolution. He obtruded 
 his views on no one. Indeed he was not noted for either 
 giving or asking advice. In the midst of all these inflictions 
 he steadily pursued his missionary work, and after a time, 
 the influence of these activities prevailed ; the really whole- 
 some nature of the man re-asserted itself, and the severities 
 were relaxed. " The heart at leisure from itself " clung to 
 Christ, with a loving confidence and hope firmer than ever, 
 while fresh tokens of tender sympathy and thoughtful love 
 were shown to all around him, not forgetting the little chil- 
 dren, to whom his winning ways endeared him always. 
 
 In accordance with a strong conviction that the light 
 should be scattered, and reflected from as many centers as 
 possible, Dr. Judson removed for a time from MauLmain to 
 
46 IIFS OF ADONIBAM JTJDSON. 
 
 Prome, where Le sought earnestly to make some impression 
 on the darkness round about. The faithful endeavor proved 
 an outward failure. 
 
 At first many came to listen, and thousands heard the 
 word preached from the old tumble-down zayat, occupied 
 daily by the missionary, while tracts were distributed all the 
 way up the river. But the prime minister, who hated all 
 foreign intrusion, influenced the king against these efforts, 
 and after three months' diligent labor, Dr. Judson was forced 
 to forego all further attempt to penetrate these centers with 
 the truth. Without any visible result of his labors, he 
 reluctantly and sadly took leave of Prome, and returned to 
 Kangoon, where he remained about a year. This whole re- 
 gion seemed open to one means of grace particularly^ 
 namely, the reception of religious literature — and this was 
 distributed with a lavish hand. 
 
 The laborious work of translating the Scriptures was con- 
 tinued, the work being done in the seclusion of an isolated 
 study, where few approached by day, and where only the 
 bats disputed possession by night. 
 
 The time of the great annual festival in Eangoon, in 
 March, 1831, was a magnificent opportunity, and a season 
 of great encouragement. Dr. Judson himself gave away 
 about ten thousand tracts, giving only to those who asked. 
 Many came two or three months' journey from the borders 
 of China and Siam. " Sir," they said, " we hear that there 
 is a hell; we are afraid of it. Do give us a writing that will 
 tell us how to escape it." 
 
 Others from Kathay, a hundred miles north of Ava, and 
 from the interior, came with such questions and requests as 
 these : " Sir, we have seen a writing that tells of an eternal 
 God. Are you the man who gives away such writings? If 
 so, pray give us one, for we want to know the truth before 
 
LIFE OF ADONIEAM JTJDSON. 47 
 
 we die." " Are you Jesus Christ's man ? Give us a writing 
 that tells about Jesus Christ." Dr. Judson's appeal for 
 larger supplies of tracts is pathetic. For a time he was so 
 limited that he had to " deal them out like drops of hearts' 
 blood." 
 
 After eighteen years' absence from home, a cordial invi* 
 tation to return came to the toiling missionary from the 
 Board in America. His almost irrepressible desire to go 
 prompted an acceptance, but his conscience would not re- 
 lease him from labor, while the harvest was too great and 
 laborers too few to spare his sharpened sickle, and he grate- 
 fully but resolutely declined. 
 
 Although forgetful of self, he was not unmindful of others, 
 but was most solicitous about the health and welfare of the 
 assdbiate missionaries. 
 
 Mrs. "Wade having returned too soon, after a slight rest 
 from her cares, he wrote of her — "Mrs. "Wade, I humbly 
 conceive, ought to be apprehended and sent back as a de- 
 serter ; and certainly no one ought to hesitate a moment at 
 leaving domestic and missionary cares for the preservation 
 of health." 
 
 While fearlessly exposing himself to any danger when 
 anything was to be gained, even to a seemingly reckless de- 
 gree, Dr Judson was so sensible as to take all precautions, 
 and observe all conditions necessary to preserve his own 
 health, regarding it as sacred capital to be used in his work. 
 
 The news of the death of Mr. Boardman fell heavily up- 
 on the hearts of the missionaries. The work of this devoted 
 man among the Karens, is a luminous record. Seventy 
 wild Karens were brought to a knowledge of the truth in 
 less than three years, and many others instructed. When 
 the short but fruitful life ended, the work was continued by 
 Mrs. Boardman, who for three years maintained it among 
 
48 LIFE OF ADOKIBAM JUDSON. 
 
 the wild neglected tribes, facing dangers and enduring hard- 
 ships with intrepid courage. "When her husband died, Dr. 
 Judson wrote her : " Take the bitter cup in both hands and 
 sit down to your repast. You will find sweetness at the 
 bottom." And so she did, and great joy thereafter, in he* 
 self-denying toils. . 
 
LIFE OF ADOKIBAM JUDSOIf. *A 
 
 CHAPTEE XIIL 
 
 BETUEN TO MAULMAIN — TOTXBS IN KABBN JUNGLES — MAREIAGE TO MK9. 
 BOABDMAN. 
 
 DE. JUDSON'S presence was now required in Maulmain, 
 and he returned, after thirteen months' absence, to find 
 a most encouraging state of affairs. 
 
 A number of Burmese, Karens and Talings had been added 
 to the little church. Two million pages of, tracts and Scrip- 
 ture translations had been printed. The missionaries had 
 extended their efforts into the jungles, and a church of four- 
 teen members had been organized at a place called "Wades- 
 viUe, named after the first missionary who preached there. 
 
 At the close of the year 1831, the Burman mission re- 
 ported, through Dr. Judson, two hundred and seventeen 
 baptisms during the twelve months, in the three stations, 
 Maulmain, Tavoy and Eangoon. 
 
 Soon after his return to Maulmain, Dr. Judson began a 
 series of itinerating tours among the Karens in the jungles. 
 The Karens, as their name implies, were wild men, doubt- 
 less the remnants of an aboriginal race, and scattered through- 
 out Burmah, Siam, and parts of China, in number from two 
 to four hundred thousand. 
 
 They were simple children of nature, as described by 
 Mr. Boardman, approachable, and easily influenced, but of 
 vagrant habits, and needing much instruction. 
 
 A band of native helpers went with our missionary on 
 these dangerous and wearisome jungle trips, held to him by 
 his personal magnetism, and yielding their best powers to 
 his direction, in response to his peculiar faculty for devel- 
 
"^O LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON- 
 
 oping and utilizing native service in Christian work. The 
 converts trained in practical methods under his personal 
 supervision became the best possible pastors and helpers. 
 
