Part 19 (2/2)
The last part of her diary is extremely touching. But this sorrowful sight presented to our view is only one of the many that frequently occur in a city like New York. They harrow the refined feelings of the faithful missionary. If such scenes are so distressing, what must have been the experience of Him who was made sin for us, and who daily mingled with sinners. He who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of G.o.d in Him. Let her tell her own story.
”A few days since I visited a woman whose husband had beaten her till she was almost helpless. She told me about his coming to her with a knife, and expected he would have taken her life. She asked me to engage in prayer with her. He sat by, apparently unmoved. When I was leaving, he asked me to forgive him. I told him it was not me he must ask; he must go to G.o.d for forgiveness. It was distressing to see the poor wife, as she asked me what she must do, as she had no friend on earth but me.
I then spoke to the husband; he said he was very sorry he had acted so badly, and would _drink no more_. I intend getting him to sign the pledge, which he says he will do.
”The evils of intemperance meet us in so many ways, we often feel discouraged, and yet at times a case occurs which bids us _work on_ and hope on. The man mentioned above from that time continued to refrain from drink, and has treated his wife well ever since. She wept with grat.i.tude as she told me, a few evenings since, that he came in and handed her all his money as he had received it for work, never having opened it. She could never forget the day when I came in and found almost everything in the room broken to pieces, and his promise which he faithfully made to me that he would _try and do right_.”
Eternity alone will reveal to our astonished gaze the number of forlorn and sad hearts that were made to rejoice in the pardoning mercy of G.o.d through her weak instrumentality.
How comforting is the thought that His word shall not return unto Him void, but it will accomplish that which He please, and prosper in the thing wherein he hath sent it. ”It either proves the saviour of life unto life, or of death unto death.” If we harden our hearts in the day of affliction we grieve the Holy Spirit away from us. But sickness and penury properly received soften the heart and lead to repentance and transformation of life. Here is a practical ill.u.s.tration of this truth:
”Another family I found, with two children lying ill with diphtheria.
They were living in a bas.e.m.e.nt room, and were very poor. The father had been out of work for some time, and the mother's sewing had supported the family, but now her time was taken up with attending to the sick children. I provided some nourishment, and the next time I called, the mother was lying ill with typhoid fever. A poor woman was taking care of them, risking her own life and that of her own children, and another poor neighbor had taken home the third child to preserve it from infection. They had but little covering, and I procured what was needed from the Home of the Friendless, and a dear friend gave me a bundle of clothing for them. They have since recovered, and having a friend who owned a tenement-house, I spoke to her about them, and they are now removed there, and are quite comfortable. Our kind ladies who a.s.sist us at the sewing-school having sent us some turkeys for distribution at Christmas I was able to furnish them with one; and better still, the husband has obtained employment. They say they never will forget the time when they had nothing, and now they have _everything so comfortable_.
They seem to feel it came from G.o.d.”
Yes, He is the giver of every good and perfect gift, the Father of lights with whom there is no variableness nor the least shadow of turning. Without this perception and unless we return to G.o.d our grateful acknowledgments, we cannot truly enjoy His blessings from above. If G.o.d makes us the happy recipients of His favors it is our bounden duty to return to him our heartfelt grat.i.tude. This was the feeling of the Psalmist when he said:
”Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
”Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
”Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
”Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies;
”Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.”
CHAPTER XIX.
HELP AND LOVING KINDNESS.
Oh, give Thine own sweet rest to me That I may speak with soothing power A word in season, as from Thee, To weary ones in needful hour.
That Mrs. Matilda Knowles, our _beau ideal_ missionary, possessed a thankful heart, we glean from her diary. She gives a deeply interesting account of the recognition, on her part, of the gentle and generous loving-kindnesses of those ladies who heartily co-operated with her in lifting the burden of sin, sorrow, and sadness from poor suffering humanity. She writes at the close of 1875, thus:
”Our sewing-school kept its usual festival, thanks to our kind ladies, Mrs. Harper,[3] with Mrs. Fiske, and their friends, who supplied us liberally, and made many very happy. I have also, through the generosity of friends, been able to _aid_ and even _supply_ the wants of many who are in need, and I trust, in beginning a New Year, I may be able to work even more earnestly than ever before.”
[3] Wife of Mr. Fletcher Harper, of Harper Brothers, publishers, Franklin Square, New York.
This wealthy and inestimable lady (Mrs. F. Harper) has also recently entered into her rest and reward. We are glad to know, however, that her daughter has taken up all her mother's work, as the following communication will testify:
”LAUREL HOUSE, LAKEWOOD, N.J., February 21, 1887.
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