MRS. Brown, knowing that the missionary had been deprived of the proper kind of food for such a long time, thought it best that he should now take it in small quantities and at short intervals, and for this reason desired her husband to rouse him, that he might again partake of refreshment. It was now night, and, after a season of devotion, all retired.
The sun had again risen. Hearts had wakened; some to joy and hope, others to sorrow and despair. The missionary had rested well. Although he still looked pale, he had in a great measure recovered from his fatigue. The hospitality of this most excellent[46] family, to whom Providence had directed his steps, was shared with feelings of the deepest gratitude.
Mr. Brown and his wife were earnest, devoted Christians, possessing liberal views, and were ever ready for any movement that could show any reasonable prospect of doing good. They never condemned what had not been faithfully tried, unless forbidden by the Word of God. Although they had never heard a temperance lecture, and, as to a Sunday-school, it was something respecting which their knowledge was very indistinct; yet, when these subjects were laid before them by the missionary, and their great importance shown, both were ready to try the experiment.
“We will make an appointment for you at the school-house as soon as you will be able to fill it,” said Mr. Brown, “and then you can explain the whole matter to the people, and we will try what we can do.”
“I am ready, with God’s help, to commence[47] the work to-morrow,” said the missionary.
“Not to-morrow,” replied Mr. Brown; “you must not disregard your health when duty does not demand the sacrifice. As this matter has not been much agitated here, and no appointment is out, a few days rest until your strength is sufficient to carry on the work when commenced, will not be a neglect of duty. As the young people have singing-school in our school-house to-morrow after noon, we will send and have an appointment given out for you on Tuesday evening. We will also have the announcement made at the other school-house; then the people will have a little time to think and talk the matter over, and have their curiosity aroused, and we will have a good turn-out.”
“As you seem to understand matters so well, I will leave all to you,” said the missionary.
Under the kind care of Mrs. Brown, our[48] traveler improved rapidly, and his wonted cheerfulness was gradually returning.
“Do you know what is in that bundle there in the corner?” inquired Eliza of her brother Henry, in a loud whisper, and pointing toward the stranger’s satchel.
“I guess the stranger has his ‘things’ in it,” answered Henry, looking in the same direction.
The missionary, hearing their conversation, and wishing to gratify their curiosity as well as please them, asked them to bring the satchel to him.
After showing them a book full of pretty pictures and a Sunday-school paper, he allowed them to look at a great many beautiful cards, upon which were printed hymns and prayers. He explained the use of these things, and gave each of them a card and paper. To show “mother” what they had received was of course the next thing to be done, and they had almost forgotten to thank[49] the missionary in their hurry and glee. The mother was almost as much pleased as the children, especially with the papers. After admiring them again, the children asked her to lay them away that they might not become soiled.
Sunday-school scholar, do you prize your cards and papers as these children did? Or do you carelessly soil and lose them—or perhaps tear them up without reading them?
If you have thus indifferently treated them, think of these little children, and, like them, place your Sunday-school gifts among your precious treasures. When you are grown to manhood and womanhood, and called upon to battle with life, you may look upon these mementoes of childhood and youth with sad but sweet recollections.
The next day being Sunday, after the morning duties were finished, this family, with the missionary, enjoyed a season of devotion and Christian fellowship. As they, in the fear of[50] God, intended to “move upon the enemy’s works” on Tuesday night, it would be profitable for the leader to know how the enemy was entrenched, and what forces had been employed against him; how these operated and what their success.
“What kind of people have you here in the West?” inquired the missionary with a smile.
“Well,” replied Mr. Brown, “we have what the geographer terms ‘a mixed population.’ Or, as old Peter Miller would say, ‘good, bad and indifferent.’ It is a great mistake in eastern men to suppose that the western pioneer is an ignoramus. You will find some of the sharpest, best educated and most energetic men of this continent here in the West. A great many have the ‘bump of go-aheadativeness,’ as Fowler would say, ‘largely developed’.”