 Dr. Judson's insight into Burman character was keen, 
 and his skill in dealing with it appeared in small things. He 
 had a characteristic way of paying his assistants. Knowing 
 that Burmans were seldom satisfied with specified wages, he 
 never made any agreement with them, but " contrived at 
 unequal intervals to pop a paper of rupees — five, ten or 
 fifteen — into their hands, without saying a word, keeping 
 accurate private account of the sums, and making them 
 amount to that agreed upon per month by the brethren." 
 " However," he adds, in his bright way, after giving this 
 plan, " I only show you my anvil. Hammer your tools on 
 it, or upon another of your own invention, as you like." 
 
 The toils, trials, and triumphs which marked these per- 
 ilous trips make up a thrilling history. 
 
 Sometimes cutting the way for a boat through fallen 
 trees in the river, sometimes welcomed, at other times re- 
 pulsed, yet finding or making opportunities everywhere, the 
 missionary and his helpers went on, sowing and reaping, 
 and rejoicing as they went. 
 
 In one place, on one of the frequent tours. Dr. Judson 
 heard of a man and his wife who, though unbaptized and 
 never seen by a foreign missionary, died rejoicing in the 
 faith, the man requesting the tract, " Yiew of the Christian 
 Keligion," to be laid on his breast and buried with him. 
 
 The " seed of the "Word " does not always need a human 
 hand to water it. The hand may scatter seed beyond an 
 arm's-length, and ought to do it, not knowing " which shall 
 prosper, this or that, or whether both shall be alike good." 
 
 A font of type having arrived for the benefit of the 
 Biission, it became necessary for Dr. Judson to return ii 
 
LIFE 0/ ADONIKAM JTDSOIT. UX 
 
 order to use it. It was a great trial to him to leave the 
 work among the Karens, and he wrote sorrowfully : " Must 
 I then relinquish my intenion of making another trip ? Must 
 I relinquish for many months and perhaps forever, the 
 pleasure of singing as I go : 
 
 "In these deserts let me labor. 
 In these mountains let me tell? " 
 
 " Truly, the tears fall as I write." 
 
 The untrodden fields and the darkest portions always 
 beckoned this eager spirit. 
 
 At the close of the year 1832 Dr. Judson reported one 
 hundred and forty-three baptisms (sixty-seven being at the 
 Karen station, Tavoy), making five hundred and sixteen 
 persons baptized since arriving in Burmah, only seventeen 
 of whom had been finally excluded. 
 
 On the first day of the new year, in response to ai?. 
 urgent appeal, a party of re-enforcements arrived from 
 America. 
 
 This stirring heart-cry, signed by the five missionaries -on 
 the field, might well move those at home. " We are in dis- 
 tress," they wrote. " If every one of us could divide him- 
 self into three parts, happy would he be, not only to take 
 leave of his native land and beloved connections at home, 
 but of stUl nearer and more intimate connections." And 
 then, after a pathetic recital of the needs of individual 
 places, they appeal to God : " O, keep our faith from failing, 
 our spirits from sinking, and our mortal frames from giving 
 way prematurely, under the influence of the climate and 
 the pressure of our labors. Have mercy on the churches of 
 the United States, and hasten the time when no church 
 shall dare to sit under Sabbath and sanctuary privileges 
 without having one of their number to represent them on 
 .heathen ground." 
 
52 LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON. 
 
 It was nearly a year before the response came to this 
 appeal, but it did come. 
 
 Eight years had now passed since the sad event of which 
 the hopia tree was the landmark in the small enclosure in 
 Amherst, when the renewal of domestic ties took place, 
 April 10, 1834:, in the marriage of Dr. Judson to Mrs. Sarah 
 Boardman, and pleasant home-life began once more for 
 both. 
 
 Soon after they were obliged to send little George 
 Boardman to America. Though but six years old, it was 
 time to remove him from the climate so fatal to the health 
 and development of Anglo-Saxon children. 
 
LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON. 53 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 UI8BI0N TO THE JEWS PLANNED — COMPLETION OP BXmMAN BIBLE — BEatK 
 NING OP COMPILATION OP BUKMAN DICTIONARY — DOMESTIC LIFE — 
 ILLNESS. 
 
 DE. JUDSON'S interest was not confined to Burmah, 
 though it centered there. His heart went out toward 
 all the world. About this time he became interested in the 
 Jews in the Holy Land, and enlisted also a devoted officer 
 of high rank in the East India Company, in the project of 
 estabhshing a mission among thenii. He secured large gifts 
 and gave liberally himself, but for some reason his propos- 
 als to American brethren to further the work were not 
 favored, and the matter apparently ended here. Yet Dr. 
 Judson was unexpectedly used, long afterward, in doing 
 good among this people for whose benefit he failed to organ- 
 ize effort as he wished. 
 
 Only a short time before his death, his wife, Mrs. E. C. 
 Judson, read to him a paragraph containing the fact that a 
 tract published in Germany, relating the labors of Dr. 
 Judson in Burmah, and his sufferings in prison, had fallen 
 into the hands of some Jews, exciting a deep interest and 
 spirit of inquiry, leading to a request that a missionary be 
 sent them from Constantinople. Mrs. Judson says of this 
 incident : " His eyes filled with tears when I had done read- 
 ing, but he spoke^ almost playfully at first, and in a way that 
 a little disappointed me. Then a look of almost unearthly 
 solemnity came over him, and, clinging fast to my hand, as 
 if to assure himself of being really in the world, he said • 
 'Love, this frightens me.' 'What?' 'Why, what you 
 
54 LIFE OF ADONIEA3I JUDSON. 
 
 have just been reading. I never was deeply interested in 
 any object, I never prayed sincerely and earnestly for any- 
 thing, but it came at some time, no matter how distant, in 
 some way, in some shape, probably the last I should have 
 devised, it came. And yet, I have always had so little 
 faith. God forgive me.' " 
 
 One of Dr. Judson's earliest and most ardent desires was 
 to accomplish the translation of the whole Bible into the 
 Burmese language. The task of. translation was one for 
 which he had small relish, compared with the work of 
 preaching, and personal conversation. But feeling the need 
 of the Word in the native tongue, he toiled on, through all 
 his other labors, in the most painstaking way, upon the 
 Burman Bible, turning every Hebrew and Greek word into 
 its exact Burmese equivalent, and spending untold labor to 
 insure the accuracy of every syllable. Under date of Janu- 
 ary 31, 1834, he wrote "Thanks be to God, I have now 
 attained;" and kneeling down with the last leaf in his hand, 
 he begged forgiveness' for any sin polluting his efforts, and 
 commending the book to God's mercy, solemnly dedicated 
 it to His glory. But after seventeen years' work in transla- 
 tion, seven more were spent in revision, and it was not until 
 October, 1840, that the last sheet was given to the press. 
 So long as a thing could be improved, Dr. Judson could not 
 let it alone. He said himself that his besetting sin was " a 
 last fov Jmishing." 
 
