Full text of "From Sunrise Land: Letters from Japan"

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^^^^^^

from Suuriec

j^^^ %au^

^^^K-ry?/?^' PROM JAHAS

1 B'. AlW . WILSON-C^HWICHAEI

H V^EtACE f y

^BW^HAI.I BROTUEHS

FROM SUNRISE LAND

!!Letter8 from 5apan

By amy WILSON-CARMICHAEL
/

PREFACE BY REV. C. A. FOX, B.A.

LONDON

MARSHALL BROTHERS

189!

Dear Helpers togetlter By Prayer,

Some of you have asked for this book. Some of you have prayed it into
being. Please pray viore than ever now.'

With the exception of the "Life of Faith" Notes, these little letters were
written Just for " home " ; remembering this, your kindness will excuse
mistakes and informalities. A nd the same plea applies to tlie little sketches
scattered througliout, which, with the exception of a few drawn from curios
by friends, were also and only "just for home"

Others could tell you far more, and far more worthily, of the showing
forth of His Hand in their part of the great Mission Trust. Will they
believe that this thought presses, and that tlte more conscious of it ive are, the
more grateful we sliall be for their prayer.

Please pray ! Please ask that the Master may stoop to use a thing so
simple and so small, to lift even one into the Love -whereivith He loves.

For sympathy and lielp from many a Hidden One, many a time — for
lessons learned from and with our Leader, Rev. Barclay Buxton, and his
band in far fapan^for the love many waters cannot quench, binding us close,
fapanese and English Brothers and Sisters together, — / thank Him noiv.

Yours in The Serz'ice,

AMY WILSON-CARMICHAEL.

CONTENTS

VII.
VIII.

XII.

XIII.

XIV.

XV.

XVI.

XVII.

XVIII.

XIX.

XX.

XXI.

XXII.

From Albert Docks to Shanghai i

From Shanghai to Matsuve 8

Mission Tour No. i 16

With the Power of God behind it 29

I Cannot. Can God? God Can! 38

Across Japan by Kuruma 44

Kyoto, and Onwards 54

Torches, Thoughts, and a Typhoon 61

Out of Into 69

Birthday Gifts 77

Christmas and New Year in Sunrise Lam> 83

Unto Him be Glory 89

Co-WORKERs 97

To Osaka and Back 106

Not yet— Ere long 113

"Never Heard these Honourable Words" izi

Scraps— Very Much So 130

"It will be a Seed" 140

With One Bare Tfxling 1 50

On with the Message 158

Christ is Conqueror 166

Amen. Hallelujah ! 176

I HAVE been earnestly rcqviested to say a few introductory words on the great cause of
Missions. But first I must say a word on the book itself.

It is always interesting to get the first impressions of a young and ardent mind on
breaking virgin ground, or failing that, to Ret the first impressions of old lands on a
virgin soul. Bui how vastly more interesting and important is it to get the first impres-
sions of such a soul not only on launching forth into new worlds, but on touching for
the first time the keys of supernatural powers in a strange land. Just such an oppor-
tunity is presented to the reader in the following living record of a young lady mis-
sionary's maiden experiences abroad.

My friend Amy Wilson-Carmichael went out to Japan under the auspices of the
Keswick Convention to join the missionary party in charge of that beloved servant of God
the Rev. Barclay Buxlon recently established there in connection with the C.M.S.

These simple and unstudied utterances of everyday hfc in the mission field seem to
me lo be full of a spontaneous fire and fragrance quite their own. The vivid touches
of external nature scattered everywhere do but accentuate and make visible the novel
environment and native setting of the all important soul-scenery ; indeed these pages
throughout are marked by a holy vivacity and a happy glow and sparkle of colour. There
is, as we alt knotv, a modesty of outspokenness as well as a modesty of reserve, if only
the glory of God be manifestly the absorbing motive, and the absence of self be felt.
None but Faith's fresh and eager voice of unwavering devotion lifted under the hoary
battlements of heathenism can hope to make any impression on its walls, or arrest the
dead ear of countless generations of unbelief.

The Church of Christ in these last days, like all the great business houses around
us, has need to close her doors periodically that she may take stock of her inexhaustible
divine resources and her boundless opportunities. Then, with these full in view, she has
need to rehearse afresh in her own hearing the great primal principles by which alone
she can hope to advance the stupendous interests entrusted to her charge. These great
principles, the articles indeed of her apostolic constitution, are more than ever needed
to-day as the unfailing safeguard and inspiration of all her undertakings.

Never before did the Church so convincingly perceive that none bui fully redeemed
and consecrated souls can effectually do consecrated service, and yet that one such soul
may set on fire a whole dead community, and thereby add unconsciously a new chapter
lo the Acts of the Apostles. Never before did the Church so keenly feci that on the
spiritual equipment and fitness of her chosen representatives everything depends ; and
that the three most essential qualifications, beyond all others perhaps, for spiritual
workers whether at home or abroad are still as ever — holy deadncss, holy '
holy drudgery.

—holy dcadness, holy daring and

Andlfirst of these preeminently stands
and service. It is this that St. Paul emphas
in the body the dying," or the deadness t<t
also of Jesus might be made manifest in oui

In our immortal and life-giving service <
the ground and die, it abideth alone."

