History of Lewis Revivals 1800s

There are five natives of the parish of Uig who were enlisted when a regiment was raised on the island, and having gone with the army to Egypt, lost their sight by ophthalmy, and after their return have become acquainted with the doctrines of the gospel. It is common with them to bless God for having taken away their bodily eyes, since they regard that as one of the instruments in his hand for opening the mental sight, which was before in a state of darkness. Three of them are active fellow-helpers in the extension of Christian truth and consolation. One is a most efficient and zealous elder in the parish of Uig; of another we shall have occasion to relate a curious circumstance under the head of liberality ; and of the third we present the following well authenticated narrative, under the head of prayerfulness. This blind man, whose name even is unknown to us, had the affliction of losing a wife who was a very pious character. She left a daughter old enough to distinguish the excellences of her mother. In the course of time the father took another wife, of a very feeble constitution, who, though a good woman, had not attained to the Christian advancement of the first. The girl was most exemplary in all her duties, obeying and reverencing her stepmother as if she had been her own mother. She was in all respects a most promising and pleasing character; and her father having often enjoyed spiritual conversation with her, was, from these mutual communings, fully satisfied of her happy state. On a Saturday, when the weather w^as tempestuous, the young people, as was customary with them, were going out a-fishing. The father urged his daughter to remain at home, but she said her mother liked a fish for her dinner, and she would try to catch one for to-morrow, as it was the only sustenance she cared for. They went to fish, when suddenly a hnge billow swept the face of the rock on which they were set. The boys of the company managed to scramlile up the rock, but the beloved daughter of the blind veteran was swept into the boiling ocean. The last view her terrified comrades had of her, was sitting on the crest of a wave, with her fishing-rod in one hand, and basket in the other. They returned with the sorrowful tidings ; and from the nature of the rocky coast, and the course of the tides and currents, no one entertained a hope of finding the remnants of her mangled body. The Christians around, came as they did of old to Martha and Mary, to weep with the afflicted father, and passed the mournful night in prayer. His mind, though before so satisfied, became filled with alarm and concern about her final state, now that she was gone, and his soul refused to be comforted. In the course of prayer he was led to reiterate the petition, that if she were one of the assembly of the redeemed, he might know it by this token, that the sea should give back his dead, and that he might bury her. In the morning those who passed along the shore in their way to the house of God, found the dear girl gently deposited on the sand, her limbs decently composed, as if she had been adjusted for burial, and in no way defaced or injured. Then went the weeping father, and with solemn joy took up his dead, witnessmg that " precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints;" that their very dust is dear to him ; and also, that He is verily the hearer and the answerer of prayer.