 After twenty-four years' arduous endeavor after perfec- 
 tion, the final touch was given. His own modest estimate 
 of the translation gives little idea of this monumental work. 
 
 The most critical and exhaustive study was bestowed 
 upon it, while the iUuiiaination of the Spirit was constantly 
 sought. His mastery of the difficult language seemed a per- 
 fect marvel, and competent judges insist that this is the 
 
LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON. 55 
 
 most perfect book of its kind in India. A distinguished 
 linguist, a gentleman of high rank, said of the stupendous 
 accomplishment : "As Luther's Bible is now in the hands of 
 Protestant Germany, so, three centuries hence, Judson's 
 Bible win be the Bible of the Christian churches of Bur- 
 mah." Let this be told as a memorial of him. 
 
 Some time after, the Board urged the compilation of a 
 Burman dictionary, a work which the Doctor said he had 
 ''resolved and re-resolved never to touch," wishing to de- 
 vote himself to zayat-work and similar efforts. However, 
 he yielded to necessity and solicitation, and began the com- 
 pilation, not expecting to finish it as planned, in two parts — • 
 Burman and English, and English and Burman — but think; 
 ing it his duty to " plod on while day lasted and bequeath 
 the plodding and the profit to any brother who should come 
 after him, and complete the work after he should obtain 
 his discharge. 
 
 Dr. Judson's home life was very beautiful. His wife was 
 in every way congenial, sharing and assisting his labors with 
 remarkable aptitude and efiieiency, sympathizing intelli- 
 gently in brain-work and heart-burdens, and blessing his 
 home with her gentle presence. The little children that 
 came greatly brightened the father's life. He was such a 
 tender father, and so fond of giving innocent diversions and 
 pleasant surprises to his children. The little poems written 
 for them, and his letters to them, at different seasons, dur- 
 ing occasional separations, show a winning playfulness min- 
 gled with loving earnestness. At one time, when Mrs, Jud- 
 son went to Calcutta for her health, leaving the younger 
 children, and taking the eldest daughter with her, the father 
 wrote to Abby, aged ten: 
 
 "I have had a little meeting with Adoniram 
 
 and Elnathan, and now they are asleep. Edward has be- 
 
56 LII'E OF ADONIKAM JUDSON. 
 
 come a fine, fat little fellow ; I am sure you would not know 
 him again. He has not yet made any inquiries about his 
 mother or sister. Indeed, I doubt very much whether he is 
 aware that he has any such relatives, or if he ever exercises 
 his mind on such abstruse topics. Perhaps he fancies that 
 black Ah-mah is his mother, since she nurses him, and does 
 not know what a fair, beautiful, fond mother he has at 
 Mergui, who thinks of him every day. However, when he 
 
 gets larger, we will tell him all about these matters 
 
 Both the kittens are dead, and the old yellow cat has been 
 missing for several days. She was very thin and apparently 
 very ill when we last saw her. So I suppose she crept away 
 into some secret place and died. Alas ! poor pussy ! 
 
 "I pray every day that somewhere during your travels with 
 dear mamma you may receive a blessing from God and return 
 home a true Christiain Eemember these two lines : 
 
 " ' Sweet in temper, face and word 
 
 To please an ever-present Lord.'" 
 
 " YoTTB Affectionate Father." 
 "When Dr. Judson was fifty years old, and had been in 
 Burmah twenty-five years, his wiry strength gave way. He 
 lost his voice ; his lungs troubled him, and a voyage to Cal- 
 cutta became necessary. After ten months' absence he 
 returned much improved. 
 
 Then Mrs. Judson's health failed, the children also fell 
 iU, and another voyage was imperative. When the family 
 arrived in Serampore, little Henry, aged one year and seven 
 months, was taken from them. With sad hearts they laid 
 him away in that strange place and went on their way. 
 
 A circuitous sea voyage, made through the generous 
 kindness of a ship captain, greatly improved the health of 
 the whole family, and the records of Dr. Judson's work 
 among the sailors, during the voyage, show that he was 
 always about his " Father's business " 
 
LIFE OF ADONIKAM JtTDSON. 57 
 
 CHAPTER XY. 
 
 MBS. JCDSON'S failing HEALTH — SEA VOYAGE — BEVTVTKG STEHNGTH — 
 PLAN FOK DB. JUDSON TO BETDBN TO HIB WOEK — EBLAPSB — DEATH 
 OF MBS. JUDSON. 
 
 DR.JTJDSON'S recovery proved to be only partial. His 
 lungs continued weak and his voice faint. Meanwhile, 
 Mrs. Judson's health failed alarmingly, and a voyage to 
 America became the only human hope of saving the Life so 
 precious to her family and so valuable to the mission. Feel- 
 ing that it would be nothing less than "savage inhumanity" 
 to let her go alone, Dr. Judson decided to accompany his 
 wife, taking the three older children, and leaving the three 
 younger, the youngest of whom was three and a half 
 months old. 
 
 Leaving the native church, and the work that had occu- 
 pied thirty-two years, proved even a greater trial than 
 he had thought. The prospect of separation revealed to 
 pastor and people their deep love for each other. In order 
 to continue the work upon the dictionary, so necessary to 
 finish, two competent Burman assistants were selected to go 
 with the missionary and aid him in completing it, as he 
 hoped to give much time to the enterprise upon the home- 
 ward voyage. 
 
 Owing to a rough sea at the outset, the ship sprung a 
 leak, and the captain altered his course, directing it toward 
 the Isle of France, reaching Port Louis July 5, 1846. Here 
 Mrs. Judson seemed for a time so much improved that there 
 was a mutual agreement to separate, Dr. Judson to return 
 to the waiting field, the wife to continue her journey alone. 
 
68 LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON. 
 
 Surely nothing but the love of Christ could have constrained 
 to such a costly sacrifice as this. In each devoted and lov- 
 ing heart it was a triumph of grace over nature, such as is 
 rarely seen. 
 
 Although the separation did not take place as planned, 
 "the willing mind" must have been accepted. And, as the 
 perfume of the "unused sweet spices" lingers in the sacred 
 record to-day, so the fragrance of this oblation, in the offer- 
 ing of a broken will to God, shall never perish. 
 
 It was at this time and place that Mrs. Judson wrote the 
 exquisite lines that her name must always suggest : 
 
 We part on this green islet, love — 
 
 Thou for the eastern main, 
 I for the setting sun, love, 
 
 O, when to meet again! 
 
