Women of distinction/Chapter 52
CHAPTER LII.
MISS N. ANTONIA GORDON.
The subject of our present sketch was born to James and Sarah Gordon, August 25, 1866, at Augusta, Ga. She stands third oldest in a family of nine children, and was always the personification of gentleness and kindness to her brothers and sisters. As a daughter she loved and obeyed in a way which most children never attain. As a younger sister she fondly served and looked up to her brothers, making them her ideals of youthful manliness; while as an elder sister she never sought her rights. Often the younger members of the family imposed slaps or other childish freaks on her without her even reporting them to their parents. The mother soon noticed in this child a peculiar domestic turn. Whatever the mother attempted to do her oldest daughter would be on hand offering help. At the age of six years she completed a patchivork quilt which excited much attention in the neighborhood, and the mother was pressed to place it upon exhibition at the State Fair.
At an early age this child was in school, and soon proved herself to be above the average aptness. Her book was put before everything in her mind, even her food. As she grew larger this love for books deepened. At her domestic duties she would have her book open on a table or chair so her hands and head could both be called into action at once. Her parents' pastor, Rev. A. W. De Lamotta, saw in this child something out of which there could be made a great woman, and advised her parents to send her to a school for women and girls, then just opening in the basement of the Friendship Baptist Church of Atlanta, Ga. In the fall of 1882 this child took leave of home and dear ones for the above school, which afterwards became Spelman Seminary. Misses Packard and Giles, the founders of this now famous institution, soon discovered this child's rare qualities, and, as was their habit, they inquired of her whether or not she was saved. On receiving an answer in the negative, these two soul-winners set out to win this precious soul for Christ. And, in the midst of her term with them, their hearts were made glad by her salvation. With her birth into the kingdom came her call to Africa; this desire burnt upon the table of her heart from the very day she was converted. The ye that followed in her career at Spelman were full indeed, and might of themselves fill a volume with very interesting facts. But as our space is so limited suffice it to say that she stood foremost as a soul-winner and a scholar. As a student-teacher she often had the joy of seeing scores of her pupils saved under her teaching. As a teacher she is winsome, firm and gentle. Wherever she has taught she could teach again, so greatly loved is she. At Spelman she was and is still their pride. Here she graduated with the honor of Class Poet in 1888, when a position was offered her in the Mitchell Street Graded School of Atlanta, Ga. Her plans for beginning work in Africa were fast formulating, but being pressed she consented and served at said school till Christmas, 1889. By this time the ladies of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the West had selected her to be their second representative in the great Congo Valley. Then came the task of giving up a devoted grandmother, who declared she could not live through a separation from her, as well as Misses Packard and Giles, who had endeared themselves to her beyond mention, and a host of others who formed a circle of as true and fond friends as ever lived. This trial daunted not the frail, beautiful girl's faith, but she attended the tearful farewell services arranged at Spelman, and took a joyful leave of this host of dear ones for Africa on the 10th of March, 1889. After a long journey from Atlanta to Boston she looked out for the first time in her life upon the sea and thought what other than a divine call to Africa could induce her to face the perils of the sea. On the 16th day of the same month she embarked by the Cunard Line from Boston. While waiting for an African bound ship in London this "Daughter of the King" had it revealed to her that it was even as the grandmother had said—her parting was too much and had proved God's means to gather her to Himself. She mentioned this to Miss Royal, her traveling companion, with a sweet peace and resignation that she herself could not understand. This was no longer a vision when, on her arrival in the Congo, she found a letter there awaiting her telling her what she had for weeks known. Still this peace was hers, and she set herself about learning the language and the work with cheerfulness. Her father had been for years a deacon in the Baptist Church. She loved him above all earthly objects. He delighted in his child's devotion and sent her from him with a fatherly, devoted "God bless you, my child, and use you to save the heathen, God bless you!" In less than eighteen months after she had begun this work of "saving the heathen" this dear father was gathered with those found worthy to wear the crown. This news was enough to cause our heroine to say, "This is harder than I can bear," and give up in heart, but the brave heart said, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." In speaking of her sainted father she would say, "I miss his prayers so much!" She kept joyfully at the task of winning the heathen to Christ. And ere her heart had time to heal came the startling news that her mother in the Lord, Miss S. B. Packard, had also joyfully gone up to wear the crown. This news found her just taking up new work at Lukunga Station, where more than five hundred lambs of God had been gathered in and awaited her devoted service. In two short years three of her dearest were heavenly! This urged her on to greater devotion, and to-day finds her in charge of a large press-work on the Station, a teacher in the first Congo Seminary, she being one of the founders, and having the oversight of three district schools taught by native teachers. Of the family of girls she took charge of at Palabala we see naught but what gladdens our hearts, as all have been saved through Christ. Africa has never had given her a purer life, a heart more devoted to her welfare and the salvation of her millions than is this devoted missionary. May her life be long spared to lift up this benighted nation by the press and by personal contact with the word of God! The following is the last poem that she wrote for the press, and explains itself:
MISS PACKARD'S BIRTHDAY.
This is the holy Sabbath,
The third day of the year,
The birthday of Miss Packard,
Whose memory is dear.
Our Alma Mater, Spelman,
Will celebrate this day,
And we will join in spirit,
Though we're so far away.
Our hearts will always praise Him
That she was ever born to save
The girls of our dear Southland
By ignorance enslaved.
Of all her noble life-work
I need not tell to you;
Seven years we shared together
Her love and care so true.
Alas! our hearts are stricken,
To speak of it gives pain;
We've lost our benefactress,
But O, to her what gain!
We do not mourn as others,
Our hope gives joy and peace,
For we have this assurance:
Her work shall never cease.
Rest on, our weary loved one,
Secure in Jesus' arms;
Earth's sin and toil and trials
Can never do thee harm.
Your work shall live in thousands
You've taught the way of life;
We'll spread the glorious message
Despite opposing strife.
And she whom thou hast left us,
We'll keep with jealous care,
Lest Heaven takes her from us
Your joy and bliss to share.
Oh, God! do hear our pleadings,
And spare our dear Miss Giles,
That she may bring more lost ones
To know Thy love and smiles.
And daily bless our Spelman,
Enrich her by Thy love;
Grant that her girls and teachers
All meet in Heaven above.
Palabala Station, Congo Ind. State, S. W. Africa, January 3, 1892.
L. C. Fleming.