192 Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists
As far as the eye could reach up the mountain sides we could see
dwellings, cultivated lands, and even villages, while from many of
these rocky eminences white church towers reared their heads, as if
pointing the people heavenward. Here, among the rugged rocks, in
places seemingly inaccessible, they sought refuge from the fury of their
oppressors. Here they thought to worship God without molestation,
making the mountains echo with their prayers and songs of praise to
their Redeemer.
Most of those who have been born and brought up in the seclusion
of these mountain homes choose to remain there. Far up on the moun-
tain side we saw a man and woman sowing wheat under the friendly
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shelter of the overhanging rocks. By these people conveniences and
luxuries are not thought of. If they can secure a sufficient harvest
from the little patches of land among the crags to feed themselves
and their children, they are content. As for clothing, they are quite
independent. Near the spot where we ate our lunch, a young peasant
girl was tending a small flock of sheep, and at the same time diligently
plying the distaff. As we came near, she kindly showed us how the
work was done, and also some of the cloth that had been made from
yarn thus prepared.
We would gladly have remained longer, climbed from height to
height, entered the dwellings, and spoken with the people; but we
had not time or strength to go farther. As we slowly made our way
down the rocky path by the side of a rushing stream, we could but
wonder how many pilgrim feet had trod this rugged path before us in
the hope of finding an asylum from the wrath of their oppressors, and
our hearts ascended to God in prayer that the precious light of present
truth might reach the descendants of this long-persecuted people. We
firmly believe that God will open the way, that he will remove the
obstructions, which now shut the light from them.
The next day after our trip to Bobbio we visited an ancient fortress,
which is built on a height a short distance from Torre Pellice. Here
we found a large open space inclosed by walls within walls, also
extensive buildings which were formerly used as a monastery. Within
the inclosure is a cave. This we entered, and found ourselves in a room
about eight feet square. The walls of this room were covered with a
thick, green moss, on which drops of water glistened like pearls. From
this room there were openings into two underground tunnels. One