Page:Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies.djvu/88

52 reminded of the mercy extended to Manasseh, Mary Magdalene, and others of similar character. He told me he had been guilty of housebreaking, and many other crimes, for which he said he had been three times sentenced to this settlement; he said also that the gallows was no terror to him, and that he was so hardened, that he did whatsoever he wished, in defiance of the laws of God and man, till the Lord visited him, and brought him low. He afterwards ranked amongst those, who having been forgiven much, love much. The alteration in his conduct was noticed by all around him: the Commandant said his very voice was changed; formerly it was ferocious, now it was mild; formerly he was contentious and addicted to fighting, now he was gentle and peaceable; formerly he was so given to swearing, and the habit of it had such power over him, that, after he had turned to the Lord, if any thing irritated him, he had to lay his hand upon his mouth that he might not swear; now he was to be found warning others against this sin.

The men who had turned from their evil ways, were allowed to sit in a room used for an adult-school, in order that they might not be disturbed in reading and meditation, by those who still remained in folly, and would be disposed to deride them; and this man, on account of his infirmity, was allowed likewise to retire alone to one of the caves in the base of the island, to meditate and pray. Though he had lost an arm, he was not idle, but employed himself in carrying wood for fuel, after it was landed from the boat. I invited him to show me his cave; he readily consented, and led me down a steep and slippery path at the back of the island. The cave was damp on one side, and had a honeycomb-like incrustation upon it: its sloping roof was dry, a few old palings formed its loose floor, and a cold wind blew through it from a small opening at its farther extremity. I could not stand upright in it, but entered by stooping; he followed, and we sat down upon its floor, and conversed for a while on the mercy of God to sinners, in sending his Son into the world to save them, and in calling them by his Spirit to come unto Him.

This cold and forlorn place was much prized by its