The Fulfilment of a Dream of Pastor Hsi's / The Story of the Work in Hwochow

s introduced to some

ve the directness of their spiritual characteristics, unfettered by the artificiality whi

countered, I think, no more varied a company, nor more striking, in the various ways in which Christ had met the

place to place with a bundle of books, preaching and warning sinners "to flee from the wrath to come." He asked no remuneration from the Church or foreigner for the time he gave, but realisi

hat day to the city. A family had professed their willingness to destroy idols, and asked him to be present on the occasion. When the Pastor arrived, however, the man had changed his mind, and fear of consequences had proved too much for him. Nothing cou

true, and as he took the long, lonely walk over the mountains to his home, he meditated much upon it. He had not as yet se

o was in charge. Although he had never smoked opium himself, Mr. Fu was on this occasion in possession of some of the crude drug, and was on his way to the hills to sell it, and hoped by the transaction to profit considerably. The Refuge-keeper, seeing he was interested, asked him to share his evening meal, and when he fo

dangerously ill. He went at once to a neighbouring village to fetch a doctor, and found him unwilling to come until he had taken a dose of opium which was then due. Finding that all persuasion was useless, Mr. Fu suddenly decided to go to Hwochow and see if the foreign missionaries, or the Opium Refuge-keeper there, had any medicine. He walked the twelve miles, and was directed to the missionaries

heard some one call and ask him to come in. The call came at the right moment and he entered, know

, gave him medicine, some books, and made him promise to come again. He left them, saying that he would do so. Again the long, lonely walk had to be faced, and Beelzebub gave orders that arrows should be shot at him, and all man

she said. "And I," he said, "have believed in Jesus." To his surprise,

ht hinder him, and before his evening meal he tore down

same mind; he was unceasing in his efforts to bring them to the Saviour, but at t

s accompanied by Mr. Cheng, and in response to his exhortations their idols were destroyed and the three brothers professed their willingness to become disciples. That place has been signally blessed of God. All have given liberally of their substance to the

g a high degree, we first knew him when he was about forty years of age, and the only Christian in his village. He was more than any Chinaman I

is aged mother, in consequence of which she commanded that, in recognition of his fault, he

an example and illustration of the sacred duty of son to parent as taught in the

hstanding the fact that he was handicapped in his work as school-master by reason of his defective eyesight, the boys taking full advantage of his disability and failing t

o the circumstances. "Is it by extra imposed work, or by the public disgrace of the rod, that their misdeeds will be made most heinous in their own eyes?" he was asked, the remarks being accompanied by a look which could not fail to assure the trembling band of offenders that t

One of their number had lent his room, rent free for ten years, as a meeting-place for worship, and a good work had begun. If you spoke to them of the cause of this chan

pted to question, "How shall the supe

osperity of former days, yet endeavouring to impress upon a

kind disposition and good-nature have given him many friends, but love of money and appearances have crippled his usefulness. Any Christian work he now does is independent of the missionaries, and he will sometimes be invited to the official's residence to help some one to leave the opium habit, he and his father before him having been do

s, he finds himself longing for the things that abide, and his affections and desires are for the time being upon these, but as a morning cloud they pass. In other lands, where the line of d

ed the man from whom he has had so much. His manner is too servile to allow one to place much confidence in him, but he is a believer, and proves b

was the leader in his village by virtue of his sincerity. Is some aggressive movement proposed? "The time has not yet come," is his ever-ready answer. Do the crops seem to fail for lack of rain, and the farmers, anxious an

must wait and see how the Heavenly Father will provide." When the moment came every one was ready to help him, and he would be a discontent indeed

nted on rare occasions the privilege of being the medium by which our Father will prove His care to the weak, yet trustful souls. Good, faithful old Tu, he could teach many of us of the active, energetic

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