’I can have no doubt, 1st, that a fall was necessary, I believe fully.  His own words (not suggested by me) were, “I tempted God often, and He let me fall; I don’t mean He was the cause of it, it is of course only my fault; but I think I see that I might have gone on getting more and more careless and wandering further and further from Him unless I had been startled and frightened.”  And then he burst out, “Oh! don’t send me away for ever.  I know I have made the young ones stumble, and destroyed the happiness of our settlement here.  I know I must not be with you all in Chapel and school and hall.  I know I can’t teach any more, I know that, and I am miserable, miserable.  But don’t tell me I must go away for ever.  I can’t bear it! "

’I did manage to answer almost coldly, for I felt that if I once let loose my longing desire to let him see my real feeling, I could not restrain myself at all.  “Who wishes to send you away, U—?  It is not me whom you have displeased and injured.”

’"I know.  It is terrible!  But I think of the Prodigal Son.  Oh!  I do long to go back!  Oh! do tell me that He loves me still.”

’Poor dear fellow!  I thought I must leave him to bear his burthen for a time.  We prayed together, and I left him, or rather sent him away from my room, but he could neither eat nor sleep.

’The next day his whole manner, look, everything made one sure (humanly speaking) that he was indeed truly penitent; and then when I began to speak words of comfort, of God’s tender love and compassion, and told him how to think of the Lord’s gentle pity when He appeared first to the Magdalene and Peter, and when I took his hand in the old loving way, poor fellow, he broke down more than ever, and cried like a child.

’Ah! it is very sad; but I do think he will be a better, more steadfast man:  he has learnt his weakness, and where to find strength, as he never had before.  And the effect on the school is remarkable.  That there should be so much tenderness of conscience and apprehension of the guilt of impurity among the children of the heathen in among many brought up in familiarity with sin, is a matter for much thankfulness.’

To this may well be added an extract from Joseph Atkin’s journal, showing his likemindedness both in thoughtfulness and charity:—­

’I feel quite sure that we must be prepared for many such cases.  The whole associations and training of the early lives of these people must influence them as long as they live.  The thought of what my mother and sister would think, never occur to them as any influence for good; and although this may be said to be a low motive for doing right, it is a very powerful one, and it is more tangible because it is lower.

’The Bishop, in speaking of it to-day, told the boys that they ought not to do right to please him, but because it was right to please God; but I can’t help thinking that pleasing the Bishop may and can help the other very much.  Is it not right for a child to do right to please its parents, and for older children too to be helped by the thought that they are pleasing those they love and honour?