LIFE AND LETTERS OF JOSEPH HARDY NEESIMA
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SUMMER IN MAINE. 297 arrival of the yacht from the opposite shore bringing provisions, letters, or, best of all, the friends he loved. Yet even here was opportunity, however humble. July 28th he writes to those across the bay: -"The air is sweet and refreshing, particularly in the morning. The calm water of the bay, the sweet and melodious songs of some wild birds, seem to me most wonderfully soothing and fascinating. Everything tells me here, as Mr. Hardy says, ' peace! peace! ' I watch the white sails of the Ianthe as she moves slowly out from the harbor. She lingers within my sight as if Gouldsborough could not spare her, and when she returns, first a speck in the distance, she does not fly fast enough to receive my welcome. "I went to church here last Sunday. After the service I asked for the Sunday-school. To my surprise the reply was negative. I thought it too strange ana too bad that these young folks should grow up here without it. A thought came to me at once, why cannot we start a Sunday-school here? I proposed to a lady here that we should offer ourselves as teachers. I thought I would not show forth myself as the originator of the idea, and tried to put the preacher forward to execute it. He was most too glad to do so. I took the responsibility of getting the Sabbath-school papers for them, because I have no least doubt you will take a share in the work and get others interested in it." In his subsequent letters from Japan, when burdened with many cares, and feeling the hand of death not far from him, Mr. N eesima asks again and again, "How is my Sunday-school getting along?"
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