THE PATHETIC SIDE OF CIVILISING WORK.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 207, 9 November 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE PATHETIC SIDE OF CIVILISING WORK.

SAD MISSIONARY STORY

A TOUCHING narrative has'just como from the Congo. Tutnba is a town of some importance, and Matadi is the highest point ocean-going steamers hare ever reached. Tumba, too, is the first station on the new Free State railway, and here the Baptist Missionary Society of London, have established themselves to conduct their important civilising work. So important is Tumba regarded, both as a distributing depot and aa a field for missionary labour that the Baptist Society havu or had, four missionaries established there. Two missionaries with their wives—of these Mr and Mrs Popel are believed to have belonged to London—were one group. They went to the L'onjfo probably last year, and three months asro Mr Popel fell a victim to its treacherous climate and died. A Jew days afterwards Mrs Popel pare birth to a son. The circumstances at any other time and place would have been o cause of joy, but in Africa it is to a white lady an event to be feared. In 10 days Mrs Popel was laid in the grave beside her husband at Tumba, and tKajnfrt'nt was an orphan.

For a few -weeks the little stranger was cared for by the remaining missionary aud his wife. Subsequently Mr and Mrs White. Baptist missionaries, hundreds of miles further up the Congo, sailed at Tumba on their way to England, as Mr White was then sufforinj seriously from fever. The child was placed in their care, to be taken to its grandparents in England, and reached tho mail steamer Nigor in safety. Tho little orphan, with its sad history i had the full sympathy of the ontiru ship—'passengers, oflicers, and crew—and was instantly installed as •' Our Haby." It was given the utmost, care and attention, particularly by Mr and Mrs White; bat as the Niger was passing Congo, homeward bound, about U.ree weeks afterwards, the tir.y creature died. To end the sad story. Mi White died tho following day, and the little orphon was placed in hid csflin, guardian and child finding a last resting place at the French por; of Mayumba, where tho Niger put iu.