第21章 在纽约州罗彻斯特
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第21章 在纽约州罗彻斯特
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Chapter 21—In Rochester, New York
§3
1852年4月，我们在极其困难的条件下搬到纽约州罗彻斯特。我们每一步都必须凭着信心前进。我们仍处于贫困之中，不得不实行严格的克已节约，现引一段我于1852年4月16日致豪兰夫妇的信如下：{LS 142.1}[1]
§4
In April, 1852, we moved to Rochester, N. Y., under most discouraging circumstances. At every step we were obliged to advance by faith. We were still crippled by poverty, and compelled to exercise the most rigid economy and self-denial. I will give a brief extract from a letter to Brother Howland’s family, dated April 16, 1852:?{LS 142.1}[1]
§5
我们刚定居在罗彻斯特。我们租了一座旧房子，年租金是175美元。我们把印刷机搬进家里。如果没有这所房子，我们就要为办公室每年付50美元。你们如果来看我们，见到我们的家具，你们一定会笑的。我们买了两张旧床，每张25美分。我丈夫拿回6张样子各异的旧椅子，共花了1美元。不久，他又搬来4张更旧的椅子，是没有椅垫的。购价是62美分。椅架还相当坚固，我已经用斜纹布把椅垫修好。奶油太贵，我们没有买，也买不起马铃薯。我们用调味汁代替奶油，用罗卜代替马铃薯。我们头几天吃饭是用一块遮壁炉的木板，搁在两个装面粉的空桶上当饭桌。只要上帝的圣工能有进展，我们愿意忍受穷困。我们相信是上帝的手把我们领到这里。这里有广大的工作园地，但是工人太少。上安息日我们聚会的情形良好。有主与我们同在，鼓舞了我们。{LS 142.2}[2]
§6
“We are just getting settled in Rochester. We have rented an old house for one hundred and seventy-five dollars a year. We have the press in the house. Were it not for this, we should have to pay fifty dollars a year for office room. You would smile could you look in upon us and see our furniture. We have bought two old bedsteads for twenty-five cents each. My husband brought me home six old chairs, no two of them alike, for which he paid one dollar, and soon he presented me with four more old chairs without any seating, for which he paid sixty-two cents. The frames are strong, and I have been seating them with drilling. Butter is so high that we do not purchase it, neither can we afford potatoes. We use sauce in the place of butter, and turnips for potatoes. Our first meals were taken on a fireboard placed upon two empty flour barrels. We are willing to endure privations if the work of God can be advanced. We believe the Lord’s hand was in our coming to this place. There is a large field for labor, and but few laborers. Last Sabbath our meeting was excellent. The Lord refreshed us with His presence.”?{LS 142.2}[2]
§7
【罗伯特.哈门之死】
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我们在罗彻斯特安家之后不久，便接到了我母亲的来信，告诉我们我哥哥罗伯特病得很危险，他在缅因州的戈勒姆与我父母同住。我们一接到他生病的消息，我姐姐萨拉就决定立刻到戈勒姆去。{LS 143.1}[3]
§9
【Death of Robert Harmon】
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Soon after our family became settled in Rochester, we received a letter from my mother informing us of the dangerous illness of my brother Robert, who lived with my parents in Gorham, Maine. When the news of his sickness reached us, my sister Sarah decided to go immediately to Gorham.?{LS 143.1}[3]
§11
我哥哥看来活不了几天了；可是出乎大家意料，他竟奄奄一息地活了六个月，受了极大的痛苦。我姐姐忠实地看护他直到他咽气。我们有幸在他去世前看望他。那是一次动人的相会。他的样子大大改变了，但他消瘦的容貌却焕发着喜乐之光。未来的光明的希望不断支持着他。我们在他的房间作了祷告，耶稣似乎很近。我们不得不与我们亲爱的兄弟分离，在义人复活之前绝不能再见到他了。我哥哥不久以后就在耶稣里睡了，充满了与第一次复活有份的盼望。{LS 143.2}[4]
§12
To all appearance my brother could live but a few days; yet contrary to the expectations of all, he lingered for six months, a great sufferer. My sister faithfully watched over him until the last. We had the privilege of visiting him before his death. It was an affecting meeting. He was much changed, yet his wasted features were lighted up with joy. Bright hope of the future constantly sustained him. We had seasons of prayer in his room, and Jesus seemed very near. We were obliged to separate from our dear brother, expecting never to meet him again this side of the resurrection of the just. Soon afterward my brother fell asleep in Jesus, in full hope of having a part in the first resurrection.?{LS 143.2}[4]
