the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第12章
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The Moravians in Georgia
in the West Indies。His spiritual condition had at times caused much
concern to Toeltschig； who was especially charged with the religious
welfare of the first company； many of whom had been under his care in
Germany； but in the main he had been an earnest man； a willing and
industrious partaker in the common toil； and his death caused much
regret。The burial customs in Savannah included the ringing of bells； a
funeral sermon； and a volley of musketry； but learning that these
ceremonies were not obligatory the Moravians declined the offer of the
citizens to so honor their Brother； and laid him to rest in the Savannah
cemetery with a simple service of hymns and prayer。
As they were robing Riedel for his burial； a young man came to the
door； and asked if he could not make them some pewter spoons。In the
conversations that followed it developed that he was a native of
Switzerland； the son of a physician； and after his father's death he had
sailed for Pennsylvania； intending there to begin the practice of medicine。
But his fellow…passengers stole his books and everything he had； he was
unable to pay for his transportation； and forced to sell his service for seven
years as a redemptioner。At the end of five years he had become quite ill；
and his master； having waited six months for his recovery； heartlessly
turned him out； to live or die as the case might be。Instead of dying； his
strength returned； and then his former master demanded 10 Pounds
Pennsylvania currency； for his unexpired term； although only 5 Pounds
had been paid for him； and he had served five years。The young man was
obliged to promise to pay this； and Spangenberg encouraged him to push
his spoon…making； in order to do it as speedily as possible。Meanwhile the
Moravians were so much pleased with his appearance and speech； that
they agreed to receive him into their company for as long as he chose to
stay； and John Regnier soon became an important factor in their comfort。
Spiritually he was somewhat at sea。At one time he had desired to be a
hermit； and then he had drifted from one sect to another； seeking
something which he could not find； but acquiring a medley of odd customs。
Spangenberg advised him to turn his thoughts from men to God； learning
from Him 〃what was better and higher； Faith； Love； Hope； etc。〃； and under
the Moravian influence he gradually laid aside his unwise fancies； giving
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The Moravians in Georgia
them encouragement to believe that he would eventually come into the
clearer light； as they knew it。
In material things John Regnier was of great assistance； owing to his
ability to turn his hand to almost anything。The shoes of the party were
badly torn； but though they had brought leather and tools from England
none of them knew the cobbler's trade。John Regnier had never made a
shoe； but he took it up； and soon provided for them all； and then he
mended their clothing； and added new garments。He also showed much
aptitude for nursing； and Spangenberg put him in charge of several cases。
A man from a neighboring village sent word that he had severed an artery
and could not check the bleeding； and asked for help。Regnier went to him；
and was so successful in his treatment that in two weeks the man was
entirely restored。Some one discovered a poor Scotchman； dying with
dropsy； lying utterly neglected upon the floor of a miserable hut； and
appeal was made to the Moravians to take him and care for him。 They did
so； moving him to one of their cabins； where they made him a bed； and
Regnier nursed him until death ended his sufferings。 Another man had
high fever； and no friends； and him also the Moravians took； and cared for；
the Trustee's agent furnishing food and medicine for the sick； but offering
no recompense for the care they received。
Indeed； as the months passed by； the Moravians established a
reputation for charity and for hospitality。Not only had they kept free of
dispute with the Salzburgers； but the friendliest relations existed； and the
Moravian cabins were always open to them when they came to Savannah。
Nor were they slow to avail themselves of the kindness。 Gronau and
Bolzius often lodged with them； and others came in groups of nine or ten
to spend the night。During the evening stories would be exchanged as to
their circumstances in the home lands； and their reasons for leaving there；
and then sometimes the hosts would spread hay upon the floor for their
guests； at other times give up their own beds； and themselves sleep upon
the floor。
With their nearer neighbors in Savannah； they were also upon cordial
terms； though they found few who cared for religious things。The Jews
were particularly courteous to them； inviting Spangenberg into their
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The Moravians in Georgia
Synagogue； and bringing gifts of meat and fish on several occasions when
help was sorely needed on account of the illness of some of their number； …
… for Riedel was not the only one who was seriously ill； though no others
died。 All the conditions in Georgia were so different from what they were
accustomed to in Germany that it took them some time to adapt
themselves； and longer to become really acclimated； and they noticed that
the same was true of all new…comers。 All of the Moravians were sick in
turn； many suffering from frosted feet； probably injured on the voyage
over； but Spangenberg； Toeltschig； Haberecht and Demuth were
dangerously ill。Nearly all of the medicine brought from Europe was gone；
and what they could get in Savannah was expensive and they did not
understand how to use it； so they were forced to depend on careful nursing
and simple remedies。 Turpentine could easily be secured from the pines；
Spangenberg found an herb which he took to be camomile； which had a
satisfactory effect； and with the coming of the cooler autumn weather most
of the party recovered their health。
Probably the food was partly responsible for their troubles； though
they tried to be careful； and cooked everything thoroughly。 Rice and salt…
meat were their chief articles of diet； for bread cost so much that they soon
gave it up entirely； substituting cornmeal mush； and butter was so dear as
to be entirely out of the question。 During the summer months which
preceded the harvest； they could get neither corn； rice nor beans at the
store； so lived on mush； salt…meat； and the beans they themselves had
planted。Fresh meat was a great treat； particularly when it enabled them to
prepare nourishing broth for their sick； and once Rose shot a stag； giving
them several good meals； but this happened so seldom as to do little
toward varying the monotony of their fare。
Drinking water was held to be responsible for the swollen feet and
nausea from which many of them suffered； so they made a kind of
sassafras beer； which proved palatable and healthful； and used it until they
had become accustomed to the climate； when they were able to drink the
water。
When the Moravians came to Georgia they brought with them a little
ready money； the gift of English friends； and their cash payments secured
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The Moravians in Georgia
them good credit at the Trustees' store。 Other merchants sought their
patronage； but they decided to run an account at one place only； and
thought Mr。 Causton； as the Trustees' agent； would give them the most
liberal treatment。Their hardest time financially； as well as regarding health；
was during the summer； when credit came to be accorded grudgingly； and
finally Spangenberg； personally； borrowed 15 Pounds sterling； and applied
it on their account； which restored their standing in Mr。 Causton's eyes。On
Feb。 8th； 1736； they decided to buy enough corn； rice and salt…meat to last
until harvest； having learned by sad experience how very dear these
necessities were later in the year。Very little work had been done which
brought in ready money； for their time had been fully occupied in building
their house and clearing the land； but all things were prepared for the
coming of the second company； with whose assistance they expected to
accomplish much。 In February the two carpenters were engaged to build a
house for Mr。 Wagner； a Swiss gentleman who had recently arrived； and
rented one of the Moravian cabins temporarily； and this was the beginning
of a considerable degree of activity。
The intercourse of the Moravians with the other residents of Savannah
was much impeded by their ignorance of the English language； and it
occurred to Spangenberg that it might be a good thing to take an English
boy； have him bound to them according to custom； and let them learn
English by having to speak to him。 About July a case came to his
knowledge that roused all his sympathies； and at the same time afforded a
good opportunity to try his plan。 〃I have taken a four…year…old English boy
into our family。 He was born in Charlestown； but somehow found his way
to Savannah。 His father was hanged； for murder I have heard； and his
mother has married another man； and abandoned the child。A wo
