Perhaps it is the greatest grief that can come to an earnest, enthusiastic soul to be so grossly misunderstood by his co-labourers; and it is a melancholy case when worldly men and women take it upon themselves to explain the difference between being filled with the Holy Spirit, and being a prey to the vagaries of a crazed imagination.
And now we turn eagerly to that section of the Diary where he speaks of the beginning of the Mission.
“January 6th, 1849.—For the last two and a half years my Journal has been pretty much neglected. It is now resumed. Since July, 1846, I, with my family have been residing in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The church here is small. I have been labouring chiefly at Charlottetown. . . . The principal thing which has absorbed my attention during the past two years and a half is the learning of the Micmac language. I have made some progress. I can converse with them to some extent, read the Scriptures to them,—having translated about a dozen chapters—and am compiling quite a full vocabulary of their words. I have met with some assistance, especially in the officers of H. M. Brig “Gulnare,” employed in surveying the coast.
“Feb. 3rd. . . . Last evening I spent an hour with Captain Orlebar, at his house. He is interested in the Indians. He has contributed towards assisting me during the last three years the sum of about twenty pounds. I have made a good deal of progress in their language. I am compiling a Dictionary and a Grammar, and have brought the former down to P. I had an interesting excursion among the Indians of Nova Scotia when I attended the Association at Liverpool. I found them friendly and interested. I visited the Indian settlement at Shubenacadie and spent all night in a camp. I am now attending a poor sick fellow named Jacob Mitchell. He is going with the Consumption. Sometimes I hope light is beaming upon his darkened mind, at others I am discouraged. One thing is comforting; the work is the _Lord’s_. Oh that I could feel more deeply, and that I could converse with them in their own tongue. I hope yet to accomplish this.
“March 28th, 1849.—Yesterday Dr. Tremain drove me over to Brother Bain’s. I made a visit to the Indians. Poor Saku Mesal (Jacob Mitchell) is somewhat better, but I think he cannot live long. By the aid of his wife I succeeded in going on with my vocabulary, and worked at it for about four hours. On my return, to my surprise, I observed a new camp by the roadside, and, naturally enough called in. Just as I drew aside the _kakun_, I heard the old lady say: “_Jigulase_” (be off with you.) “Do you tell me _jigulase_?” says I. “_Mogwa_,” said she, “_Piskwa, Piskwa_,” (come in, come in.) I accordingly entered, and found them pleased enough to see me. The _jigulase_ was said to be a poor creature who had been drinking, I imagine.