(Continued from p. 28.)
THE Bible was read in the family, but the bread of life they did not deem fit food for slaves, yet so eager was this poor girl to partake of the crumbs that fell from her master’s table, that whenever he did read the Holy Oracles she chose that time to go in to wash his feet. This, however, was soon perceived by her mistress’s ever-watchful eye, and forbidden. Then she would softly creep near the door, or put her ear to the crevice, hoping to catch the joyful sound; but this was thought an offence, and she was threatened to be punished if she did not desist. Once, when her mistress was reading a chapter in the hall, where Jejana was churning, hoping to catch some of the words, she stopped the churn, and “Ask and it shall be given, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you,” caught her ear. Regardless of her mistress’s anger, and of everything but her soul’s deep malady, she asked whose words they were. “They are not for you,” was the answer of her unfeeling mistress, who deemed it an unpardonable offence for her slave to believe that she had a soul. She was now treated with unusual rigour; but this only gave emphasis to her prayer, and “O God teach me! O God help me! for David says thou wilt,” arose with increased fervour, and Jejana waited in confident expectation of the aid she sought from on high. It was suggested to her mind that she should go and seek instruction in religion. She deemed the new thought a voice from heaven, and instantly obeyed its demand, but without success, for her mistress’s heart, like Pharaoh’s, was hardened, and she would not let her go. The same idea was again powerfully impressed upon her mind, and she durst not disobey, much as she dreaded her mistress’s displeasure. With imploring looks, therefore, she again renewed her supplications. “Are you mad, Jejana,” said her mistress, “you used to be obedient, why are you so altered?” “O, dear mistress, I want to go and learn about God, for if I stay here I shall die.” “Die, then,” was her mistress’s reply, “for what are you better than a beast?” “O, mistress, I have a soul, the preacher told me so, and I feel if I stay here without God I shall die and go to hell.” “If you ask me again you shall be beaten from head to foot.”
Jejana could say no more, but to her little sanctuary in the bush she went, and there, under the broad canopy of heaven, sent up her vehement cry, “O God, help me! O God, teach me! for David says thou wilt.” And He who heareth prayer and will not despise, heard her cry, and with His own arm brought deliverance, and now she thought a voice from heaven said, “Go out from this place and I will go with you, and, like Abraham, she obeyed, not knowing whither she went. But a waggon soon overtook her, the driver permitted her to ride, brought her on Saturday evening to the village of Stellenbosch, where she awaited with great anxiety the dawn of the Sabbath, which was to bring to her soul life and salvation. The minister’s text was taken from John vi. 37—”Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” He exhibited Jesus crucified for sinners, and willing to save to the uttermost all that came unto Him. The word was applied with power to the heart of the poor, humble penitent, and she returned with joy and gladness. But the fugitive was soon missed and pursued. On the following day her master arrived, and took her before the Landrost, to be punished for her crime; but the girl’s striking and affecting account of herself interested her judge, and induced him to converse with the criminal more than is usual. Here, as well as in every other part of this remarkable history, the hand of Divine Providence was strikingly manifested. The truth was well elicited, the Landrost discovered that she had been most unjustly enslaved, and pronounced her free. The master was obliged to loose his victim, and his rage for a time knew no bounds. At length he condescended to entreat her to return, promising to restore her all her cattle left by her mother, but she could not live where God was not known, and having received a double blessing, freedom from sin and Satan, as well as from the cruel bonds that made her the slave of man, her cup of joy was full, she wished no more, and she determined to remain in the place where God had met and blessed her.
Under the preaching of the good missionary and the teaching of the Holy Ghost, she grew in the faith and love of Jesus, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of her God for twelve years; and then, alas! unmindful of the divine injunction, “Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation,” her heart began to decline from His testimonies. The first temptation to which she yielded was a dance. On that night she could not look up with her wonted confidence to her heavenly Father; the form of prayer, indeed remained, but the Spirit had departed, not soon to return. The first step in the slippery path of sin was but preparatory to another, and another still more fatal, till she made shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. For four years she followed the multitude to do evil, but the eye of the compassionate Redemer followed the poor wanderer, and, in the multitude of His tender mercies, brought her back to His fold; and though He did not utterly remove His loving-kindness, He visited her transgression with a rod, and her iniquities with stripes. Jejana was now a wife, and the mother of two little ones. The eldest was removed suddenly, the other appeared to be on the borders of the grave, and herself laid on a bed of sickness. Now, in her affliction, she remembered Him, who had been her hope and help in happier days, and in agony of soul she cried, “O God, spare my child, for it is innocent, and strike his guilty mother.”
The child was spared and her own health restored, but no ray of light broke in on her benighted soul; she became a prey to the most fearful temptation: the great Enemy of souls persuaded her she had committed the unpardonable sin, and for four months she lingered on the borders of despair, not so much as daring to lift up her eyes to heaven. As she sat one day bemoaning her lost condition, the Holy Spirit brought to her mind the words of the prophet, “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from them,” and she again found peace at the Cross of that Saviour whom she had forsaken. On this memorable day, as Jejana was standing at her door, with the tears of mingled joy and grief upon her cheek, a man came up, and, with a dejected countenance, begged a cup of water. On complying she observed that he was troubled and unfit to drink. “Not so troubled as my soul,” he replied. “Is your soul distressed?” said she; “go to the Saviour: I found Him this morning, and He is as ready to pardon and save and bless you.” It was a word in season to his sorrowful spirit; he sought and obtained at the Cross of the Son of God the relief he needed. Warned and instructed by her fall, Jejana became more humble, watchful, and prayerful, and till this time, a period of more than forty years, has walked humbly with her God. Having lived with her husband in service, her life had passed in even tenor, without experiencing that anxious care in rearing an infant family, which the labouring class so often experience. It is the lot of all, however, to feel that man is born to trouble, and many a cloud of sorrow now arose to dim the path of this poor pilgrim; but strong in faith, and earnest in prayer, she was sustained by the arm of Omnipotence, and could rejoice even in tribulation.
David, her husband, was obliged to leave his home to join the army General Jansenn had raised in defence of the Cape, and Jejana followed his footsteps, and was exposed to many trying vicissitudes. At length the troops being disbanded, she and her husband returned to their former occupation. Her health, however, soon declined, and she had notice to seek another home, an event which filled them with sorrow, though God meant it for good. One bright morning, having committed themselves and their little ones to the care and guidance of heaven, they went forth to seek employment and a place where they might lay their heads. By the kindness of Providence they found upon the Downs an empty cottage, and having obtained permission to dwell there, they were soon settled in their new abode; and though now more than fourteen miles from the house of God, Jejana’s seat was seldom vacant, for she loved His dwelling-place.