 My tears fall fast for thee, love. 
 How can I say farewell? 
 
 But go, thy God he with thee, love. 
 Thy heart's deep grief to quell. 
 
 Then gird thine armor on, love, 
 
 Nor faint thou by the way. 
 Till Buddh shall fall, and Burmah's sons 
 
 Shall own Messiah's sway. 
 
 The two Burman assistants were sent home, Dr. Judson 
 expecting to follow after seeing his wife on board ship for 
 America. But the fair promise of returning health was 
 unfulfilled, and after three weeks at Port Louis, Dr. Jud- 
 son embarked with the invalid, only to watch the fading 
 life for a few days, while the vessel neared St. Helena, and 
 on the 1st of September, 1845, the sweet spirit of this gra- 
 cious and gifted woman left its worn tabernacle and put on 
 
LIFE OF ADONIEAM JtTDSON. 59 
 
 immortality. So passed away a lovely, loving and beloved 
 one, while her works do follow her. 
 
 Gentle and unassuming, yet strong and brave, with fine 
 abilities, and extraordinary attainments in the language, she 
 was especially fitted for her foreign service. The Scripture 
 lessons, catechisms and hymns prepared by her, attest her 
 diligence, and her capabilities as well. 
 
 She died at three o'clock in the morning ; at six o'clock 
 P.M. they laid her away in the burial place belonging to 
 Mission ground, in the rocky island of St. Helena, and in the 
 evening the ship sailed away. 
 
 A stone was afterward sent and set up to commemorate 
 her name and work, and mark the place where they laid 
 her, in the forty-second year of her age, and the twenty-first 
 of her missionary life. 
 
 In a httle volume of Burmese hymns, compiled by Mrs. 
 Sarah B. Judson, which her husband presented to a lady in 
 New York, he wrote upon the fly-leaf : 
 
 " The wings of the Maulmain songstress are folded in 
 St. Helena." Yes, truly. But not the soul of the singer, 
 and not the wings of the song! 
 
60 LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON. 
 
 CHAPTEE XVI. 
 
 ABHIVAIj in AMEEICA — PUBLIC HONOBS — ACQUAINTANCE WITH MISSCHTB- 
 BUCK. ~ 
 
 IT was a sad home-ooming for Dr. Judson, with his mother- 
 less children. He came, not only bereaved, but in broken 
 health, with husky voice and with Burmese words more 
 ready upon his tongue than English; for, in his great desire 
 to assimilate himself to Burmese styles of thought, as weU 
 as expression, he abjured his own language and, as he said, 
 " burnt his bridges," so that -for public speech his mother 
 tongue was strangely unfamiliar. 
 
 His voice was unequal to any strain ; and before coming 
 home he begged that no one would tempt him to the impru- 
 dence of using it in public, saying that since there were 
 " thousands of preachers in English, and only five or six Bur- 
 mese preachers in the whole world, he might be allowed to 
 hoard up the remnant of his breath and lungs for the coun- 
 try where they were most needed." 
 
 In addition to this, the natural shyness of a long absence 
 prevented any expectation of great demonstrations, and he 
 was little prepared for the public honors lavished upon him, 
 and the public demands made. 
 
 The loving welcome touched his heart. The praise and 
 popularity he could hardly bear. 
 
 Many things were unfamiliar and surprising in the na- 
 tive land, unvisited in thirty-two years, and in minor mat- 
 ters some amusing incidents occurred. As, for instance : The 
 system of railways had come into existence since he left home. 
 " He entered the cars at Worcester one day, and had just 
 
LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON. 61 
 
 taken a seat when a boy came along with the daily papers. 
 He said to Dr. Judson, ' Do you want a paper, sir ? ' ' Yes, 
 thank you,' the missionary replied, and, taking the paper, 
 began to read. The newsboy stood waiting for his pay, 
 until a lady-passenger, occupying the same seat with Dr. 
 Judson, said to him, ' The boy expects to be paid for his 
 paper.' ' Why,' replied the missionary, with the utmost sur- 
 prise, ' I have been distributing papers gratuitously in Bur- 
 mah so long that I had no idea the boy was expecting any 
 pay.' " 
 
 He often disappointed people who were anxious to hear 
 his adventures, by preaching a simple Gospel sermon, or 
 making a fervent personal appeal, instead of referring to his 
 own experiences. 
 
 Yet the sympathy and love that were attracted to the 
 hero of Ava, not only evidenced but cultivated a sincere in- 
 terest in Foreign Missions, and the tours made through the 
 country greatly advanced the cause. The personal influ- 
 ence either roused or ripened an earnest enthusiasm. 
 
 Sometime after his return, while engaged in a series of 
 visitations. Dr. Judson met Miss Emily Chubbuck, a writer 
 of note and of character, at the house of a mutual friend. 
 A volume of her light sketches, called " Trippings," had been 
 put into his hands to beguile an idle hour on a journey. He 
 admired the talent evinced, and said he would be glad to 
 know the writer — but added: " The lady who writes so weU 
 ought to write better. It is a pity that such fine talents 
 should be employed on such subjects." His friend. Dr. Gil- 
 lette, told him he might soon have the pleasure of meeting 
 " Fannie Forester," who was then a guest ih his own house. 
 
 Upon the occasion of Dr. Judson's first call at the home 
 of his friend. Miss Chubbuck was submitting to the very in- 
 teresting operation of vaccination. 
 
62 LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON. 
 
 After it was over the doctor led her to a sofa, saying he 
 wished to talk with her. She playfully expressed herself as 
 delighted, and he asked her, seriously, how she could, in con- 
 science, devote her genius to such inferior subjects. The 
 young lady melted, and frankly told him how her early pov- 
 erty and the pressure of responsibilities had driven her to 
 use all means at command to meet her obligations. 
 
 The comparatively innocent and more popular vein of 
 fiction being most rewardful, she preferred that to school- 
 teaching and other employments. 
 
 The sympathetic heart of her listener was touched, and 
 criticism was disarmed by the pathetic story. 
 
 Being in search of a biographer for Mrs. Sarah Judson, 
 he invited Miss Chubbuck to write the memoir, this being 
 indeed his first object and errand in seeking her. She con- 
 sented, and the intercourse ihus brought about furthered 
 an acquaintance that ripened into life-long friendship. 
 
