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Updated: May 9, 2025
But there were two hearts there which found it impossible to rejoice, and very hard to submit to God. Reni and Ramatoa retired to a dark recess in the cave, and mingled their tears and prayers together.
"Oh! it would have been better if he had died!" sobbed Reni, "for then he would have been with Jesus; but now it is awful to think of the life-long slavery; and we shall never more see him on earth." "Nay, mother, do not think thus. Whatever God does must be best," returned Ramatoa in a tremulous voice. "Let us try to say `Thy will be "
Beside him were several well-remembered natives, and on the opposite side of the room, also chained, were the women of the party, among whom were Ramatoa, Ra-Ruth, Rafaravavy, her maid Sarah, and the poor mother of Mamba. "Ravonino!" exclaimed Mark, in tones of profound sorrow, as he sat down beside his old guide, "I little thought to find you in such a strait."
Four stakes were fixed in the midst of the pile, as three other Christian nobles were to be burnt along with her, one of whom was a lady. While Ramatoa watched the preparations for her death, her fellow-sufferers arrived singing, as they walked, a hymn which begins with, "When our hearts are troubled," and ends with, "Then remember us." Ramatoa raised her voice and joined them.
"He did not, but I can guess," answered Laihova, with a slight smile. "The night before we left our friends in the cave in Betsilio-land I heard his mother urging him to accompany us to the capital and fetch her, if possible, a copy of the Word of God. She was joined in her persuasions by my sister Ramatoa, and you know he loves Ramatoa. I have no doubt that the two overcame his objections."
Terrible though this fate was, the news of it evidently conveyed a measure of relief to Ramatoa, for it assured her that her lover was at all events not dead. Where there is life there is hope! "I fear this will kill his mother," she said. "Poor Reni-Mamba is so full of love and gentleness, and her sorrows have been very heavy.
"Oh! no, no! do not go yet," exclaimed Ra-Ruth in an agony of grief, as she clung to her friend. "The good Lord cannot mean this oh! take me! take me! and let her stay!" The sentence ended in a low wail, for at the moment two soldiers forced the girls asunder, and Ra-Ruth sank upon the floor, while Ramatoa was led away. Poor Laihova had watched every movement of Ra-Ruth.
He taught me nearly all I know, and he was no mean scholar. He also sent me to the missionary schools. After his death the Queen hardened her heart against us; and as we refused to give up praying to God and singing His praise, we were cast out of the palace my mother and sister and I, with several others, among whom were Laihova and his sister Ramatoa.
It may be that her delicately-strung nerves shrank more sensitively from the prospect, but in spite of her utmost efforts to be brave she trembled violently and was pale as death. Yet she did not murmur, she only laid her head on the sympathetic bosom of her queen-like friend Ramatoa, who seemed to her a miracle of strength and resignation.
And the longer he meditated the more anxiously did he long to be back in the cave beside his Reni his humble-minded loving little mother and beside yes, he made no attempt to conceal it from himself beside the beautiful queen-like sister of Laihova. The more he meditated, however, the more hopeless did his case seem to become. To lie he would not not even to gain Ramatoa.
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