I.

ALLEN GARDINER.

HERE are we to go this evening, mamma?" "To the south of South America."

"From Red River to Patagonia!" exclaimed Mr. Campbell, "that is a long journey indeed. Bring the map, George, and let us look over it. See, what an immense continent South America is; about four thousand miles long by two thousand broad. Some of the finest and most beautiful regions of our globe are found here; but there is a sad want of good government and of true religion, without which the best natural advantages will always be comparatively unimproved."

"Who does South America belong to, papa?"

"It was mostly conquered by the Spaniards and Portuguese, in the sixteenth century. Now, as you see on the map, it is divided into a number of separate states and colonies, under various forms of government. But the blight and shadow of bigoted Popery hangs over almost the whole."

"Were there Red Indians in the land before the

Spaniards came}"

"The native tribes have the general name of South American Indians. Some of them, as you will learn when you read the history of their conquest, were fine races of men, and it is heart-sickening to read of how they were treated by those who called themselves Christians. Now you must question mamma. Fanny and I are to listen quietly as usual.”

"Are there many Indians still, mamma?”

"A great many, of various tribes, scattered over an immense extent of country. Some, like the poor Red Indians, have sadly fallen away and degenerated, instead of improving, by their intercourse with wicked white men. But some of the wild tribes have preserved their independence, and are fine bold savages, such as the Araucanians, in Chili, of whom I shall have more to tell you presently."

"And are there many missionaries among them?"

"There were no Protestant missions at all, until very lately. None seemed thinking of the souls of these poor heathens, when God put it into the heart of one good and brave man to care for them."

"Who was he?"

"Captain Allen Gardiner, a brave English naval officer, and a devoted soldier of Jesus Christ.' He was born in 1794, and entered the British navy at the age of six

teen.

While still a young man, he became by the grace of God a true Christian, and a most decided one. He

was naturally of a very ardent disposition, bold and fearless almost to rashness, and impatient of delay in anything he set his heart upon."

"Then he would be a very fearless Christian."

"Yes; and though his kind of character led him sometimes into difficulties and mistakes, it also carried him through trials which other men would have shrunk from, or sunk under. As I have said before, God often makes use of special men for special work, which others, whose characters we might consider more perfect, could not be fit for. Egede was one of these missionary pioneers. Gardiner was another.

"When did he think of becoming a missionary?"

"In the year 1833, when about forty years old, he lost a beloved wife and child, and under this great affliction all his religious feelings were deepened, and he solemnly devoted himself to the service of Christ, believing it his duty to endeavour to find openings for new missions among the neglected heathen in various parts of the world. As a sailor, he had visited many distant lands, and seen much of the miseries of heathenism."

"To South Africa, among the wild Zulus. But I cannot now tell you his adventures there, nor at New Guinea and other parts of the Indian Archipelago. What we

are to attend to this evening is his work in South

America."

"Had he left any children at home?"

"He did at first, but he returned to England, married again, and took his wife and family along with him for several years in all his wanderings. I am sure the poor lady at all events must have had much to suffer. I cannot understand how she and such young children could be able for such long fatiguing journeys, by sea and land, in such variety of climates, and wild parts of the world.” "Oh," said George, "I think it would be delightful ! I wish very much that papa would think it right to be a travelling missionary, and take us all with him to Africa. and the South Seas!"

"I wish no such thing, my dear. But Captain Gardiner did what he considered right, and God wonderfully helped and preserved them all. Just take the map of South America, and look at one of their journeys. Gardiner was most anxious to reach the Indian tribes of Chili, whom he thought might be willing to receive the gospel. He sailed with his family to Buenos Ayres, and then set out on a kind of omnibus, called a galera, drawn by five horses with a rider on each, on a journey of nine hundred miles, across the Pampas, a wild uncultivated district of country. To cross the Pampas is always dangerous, as the wild Indians are ready to attack and plunder, if not murder, any travellers whom they discover.

The Gardiners took a fortnight to reach Mendoza. There they stayed some time, waiting for the right season for crossing the Cordillera, or mountain range of the Andes. This was a most fatiguing undertaking, partly on mules, partly walking. At the highest part of the road they had to go through thirteen miles of snow. It took eleven days to reach Santiago, on the Chili side of the Andes."

"A glorious journey," observed Mr. Campbell, "for such of the party as were capable of enjoying fine scenery."

"I suppose so, but I am sure I should have thought of nothing but my poor children. Fancy the little things carried in panniers, slung across a mule's back, on the brink of the dreadful precipices!"

"What fun it must have been!" said George.

"From Santiago they had another long journey to the town of Concepcion, which they found still almost in ruins from the effects of a terrible earthquake three years before, and several new shocks were felt while they remained there. However, Captain Gardiner did not hesitate to leave his wife and children in this place, and set out himself to explore among the native tribes."

"And how did he succeed?"

"Not at all well. He was not personally ill-treated, but either wars among themselves, or dread and jealousy of the Spanish Americans, or the hostile influence of Popery,