them of Jesus
while the little ones gathered around me, the father came in, a very
rough-looking man, and at the time apparently under the influence of
liquor. The mother and children looked at me, and a feeling of sadness
was visible on their faces. I spoke to him of his family, but he said
little, and I then knelt and prayed with them. I asked if they had a
Bible. He said 'No,' and they had not much time to read. I then asked
him if he would like to have one. He said he would, as 'it was a good
thing to have one in the house.'
"I took them one in the course of a day or two, and he has been led to
read it daily; the mother and children also read it, and a few nights
since he signed the temperance pledge. He said to me lately, while
visiting him: 'No more pennies for rum; those pennies will go toward the
support of my wife and children.' He now attends _evening_ church,
feeling his clothing is not good enough to go by daylight. He has told
me, although they are very poor, he was never as happy as now. He has
not yet been able to procure steady employment, so I help them as I can.
"I have been helped on to perseverance in my work by what was told me
by one I visited. In speaking of herself, she said she owed much to the
efforts of a home missionary, who not only sought her out, but followed
her up; and although she often neglected her duty, and stayed away from
the preaching, he was so persevering and diligent in his efforts to win
her, he at length succeeded, and she is now truly a Christian. A severe
trial has lately come upon her: her son, a boy of ten years, has been
killed by falling from a house. He lived but a short time after the
accident; and as I stood by her at the side of the remains of her
departed child, she was calm and resigned, telling me _the Lord was
helping her_.
"I have been visiting at the hospitals much of late, where I have
procured places for my sick, of whom there have been many this season.
I have also assisted some, and procured work for others; have also
distributed several Bibles, for which some have promised to pay as they
are able. My Superintendent and Pastor are both kind in aiding me; for
while I can truly say, 'of myself I can do nothing,' I can also, I
hope, add, 'I can do all things through Christ, who strengtheneth me.'"
* * * * * *
We cannot leave this part of the record of the Lord's work without
observing her strong attachment to
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