 Miss Emily Chubbuck was a native of central New York, 
 and spent most of her childhood in her birth-place, the little 
 town of Eaton, where the alders fringe the merry stream 
 whose ripples are so musical in the book of sketches named 
 "Alderbrook." The father was unfortunate ; and though it 
 was honest poverty which the family endured, its trials 
 were bitter and its privations severe. The little Emily early 
 began to assist in the support of the family in various ways. 
 Before she was twenty she proved herself a successful teacher, 
 though the village scholars were larger than their mistress. 
 She also contributed poems of genuine merit to the village 
 papers. An excellent opportunity to finish her own educa- 
 tion was afforded her by the Misses Sheldon, of Utica, N 
 Y., chen conducting a girls' school. With health sadly im- 
 paired by early toils and hardships she diligently, though 
 often painfully, improved her advantages, and meanwhile 
 
LITE OF ADONIEAM JUDSOIT. <jJi 
 
 wrote for the press a number of admirable stories for chil- 
 dren, as well as delightful sketches for older readers. 
 
 The trials and struggles of her youth developed the in- 
 tense intellectual and spiritual nature of the gifted girl, who 
 was indeed beautiful in person mind and spirit. 
 
 The dauntless courage, the imperious will, the real 
 genius of the woman, triumphed over all the hindering cir- 
 cumstances and conditions of her life, and achieved success 
 in admiring recognition of her power, and loving apprecia- 
 T/ion of her loveliness, yielded by all who knew her. 
 
'H. LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSOS, 
 
 CHAPTER XYII. 
 
 MAERIAGE — LONGINGS TO RETTTEN — DBPAKTtmE — ARRIVAL IN MAITL^ 
 MAIN — REMOVAL TO RANGOON — RETURN TO MAULMAIN— " MY BIRD." 
 
 DE. JITDSON and Miss Chubbuck were married in Ham- 
 ilton, N. T., on the 2d of June, 1846. The public 
 was not satisfied with the marriage. The literary world 
 thought it a shame for the briUiant young writer to wed 
 "that old missionary." The religious world thought a 
 writer of fiction scarcely the wife for a missionary. How- 
 ever, the two most interested settled matters for them- 
 selves. 
 
 It was rather singular that both Mrs. Sarah Judson and 
 Mrs. Emily should have been, in a degree, influenced by 
 the life and character of Ann Hasseltine Judson, in earlier 
 days, and without personal acquaintance. At the time of 
 little Eoger Judson's death, Miss Sarah Hall, afterward Mrs. 
 Boardman, was deeply moved in sympathy, and wrote a little 
 poem about it, her thoughts doubtless turning to the young 
 mother, so bereaved. In her girlhood Emily Chubbuck 
 was greatly impressed by reading the memoir of Mrs. A. H. 
 Judson, and felt in her secret heart that she herself ought 
 to become a missionary, and would become one, though she 
 only half confessed to herself what was then irksome to 
 think of. 
 
 In spite of the attractions of the home-land, the heart of 
 the missionary longed for Burmah ; and six months after his 
 marriage, having arranged for the care and education of his 
 children. Dr. Judson with his wife sailed for Maulmain, 
 reaching the place after a four months' voyage. 
 
LIFE OF ADONIEAM JXTDSON. 85 
 
 Part of the time on shipboard was spent in revising the 
 English and Burmese part of the dictionary. 
 
 The children, Henry and Edward, were awaiting them, 
 but the wan face of the baby Charlie was missing. The 
 little boy was gone. 
 
 There were labprers enough in Maulmain, and the in- 
 terior regions, being still untaken for Christ, invited self- 
 denying labor. Dr. Judson decided to return to Kangoon, 
 his old field, seeing the need there, and hoping also that he 
 might once more penetrate to Ava. Accordingly the family 
 removed to that forbidding place, where outward comforts 
 were few enough, and "room to deny themselves" was cer- 
 tainly abundant. 
 
 The house was gloomy as a prison, and Dr. Judson de- 
 scribes a " bat hunt," in which he says : " Two hundred and 
 fifty of the thriving vagabonds, occupying the upper moiety 
 of the upper story, were bagged in hopes of making it a 
 lound thousand presently." 
 
 The Judsons were not fully settled in these forlorn quar- 
 ters when they heard of the burning of the house where 
 were stored the valuables they would not risk bringing with 
 them. 
 
 The intolerance of Government hindered open effort, but 
 the dictionary progressed, and some quiet work was accom- 
 pHshed. 
 
 In a private letter Dr. Judson writes, under date March 
 11, 1847 : 
 
 " We had a good communion last Sabbath, ten Burmans 
 present, one Karen, and two foreigners. The converts are 
 very timid, but there are two or three good inquirers among 
 the Burmans and several among the Karens. We have 
 plenty to do. What with a little missionary work, and what 
 with our studies, and what with visiting, our hands are full, 
 
86 LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON. 
 
 for we can't get rid of compaay even here. Wife and I 
 occupy remote ends of the house, and we have to visit one 
 another and that takes up time. And I have to hold a 
 meeting with the rising generation every evening and that 
 takes time. Henry can say ' twinkle, twinkle,' all himself, 
 and Edward can repeat it after his father ! — giants of 
 genius ! paragons of erudition ! " 
 
 A few days later he writes further of the difficulties at- 
 tending his work, as he was recognized and allowed to 
 remain only as a lexicographer, and not as a missionary, and 
 says: "Any known attempt at proselyting would be in- 
 stantly amenable at a criminal tribunal, and would probably 
 be punished by the death of the proselyte and the banish- 
 ment of the missionary. All efforts must be conducted in 
 private and are therefore very limited. It is, however, a 
 precious privilege to be allowed to welcome into a private 
 room a small company, and pour the light of truth into their 
 immortal souls — souls that but for the efficacy of that light 
 would be covered with gloom and darkness, darkness to be 
 felt to all eternity." 
 
 The little assemblies gradually increased to twenty, 
 thirty and upward, and began to attract the attention of 
 Government, although the attendants upon service were not 
 so imprudent as to come all at once. 
 
 They came at intervals between daylight and ten o'clock, 
 and upon all sorts of ostensible errands, some bringing par- 
 cels or dishes of fruit, or with robes tucked up appeared as 
 coolies, and others, disdaining disguise, came as if to visit the 
 foreigner. "When aU were gathered, the doors were barred. 
 
 But one Saturday morning the startling news came that 
 the bloody ray-woon, as one of the vice-governors was called, 
 had his eye upon the company, and most adroit measures 
 had to be used to keep the little flock from assembling. 
 
LIFE OP ADONIRAM JUDSON. 67 
 
 A series of petty annoyances and persecutions followed, that 
 greatly hindered effective work. 
 
