Books: The Poorhouse Waif and His Divine Teacher
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Isabel C. Byrum >> The Poorhouse Waif and His Divine Teacher
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In answer to Edwin's question as to how it was possible to be converted,
Frank explained that one was converted through prayer or by praying; but
this answer was more confusing than any other had been, and Edwin
exclaimed:
"Why, Frank, how is this? You say that the only kind of prayer that will
amount to anything is that prayer that comes right out of the heart, and
that to pray such a prayer one must be converted. And now you say that one
is converted through prayer. Now tell me, if this is true, how and where
does a person get his start?"
Not being a Christian himself, or ever having had the experience of
salvation, Frank did not know how to unravel the tangle of thought that he
had woven within Edwin's mind, and he was at a loss to know what to say.
How easy it would have been for Mrs. Kauffman to help Edwin out of his
difficulty had she known, but she was in her own home a short distance away
burdened and sad. She had watched Edwin as he crossed the fields on his way
to the home of her son and knew that they were smoking upon the porch.
When the subject of prayer was dropped, Edwin told his friend that the
farmer for whom he was working would soon be caught up with his work and
that it would be necessary for him to look for a new place to work, and he
asked Frank if he knew of any farmers who were needing help. As Edwin had
expressed a desire to get into another neighborhood, if possible, for the
experience, Frank said that his father-in-law, Mr. Miller, would be in need
of hired men during harvest, and added, "If you wish, I will speak a good
word in your behalf."
Edwin expressed his gratitude for his friend's interest, and then after a
few other remarks he arose to go. Before leaving, however, he emptied the
contents of the red handkerchief out upon a piece of paper. Then, putting
the handkerchief in his pocket, he bade his friend goodnight.
It was a beautiful evening, but Edwin paid no attention to the stars as
they gazed down upon him from above. He was thinking of his friend's words,
and he said aloud: "To be converted must be the very thing for me and just
what I need. But how am I to get converted, since I must pray and since I
can not pray until I get converted?" The words taught him at the poorhouse
came quickly to his mind, but he said sadly: "No, they won't do! Frank said
that a prayer is words, but that the words must not be any that have been
learned from any person or book. They must come right out of one's heart.
What can it all mean?" And that night, for the first time in many years,
the little prayer failed to bring him comfort before he closed his eyes in
sleep.
"O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come" (Psa. 65: 2).
CHAPTER XIV
A PRAYER-MEETING
Oh the precious privilege
To the pious given,
Sending by the dove of prayer
Holy words to heaven!
Arrows from the burning sun
Cleave the quivering air;
Swifter, loftier, surer on,
Speeds the dove of prayer,
Bearing from the parted lips
Words of holy love,
Warm as from the heart they gushed,
To the throne above.
--Mrs. Hale.
Not long after the excitement caused by the earthquake had subsided, Frank
Kauffman informed his father-in-law, Mr. Miller, of Edwin's intention to
change his place of employment and took great pains to mention the young
man's good qualities. As a result, Frank returned with the message: "My
father-in-law will be glad to have you help him on the farm even before
harvest, and you are at liberty, he said, to come just as soon as you care
to do so." Accordingly, at the end of the month Edwin, together with his
trunk and other baggage, was transferred to the home of Mr. Miller.
When the news of Edwin's departure from the neighborhood came to the ears
of Mrs. Kauffman, she rejoiced, because she felt that his influence over
her son in regard to smoking would not be so great; but little did she know
what the move was to mean to Edwin or that it would bring him even more
directly into her life.
Mr. Miller, a well-to-do old farmer, was still strong for his age and well
able to assume the responsibilities connected with his business; so the
greater part of his help was hired by the day. But since he would need one
steady hand to help him throughout the harvest-season with the barn- and
house-chores, he hired Edwin for two months. Finding that all that Frank
had said of him was true, the Millers took Edwin into the home as a member
of the family.
Edwin was not long in discovering that he greatly enjoyed being in this
home, for both Mr. and Mrs. Miller were good people, and Mrs. Miller was a
professor of religion. But to the young man so hungry for the right kind of
living the lack of profanity between the husband and wife was the thing
most noticeable and gratifying.