§13
【奋力前进】
§14
在罗彻斯特，我们在许多困恼和挫折之下艰辛度日。有一次这里霍乱流行。在最严重的时候，我们整夜都能听到装载尸体的车子辗过街道前往芒特霍普墓地。这次瘟疫并非仅仅殃及下级的人，也侵入了社会各阶层中，连医术最高明的医生也病倒了，结果也被送到芒特霍普。在我们走过罗彻斯特的街道时，几乎每一个街口都可以看到许多粗松木板制成的棺材，准备装载死人。{LS 143.3}[5]
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【Pressing On】
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We toiled on in Rochester through much perplexity and discouragement. The cholera visited the city, and while it raged, all night long the carriages bearing the dead were heard rumbling through the streets to Mount Hope Cemetery. This disease did not cut down merely the low, but took victims from every class of society. The most skillful physicians were laid low, and borne to Mount Hope. As we passed through the streets in Rochester, at almost every corner we would meet wagons with plain pine coffins in which to put the dead.?{LS 143.3}[5]
§17
我们的小埃德森得了霍乱，我们就将他带到“大医师”面前。我把他抱在怀里，奉耶稣的名斥退那疾病，他立时觉得缓和了，而且当另一位姊妹开始祷告祈求主医治他的时候，这三岁的小孩子竟惊奇地仰起头来，说：“他们不必再为我祷告了，因为主已经医治了我。”那时他还很虚弱，但病势没有再发展下去了。然而他并没有恢复体力。我们的信心还是受到考验。他三天之久没有吃什么。{LS 144.1}[6]
§18
Our little Edson was attacked, and we carried him to the great Physician. I took him in my arms, and in the name of Jesus rebuked the disease. He felt relief at once, and as a sister commenced praying for the Lord to heal him, the little fellow of three years looked up in astonishment, and said, “They need not pray any more, for the Lord has healed me.” He was very weak, but the disease made no further progress. Yet he gained no strength. Our faith was still to be tried. For three days he ate nothing.?{LS 144.1}[6]
§19
我们曾约好外出两个月，从纽约州的罗彻斯特一直到缅因州的班戈。这次旅行我们打算利用佛蒙特州的弟兄们赠送的蓬车和良马查理。但我们不敢在小孩子这么危险的时候出发，最后决定，只要他的情形不再恶化，我们仍要动身。我们必须在两天之内起程，以便达到第一个约定地点。我们把这事求问主，决定如果孩子能吃一点东西，我们就要出发。头一天并没有好转。他一点东西也不吃。第二天中午他要喝一点汤，结果得到了滋润。{LS 144.2}[7]
§20
We had appointments out for two months, reaching from Rochester, N. Y., to Bangor, Maine; and this journey we were to perform with our covered carriage and our good horse Charlie, given to us by brethren in Vermont. We hardly dared to leave the child in so critical a state, but decided to go unless there was a change for the worse. In two days we must commence our journey in order to reach our first appointment. We presented the case before the Lord, taking it as an evidence that if the child had appetite to eat we would venture. The first day there was no change for the better. He could not take the least food. The next day about noon he called for broth, and it nourished him.?{LS 144.2}[7]
§21
当天下午我们启程了。约在四点钟我用枕头抱着我的病孩子，行了二十英里路。那天夜里，他似乎非常神经紧张。他不能入睡，所以我几乎通夜把他抱在怀里。{LS 144.3}[8]
§22
We began our journey that afternoon. About four o’clock I took my sick child upon a pillow, and we rode twenty miles. He seemed very nervous that night. He could not sleep, and I held him in my arms nearly the whole night.?{LS 144.3}[8]
§23
次日早晨我们商议或是回到罗彻斯特，或是仍向前行。那招待我们的人家说：如果我们仍向前行，这孩子一定会死在中途；而且从表面上看来，这是很可能的。但我不敢回到罗彻斯特去。我们相信孩子的病是出于撒但的作为，要拦阻我们的旅行；所以我们不敢向他屈服。我对丈夫说：“如果我们回去，我想孩子一定会死的。如果我们前进，他也不过是一死。让我们信赖主，继续我们的行程吧。”{LS 144.4}[9]
§24