Holy Daring comes next, which is the inseparable companion of all sober God-

il Holy Dead/US!, as essential alike for life
ss again and again : "always bearing about
n and self, "of the Lord Jesus, that the life
lortal bodies."
ministry, " Except a com of wheat fall into

xii Introductory Note

rooted faith when energiied by the Holy Ghost, Isaiah complained thai " there is none
that stirreih up himself to take hold of God " : and David warned Israel of old, " Yea,
they spake against God, they 5:iid, Can God ?" Let us, therefore, with Luther, crucify the
question Hov!, and crown the Thou — " Lord if Thou wilt, Thou canst ! "

Holy Drudgery occupies the third place. Without it holy daring, however conse-
crated, must inevitably fail. For together with the magnificence of an unhesitating
faith, such as is implied in the command, " Launch out into the deep," there must ever
be associated Ihe lowly quality of holy drudgery — that indispensable habit of dogged
industry and devotion to practical detail ; " Launch out into the deep, and let down your
nets for a draught."

■* Unheard at midnight Faiih embarks her al!
Upoo some ancient promise of Ilie Word,
Blmd sense discarding."
Thank God, to-day the rapidly rising tidal wave of Pentecostal grace is forcing its
way far inland, and flooding with new life the old familiar channels and estuaries of our
. organisations, so as to tempt the hesitating Church to deliberately let herself go, and in
the naked grandeur of primitive faith to trust herself implicitly to her Lord. Definite
and personal acts of faith must accompany and corroborate the great facts of faith. Such
decisive and personal acts of faith shall cast a new and resplendent light upon the grand
old Gospel truths, which, however venerable with age they may seem to some, shall break
out afresh into swift and living response at the first real touch of desperate yet expectant
child-faith. Burning examples of this in the Mission field were never more conspicuous
than to-day, " Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should
raise the dead f "'

In closing, let me give five or six special reasons why the Church of to-day is
obviously marked out for aggressive missionary enterprise : —

1. There has been vouchsafed to the Church in these last times an exceptionally
clear and simple presentation of Gospel truth as to immediate and personal salvation.

2. The widespread and deepening sense of the commanding claims of the Risen
Christ upon His Church has forced upon us the necessity of a fuller apprehension and
appropriation of the blessed peace and powerof His indwelling presence, " Go ye — I am
with you alway."

3. The Church has of late become keenly alive to the fact that the best method of
enforcing the claims of the Heathen is to bring home first to the conscience of her
members the magnitude of their supernatural resources in Christ Jcsus, and His conse-
quent claims upon their gratitude. In short, that we must take before we give ; and trust
Him with everything before we can trust Him for everything,

4. The Church begins to realize the intimate and inseparable connection between
her own individual consecration and the evangelization of the world,

5. There has taken place within the Church a marvellous awakening to the great-
ness of the Person and Oflicc of the Holy Ghost : and consequently to the absolute
necessity of her being baptized with the fulness of the Spirit for successful life-service.

6. The growing signs everywhere of the speedy Return of the Master have so
stirred the affections of the Bride with holy expectation, that she is increasingly eager
to make herself ready.

We know that at Christ's first coming the cry went forth, " This is the Heir, come
let us kill Him, and the inheritance shall be ours," But now a very different cry is re-
sounding on all sides, "This is the Heir, come let us crown Him, and the inheritance
shall be His I " Let each one of us therefore prepare in haste to crown Him with a
priceless diadem of precious souls, which we have personally wrestled for and won, yea
Spirit-won, under the solemn light of Calvary's Cross. " Behold I come quickly !— Go
ye out therefore quickly ! "

CHARLES A, FOX.

FROM SUNRISE LAND

CHAPTER I
gtom Bibcrt Sochs to Sbangbal

" Tht lendtr light of home hekind, dark heathen gUom before.
The urvaiits of Iht Lerd ^ farlh to many a firetgn shore.
Bui fie true light thai lannol palt, slrtami m Iktmfnm adtnie,
A Lighl Divine that shall aen fail, the imile of Him they lorn. "

Sarah G. Stock.

S.S. Va/etta, March 3, 1893. By tfie Pilot. — "Our Saviour has two nail-pierced
hands. He lays one upon each of us, and parts us sa" You remember that
thought, given in our Farewell yesterday ? . . , " And our hope for you is
stedfast, knowing that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, w also are ye of the
Comfort ! "

Off Gibraltar. — When the Pilot had carried our letters ashore, and the last
visible thread was snapped, we felt most XxvA'j " gone ;" but the Comforter came
close. Next day we were all a little dismal, we lay in our deck chairs, mildly
observing the still more miserable folk, who, with pale grey-green faces, hung about
the ship's side, gazing dejectedly downwards. In a brief rallying moment Mar-
garete and I walked unevenly up and down, and sang — ■

" Peace, perfect peace, aith loved ones far away ?
In Jesus' keeping vve are safe, and they."

But all that this means, is lost upon you unless you too have rolled through the
Bay, experiencing the meeting of the waters of home-sickness, and sea-sickness,
albeit proving that though very very human you are wonderfully kept.

Sunday evening saw us struggling through a spasmodic sort of service in the
second saloon, enlivened by sundry abrupt departures. By the time it concluded we
had grown so " beautifully less," that a spice of informality enhvened the proceedings,
and a gentleman from the first class rose to request that the " members of the S.A.