He had been there but a short time when the motherly sympathy of Mrs.
Miller was aroused on account of his extreme ignorance on many subjects,
and she did not grow weary in explaining the meaning of new words and in
doing all else that she knew to do to enlighten his mind. That she might
have a better opportunity to talk with Edwin, he was invited to share with
the old couple the smoking-hour that was spent in the little summer-kitchen
(for both Mr. and Mrs. Miller were fond of their tobacco). For this
kindness Edwin was very grateful.
The little summer-kitchen, which had been built just back and a little
apart from the large, convenient farm-house, was principally for the
purpose of keeping the larger building free from the offensive odors that
might arise from the cooking or the use of tobacco; but Mrs. Miller was so
extremely neat and clean about her housekeeping that this room too was
always cozy and inviting. In the chimney-corner of the kitchen a large
fireplace had been built, and the latter had been covered by a closed iron
cooking-grate. Above the rustic stove was a mantel, upon which the tobacco
supplies of the old people were kept, and Edwin was told that he was
welcome to place his pipes and cigars with theirs if he desired to do so.
The invitation was gladly accepted, and when Edwin's things were arranged,
the mantel was well filled. The other furnishings of the room were a large
cupboard, the necessary articles for cooking, a long home-made dining-table
in the center of the room with long benches on both sides, and a few
old-fashioned straight-backed chairs. And here they met night after night
to smoke and to talk.
The congregation to which Mrs. Miller belonged was in the habit of holding
their weekly prayer-services in the residences of the different
church-members, and soon after Edwin's arrival in her home Mrs. Miller told
him that on the following Thursday evening there was to be a prayer-meeting
at her house.
"A prayer-meeting!" Edwin exclaimed with as much wonder and astonishment as
he had displayed when talking with Frank about prayer; and immediately he
connected the words with those that he had listened to on the porch of his
friend's home. And when he asked simply, "What is a prayer-meeting?" she
hid her surprize and explained that some people from different parts of the
neighborhood would come together after supper in some room and spend an
hour in reading, praying, and singing hymns.
"Can I be with you too?" Edwin asked as though he expected to be denied the
privilege; but when Mrs. Miller answered, "Certainly," the beseeching look
immediately changed to one of gladness.
"Can it be possible," thought Edwin the following day as he went about his
work, "that in this very home where I am now living they will have prayer.
Only three more days! How can I wait until Thursday night?"
When at last the appointed evening had arrived, Edwin with great inward
emotion and with bright anticipations watched the people as they arrived in
groups of twos and threes, some on foot and others in carriages. When all
had arrived and had passed on into the house, they were greeted by Mrs.
Miller, and Edwin was invited to join them in the comfortable sitting-room
of the large house.
Edwin felt that these people were conferring upon him a wonderful privilege
and honor, but he could not get away from the feeling that he was an
intruder in their meeting. He was surprized that no one else seemed to look
upon his being there as strange. In fact, all were so very kind that he
decided to get all the good possible from being there and to solve, if he
could, the puzzle of prayer, also to find out what it meant to become
converted.
Now, Edwin had never learned that there was any other language than the
Pennsylvania Dutch dialect, and having never been in a neighborhood where
the Bible truths in any language were taught in his hearing, and not
knowing that there was a Bible or a Savior, he had no way of understanding
(even in his mother-tongue) what to most people would have been simple and
readily comprehended.
When all was in readiness for the service to begin, a song was sung and
then a chapter from the large German family Bible was read. After that all
knelt to pray. Edwin knelt also, but he faced the others and gazed upon the
upturned faces as though they belonged to creatures from another world.
When Amanda and Mrs. Kauffman prayed and he saw their faces beaming with
the glory of God, he was sure that their prayers were informal, for no
books were before them and the words seemed to come from their hearts. The
reason that he could not understand what was said, he felt sure, was
because they were talking to God, and the language was that of another
world.
When they arose and began telling of God's goodness to them, some even
leaping and shouting at times, Edwin supposed that it was another form of
prayer, and as the words spoken were all in German, they too, he reasoned,
must belong to another world. Notwithstanding he rejoiced because he was
there, and he believed that everything was just as it should have been.