The next morning we consulted together as to whether to return to Rochester or go on. The family who had entertained us said that if we went on, we would bury the child on the road; and to all appearance it would be so. But I dared not go back to?Rochester. We believed the affliction of the child was the work of Satan, to hinder us from traveling; and we dared not yield to him. I said to my husband: “If we go back, I shall expect the child to die. He can but die if we go forward. Let us proceed on our journey, trusting in the Lord.”?{LS 144.4}[9]
§25
我们前面还有100英里的路程，要在两天内完成，但我们相信主会在这艰难时期为我们行事。那时我已经疲惫不堪，深恐自己抱着孩子的时候会瞌睡，以致让孩子跌落下去；所以我把他放在膝上，又把他绑在腰上，这样，我们二人那天一路上大半是在睡觉。孩子在行程中渐渐恢复了精神，等到我们带他回家的时候，已是相当健壮了。{LS 145.1}[10]
§26
We had before us a journey of about one hundred miles, to perform in two days, yet we believed that the Lord would work for us in this time of extremity. I was much exhausted, and feared I should fall asleep and let the child fall from my arms; so I laid him upon my lap, and tied him to my waist, and we both slept that day over much of the distance. The child revived and continued to gain strength the whole journey, and we brought him home quite rugged.?{LS 145.1}[10]
§27
主在我们去佛蒙特的路上大大赐福与我们。我的丈夫十分操劳。在各地聚会中，多半是他讲道。他又卖书，努力推销报刊。一次聚会结束以后，我们就立即赶赴下一次聚会。中午我们常常在路旁喂马，一边吃饭。饭后，我丈夫把他的稿纸放在饭盒上或帽子上，为《评论与通讯》和《青年导报》写文章。{LS 145.2}[11]
§28
The Lord greatly blessed us on our journey to Vermont. My husband had much care and labor. At the different conferences he did most of the preaching, sold books, and labored to extend the circulation of the paper. When one conference was over, we would hasten to the next. At noon we would feed the horse by the roadside, and eat our lunch. Then my husband, laying his writing paper on the cover of our dinner box or on the top of his hat, would write articles for the?Review?and?Instructor.?{LS 145.2}[11]
§29
【印刷所领班的悔改】
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我们去东部旅行不在罗彻斯特的时候，印刷所的领班得了霍乱。他是一个未悔改的年轻人。他所寄宿那家的主妇死于同样的疾病，她女儿也是一样。他那时被疾病打倒了，没有人敢去照顾他，担心感染疾病。印刷所的雇员监护着他，直到疾病似乎受到控制了，才把他带到我家。他的病复发了，一位医生照顾他，竭尽全力要救他，但最终告诉他说他的情况没有希望了，他活不过当天晚上了。那些关心这个青年的人不忍见他没有指望就死了。他们便在他极其痛苦的时候围在他床边祷告。他也祈求主怜悯他，赦免他的罪。可是他没有得到解救。他在不息的痛苦中继续抽搐翻滚。弟兄们继续祷告，终夜祈求主存留他的性命好让他悔改自己的罪，遵守上帝的诫命。他最终似乎把自己献给了上帝，答应主他会守安息日并且侍奉祂。他便立刻感到解脱了。{LS 145.3}[12]
§31
【Conversion of the Office Foreman】
§32
While we were absent from Rochester on this Eastern tour, the foreman of the Office was attacked with cholera. He was an unconverted young man. The lady of the house where he boarded died with the same disease, also her daughter. He was then brought down, and no one ventured to take care of him, fearing the disease. The Office hands watched over him?until the disease seemed checked, then took him to our house. He had a relapse, and a physician attended him, and exerted himself to the utmost to save him, but at length told him that his case was hopeless, that he could not survive through the night. Those interested in the young man could not bear to see him die without hope. They prayed around his bedside while he was suffering great agony. He also prayed that the Lord would have mercy upon him, and forgive his sins. Yet he obtained no relief. He continued to cramp and toss in restless agony. The brethren continued in prayer all night that he might be spared to repent of his sins and keep the commandments of God. He at length seemed to consecrate himself to God, and promised the Lord he would keep the Sabbath and serve Him. He soon felt relief.?{LS 145.3}[12]