 Every member of the missionary family suffered from 
 severe illness about this time, partly through privations en- 
 dured, but, as Dr. Judson said, "they continued to breathe," 
 and the chief consideration with them was the furtherance 
 of the work of the mission. It was possible, and even prob- 
 able that, by a visit to Ava and the intervention of a friend 
 at court there, religious toleration might be secured, and an 
 opportunity to open a station in the golden city itself. With 
 a consuming desire to advance the cause, the missionaries 
 decided to venture everything and go to Ava. It did not 
 once occur to them that money would be wanting. Mrs. 
 Judson writes : " The letter from Maulmain with no appro- 
 priation for our contemplated expedition, and giving us 
 only twenty rupees to cover the eighty-six rupees we were 
 even then expending, came upon us like a sudden tornado in 
 a sunny day. ' I thought they loved me,' Dr. Judson said 
 mournfully, feeling not only the disappointment but the 
 manner and the channel of it. ' I thought they loved me, 
 and they would scarcely have known it if I had died. All 
 through our troubles I was comforted with the thought that 
 the brethren in Maulmain and America were praying for us, 
 and they have never once thought of us.' Sometimes he 
 would talk hopelessly of the impulsive nature of home 
 movements, and at others, pray in a voice of agony that these 
 sins of the children of God might not be visited upon the 
 heathen." 
 
 But this state of excitement, peculiarly unnatural for 
 him, was soon controlled, and he began to contrive apologies 
 for every one, and to find the will of God in ^all things, and 
 by the time he had opportunity to write to Maulmain and 
 Boston, it was with such serenity and submission that few 
 
68 LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON, 
 
 realized the intensity of his disappointment at the time. A 
 more liberal policy gave opportunity and authority for this 
 expedition at a later period, but all too late to act upon. 
 
 The family now returned to Maulmain. Mrs. Judson 
 writes: "The good man works like a gaUey-slave. He 
 walks or rather runs over the hills a mile or two every 
 morning, and then — down at his books, where it is puzzle, 
 puzzle, scratch, scratch, until ten at night." 
 
 Scarcely a month passed without witnessing the baptism 
 of some Burmans, Karens, Peguans, or descendants of 
 Europeans in some of the churches. In 1849 there were one 
 thousand five hundred or two thousand baptized communi- 
 cants in all the churches under the care of this mission, 
 beside double that number exclusively Karen, attached to 
 the Arracan Mission, and also a church of thirty or forty 
 Burmese on the Arracan coast. 
 
 By this time Mrs. Judson had attained such knowledge 
 of the language as to be able to complete the series of 
 Scripture questions begtm by Mrs. Sarah Judson, and to 
 conduct a Bible class and native female prayer-meeting. 
 
 It was in Maulmain that the poet-mother wrote the 
 exquisite poem "My Bird," after "this seeming visitant 
 from Heaven" had come, "with its immortal wing." 
 
 Nothing is more closely associated with her very self 
 than these widely known verses : 
 
 Ere last year's moon had left the sky 
 
 A blrdling sought my Indian nest. 
 And folded, O so lovingly. 
 
 Her tiny ■wings upon my breast. 
 
 From morn till evening's purple tinge 
 
 In winsome helplessness she lies; 
 Two rose leaves with a silken fringe 
 
 Shut softly on her starry eyes. 
 
69 
 
 There's not in Ind a lovelier bird. 
 Broad earth owns not a happier nest; 
 
 O God, thou hast a fountain stirred 
 Whose waters nevermore shall rest. 
 
 Doubts — hopes, in eager tumult rise; 
 
 Hear, O my God, our earnest prayer — 
 Room for my bird in Paradise, 
 
 And give her angel plumage there! 
 
 "When little Emily Frances was a year old, Dr. Judson 
 writes : " We are a very happy family ; not a happier, I 
 am sure, on the broad earth. 
 
70 LIFE or ADONIEAM JUDSON. 
 
 CHAPTEE XVIII. 
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE — FAILUBE OF MBS. JUDSON'S HEALTH — ILLNESS OF DB. 
 JnDBON. 
 
 "TTTE like to judge everything from within, whether it 
 VV be a house or a human being, a book or a life. A 
 door is not valued simply for its silver name-plate, nor a 
 book for its binding, but both are useful only when they 
 open to us and give access to treasures within. So the out- 
 ward history of a person must lead to the life within, or his 
 personality will have no hold upon us. 
 
 The man has so much to do with the missionary that a 
 record of deeds is incomplete without a glimpse of person 
 and character. 
 
 At sixty Dr. Judson retained the buoyancy of youth and 
 the enthusiasm of early life, controlled by the wisdom of 
 riper years. 
 
 He was intensely sympathetic, with rare powers of com- 
 forting, and capable of profound feeling, yet vivacious and 
 even playful, genial, and often mirth-provoking in a quiet 
 way of his own. Are not laughter and tears companion- 
 gifts in the strongest and sweetest natures ? 
 
 In person he was of medium height and compactly built. 
 His chestnut hair showed scarce a trace of gray. 
 
 The spiritual and intellectual life which beamed in his 
 expression attracted attention at once, while his quiet man- 
 ner and gracious courtesy marked the well-bred gentleman 
 as thoroughly as the wisdom and grace of his conversation 
 revealed the earnest Christian. 
 
 Jean Paul's creed seemed embodied in his own — he 
 
LIFE OF ADONIEAM JDDSON. 71 
 
 " loved God and every little child." His intercourse with 
 children was beautiful. 
 
 From his wife's account of his thoughtful attentions, he 
 seems never to have been remiss in "the small sweet cour- 
 tesies of life " or its gentle amenities and ministries. He had 
 a fashion of sending her bits of notes, bright little messages, 
 from his study or from the scenes of labor and consultation 
 "when he might be unexpectedly detained. If she were 
 sleeping when he went out for his early morning walks, he 
 left some scrap containing a pleasant morning-word pinned 
 on her curtains to meet her waking glance. 
 
 These finer touches heightened the effect of the strong 
 lines of greatness in the man of heroic courage and endur- 
 ance, of stern, uncompromising integrity and faithfulness. 
 
 His love of order and neatness was almost extravagant. 
 He always dusted his own books and papers, and could find 
 the smallest thing in the dark at any time. He seemed to 
 think that temptation came to him through this and kindred 
 natural traits, as witness some " Points of Self-denial to be 
 observed " found in his journal, which show how fuUy he 
 determined to bring all things into subjection to the Su- 
 preme Will. 
 
 POINTS OF SELF-DENIAL. 
 