From Sunrise Land

whom he understood were present " should address the survivors. Finding av
were indicated, two of us responded briefly, glad of an opportunity to witness for
our Master. They call us " S.A.'s " we hear, because we sang hymns at the docks.

And then came a marvellous moonlight. Picture the vast darkness of the
waters of the Bay, rising and falling in slow, full, swell ; while the clear light fell
in a heaving, shining, pathway, till it touched the quiet stars, as they rose one by
one above the far horizon-line.

In the Mediterranean. — A storm, or enough of one to be glorious ! The
mighty majestic waves come lashing op, as if they meant to sweep us into no-
where ; we ride over them, in triumph. They rush upon us then, with wild in-
dignant laughter, and we spring again lo meet them, shattering iheir white pride
to diamond dust Then they gather themselves up in thunderous fury, dashing,
lifting their crested heads above our dipping bows, and once more with joy
undaunted, we leap lightly on to meet them ; and they fling their foam upon us,
and toss and tumble madly, while the Storm-Psalm swells its music through their
tumultuous roar —

"The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
lite floods have Ijfled up Iheir voice ;
The floods lift up their waves.

The L>oid on high is mighliec than the noise of many waters,
Yea than the mighty waves of the sea ! "

And then the sun shines out, and catching slantwise the tossed-up spray,
it paints a rainbow on it. For a moment the fairj' thing glistens there, then drops
into the fierce green trough ; to rise again, and flash forth in delicate sparkle of
colour, to fall again, again to rise, and so on through the long grand hours of
tempest and of sun.

Life on shipboard is rich in opportunities for quiet service among passengers
and sailors. But to see and use them aright, we need to live close to our Master,
and in the full stream of Holy Ghost Power. This evening, (for the sudden storm
is over, and the sea smiles blue again,) some of the seamen asked us to have a
" Sing " for them. But though they like to listen, they don't care to decide, and so
far, we have seen no result, except kindly interest and attention. To-morrow we
reach Brindisi, and get our letters. Oh, how one longs for them ! It has seemed
like a month than a week since the good-bye day. . . . And yet to the
glory of His Name — He has been infinitely nearer than words can tell ; it is as
though one had never known Him at all before. And I rest on the certainty He
be equally loving, and close, to you. . . .

Last night I stood by the ship's rails, looking through the gloaming, at the long
low coast line of Darkest Africa. Far above, the stars were sparkling, the stars
we love at home; in our wake the waters were shining with phosphorescent

From Albert Docks to Shangha:

radiance. But across in the dusky distance there glimmered but one small light,
whose very presence served only to intensify the deep sad darkness beyond.

There, as I stood and watched the shadows deepen round that lonely light, it
seemed to shine a mute appeal for its land which still lay in the darkness of death
— the light-bearers so few and far between, that to-day millions and milhons whom
Jesus died to win are left to live and die unwon. Oh that His Bride might awaken
to the heart-desire of her Bridegroom, ere the cry rings down, " Go ye forth to
meet Him!" Surely if we go on leaving "the voiceless silence of despair " un-
answered, the heathen, whom we might tell, untold, we shall have to "shrink in
shame before Him at His coming."

/// the Sues Caital.—\Ve are passing quaint caravans, with camels loojjed to
one another, trudging patiently single file through the pathless sands, followed by
blue-robed, white-turbaned Arabs. Here and there, are little brown encampments,
thrown upon the waste, whence boys and babes emerge, as we appear, and hail,
and follow us with cries of "Backsheesh! Backsheesh !" We pause awhile at
Ismaiha, a palm-fringed oasis, cool, and green, on the desert edge. Somewhere
about here the children of Israel may have passed over. From this point on, the
scenes on either side recall the Exodus, and we think of the song sung on these
sands so long ago, — " Who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing
wonders ! "

It is evening now, and the search-light on. The water, where it strikes it, gleams
like a ribbon of polished steel ; it glances upon the sandbanks, and they glitter like
frosted snow ; it touches a smaller boat half a mile ahead, and it shines like a spec-
tral thing. Except where its brilliance cuts through the dark, night closes us in :
ihe contrast is weirdly beautiful.

/m (Ae Red Sea. — And now we have reached these " purer climes, where stars
are eloquent," and every mile is fraught with memories. To the west lies old
Egypt, with its Nile and pyramids, and ruins of mighty dynasties. To the east a
shore more wondrous still.

That changed the

it of earth's

As we pass the solemn Sinai Range, with its bare red peaks and rolling desert,
we think of the time when the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the
thick darkness where God was.

In the Indian 0«rtB.—Forthe first time we have seen the great Need face to
face. It was at Aden, where we lay at anchor for a few hours, and where we were
boarded by swarms of curio vendors and diving boys, ciad in chocolate brown, and
httle else. Through the medley of colour and soumi, one seemed to look and
hear deeper— without Christ, without hope, without God in the world— yes, just

4 From Sunrise Land

Oiat. Vet here we were, a shipful of |)rofessing Christians, and who among us cared
ill the least about it? 1 thought of the noble Ion Keith Falconer, and his brief
bright life upon those sun-scorched crags. Poor Aden to lose him so !

And now in our wake lies Cape duardafui, the last we shall see of Africa. It
is a lovely farewell, for the sun is setting, and the hills are fading slowly in a shim-
mer of golden light Sunset now, but the sunrise is coming. Oh, that
one's whole little life may be " fired with the red glow of the rushing morn ! "

Perhaps you would like to hear about Mohan, our first brown brother in )■

One morning, soon after sailing, I was sitting alone, thinking of " this time last
week." when an old Indian, with a big white turban, sat down near me. He was
followed by a native in simpler costume, with soft, dark, "doggie" eyes, full of
silent speech, and presently by a funny little Chinaman, with a pigtail a yard and
a half long. And we began to talk. Kui-Hong was a Christian from Swatow.
" Oh, yesee, me love Jesus muchy." The S.ihib said he was one too ; but " that
other one, he was btit an animal, had no soul in particular, and no religion worth
mentioning." " Then, of course, you have told him of Jesus ? '' was a question
which rather took the wind from the sails of the very superior Sahib, who subsided
into an astonished silence. Turning to the " animal," 1 pointed up and touched
him, saying, "Jesus loves you." I wish you all could have seen the sweet, glad
look in his brown eyes, as, touching himself, he too pointed reverently up, and
said, "jl/f loi'ii Jtsus"

Very soon it was evident that the old Indian was not converted at all. Poor
simple-hearted Mohan knew very little about Him, and dung only to the one rock-
truth of His love ; so Margareie and I arranged to meet them early each morning
to read the Word, the Chinaman and an ayah, who said she was a Roman Catholic,
gladly agreeing. In spite of the disturbing elements around us, the I^rd of peace
was with us, and we felt His presence. It was beautiful to watch Mohan,
especially as, day by day, he drank in the words of life. To him our Saviour's
Life-Story was so wonderful, so new, each incident was a revelation to him, and
his dark face would literally shine as he took in that this mighty miracle- worker was
the same Jesus who "loves Mohan." As a flower in the sunshine, so his soul
opened out ; and we praised the l.ortf, and wished many a time, that the honie-
wotkers, who are sometimes almost tired of telling the message to ears tired of
listening to it, could share the joy of giving it in its fulness for the very first time to
one who really wanted it.

Of course we could not get on very quickly, because of the language difficulty.
The Sahib, who knew a little of his patois, translated verse by verse, and we ex-
plained in a sort of broken baby-English, which seemed more understandable than
good Grammar. Sometimes when difficult questions came up and our limited
vocabulary failed, we would tell him, "Jesus knows, and Jesus tell Mohan some

day, for Jesus loves Mohan." Then his puzzled face would break into a smile, and
he would murmur softly with the trustfulness of a little child, " Yes, Jesus loves
Mohan." One day he was taught the text, " Fear not, I have redeemed thee, I
have called thee by thy name, thou art Mine." He could only grasp the last
thought then, Mohan, thou art Mine, and it meant much to iiim ; it was wonderful
and he believed it — ^which is more than most of us do. Bit by bit we got his life
story. A native of Northern India, he had been decoyed away to the sugar plan-
tations of the West Indies, where he heard of Christ. While he was serving his five
's (a sort of semi-slavery), he was taken ill, and was given fish and meat, thereby
ing caste, for "Hindoo religion say we no eat animal — animal have soul —
man good, go into good place — man bad, go into animal — me link, friends
out, so me be Christian ! "

Certainly a novel reason for becoming one ! But who knows what heart deso-
lation lay behind, what deep longings for some one to whom to cling ? And so he
came to Jesus, and He did not cast him out At last he left the Sugaries, and went
out as servant to a missionary in Jamaica, who baptized him, and gave him a
little ABC book, his one treasure ; it has a short lesson on Christianity, and the
Lord's Prayer ; beyond this he knew little, as his missionary friend did not know
his language, and he had no Bible. After a white a fit of home-sickness seized
him, and he look his passage as deck passenger (necessarily vid London), and so
we met on board the Valetta. Shall we meet again till the day " when He makelh
up His jewels " ?

Very much I wish we could tell you that the Sahib yielded before we parted at
Aden. His self-esteem hinders him sadly, but we believe the Lord has touched
him. The night before he left, he came in much earnestness, asking me to open
my Bible " where it willed," and read him the verse so found. He was so eager
about it that I could not refuse ; and asking Him, to whom nothing is small, to
guide the fall of the leaves, 1 did so. The book opened at Galalians vi. 3, '^ If
a man think himself to be something when he is nothing he deceiveth himself." It was
God's verse-choice for him and went home.

S.S. SiitleJ, March 30. — " Our Father which art in Heaven."

Never did that " Our" mean so much to me as now, for we have had the joy
of being welcomed as sisters in our Father's family, by new brothers and sisters,
who, for love of Him, met us at Colombo, took us ashore, gave up their day to us,
and finally saw us off, leaving us with hearts warmed by the glow which comes from
kindness received for His Name's sake.

To our sea-weary eyes, Ceylon was a fairy-land of rest and beauty. We were
driven over red-sanded roads, through what seemed like a great peopled hothouse,
minus the glass, to a Bungalow hidden in palms, where hymns and breakfast
raited us.