“Method or system is not so much looked upon as ‘will it go?’ ‘will it pay?’ ‘how long will it take?’ The masses are what[51] some term ‘fast men.’ Money must be made at once! Fortunes acquired in a day! Circuitous approaches are inadmissible. ‘Straight through and go ahead’ is the cry. ‘Young America’ here is impatient of delay; and if one way does not at once succeed, another is tried; and if speedy results are not seen, a new location or a change of business is contemplated. Hence, ‘fogyism’ is generally discarded, and which ever way they move they tend toward the extreme. This restless spirit is the very secret of their being here. Ambitious, brave and independent minds seek their development in situations where they can ‘make a country,’ create cities, establish commerce, and lay the foundation for learning, art and science.”
“Why, indeed, Mr. Brown, you have given me a very graphic description of the characteristics of the western people, and it almost makes me afraid to risk my abilities among such,” replied the missionary.
[52]“Never mind,” said Mr. Brown, “you must become enthusiastic too; and when they see you are in earnest, they will help you.”
“But are there not some ‘old fogies’ mixed up among the crowd, who would oppose radical measures of any kind?” mildly suggested the missionary.
“Plenty of them,” quickly replied Mr. Brown. “It is especially so in religious matters—here they seem to have the most influence, being well-meaning, orderly and good men; but holding the idea that the old routine must be followed, they oppose any change, or any ‘new measure,’ as they call it; and being men of standing in the community, the result is, in many cases, that nothing is accomplished.”
“Are these old measure men inclined to oppose the temperance cause, prayer-meetings, revivals and Sunday-schools by any decided action?” seriously inquired the missionary.
[53]“Some will, and carry others with them, who otherwise might be made active members in the Church; as they are, you cannot tell them from non-professors,” rejoined Mr. Brown.
“Are these leading men hard to win over?”
“No, not all,” answered Mr. Brown; “they are mostly well-meaning, and if you can convince them of a more effective way, they will go with you; but some are very bigoted.”
“What arguments do they generally use against our reformatory movements?” continued the missionary.
“They generally rely upon the supposition that our forefathers lived and died without any of these ‘new-fangled doctrines,’ and if they went to Heaven without them, we can too.”
“Why, don’t they see,” queried the missionary, “that the Bible is full of temperance, (Acts xxiv. 25; Gal. v. 23; 2 Pet. i. 6; 1[54] Cor. ix. 25; 1 Titus i. 8); of revivals (Acts ii. 2), and prayer-meetings (Acts i. 13, 14; xvi. 13; xii. 12; Luke xxii. 39-46)? There are also evident commands for teaching the Scriptures to the children, as is done in the Sabbath-school (Gen. xviii. 19; Deut. xxxii. 46; xi. 18, 19; 2 Tim. iii. 15). I do not think they would call these things new, if they would prayerfully study God’s Word.”
“I wish you would take up these points at the proper time, and give them a full Scriptural illustration,” replied Mr. Brown. “I think it would be acceptable to the people.”
“I will do so; but on Tuesday night I will dwell entirely upon the utility of Sunday-schools.”
The hour for singing-school had arrived, and the children had gone, taking with them an “Appointment” written by the missionary, to be handed to the teacher; and they had not forgotten their cards and papers, which they intended to exhibit.
[55]After the singing was over, the teacher read, “God willing, the Sunday-school missionary will deliver a lecture on the subject of Sunday-schools, and, if practicable, organize a school here next Tuesday evening, at early candle-light.”
“Who is it?” “What is a Sunday-school like?” were questions asked all around, but were left unanswered. In the meantime, Henry and Eliza’s cards and papers had been going the rounds from hand to hand. A general confusion and excitement ensued, ending in a resolve that they must all come on Tuesday night.
The news of the appointment spread like wildfire; the children were excited by the exaggerated descriptions of the cards and papers, and were unanimous in their desire for a Sunday-school.