 1. The passion for neatness, uniformity and order in 
 arrangement of things — in dress, in writing, in grounds. 
 
 2. A disposition to suffer annoyance from little impro- 
 prieties in behavior and conversation on the part of others. 
 
 3. A desire to appear to advantage, to get hono^ and 
 avoid shame. 
 
 4. A desire for personal ease and comfort, and a sluc- 
 tanoe to suffer inconvenience. 
 
 5. Unwillingness to bear contradiction. 
 
72 LIFE OF ADONIBAM JUDSON. 
 
 It would seem that the interior of Burmah was not the 
 only field he sought minutely to explore. 
 
 In 1849 Mrs. Judson's health failed, and her husband's 
 great anxiety about her fiUed him with forebodings of sepa- 
 ration, little, realizing thatt he was to precede her to the 
 - "jest remaining." 
 
 She recovered to a hopeful degree, but in November of 
 the same year Dr. Judson took a severe cold while assisting 
 in the care of one of the children suddenly taken ill in the 
 night. . 
 
 This was followed by fever, more violent than ever suf- 
 fered before. His lungs became seriously affected and a 
 terrible cough racked his delicate frame. Two or three short 
 trips along the coast failed to benefit or relieve him, and a 
 long sea-voyage seemed the only earthly hope. 
 
LITE OF ADONIKAM JUDSON. 73 
 
 CHAPTEE XIX. 
 
 SEA VOYAGE TmDERTAKEN — ALARMING SYMPTOMS— DEATH AND BTJEIAL. 
 
 IJS" April, 1850, Dr. Judson was conveyed on board a 
 Frencli bark, bound for the Isle of Bourbon. The super- 
 intendent of the mission press, and a Burman servant went 
 with him. Mrs. Judson accompanied him to the ship and 
 afterward, while it waited in the harbor, visited him again 
 /or a last good-bye, before returning to the little children. 
 Dr. Judson suffered extremely, yet felt that he would recover. 
 He was much drawn toward heaven, yet said " A few years 
 would not be missed from an eternity of bliss, and he could 
 weU afford to spare them for sake of his family and the poor 
 Burmans." He longed to finish his dictionary, and go on 
 with other labors, for " he was not old," he said, feeling the 
 pulse of youth still bounding within him, in love and long- 
 ing, and devotion to his work. But his sufferings increased, 
 his fever grew more violent, and his mortal weakness and 
 excessive pain were pitiful to see. 
 
 At three o'clock on Friday afternoon, April 12, he said in 
 Burmese to the native servant : " It is done, I am going." 
 After a quiet hour, broken only by a few words of direction, 
 and of remembrance for his wife, the end came peacefully, 
 the agony being relieved toward the last, allowing him to 
 go gently out of life, tiU, in a moment, he was past it all for- 
 ever, where 
 
 "One little hour will soothe away 
 Time's months of care and pain." 
 
 It seemed to his friends and followers that at the hour 
 of his death he was best fitted for life. But afterward, re- 
 
7i LIFE OF ADONIEAM JUDSON. 
 
 calling the almost startling growth in grace in one who 
 " ever kept his richest graces for the unguarded moments of 
 private intercourse," his wife wondered that she did not 
 recognize, in his increasing spirituality, delight in devotion, 
 and love for aU men, the indication of readiness for heaven, 
 and the nearness of his entering in. Although her eyes 
 were holden, yet so it was, and the time of the end had 
 come. 
 
 When all was over it was found necessary to prepare for 
 immediate burial. At eight o'clock in the evening the ship's 
 crew assembled to witness the last office, and in the midst 
 of a profound sUence the precious mortal part was committed 
 to the sea. 
 
 The ship was but nine days out of Maulmain, and scarce 
 three days out of sight of Burmah's mountain peaks. 
 
 " The Lord knoweth the place of his sepulchre," and a 
 day will come when " the sea shall give up its dead." 
 
 The news of the death of the "Apostle of Burmah" 
 thrilled all the Christian world, and the tributes to his mem- 
 ory testified that the influence of his life and labors touched 
 every shore, and moved a multitude of hearts. 
 
 The loss and loneliness, as felt in the home at Maulmain, 
 may be imagined from the exquisitely touching lines writ- 
 ten by Mrs. Judson soon after her husband left her, and 
 inscribed to her mother : 
 
 SWEBT MOTHBK. 
 
 The wild southwest monsoon has risen 
 
 On broad gray wings of gloom. 
 While here, from out my dreary prison, 
 I look as from a tomb — alasl 
 
 My heart another tomb. 
 
 Upon the low thatched roof the rain 
 
 With ceaseless patter falls; 
 My choicest treasures bear its stain, 
 
LIFE OF ADONIEAM JTJDSON. 
 
 Mold gathers on the walls — would heaveD 
 'Twere only on the walls! 
 
 Sweet mother, I am here alone, 
 
 In sorrow and in pain; 
 The sunshine from my heart has flown. 
 It feels the driving rain — ah mel 
 
 The chill, the mold, the rain! 
 
 75 
 
 Sweet mother, for the exile pray. 
 
 That loftier faith be given; 
 Her broken reeds all swept away. 
 That she may rest in heaven — her soul 
 Grow strong in Christ and heaven. 
 
 AH fearfully, all tearfully, 
 
 Alone and sorrowing. 
 My dim eye lifted to the sky — 
 Fast to the cross I cling, O Christ! 
 
 To thy dear cross I cling. 
 
76 LITE or ADONmAM JUDSON. 
 
 CHAPTEE XX. 
 
 REBTJLT8 OP LABOK — CHARACTER AND INFLUENCE — CONQTTEST AND CROWW. 
 
 NEAE the spot where stood the lion's cage, outside the 
 dreary prison, stands a Christian church,, parsonage 
 and schoolhouse, built by the king of Burmah, while sons 
 of the royal family have attended the school. So runs the 
 record, in an interesting sketch found in a recent " History 
 of Baptist Missions:" 
 
 The changes witnessed in Dr. Judson's life-time are thus 
 fitly symbolized. 
 
 He went out into tne thick darkness of Burmah, feeling 
 that it would be ample reward if he could see a church of 
 one hundred members gathered, and the Bible translated 
 into the native tongue. "When he had been there a quarter 
 of a century he recorded his joy in having contributed to 
 the conversion of the first Burman, the first Karen, the first 
 Peguan and the first Toung-thob, and adds that the converts 
 from heathenism number over a thousand that have been 
 formed into churches throughout the land. 
 
 At the time of his death the number of native Christians, 
 publicly baptized, reached over seven thousand, while hun- 
 dreds had died in the faith during the thirty-seven years of 
 his ministry. 
 
 There were sixty-three churches under the care of one 
 hundred and sixty-three missionaries, native pastors and 
 assistants. The translation of the Bible was an accom- 
 plished fact, and, in its perfection, a most important factor 
 in the Christianization of the country and in the history of 
 missions. 
 