It was quite a treat to play upon an instrumenl
gathered round it and sang " Like a river glorious,'
and many another old favourite, ending with one,
Tsidkenu."

which remained steady, and we
" Ixived with everlasting love,"
sung to the tune of " Jehovah

'■ I'm waiting for Thee, Lord, Thy beauty lo see. Lord ;
I'm wailing for Thee, for Thy coming again.
Thou art gone over iherc, Lord, a place to prepare, Lord ;
Thy llomc I «ha]! share, al Thy coming agiin ', "

After our kind friends !eft us, we investigated the state of our new cabin :
cockroaches to begin wiih, rats to continue with, stuffiness and scents to finish up
with. Two of us could not sleep in our berths : so we " went and told Jesus," and
then we spoke to the steward. Ail has come right. Rough shakedowns are laid
for us on the orlop deck, where in spite of the aforesaid ills, (which flesh in the
East, it would seem, is heir to,) plus a publicity somewhat embarrassing, we are
fairly comfortable. I have printed '^ In everything; give thanks," adorned the corners
with the initials of our woes in chief, and hung it up in our cabin, to act as gentle
reminder.

/// the Yelimv Sea. — Penang, Singapore, Hongkong, only names to us ten days
ago, how much more now. For behind each name lies a mingled memory of things
dark and bright. At each port, kind friends met us, and took possession of us, for
Jesus' sake ; thinking no trouble of trouble. \\'e saw something of the work, and
thanked God for it, but oh it is a sorrowful thing to see what even an hour can
show of real heathendom. May the Master speak His Inasmuch to His servants
who were so good to us, and may He give them the joy of winning many and many
a gem for His Crown ■

China Inland Mission, Shanghai, April 20. — " O give thanks unto the Lord, for
He is good, for His mercy endureth for ever \ let the redeemed of the Lord say
so." Let us say so indeed ; for all through this voyage, not one thing hath failed
of all the good things our God spake concerning us. .\11 have come to pass; wc
have lacked nothing. " Christ can come closer than the very sense of loneliness
itself; so close that there is no room left for it^t is Jaus only." And for the
dear ones at home, with whom every thought is linked, it is blessed to know it must
be so too. It is worth the "Good-bye" lo prove Him so. Our Httle band has
separated. The C.LM. members clothed in the blue garments of this strange China,
have gone by native boat to Yangchau, kind letters have reached me from Mr. and
Mrs. Bu.xton, and I am waiting for my steamer to Japan. Warm welcomes fiono
Mr. Stevenson and others, in this happy home, soon took the stranger- feeling from
one. To be here, is in itself an inspiration ; and as one looks at all the faces, most
so glad and strong, one is constantly reminded of words read in the homeland.

CHAPTER II
from Sban^baf to Aateuse

" Db ye leek an Ihiagi afiir tht outward apptai-aiKe I "

April 21, S.S. Yokohama Maru, en rmitt for Japan. — Alone for the first time,
and yet not lonely in spirit, for " Thou hast made Thyself to me a living, bright
Reality." Who could be lonely with Jesus ? He satisfieth !

We are steaming out slowly into the dusk. Behind us lies the great dim
shore of China. Before us a shore-line, more shadowy still. He knoweih what
is in the darkness. I will trust and not be afraid.

Nagasaki, April 24.— A few hours have been pleasantly spent with Mr, and
Mrs. F. of the C.M.S. and now I am on board again, quietly thinking over the
fact that this is Japan. Wooded hills surround the lovely Bay; from one, the
early Christians were flung in the old days of persecution. Little sampans
carrying bright-faced, blue-clolhed mortals, are passing to and fro. There is a
sound of laughter in the air. In the short time on shore I saw much, but cannot
stay to describe it yet. This is Japan. That is enough for to-day. And now —

Chofu, April 28. — According to Mr. Buxton's kitid arrangement. Miss
Thompson, one of his party, was to meet me at Shimonoseki, where I change to
a small coasting steamer. But between plans, and their fulfilment, is many a
slip. And here "the tall end of a typhoon" interposed, and ray experiences
savoured rather of Robioson Crusoe. For after a wild night, the sea was too
rough to admit of easy landing. Hours were spent in waiting a mile or so from
shore. Then a steam-tug ventured out. My luggage was rolled in somehow, a
few woe-begone Japanese passengers emerged from cabins below, stumbled down
the ship's ladder, and tumbled in, I among them. After a prolonged pitch and
loss, we were precipitated upon a wave-washed pier. The wind howled, the rain
pelted, a vociferous swarm of wet watermen fell upon us, worried and tugged, and
finally bore off whatever could be carried^ray boxes included— and I looked for
Miss T, but saw her not. Then a being pounced upon me, handed me a card
addressed to her, with an address written in English, upon its reverse side.

From Shanghai to Matsuye 9

Thinking she had come from him, and all was right, 1 followed him for a moment,
but when he began to talk in vigorous Japanese, it situck me something was
wrong somewhere. Could he be mistaking me for somebody else ? Evidently it
was so. Gesticulations told it. We stopped, he and I, and looked at each
other. So did everybody within range of voice or vision. And they all talked
hard. Mercifully the drollery of the thing, carried me over the perplexity thereof.
I laughed. They all laughed. It was comic — but serious, for what to do, or
where to go, where my baggage was, above all where Miss T, was, I knew not,
nor could I ask. My captor though profoundly polite, was obviously embarrassed.
He led me through a bit of street where all the little ladies and gentlemen, adorn-
ing all the fans and teapots, and paper umbrellas you ever saw, seemed lo have
made themselves at home — through a passage with sliding paper on one side, and
people on the other, to a perfectly dark room. What next ? I wondered^ — and the
i a rumbling back of wooden shutters, a slipping back of paper windows,
a flooding in of tongues and eyes, and a lengthy conversation, neither side much
comprehending. At last they realized that I wanted to know the fate of my boxes,
and to go to the ship's office, if it possessed one. in response to request number
one, my belongings were discovered safely scattered over the place ; a general
stampede indicated a desire to comply with the second.

They escorted me lo a sort of shed where lounged a youth smoking a long
pipe; he bowed gently, but that was all. At that moment of mild despair an
English face appeared. Was ever one more welcome I He was a traveller passing
through. A mere chance had delayed him this morning, and he happened to be
in the office. But I recognised God's finger in the "chance." How His plans
fit! In a few minutes all was straight. I mounted a rickshaw, was consigned
to the lender mercies of a broad-nosed, narrow-eyed Mongol, who undertook to
convey me to tiie address on the card, the abode of American missionaries it
appeared, and we started. It felt slightly strange to be trundled off thus, in this
curious cross between a bath-chair and a hansom cab of liliputian make ; by a man
unknown, to a place unknown, with no power at all, save to sit still, and trust.
Part of the way lay between sea and hill. The rain had gone, and brilliant
sunshine touched the still stormy waters, and brought out wonderful rich green
shades in the waves, as they curled over on the brown rocks. It glistened upon
the dripping woods, where Tropic and T'emperate mingled, and the crimson of
camellia, the purple of wisteria, the ivory-white of magnolia, lifted their shattered
beauty, among pines and palms, cryptomeria, and bamboo. We passed a hamlet
or two, where small things ran after us, clad in quaint garments, — or none. On
and on we went, till I began to wonder whether my human steed had forgotten the
address, and intended to run on until he remembered it. Suddenly we turned up a
mooth'Sanded drive, and calmly upset before a verandah, whereon appeared a

lo From Sunrise Land

young lady, who came forward to welcome me, thouf;h not in ihe least divining
who I could possibly be.

Explanations followed. They had expected Miss T. and sent llieir card lo
the hotel man who had taken possession of me, asking him lo meet her. He
naturally mistook me for her, hence the bewildermetiL As to Miss T.'s movements
they concluded the storm had delayed her in her voyage down the coast. And so
it has proved. She is here now, and we are wailing for our boat up to Matsuye,

These dear friends are so kind. Certainly missionaries seem hospitable
l>eople 1 We are " more than welcome," as they say, and feel indeed, one in Christ
Jesus. The work in this litde out-station is very interesting. A church, mission
school, a little orphanage, bright young Christians, loving service rendered on all
sides — this is what we have seen. And this in the midst of heathenism is some-
thing to thank God for. There is another side, they tell us. Difficuhies, dis-
couragements, disappointments, are not few ; but praise Him, He is Conqueror.
Victory is sure.

April 29, Native Hold en route for MatsHye. — Curled up tail or- fash ion on
the white matted floor, under the fitful light of a swinging lamp, surrounded by all
the strange weird sights and sounds of evening in the East, my thoughts turn home-
wards, Jt is Saturday morning with you. I picture the Exeter Convention's
closing meeting. The well-known platform group, the mass of upturned faces, the
ringing " Praise Him ! praise Hira ! " " Let us sing of His love once again." Or
perhaps it is a missionary meeting, and some one is pleading for the regions beyond.
How one's heart goes out in earnest asking that His love may constrain some
lighted life to follow Him into the dark \ The present with its contrasts closes
round me — the encircling heathen town -without one missionary, the vastness of the
need, its pilifulness ; the blazing sunshine (at least by comparison) at home, the
darkness which may be felt out here. Will no one come ? But I dare not press
the question. Only His voice may speak the " Go ! " which sends. Only in the
power of His Spirit may one obey.

And now may I ask those whom the Master is trusting to tarry at home, to
pray specially for some of us who are learning to be dumb? Think how you
would feel if you were standing upon a rock, around which were seething billows
wherein were sinking and drowning men and women, within your reach, yet Just
out of it- you safe, yet helpless to save them, helpless to stretch out a hand or
throw out a life-line ; helpless utterly. Almost so is it with us. Can you realize
what it is to be plunged into silence just when yovir whole soul is longing most
burningly to tell the good news you have come so far to bring ? Oh that the gift
of tongues were for us to-day ! But it must be best that it is not. It is such a
rest to hww, whatever owtfeth, that what is in His plan, is right.

How I wish I could show you something of what 1 have seen for the first

From Shanghai to Matsuye ii

time. The eye affecteth the heart. I know you would |tray double if you could
only look through my eyes, for " when He beheld the city, He wept," ... We
are in the innermost shrine of an idol temple, in the heart of a Chinese city.
High above us lower colossal figures, grim and terrible— one with clenched fist
clasping a huge club frowns down upon us ; at his feet lie offerings, mutely appeal-
ing ; in the dim light are seen idol forms, shrouded in mystery, and before them
candles flickering faintly reveal the darkness beyond. The air is heavy with the
sleepy fragrance of burning incense, " the voiceless silence of despair is eloquent
in awful prayer," and our hearts are aching as we turn away and look up to Him
who looks down upon us ; and looking so, our eyes meet, and we are comforted.

It will not be always so. One day the Lord of love alone shall be exaiied,
and the idols He shall utterly abolish. As we pass through the inner and outer
courts, between monster griffins, quaintly fantastic, the wail is lost in the victory
song — Eternity's Alleluia. . . .

VVe are driving now, through the country ; around us wide reaches of paddy
fields stretch far away, till green and blue touch. Here and there, are scattered
farmsteads, to which distance lends enchantment, and the pink-and-while of some
late orchard's peach and cherry gives colour lo the scene.

But doited about everywhere, singly or in groups, are strange conical-shaped
mounds, hundreds and thousands of them. Each marks a heathen's grave. As
we take in the thought, so startlingly unexpected, it is as if the sky had over-
clouded, and the chili of the shadow of death had fallen upon the land. One
seems to be in the midst of a vast cemetery, where death-beds and graves inter-
mingle as in a dream. "They fear dying so," says one ; "they think a devil is
catching them away, and they cry out in tenor as Ihey feel his hand upon them."
And 1 think of a picture, seen only yesterday, of a Buddhist hell — the great scales
held in merciless hands ; the naked, shivering mortal placed thereon ; the verdict
given with horrible glee by the spirit of torment ; the series of tortures, too
diabolical to tell, one more fearsome than the other, each intensified by the
malicious delight of the ferociously horrible demons, all revelling in a refinement
of cruelty unspeakably realistic. No wonder, as that cold breath falls upon the
shrinking soul, it cries that jjiteous cry which even now seems to ring through the
air, and echo from mound to mound. Can you not hear it too? Before you read
these lines^think of it !— there will be nearly two millions of fresh mounds in
China, each vocal with that wail of woe. , . .

And now I have reached the " Land of the Rising Sun," and once more stand
in the stillness of a heathen temple — this time a Shinto shrine, old and quaint.
One cannot help looking forward to what this lovely land will be when the Sun of
Righteousness shall rise upon it, in the golden days to come. All around is the
glory of His handiwork who hath made everything beautiful— nature unspoiled.

12 From Sunrise Land

fait in her new spring dress of many-tinted green, decorated daintily with the
glowing crimson and delicate pink of camellia and azalea btoom.

But again that ever-present shadow falls ; the very sunshine seems sad as, for
the first time for me, it falls upon a figure worshipping — what ? There he kneels,
bowing till his forehead touches the ground, clapping his hands, as we do here,
when we want a servant to come ; praying, bowing, and clapping, again and again ;
"but there was no voice, nor any that answered," and in silence we watch him
turn away, half wistfully. None of us can speak, but we give him a copy of Luke
XV., and he passes down the long avenue of stately cryptomeria, reading it as he
goes.

Another conies ; he is carrying a bundle, and lays it down by the shiine.
One is reminded of the Pilgrim at ihe Cross — alas, for the pitiful contrast! He
has an earnest face, and bows, and claps, and prays repeatedly : then goes lo
another corner, leaving his burden behind. Into it we slip a prayer- wrapped
leafiet. Presently he returns ; finds it, looks at us inquiringly. And now one who
can speak has come, and for the first time he hears the message. Yes, it is very
wonderful, he saj-s ; he will read the book, and think about the teaching ; he has
never heard it before. And so we leave him— hearing once the story we have
heard so often. Will he ever hear it again? God knows. There are more than
thirty million in this lovely land wlio have never heard rt.-ci ona of Jesus.

Matsuye, May i. Nt'gAt. — "And He said unto me, 'My grace is sufficient
for thee, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Most gladly therefore will
I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon rae."

Afaji II,— First impressions being more or less unrepeatable, perhaps you
would like a few more. Everjthing is so new to one here, that one feels like an
" Alice in Wonderland," and longs to share the funny mixture of sensations, with
you all in the dear homeland.

Matsuye Church is a convened Shinto temple. It is a real native church,
without a suspicion of the foreignising element Divested of hats and shoes, we sit
on the floor, and are Japanese to the Japanese, if by any means we may save some.
And praise God, some are being saved, that first Sunday four new converts were
baptised. U'ill you pray that each may continue Christ's faithful soldier and servant
unto his life's end? The Christians strike one, as being very eamesi, and kindly.
Their welcome was a thing to remember. They seem thinkers too : one who can
read English, has borrowed my copy of Pr. Elder Cummings' " Through the
Eternal Spirit," another does difficult translating work, and another with whom I
have had some talk, is what we should call at home a thoroughly well-read man.
The women are sweet and gentle, not insipid or characterless, however, as their
artists sometimes portray them. They are full of <iuick sympathies and tender little
ways.

Shanghai to Matsuye

One day, after putting on my Japanese dress for the first time, (for some of us
wear it here, when working in villages where foreigners are unknown,) I went away
to ask Hira to use it to draw me closer to these strange new sisters, that they might
be drawn to Him. Just then one of ihem came in, and, kneeling in iheir graceful
way, offered me a dainty little carved vase, with a few kind words, which, though
not translatable, were easily understood. It seemed as though He ha'i sent her
just then to tell me He was listening and would answer. It is not hard to care for
such a people, but one does not want the mere natural love only, Iml the Divine
love, which loves the unlovable, and loves on, always, through all.

