August 8, 1867
I left Andover on the 25th July to visit my friends who live in
North Chatham. When I came to Boston I met showers many
times, but I carried my trunk from the Maine depot to the Old Colony
depot in the interval of many showers. . . . I took my seat unfor-
tunately in the back part of the car, not knowing future occurrences.
When we came to Tremont the conductor called out the changing
of the cars, but I was reading a book in which I was much interested,
and the same time a pretty heavy shower passed us, so that I could
not hear his calling. When I thought that I had come to an halfway
place where I changed cars when I came to Chatham the last time,
not knowing the cars changed some time ago I asked a gentleman
how far is the place where I may change cars to go to Chatham. He
said, "Chatham!" much surprised, and told me "you have the wrong
train now. You cannot go to Chatham to-night because this will
go to New Bedford." I told the conductor about it and showed him
my ticket to Chatham. He was a very good and kind man. He
said: "You cannot help it now, and you must go to the next station,
Neva Bedford;" and he said also he would not charge me at all.
I came to Fair Haven about 7 o'clock P.M. Between it and New
Bedford there lies a large river. I crossed it by a ferryboat and
arrived at the city of New Bedford safely.I knew not anybody there at all, therefore I thought it would be a safe way to find the right kind of people. When I found a church I asked a gentleman about its denomination and its minister's name. He answered me very kindly: "It is an Orthodox church, and the minister's name is Mr. C[raig]." I asked him about his residence. He showed me his house very plainly. When I went to his house and rang the bell, a young lady came to the door. I asked her to see Rev. Mr. C[raig] a moment. She took me to the beautiful parlor and gave me a chair, saying she would call out Mr. C[raig] pretty soon, and she asked me my name. I told her my name very plainly, but she could not get hold of my last name hardly, and went away understanding only that my name is Joseph. After a while Mr. C[raig] came to the parlor and shook my hand. Then I told him: "I am a stranger. My name is Joseph Neesima. I left Boston this afternoon at four o'clock to go to Chatham, but I took the wrong train, not knowing the cars changed at the station of Tremont, and I arrived in this city unexpectedly. Be so kind as to direct me to a house where I may pass the night with the least expense." He asked me: "Have you money enough to pay for your lodging?" I answered him: "Yes, Sir, I have, but I hope to pass the night with the least expense, because I did not expect at all to come to this city to-night." He thought I was a poor traveler and gave half of a dollar saying: "This may help you to a half of your lodging." I did not take it from him, saying: "No, thank you, Sir, I do not wish to take this from you, but I hope you will direct me to a safe place."
It was quite dark inside of his house, because it was a cloudy evening and it was after seven o'clock. He took me out of his house and told me he would take me to a Seaman's Home, because he thought I was a poor Spanish fishman, seeing my dark complexion and knowing that many Spanish people are coming in the city for the whale business. When I was in his house I could not distinguish his appearance hardly, but I saw him very well out of the door. He is about fifty-six or seven years of age, and his stature is about middle size. He has dark hairs, and some of them are turned to gray. His manner is very simple, yet his appearance is very graceful. He did not talk much, but spoke very distinctly and eloquently. He asked me where I came from. I answered: "I came from Japan." "How long ago?" "About two years ago." "Where do you reside?" "I reside in Andover." Then he said he knew some people there. I asked him whom he knew there, and he said he knew Deacon A[bbott]. I told him I knew him and I resided a very short distance from his house. He said he knew Prof. E[dwards] A. Park and told me Prof. Park came to the city a few weeks ago to ordain some minister. He asked me what I did there. I answered: "I am a member of Phillips Academy." He asked me how I liked American customs. I-- "I like them better than our heathenish customs." He asked how I like the religion. "I like the true God better than gods of wood and stone." He asked how I came over to this country. I gave him a short account of my leaving Japan and how Providence guided me wonderfully to this enlightened country. Then he said he would take me to a different place from that which he mentioned before. He came with me to a large and beautiful Hotel called Parker House, which I supposed the best hotel of the city, and he paid also for my lodging. When I saw him take out money from his pocketbook, I took my money quickly and paid back to him. But he would not take it from me, saying: "When I go to your country and am a stranger, then please show me your kindness," and went away quickly, bidding me good-night. He wrote his name on a paper which I found in my pocket--Rev. Wheelock Craig. I took a nice supper there and slept in a splendid room. . . . The next morning I took breakfast early. I came back to the same place where I missed the cars to the Cape, and arrived in Chatham little after 3 o'clock P.M., taking a coach seven miles from the centre of Harwich. I was received cordially by my old acquaintances here, and I was very glad to see them. Before I arrived at the city of New Bedford I prayed to the Lord that he would take care of me and guide me to a safe place. So he answered my prayers and guided me to such a kind and godly man to help to pass that night safely. Perhaps some people, who trust in their own wisdom and do not believe in the providence of God, would say that I was lucky at that time, not thinking of his providence at all. But I can say surely the Providence guided me to a safe place, because I believe nothing can occur without the Providence of God.