When the meeting had been dismissed and the people had gone to their homes,
Edwin and Mr. and Mrs. Miller went to the summer-kitchen to smoke before
retiring. While they were filling their pipes and selecting the coals to
light them, Mrs. Miller inquired, "How did you like the meeting tonight.
Edwin? Was it like you thought it would be?" His answer did not reveal the
fact that he had not understood enough of what had been said or done to
form any new conclusion. He did tell her, however, that he thought the
meeting was really wonderful, and he asked how they all knew that they were
on the road to heaven. For Mrs. Miller this was a very hard question to
answer, for she too was living in great uncertainty regarding the future
and her reward; so she said:
"They don't know anything about that for sure in this life. They must wait
until after they die before they can find that out."
In reply to Edwin's questions on prayer and what it means to be converted,
Mrs. Miller explained that she had gone forward and given her hand to the
minister a long time before and that after waiting a year's time he had
told her she was in the church, and that joining church was what was meant
by being converted.
"What do you mean by 'church'?" Edwin asked, feeling that he had found
another word bearing upon the great subject that was perplexing him.
"Why the church is that big building down on the first four corners as you
go into town. You can't miss it, for it's the only building there, and if
you want to go down there with us some time to a meeting, you can. We have
meeting, you know, every Sunday at the church."
But Edwin did not know, so he said, "Do you mean that you have
prayer-meeting every Sunday?"
"Oh, no," she answered; "it isn't a prayer-meeting. We just get together
and listen to the minister talk, but we always sing, and the minister prays
for us."
"And don't you know, because you go to that church, that you will go to
heaven when you die?" Edwin said in astonishment, but the answer was, "Oh,
no; we don't really know anything about that."
As Edwin pondered over the matter that night when alone, he said, "If it
took Mrs. Miller a whole year to get into the church, it will take me that
long to get converted; but I can't see why she doesn't know any more than
she does about getting to heaven."
Although Edwin could get no understanding in regard to the deep things that
were upon his mind, he never for one moment thought of giving up in his
efforts to search for them and to find out. In his heart he was still sure
that there was a way to know these things, and although his friends had
failed to discover them, his confidence in their sincerity was not in the
least shaken.
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness;
but is long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but
that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3: 9).
CHAPTER XV
A STAR OF HOPE
Come then, O care! O grief! O woe!
O troubles! mighty in your kind;
I have a balm ye ne'er can know,
A hopeful mind.
--Vane.
During the weeks that followed, Edwin was very busy, but most of the time
that he was at work about the chores or in the harvest-field where the men
were gathering in the ripened grain or preparing for the threshers, he was
reviewing in his mind the scene on eternity, the talks with Frank, the
prayer-meeting, and what Mrs. Miller had told him in regard to the church.
"It will take me just a year from the time I start to go to church before I
can become converted, or be able to pray the right kind of prayer," he said
to himself; "and how much longer will it take before I know that I am on
the road to heaven?" for regardless of Mrs. Miller's confident statement
that nobody in this world could know of his future reward, Edwin was still
of the opinion that people could. "It's just because they haven't got that
far along, I guess," he reasoned, and he felt very sure that some of the
people who were at the prayer-meeting must know.
Among the day-laborers who worked for Mr. Miller was a Mr. Kunz, who,
although not a Christian, was a good, intelligent, and friendly fellow, and
who lived only about a mile away. For this young man Edwin soon formed a
great attachment, and as the weeks slipped by he occasionally found time
and opportunity to visit him in his home. During one of these visits Mr.
Kunz said in answer to Edwin's questions on prayer and the other things
that were troubling him:
"I don't know very much about such things, Edwin, but I think that you can
find out all you want to know if you will go to the big camp-meeting that
is soon to be held on the camp-ground yonder," and with his finger Mr. Kunz
pointed to a strip of woods that Edwin had heard spoken of as the
"Camp-Ground."
"Why! what has the camp-meeting to do with such things?" Edwin asked,
greatly surprized; for his idea of the camp-ground had been that it was a
place for worldly amusements to be held, such as picnics, festivals, and
ball-games, and it was hard for him to connect it with anything that he
considered so solemn as prayer and getting an assurance of heaven.
