Story of John Wesley Told to Boys and Girls

<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> <div class="blockquot"><p>In the Savannah river.&mdash;Landed.&mdash;A prayer meeting on the top of a hill.&mdash;German Christians.&mdash;The Indians.&mdash;Tomo Chachi and his squaw.&mdash;Their welcome to Mr. Wesley.&mdash;A jar of milk and a jar of honey.</p> </div> <div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/cap-a.png" width-obs="101" height-obs="100" alt="A" title="" /></div> <div class='unindent'><br/>T last storms and dangers were over, and the good ship "Simmonds" floated safely in the smooth waters of the Savannah river. You can find this on your map. They cast anchor near a little island called Tybee Island, where beautiful pine trees grew all along the shore.</div> <p>The first thing they did on landing was to go to the top of a hill, kneel down together, and thank God for bringing them safely across the ocean. You remember Noah's first act after leaving the ship that God put him into when the world was drowned, was to offer a sacrifice of thankfulness for God's care over him. And when Abraham got safely into the strange land to which God sent him, the first thing he did<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</SPAN></span> was to offer sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. In the same way the little missionary band from England showed their reverence and gratitude to the God who rules earth, sky, and sea.</p> <p>When they got to the town of Savannah they found it a very small place. There were only about forty houses, besides a church, a prison built of logs of wood, and a mill where everybody took their corn to be ground.</p> <p>I told you, if you remember, that besides the poor English exiles there were a number of German Christians. These were called Moravians, and they were so glad to have a minister that they came to meet Mr. Wesley, and told him how pleased they were to see him. Mr. Wesley and one of his friends lived with them in Savannah for a long time, and they soon found what earnest real Christians they were, true followers of the Lord Jesus. You know it is the people you live with that know you the best, and this is what Mr. Wesley wrote about these Moravians. "We were in the same room with them from morning till night, except when we went out for a walk. They were never idle, were always happy, and always kind to one another. They were true copies in all things of their Saviour Jesus Christ." Was not that a splendid character to have, and would it not be nice if those whom we live with could say the same of us?</p> <p>There was something near Savannah that you would have liked to see, especially the boys, and that<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</SPAN></span> was an Indian town. If there was one thing more than another that drew Mr. Wesley to Georgia it was the Indians. I expect, like you, he had loved to read and hear about them; now he had a chance to see them. But what he longed for most of all was to tell them about Jesus, and to get them to become Christians. The Indians lived in tents or tepees as they are called, and a number of these tepees all put up close together was called a town; one of these towns was only about twenty minutes' walk from Savannah.</p> <p>After Mr. Wesley had been a week or two in America, who should come to see him but the Indian chief. Think how excited Mr. Wesley would be! The chief's name was Tomo Chachi, and he came looking so grand in all his war paint, with his great feather head-dress, and moccasins made of buffalo skin, ornamented with pretty coloured beads, just as you have seen them in pictures.</p> <p>Mr. Wesley thought he must dress up too, to receive his distinguished visitor, so he put on his gown and cassock, and down he went to see Tomo Chachi. Of course Mr. Wesley did not understand the Indian language, but there was a woman who did, and she acted as interpreter. "I am glad you are come," said Tomo Chachi. "I will go up and speak to the wise men of our nation, and I hope they will come and hear you preach."</p> <p>Then Tomo Chachi's wife, or squaw as she is called,<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</SPAN></span> who had come with her husband, presented the missionaries with a jar of milk. She meant by this that she wanted them to make the story of Jesus Christ very plain and simple so that they could understand it, for she said "we are only like children." Then she gave them a jar of honey, and by this she meant that she hoped the missionaries would be very sweet and nice to them. Then Tomo Chachi and his squaw went back to their tepee.</p> <p>A few months after, Mr. Wesley had a long talk with another tribe of Indians, a very wicked tribe called the Chicasaws; but they would not allow him to preach to them. They said: "We don't want to be Christians, and we won't hear about Christ." So Mr. Wesley had to leave them and go back disappointed to Savannah.</p> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i-063.png" width-obs="115" height-obs="115" alt="Cherub" title="" /></div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</SPAN></span></p> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i-021.png" width-obs="563" height-obs="189" alt="Decoration" title="" /></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />