. Robert Louis Stevenson. e had caused his story TheBottle Imp to be translated into the native languagebv one of the missionaries of the island, with all ofwhom he was on terms of cordial friendship ; andit had been published in a paper issued by theLondon Missionarv Societv and read bv the Samoahsbefore it was heard of in England. It was throughthis story that Stevensons native name ofTusitala (Teller of Tales)—by which one of themissionaries, the Rev. J. Newell, had introduced himto the Samoans—was permanently adopted. On Sunday evenings Stevenson conducted areligious service in the great h
. Robert Louis Stevenson. e had caused his story TheBottle Imp to be translated into the native languagebv one of the missionaries of the island, with all ofwhom he was on terms of cordial friendship ; andit had been published in a paper issued by theLondon Missionarv Societv and read bv the Samoahsbefore it was heard of in England. It was throughthis story that Stevensons native name ofTusitala (Teller of Tales)—by which one of themissionaries, the Rev. J. Newell, had introduced himto the Samoans—was permanently adopted. On Sunday evenings Stevenson conducted areligious service in the great hall. A chapter fromthe Samoan Bible was read, and Samoan hymnswere sung ; then came a prayer in English, usuallyone written by Stevenson, and, finally, the LordsPrayer in Samoan. Stevenson wrote many prayersfor the use of his household at Vailima, and the toneand temper of the daily life can scarcely be better in-dicated than by reference to his Prayer at prays that the round of small duties that begins 156. Vailima with the new day may be performed bravely andcheerfully, that laughter, kindness and mirth mayabound with industry, and that when the day isended tired workers may have quiet rest. With the native population outside his ownhousehold Stevensons position was one of weightand authority. He and his family were alwayscareful to observe those small points of etiquettethat meant so much to the Samoans, and he wontheir hearts as much by his thoughtful courtesyas by his active kindness. A very large part of hisvaluable morning hours were taken up in receivingchiefs who came to obtain help in their difficultiesfrom the chief house of wisdom. His ruling wasaccepted on political questions and on trifling localdisputes. Money collected for a special purposewas entrusted to him, with a request that he wouldsee the purpose carried out ; and in the troubloustimes that came in 1893 he was besieged on all sidesby those who wanted news of the latest developments,and tho
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectstevens, bookyear1915
