Hawaii - James Michener [107]
In his own stateroom, Abner kneeled on boxes and assured the four sick women there that when Sunday came, he would do everything required to help them dress and climb topside to worship the Lord. Amanda Whipple agreed, as did the two others, and he laid out their things for them, but Jerusha, after trying to rise, subsided and whimpered, "I cannot even raise my hand, Reverend Hale."
"I will help you, Mrs. Hale. I have brought you some broth from the meat, and if you will drink this now, by morning you will be stronger."
Jerusha drank the greasy broth, and only with difficulty kept from throwing it back into the smelly stateroom. "I am so dreadfully ill," she insisted.
"In the morning you will be better," Abner assured her, and while she slept he went aloft under the first stars of the voyage. As he was standing by the starboard railing of the brig, two shadowy forms came to him and he heard Cridland say, "I've been talking all week with Mason, sir, and he wants a Bible."
Abner turned in the darkness and saw the indistinct form of a young sailor. "Do you wish to be saved?" he asked.
"I do," the boy replied.
"What has led you to this decision?" Abner asked.
"I've been listening to the older hands speak of a sailor's life ashore, and I'm afraid," the boy whined.
"You're a wise young man, Mason," Abner said. "The Lord has spoken and you have listened."
"No, sir, begging your pardon. It's been Cridland who's been speaking. He's made me see the error of my ways."
"Tomorrow after service, Mason, I'll hand you your Bible, when Cridland gets his. But it is only a loan from God to you. To keep it, you must get some friend
in the fo'c's'l to acknowledge God and to ask for his Bible."
"Would you say a prayer for us, Reverend Hale?" Cridland begged.
"The Lord always provides wisdom for those who seek," Abner replied. And in the darkness he raised his head to the stars and prayed: "Lord, we are afloat on a great ocean in a little boat. The winds and the storms harass us, but we trust in Thee. Tonight we are only three praying to Thee: a young boy on his first voyage, a sailor who seeks guidance, and a beginning minister who has never had a pulpit of his own. Great Father in heaven, we are insignificant in Thine eyes, but guide us in Thy divine ways. For if we are only three tonight, later we shall be more, for Thy wisdom permeates all things and saves all souls."
He dismissed the two sailors and stood for a long time watching the stars and waiting till the midnight hour heralded the first Sabbath on which a substantial number of the missionaries could attend formal service. As the holy day crept across the meridian of night, Abner prayed that the Lord might make this day one of special significance. Then he went below and whispered to his unnerved wife, "My dearest companion, you would not believe what has happened. Tonight two sailors came voluntarily requesting evening prayers. The spirit of God is beginning to permeate this forsaken ship."
"That's wonderful, Reverend Hale," his wife whispered, lest they waken the three other couples who had been sick most of the evening.
"And tomorrow our family will celebrate its first holy service," Abner sighed. "But I forget. It's already Sunday. I studied where the tarpaulin is to be hung. We're going to have a very handsome church, Mrs. Hale, on the bosom of the deep."
"I won't be able to go up the stairs, Reverend Hale, but I'll pray with you," she whispered.
"You'll be well enough," he assured her, and he crept into the short narrow berth beside her.
But in the morning she was no better, and the sight of little Amanda swaying back and forth on the piled boxes made her more ill, so that when Abner returned