"It has much to do with it, Edwin," Mr. Kunz replied. "The meeting is held
by men and women who are converted and whose business it is to see that
those who come to the meeting get converted. They will know what you need
and will help you to understand how to get it."
"Do you mean," Edwin asked, his eyes opening wide in wonder, "that one can
get converted right there at the meeting?"
"Yes, indeed, I mean it," Mr. Kunz replied, smiling at the eagerness of
Edwin. "Every year many are converted, and it is for that very purpose that
the meeting is held."
Poor Edwin! It was hard for him to make the words of Mrs. Miller and those
of Mr. Kunz harmonize; but as he considered what his friend had said, a
bright star of hope arose in his sky, and he at once decided that the thing
for him to do was to attend that meeting. He asked Mr. Kunz how it was
possible for those people to get any one converted in so short a time. As
Mr. Kunz was not a Christian himself, he could only answer that he did not
know how it was, but that somehow they did it. With this knowledge Edwin
arose to return to the place where he was making his home.
It was Sunday afternoon early in August, but Edwin gave no heed to the warm
rays of the sun. As he walked along the highway toward the home of his
employer, his heart was light and happy, and as he was alone he swung his
arms and clapped his hands in his delight. The thought that it was possible
to become converted within a week's time, or eight days, as the meeting was
to continue over two Sundays, seemed almost too good to be true. "But why
not," he reasoned, "when there will be such able men and women at the
meeting to do the work. At the church where Mrs. Miller was converted, it
might have taken a year, for there was but one man to do the work; but at
the camp-meeting there will be many."
Then he began to wonder how the work would be accomplished, and he
concluded that it would take some kind of a scientific, systematic
performance, together with a wonderful prayer, and that then, if the work
had been properly done, an assurance that the person was converted and safe
for heaven would come.
Suddenly as he walked along, he felt that he was not alone, but no one was
in sight. Then these words seemed to be whispered in his ear:
"You had better not rejoice too soon, for your hope may be in vain. Your
master may refuse to let you go to the camp-meeting; for you know how busy
he is just now and how necessary that he should have your help."
But without the slightest fear Edwin answered in an audible tone:
"Yes, sir, I know that the work is pushing us hard just now, but this
matter, to my mind at least, is of far greater importance than all the work
on the farm. And then I do not expect my master to give me the time off to
attend the camp-meeting. I'll tell him how much I dislike to leave him and
that nothing else at such a time would induce me to go. Then I'll say that
I will not only work for him as hard as I can the four weeks before I go,
but that I will stay two weeks longer than I agreed to stay and will give
him that work free, if he will only let me attend that meeting."
Had Edwin thought to ask Mr. Kunz if anyone could get converted in less
than the eight days, he might not have been so determined to remain for the
entire meeting; but, supposing that it would take at least that long for
the operation, he did not want to run any chances of failure in his
undertaking.
He had hardly finished telling what he would do in return for the favor
that he was expecting to ask of his master, when again he seemed to hear
the voice speaking. It said:
"Your week's absence from the farm at this busy time might cause your
master so much inconvenience and loss that he would not even consider your
offer of two extra weeks of labor in return."
"Under such circumstance I'd give him a month's time for the one week,"
Edwin answered bravely.
Then the voice suggested that he might be unable to leave under any
circumstances, but at this suggestion Edwin exclaimed:
"Well, sir, then I shall go anyway! My matter is of far greater importance
than anything that is connected with his farm, and I can not afford to miss
that meeting. I can not give up a chance to get converted; for if I do and
should die, I shall go into eternity unprepared. I will just tell him that
I am going anyway and will take my chances on all the rest."
Because of this decision on Edwin's part, the tempter, who was Satan, the
enemy of all who will do right, was forced to flee. Had Edwin listened to
the suggestions longer or given the wicked one any encouragement to stay,
there would have been no end to his arguments; for it is the business of
Satan to discourage and dishearten all who seek to travel upon the highway
that leads to heaven.