§33
第二天早上医生来了，他进来便说：“我告诉我妻子约在今天凌晨一点钟这个年轻人很可能就一命呜呼了。”他却被告知年轻人还活着。医生很惊讶，立刻上楼去他的房间。他把脉的时候说：“年轻人，你好多了，危机过去了；但不是我的医术救了你，而是一种更高的能力。有好的看护你就会康复。”他康复得很快，不久就在印刷所上岗了，成了一个悔改归正的人。{LS 146.1}[13]
§34
The next morning the physician came, and as he entered, said, “I told my wife about one o’clock this morning that in all probability the young man was out of his trouble.” He was told that he was alive. The physician was surprised, and immediately ascended the stairs to his room. As he felt the pulse, he said: “Young man, you are better, the crisis is past; but it is not my skill that saved you, but a higher power. With good nursing you may get well.” He gained rapidly, and soon took his place in the Office, a converted man.?{LS 146.1}[13]
§35
【拿但业与安娜·怀特】
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我们从东部旅行回来之后，我蒙指示，我们有担起上帝没有要求的担子的危险。我们在上帝的圣工中有本分要尽，不应该加添操心事，增加我们家的人口以满足任何人的心愿。我还看到为了拯救生灵我们应该乐意担担子；我们应该为我丈夫的弟弟拿但业和妹妹安娜开路来与我们同住。他们俩都是病人，可是我们热忱地邀请他们来到我们家。他们接受了邀请。{LS 146.2}[14]
§37
【Nathaniel and Anna White】
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After we returned from our Eastern journey, I was shown that we were in danger of taking burdens upon us that God did not require us to bear. We had a part to act in the cause of God, and should not add to our cares by increasing our family to gratify the wishes of any. I saw that in order to save souls we?should be willing to bear burdens; and that we should open the way for my husband’s brother Nathaniel and his sister Anna to come and live with us. They were both invalids, yet we extended to them a cordial invitation to come to our home. This they accepted.?{LS 146.2}[14]
§39
我们一见到拿但业，便担心肺结核会使他不久于人世。肺病的红晕在他的脸颊上，可是我们希望并祈求主存留他的性命，使他的才干可以用在上帝的圣工上。但主却认为别的安排更好。{LS 147.1}[15]
§40
As soon as we saw Nathaniel, we feared that consumption had marked him for the grave. The hectic flush was upon his cheek, yet we hoped and prayed that the Lord would spare him, that his talent might be employed in the cause of God. But the Lord saw fit to order otherwise.?{LS 147.1}[15]
§41
拿但业和安娜慎重而聪明地接受了真理。他们权衡了我们立场的证据，本着良心决定支持真理。{LS 147.2}[16]
§42
Nathaniel and Anna came into the truth cautiously yet understandingly. They weighed the evidences of our position, and conscientiously decided for the truth.?{LS 147.2}[16]
§43
1853年5月6日，我们预备好了拿但业的晚餐，但他不久就说他晕过去了，快要死了。他召唤我，我一进房间就知道他快死了，便对他说：“拿但业啊，亲爱的，倚靠上帝。祂爱你，你也爱祂。象孩子倚靠父母一样倚靠祂吧。不要烦恼。主必不撇下你。”他说：“是的，是的。”我们作了祷告，他回应说：“阿们，赞美主！”他似乎没有遭受痛苦。他一次也没有呻吟或挣扎，脸上的肌肉也没有动，只是呼吸越来越短，直到睡了，年纪只有22岁。{LS 147.3}[17]
§44
May 6, 1853, we prepared Nathaniel’s supper, but he soon said that he was faint, and did not know but that he was going to die. He sent for me, and as soon as I entered the room, I knew that he was dying, and said to him: “Nathaniel dear, trust in God. He loves you, and you love Him. Trust in Him as a child trusts in its parents. Don’t be troubled. The Lord will not leave you.” Said he, “Yes, yes.” We prayed, and he responded, “Amen, praise the Lord!” He did not seem to suffer pain. He did not groan once, or struggle, or move a muscle of his face, but breathed shorter and shorter until he fell asleep, in the twenty-second year of his age.?{LS 147.3}[17]