LIFE OF ADONIKAM JUD80N. 77 
 
 The dictionary, designed to fill two quarto volumes of 
 five or six hundred pages each, was more than half finished, 
 the English and Burmese part being complete, and the Bur- 
 mese and English part somewhat advanced, and complete 
 up to the stopping-place. 
 
 Thousands of pages of tracts written by Dr. Judson 
 had been sown broadcast. 
 
 "Was not a sight of the superstructure a sufficient recom- 
 pense to him who toiled at the foundations and laid them 
 broad and deep? Certainly he thought his labors overpaid 
 when evening brought him home and he entered into the 
 " joy of his Lord." 
 
 What he did by the "good hand of his God upon him" 
 was wonderful. What he endured " as seeing Him who is 
 invisible" was as marvelous. What he was attests the 
 power and grace of God no less. 
 
 In early life he was providentially used in assisting to 
 precipitate two great movements and organizations for the 
 furtherance of missions; and now, "He being dead yet 
 speaketh" with the pathos of prison agonies, with the 
 power of a devoted life, and the fervor of an enthusiastic 
 consecrated spirit whose influence cannot die, whose memory 
 is an eloquent appeal that cannot be silenced. 
 
 In May, 1880, the General Assembly of the Presbyte- 
 rian Church convened in Saratoga, N. Y. The eminent 
 missionary-moderator. Dr. H. H. Jessup, of Syria, who 
 served first under the American Board, before the Presby- 
 terian Board was organized, tarried after the session of the 
 Assembly and visited the Baptist Convention then in progress 
 in the same city. 
 
 As an honored guest he was invited to speak, and the 
 breathless silence which awaited the words of the veteran 
 missionary was broken and thrilled with his inspiring plea 
 
78 UFE OF ADONIRAM JUDSON. 
 
 for continued and increasing effort in an enterprise so Christ- 
 like. At the close he said that upon reaching heaven, " the 
 first person whose hand he wished to grasp, next to the 
 Apostle Paul, would be Adoniram Judson's." 
 
 There are incidents on record, though they need not be 
 related, of those who have been led into the kingdom and 
 service of our Lord, and of others moved to new devotion 
 and fresh activities by the influence of this unending life, 
 though we say, in common fashion, " It was over long ago." 
 
 If it is " the same Lord over all " who is " rich unto all 
 that call upon Him," and still gives "grace and glory," is 
 there not the same standard of devotion for all, and " the 
 same spirit," though gifts may differ ? 
 
 "Who will follow this devout and tireless toiler, as he fol- 
 lowed Christ, into the desert, seeking the lost, and for " the 
 joy set before" — "endure the cross?" 
 
 Who will serve at home with greater devotedness, and 
 thus fill up the measure of those "who without us are not 
 made perfect "? 
 
 It may be thought that the. biographers of noted charac- 
 ters take their records from an historical dial, "that marks 
 only the sunny hours," in regard to attainments, gifts and 
 grace. 
 
 Be it so. One does not ignore, but rather imply the 
 inward evil and outward tests, in recording the triumphs. 
 
 Is it not, in its essence, reaUy a gracious human tendency 
 that leads us to forget the things that are behind, of failure 
 and of fault, when at last the victory is won, and 
 
 " Death has set its hallowing touch 
 On speechless lip and brow?" 
 
 This tendency should not grow into exaggeration of virtue 
 nor extenuation of faults. It does account for the " select- 
 ing memory" of those who recall and record the charac- 
 
LIFE OF ADONIBAM JUDSON. Y9 
 
 ter and characteristics of those who have "finished their 
 
 J 
 
 The character of Dr. Judson was. n^a flawless one, but 
 ecame a "pohshed_ stone," before it was "fitly set." 
 he had had little to contend with, why did it cost him 
 such severe struggle to bring everything into subjection to 
 Christ ? It was not that it was easy, but that 
 
 " So nigh is grandeur to our dust, 
 So near is God to man. 
 When Duty whispered low, ' thou must,' 
 The soul replied, ' I can.' " 
 
 We may put the latter part of the quotation in the past tense 
 for him. 
 
 A brief sketch passes hastily over beginnings and 
 growths, concerning itself with results ; but a long life means 
 steady conflict with inward impulses and outward obstacles. 
 
 The eye of the painter may glance from mountain peak 
 to peak in a moment, but the feet of the pilgrim must take 
 all the weary steps between. 
 
 With Dr. Judson it Avas the discipline and determination 
 of a life-time that chastened the restless spirit, curbed the 
 fiery ambition, controlled the imperious will and sometimes 
 too self-reliant judgment, and resisted the "moods and frames 
 of mind " to which his not always even temperament sub- 
 jected him. 
 
 Through years of service and self-sacrifice the rich 
 endowments of heart and brain were " made perfect through 
 suffering." The confident faith and ardent love, the superior 
 intellectual gifts and the grace of humility, the courage and 
 tenderness, the lovable qualities of the man, endear the mis- 
 sionary and give emphasis and influence to his work. In the 
 little town of Maiden, near Boston, Mass., the visitor to the 
 
i^ 
 
 80 LIFE OF ADONIEAM JTJD80N. 
 
 Baptist meeting-house may see therein a marble tablet thus 
 inscribed : 
 
 ,t^||^^ IN MEMOHIAM. 
 
 Rev. Adokiram Juds9N, 
 
 Born August fl, 1788, ^'*" ■ ■ 
 
 Died April 13, 1850. 
 
 Maiden his birthplace. 
 
 The ocean his sepulchre, 
 
 Converted Burmans and 
 
 The Burman Bible 
 
 His monument. 
 
 His record is on High. 
 
 Not alone ilo " mournful marbles " serve as fair memorial 
 stones. But the whole of this wonderful story as yet has 
 never been told. While there is still an opportunity for 
 influence, we cannot say " it is finished ''; and while the great 
 work presses upon us we cannot say, '■'■It is enough! " 
 
 O life, laid down upon the sea 
 Whose restless tides are ever flowing, 
 
 What currents setting forth from thee 
 Go all abroad beyond our knowing! 
 
 Note. — The materials for this sketch have been drawn from Dr. Way- 
 land's Memoir of Dr. Judson, from a few chapters in "The History of Bap- 
 tist Missions" and from Rev, Edward Judson's "Life" of his father. 
 
 If this glimpse of a life so rich and full shall be like the portal to a 
 palace, and invite any to enter more fully into the study of the character 
 and labors of Dr. Judson, as given by his son in the latter volume, neither 
 the reading nor the writing of this smaller book will be in vain. 
 
 J. H. J.