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the moravians in georgia-第16章

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nd 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 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 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 woman here took charge of him; but treated him most cruelly。  Once she became angry with him; took a firebrand; and beat him until half his body was burned; another time she bound him; and then slashed him with a knife across the back; and might have injured him still more if a man had not come by and rescued him。  The magistrates then gave him to other people; but they did not take care of him; and hearing that he was a bright child; I decided to offer to take him。  The Magistrates gladly agreed; and will write to his relatives in Charlestown; and if they do not claim him he will be bound to us。  He is already proving useful to the Brethren; as he speaks English to them; and they are rapidly learning to speak and to understand。  I am sending him to an English school; as I would rather he would not learn German; but being bright he is learning a good deal of it from the Brethren。〃

On October 31st a widow and her seven…year…old son were received into their household。  The woman was in destitute circumstances; and anxious to work; so after four weeks' trial she was installed as maid; and promised 14。00 a year wages。  She proved to be quiet and industrious; but not very bright。  On Dec。 17th another boy; six years old; 
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