OCR Text |
Show Many the long, patient, toilful hours he spent teaching Bible verses to the dull, heavy, preoccupied boatmen. His most earnest talks, they might forget. He would give them something warranted not to '' return void.'' Most of them, on that first trip, learned the Commandments, and a little prayer, and some of them more. One sick man he taught to pray, "Oh God, forgive my sins and heal me." The invalid was given one good meal and recovered at once! Where was the bitter, morose, despairing creature who had entered the Pang Chuang gate on his first visit so long ago? This Mr. Tong wakened in the morning, with a burst of song, like a liberated bird. His prayers were loving and direct, taking in both his friends, and his friends' friends. One morning they had read John fifteenth at prayers. He prayed in words like these; '' Oh Lord, purge the Teacher Mother, so that she can bear more fruit. She does love the sheep and the lambs, and she can't bear to lose one, no matter how bad or wilful, and when they are frozen she carries them in her own bosom. Oh Lord, she has an Elder Sister. I've never seen her, never shall till I get to Heaven. Oh God, bless the Big Sister, and make her mighty to work for God." His grateful devotion went out to the kind physicians who had sent him to Peking. While there, he heard in some way what was in store for that home. Unknown to any one he gave himself to fasting and prayer, that motherhood might bring pure joy and no disaster. His perennial hunger for spiritual food made it a delight to give him deep sweet truths. He was ever conspicuous on front seats at church and Sunday School in order not to drop one crumb. He had, at one time, a deep spiritual refreshing, as |