THE HESPERIAN
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African soil. He was destined never to sec his
again. Livingstone had given up much for
again upon
native land
Africa. The best years of his life had been spent in the
jungles. His wife was buried near the Zambesi. His family
were scattered. He was alone in Africa, yet he tool; up his
work unfalteringly. Eight more years were spent in explo
ration. More than once he loosed the slave sticks from the
necks of fainting slaves. More than once he relieved the
people whom he met. All those with whom he mingled,
though they were savages, honored him for his goodness.
The vast region beyond Lake Tanganyika was penetrated.
The chain of lakes that forms the Congo was discovered.
The resources of the region, its advantages and opportunities
for enlightenment were estimated. As far as possible nothing
was left undone. But finally he was forced back to Uiiii.
Here, in poverty and distress, Stanley found andrelicvcd
him. Livingstone would not return to England until he had
solved the mighty problem of determining whether the lakes
he had discovered were the sources of the Nile or Congo.
He started on the journey. As long as sufficient strength
remained he traveled on. But he was destined never to
finish his work. Aged and feeble, he persevered . The last
mile was passed over while upon a stretcher. But the end
came. Alone, upon his knees in the heart of Africa, David
Livingstone died -died upon the threshold of the region he
wished to enter; died with his task uncompleted, but
bequeathing with it an example of heroism and endurance
that hastened its performance by others.
Such was Livingstone's life and work, lie did not finish
his work; but he died at his post. The noblest life ever given
to the cause of Christianity, was the sacrifice required to
arouse the world to the needs of Africa. The heart, mind
and soul of Livingstone were in his work. "Let a thousand
die, but save Africa," was his constant cry. Such a motive
was infinitely nobler than that of those who, after a discovery
had rushed home to receive personal honor and recognition.
Livingstone remained to finish if possible what he began.
A wooden framework, erected in one of the forests of
Central Africa, marks the place where Livingstone died; and
upon a neighboring tree his servants carved his name and the
time of his death. His remains are buried in the vast
mausoleum of England's great, but the simple carving in the
forest, telling of a life given for the welfare of Africa, honors
David Livingstone more than a burial place in Westminster
Abbey. He laid all upon the altar and sacrificed it willingly.
The world honors him for it. It is well; but it remains for
humanity to finish the work so well begun and to enlighten
the people, for whose redemption Livingstone gave his life.
A COLORED INCIDENT.
"What was I doing last summer? Well I was busy you
may be sure, for I could not afford to loaf," replied my friend
James Ott in answer to a question, made at the beginning of
the fall term. "I was employed as rodman in one of the
numerous locating parties sent out, by the R. R., to de
termine upon a suitable route for a new line of road," "Jim"
added. "Never been out to enjoy camp life? I thought not
by the look you gave me when we shook hands. Did I
have any fun? It was a picnic barring such annoyances as
alkali water and storehouse bacon. More than that we did
not get to a post office more than once in two weeks so I
could not hear from my girl in very often. Sometimes
we ran short of provisions as we were far away from our own
railroad and shipments of supplies were long in coming.
But we did not grumble as much as might be supposed."
So my friend and 1 talked for two hours or more. He re
lated many incidents that had happened during the summer,
some perhaps were colored a little, but most of them raised a
hearty laugh. One adventure, or rather mishap, was espe
cially interesting to me, for I had once met with a similar ex
perience. "It is not pleasant," said Jim, "to be awakened from a
sound sleep by some one tramping all over you and making
the sides of the tent quiver by blood curdling yells. You
know, a party like the one I was in sleeps upon the ground.
Of course we have blankets, etc., and as a matter of conven
ience two men 'bunk,' so to speak, together. The cook is
chief boss in a surveying party and of course has n corner in
the tent and two pairs of blankets, all to himself. There
were thirteen of us in the tent, and of course there was not
much room for walking around inside without stepping on
some one.
"One night, or rather one morning, about one o'clock, the
cook heard the mules making a racket and crawled out to see
what was Hie matter. He had found out to his satisfaction,
and was entering the tent again, when right at his heels he
heard the rattle of a snake. Now the cook was a negro and
weighed about 170 lbs. He was more afraid of a snake than
a time check or a discharge. The moment he heard the
snake rattle he gave a yell that must have awakend the
ghosts of the animals whose hides were on the saddles, then
answering the purpose of pillows, and leaped as far into the
tent as possible. He jumped squarely upon the leveller.
"In two minutes there was pandemonium in that tent. No
one seemed to know exactly where the cook and the snake
were, for every one thought the snake was around his feet
and the cook was jumping on each man in turn. As two men
rolled in blankets can not get up very quickly, the snake and
the cook had full play for a moment; but as soon as a down;,
trodden sleeper could get upon his feet he proceeded to hunt
the cook with malice aforethought. I suppose every man
received a kick or blow that was intended for the cook. It
was ten minutes before a light could be had; then every
blanket was shaken in order to find thp snake. No snake ap
peared; and of course the cook received the blame. I never
knew how much ire could be aroused even in railroad men,
until a heavily built cook had danced around the tent, upon
them. The cook was in danger of his life for a week after
ward, but one thing about it brought us joy. In order to ap
pease our wrath the cook furnished us the best spreads that
could be supplied from the parly stores, until we were called
into headquarters. But it will be long before I forget that
night. I might say that it was long before my body allowed
me to forget the effects of the cook's stampede, as I might
term it, and I never believed any one else but myself was
touched by the cook foi I thought he was jumping upon me
all the time."
SWANEE RIVER REVISED.
DKUICATl'.D TO O. II. POLK.
Way down around the Twelfth street corner,
Far, far away,
Dere's wha' my heart is turning eber,
Dcrc's wha' de oysters stay.
All up and down de whole creation,
Sadly I love,
Still seeking for my satisfaction,
For 1 once was deep in love.
Chorus. All de world am sad rnd dreary,
For my girl has fled,
No longer is my heart so cheery;
I hope dat she is dead.