Alas! he found that the Mission premises had been totally destroyed, and, worse still, that Mr. Campbell had been killed. Mr. Johnson, after being kept a prisoner, was also slain, as were some other members of the Mission, who were Sierra Leone men.
It was therefore with a chastened joy, and gratitude for his own escape, that Mr. Goodman slowly made his way to the coast. He remained at the camp but a short time, and was then sent on to Bonthe, Sherbro', where he recovered a measure of strength under the care of Commandant Alldridge. Finally, he reached Freetown on July 21st, and presently took ship for England.
When he returned home some of his friends scarcely knew him. His beard was marked with grey, his cheeks were hollow, and his bodily weakness very great. He looked like an old man. He has recovered wonderfully since then, and appears more like his natural age; but when I saw him he was still far from well. He suffered from the effects of malaria even yet, and from the evil results of the poison in his system. Four times in his nine years of missionary life has he suffered from the fell "black-water" scourge.
But since his return he has been manfully doing his duty in speaking to many audiences of his mission work; and, if the Committee should so decide, he is fully prepared to return to Africa and reinstate the Methodist Free Churches Mission in the heart of Mendiland.
SAMPLES OF WRITING BY TIKONKO SCHOOL CHILDREN.
(Arranged by Mrs. Vivian.)
