the life of william carey-第43章
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t forth into an unrestrained enthusiasm of affection and service。 But his was rather the even tenor of domestic devotion and friendly duty； unbroken by passion or coldness； and ever lighted up by a steady geniality。 The colleagues who were associated with him for the third of a century worshipped him in the old English sense of the word。 The younger committee…men and missionaries who came to the front on the death of Fuller； Sutcliff； and Ryland； in all their mistaken conflicts with these colleagues； always tried to separate Carey from those they denounced； till even his saintly spirit burst forth into wrath at the double wrong thus done to his coadjutors。 His intercourse with the chaplains and bishops of the Church of England； and with the missionaries of other Churches and societies； was as loving in its degree as his relations to his own people。 With men of the world； from the successive Governor…Generals； from Wellesley； Hastings； and Bentinck； down to the scholars； merchants； and planters with whom he became associated for the public good； William Carey was ever the saint and the gentleman whom it was a privilege to know。
In nothing perhaps was Carey's true Christian gentlemanliness so seen as in his relations with his first wife； above whom grace and culture had immeasurably raised him； while she never learned to share his aspirations or to understand his ideals。 Not only did she remain to the last a peasant woman； with a reproachful tongue； but the early hardships of Calcutta and the fever and dysentery of Mudnabati clouded the last twelve years of her life with madness。 Never did reproach or complaint escape his lips regarding either her or Thomas； whose eccentric impulses and oft…darkened spirit were due to mania also。 Of both he was the tender nurse and guardian when； many a time； the ever…busy scholar would fain have lingered at his desk or sought the scanty sleep which his jealous devotion to his Master's business allowed him。 The brotherhood arrangement； the common family； Ward's influence over the boys； and Hannah Marshman's housekeeping relieved him of much that his wife's illness had thrown upon him at Mudnabati； so that a colleague describes him； when he was forty…three years of age； as still looking young in spite of the few hairs on his head； after eleven years in Lower Bengal of work such as never Englishman had before him。 But almost from the first day of his early married life he had never known the delight of daily converse with a wife able to enter into his scholarly pursuits； and ever to stimulate him in his heavenly quest。 When the eldest boy； Felix； had left for Burma in 1807 the faithful sorrowing husband wrote to him：〃Your poor mother grew worse and worse from the time you left us； and died on the 7th December about seven o'clock in the evening。 During her illness she was almost always asleep； and I suppose during the fourteen days that she lay in a severe fever she was not more than twenty…four hours awake。 She was buried the next day in the missionary burying…ground。〃
About the same time that Carey himself settled in Serampore there arrived the Lady Rumohr。 She built a house on the Hoogli bank immediately below that of the missionaries； whose society she sought； and by whom she was baptised。 On the 9th May 1808 she became Carey's wife； and in May 1821 she too was removed by death in her sixty…first year； after thirteen years of unbroken happiness。
Charlotte Emilia； born in the same year as Carey in the then Danish duchy of Schleswick； was the only child of the Chevalier de Rumohr； who married the Countess of Alfeldt； only representative of a historic family。 Her wakefulness when a sickly girl of fifteen saved the whole household from destruction by fire； but she herself became so disabled that she could never walk up or down stairs。 She failed to find complete recovery in the south of Europe； and her father's friend； Mr。 Anker； a director of the Danish East India Company； gave her letters to his brother； then Governor of Tranquebar； in the hope that the climate of India might cause her relief。 The Danish ship brought her first to Serampore； where Colonel Bie introduced her to the brotherhood； and there she resolved to remain。 She knew the principal languages of Europe； a copy of the Pens閑s of Pascal； given to her by Mr。 Anker before she sailed； for the first time quickened her conscience。 She speedily learned English； that she might join the missionaries in public worship。 The barren orthodoxy of the Lutheranism in which she had been brought up had made her a sceptic。 This soon gave way to the evangelical teaching of the same apostle who had brought Luther himself to Christ。 She became a keen student of the Scriptures； then an ardent follower of Jesus Christ。
On her marriage to Dr。 Carey； in May 1808； she made over her house to the mission； and when； long after； it became famous as the office of the weekly Friend of India； the rent was sacredly devoted to the assistance of native preachers。 She learned Bengali that she might be as a mother to the native Christian families。 She was her husband's counsellor in all that related to the extension of the varied enterprise of the brethren。 Especially did she make the education of Hindoo girls her own charge； both at Serampore and Cutwa。 Her leisure she gave to the reading of French Protestant writers； such as Saurin and Du Moulin。 She admired； wrote Carey； 〃Massillon's language； his deep knowledge of the human heart； and his intrepidity in reproving sin； but felt the greatest dissatisfaction with his total neglect of his Saviour； except when He is introduced to give efficacy to works of human merit。 These authors she read in their native language； that being more familiar to her than English。 She in general enjoyed much of the consolations of religion。 Though so much afflicted； a pleasing cheerfulness generally pervaded her conversation。 She indeed possessed great activity of mind。 She was constantly out with the dawn of the morning when the weather permitted； in her little carriage drawn by one bearer； and again in the evening； as soon as the sun was sufficiently low。 She thus spent daily nearly three hours in the open air。 It was probably this vigorous and regular course which； as the means； carried her beyond the age of threescore years （twenty…one of them spent in India）； notwithstanding the weakness of her constitution。〃
It is a pretty picture； the delicate invalid lady； drawn along the mall morning and evening； to enjoy the river breeze； on her way to and from the schools and homes of the natives。 But her highest service was； after all； to her husband； who was doing a work for India and for humanity； equalled by few； if any。 When； on one occasion； they were separated for a time while she sought for health at Monghyr； she wrote to him the tenderest yet most courtly love…letters。
〃MY DEAREST LOVE；I felt very much in parting with thee； and feel much in being so far from thee。。。I am sure thou wilt be happy and thankful on account of my voice； which is daily getting better； and thy pleasure greatly adds to mine own。
〃I hope you will not think I am writing too often； I rather trust you will be glad to hear of me。。。Though my journey is very pleasant； and the good state of my health； the freshness of the air； and the variety of objects enliven my spirits； yet I cannot help longing for you。 Pray； my love； take care of your health that I may have the joy to find you well。
〃I thank thee most affectionately； my dearest love； for thy kind letter。 Though the journey is very useful to me； I cannot help feeling much to be so distant from you； but I am much with you in my thoughts。。。The Lord be blessed for the kind protection He has given to His cause in a time of need。 May He still protect and guide and bless His dear cause； and give us all hearts growing in love and zeal。。。I felt very much affected in parting with thee。 I see plainly it would not do to go far from you； my heart cleaves to you。 I need not say （for I hope you know my heart is not insensible） how much I feel your kindness in not minding any expense for the recovery of my health。 You will rejoice to hear me talk in my old way； and not in that