Thus, we find that Edwin in his ignorance had once more been guided by
Divine Providence and that his heavenly Teacher had taught and aided him in
his hour of need. God never fails when a soul is doing his best to please
him. Failure comes, not merely from a lack of understanding, but from a
lack of decision and purpose to go all the way at any cost. Every one who
is honest with himself and anxious to do the will of his Maker will be
shown the way.
"The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. From the
place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
He fashioned their hearts alike; he considereth all their works... Behold,
the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his
mercy; to deliver their soul from death." (Psa. 33: 13-19).
CHAPTER XVI
A REVELATION ON TOBACCO
Who is it that will doubt
The care of Heaven, or think the immortal
Pow'rs are slow?
--Davenaut.
When Edwin entered the barn on the morning following his Sunday afternoon
visit, he found that Mr. Miller was there ahead of him and that the large
forkfuls of fresh hay for the horses' breakfasts were already tumbling
rapidly from the large mow above.
"As soon as he comes down," thought Edwin, "I'll ask him about my going to
that meeting, for it'll be as good a chance as I'll have." Then as he went
about among the feed-bins, measuring grain for the stock, he rehearsed in
his mind the little speech that he had planned, to see if it could be
improved; but he decided that it was just what he should say, and with all
his heart he hoped that his generous offer would be accepted. If possible,
he wanted to go without causing any hard feelings on the part of his
employer. Still he felt that he must go, and was resolved to go even if Mr.
Miller should be stubborn.
It was really but a few minutes until Mr. Miller was descending the
stairway that led from the loft above, but to Edwin in his anxious state of
mind it seemed a long, long time. It was a little hard at first to break
the silence, but finally he said:
"Mr. Miller, Mr. Kunz was telling me that the camp-meeting that is to be
held on the camp-ground before long is for the purpose of getting people
converted and that the work can be done in a week's time. I should like to
go to that meeting, but I hate to leave you, for I know how much work there
is to be done just now. But I feel that I must get converted as soon as I
can, for I don't know how soon I may die. Now, I'll work for you as hard as
I can before I go, and when I serve the time that I've agreed to stay, I'll
work two weeks longer for you for nothing if you will only let me go to
that meeting!"
Edwin had spoken excitedly, and every nerve in his body was on a tension
when Mr. Miller said slowly:
"Why, yes, I guess you can go. To me this matter of getting converted
doesn't seem so important, but I think I can manage the work all right if
you want to go."
Edwin could scarcely believe his ears, and when he found that no second
offer was necessary, it was as though a great and heavy burden had been
rolled from his heart. During the days that followed he endeavored to live
up to the agreement that he had made to work faithfully for his master.
Many times he thought of the meeting, and as often he asked himself: "Is
there anything special that I can do to help in this matter? Is there
anything that I ought to do so as to be better able to go through the
operation?"
He even asked Mrs. Miller if she could think of anything more that he could
do, but she, failing to understand his meaning, said: "No, there isn't much
that you can do. The things about the camp-ground are pretty handy, and
it's only a few miles away, and I will see to it that your clothes are
clean and mended." But still Edwin was not satisfied. Every day he reviewed
his conduct to see if there was any possible way that he could improve
himself.
One evening his divine Teacher again came to his assistance. It was after
supper, and Edwin was still in the summer-kitchen. The smoking-hour, too,
was over, and his pipe and tobacco were on the shelf. Mrs. Miller had
retired to her room in the large house for the night, and her husband was
making his usual rounds about the place to see that all the pasture-fences
were secure.
Sometimes when the horses and cows were trying to rid themselves of the
tormenting flies and mosquitoes, they would loosen the rails of the fences
by rubbing their itching sides against them. Thus an opening would often be
made, through which, if not repaired, the entire herd might find their way
and do much damage both to themselves and to the large fields of waving
corn that were growing all around the pasture-land. For this reason it was
necessary after the animals had quieted down for the night to see that
everything was in good condition, and Mr. Miller would trust no one to do
this chore but himself.
Seated in his accustomed place on the bench near the end of the long
dining-table, Edwin, with both elbows upon the table, was resting his face
upon his hands. Again he was thinking of the one great subject about which
he was so seriously concerned. Suddenly he seemed not to be alone. Looking
about him as though expecting to see some person standing near, he heard a
voice seemingly from above his head, and he was told to listen.
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