"G/M mi a Inie Ukf Thinil Ght me a lave like Thine!
Sheiild it lead me like T/ui, unle dark Cah'aiy,
Give me a love like Thine ! "

The language seems very difficult, one cannot hope to know it usefully for a
long time, but the mere presence of a difficulty is inspiring, especially when one can
count on superhuman help in overcoming it. In the meantime a little may be
done through imerpretaiion. It is not easy to speak so. One feds far away, out
of touch, helpless. The impotence of human power, the death there must be to
fleshly glory, the literal nothingness in which one stands^lhese things press much,
and one is thrown back upon God, in a way I cannot describe. It must be all of
Him now. . . ,

Ijxier. — Some of our Christian boys called this afternoon, and thinking you
might as well come in touch, I asked them to draw something for you — whereupon
one of them disappeared for a minute or two, and presently returned with the

T-

enclosed romantic production — the garden rake I It is made of bamboo slips, as
you perceive, and the little spiky bits scattered about are supposed to be pine
needles !

And now to return to description: Matsuye lies between two inland seas or
lakes, the lower one opening into the sea, the upper bounded by the hills. They

From Sunrise Land

are connected by a broad siream, (navigable
- .-^ - ~ ^ by small steamers,) and by divers slreamlels
and canals. Just where the upper lake
narrows thus, and flows smoothly down to its twin in the
valley, the old feudal town is built. Its castle crowns a
wooded height ; in the distance Mount Daisen rises,
snowtipped still. Sketches cannot catch the beauty of it
alL Blue and green, brown and purple, opal lights, and
changeful shadows, sunset glories on the waters, — you
must paint them for yourselves, I cannot. A corner
from the pagoda-shaped castle may interest you, as it is essentially Japanese.

But there is much more to show you. Stand with me on the edge of the crowd
which gathers round any small street- excite men I. Here is a knot of school boys,
bright-eyed, mischievous ; there a gentle woman lingers, she smiles at you, and you
blackened teeth, and shaven eyebrows, which mean she is married— and
marred, so far as appearances go. A small boy rushes across, demands her atten-
tion, and she disappears from view. " Tiiig-ling!" It is the begging- priest, with
his metal bell, and sing-song voice. At the corner a fishmonger performs upon
a victim just out of the water tub. He looks content, // does not. Lower down
is a toy and sweet shop ; three demure little maids enter, bow profoundly, and
are bowed to, in return. In the street beyond, a Night-Fair is being arranged for.
It will be gay enough, for Chinese lanterns and flaring torches will reveal wares of
many a name and nation, from ancient shrines, with tiny idols shut inside, to the
latest but ten pot-hat from the West. Everywhere is life and colour: children play
about, sometimes with babies not much smaller than themselves, tied to their little
backs. You wonder how those infants escape sunstrokes, as you watch iheir shiny
shaved heads dangling unshaded, over the tight blue folds which bind them in.
But nobody seems to mind, the babies least of all. They blink and thrust out
sticky little fists, bob up and down, asleep or awake, in imperturbable good
humour.

The houses are all so built that you can see straight through to the garden-yard
at the back. There are scraps of roclt-work and dwarf pine, toy pools and bridges,
all manner of tjuaint things. The room opening out upon it is fair to see; pure
mats, wood polished, and natural, flowers arranged in a way which suggests a poem
made visible.

But it is not all gladness. Night has come, and as we ride home in a kuruma
(which is Japanese for jinrickshaw), a strange thing passes us, a funeral. In the
darkness dimly lighted by the paper lanterns carried by the mourners, we only see
a line of swiftly-moving, white-draped figures, of a square white-draped box, of
more ghostly forms and swinging lanterns. They are hurrying on to the temple

\ ^

From Shanghai to Matsuye 15

there, now they pass within its massive gates, and the priests do their work, and
all is over. To-morrow the children will play, where these feet have sped, nothing
will speak of what the night-watches saw; and so it has gone on for nights untold,
and so it may for many to come. Oh, it is awful I awful I Nothing can prepare
one for the realities of Heathendom. The woe of it, the shame of it. Think of
His honour being given to another. Think, if you can, that you see it done.
Would it not move you into feeling anything, anything we could give or do, just
nothing, if only it cnuld help to heal the " open sore " of Heathendom ?

Healed it may be, and shall be, for in the thick of it all, facing it fearlessly —

" Here stands the Cross of the Crucified One,
Symbol of faith in the Father's dear Son,
Symbol of victories yet lo be won.
By this we conquer 1 "

CHAPTER III
Alseion Cout Tlo. 1

" Tht least fievxr wilk a brimming cup may slai'd
And shart its draidrtps with anothrr mar."

EU7.ABETK Barrett Browning.

[.— How glad of that one is ! May He who is as the dew imto Israel, keep
the cup ever brimming to overflow !

Our start was thoroughly Eastern, for the kuruma men were late, and when
we reached the bridge, whence ihe boats depart for their voyage down the lake, we
found that ours had whisUed iiself hoarse, and was a!l bnt gone. However, our
good men shouted, it stopped, we were sculled across in a sampan, climbed in
through a hole in Its side, and off we went. Then we felt our way, stooping low
the while, through a dark little passage, to a cabin in the stern, wherein were ladies
and gentlemen smoking peacefully. Dropping our shoes ouiside, (hats we had none,
being in native dress,) we curled ourselves up in corners, and tried to survive. But
il would not do. For the boat began lo roll, the smoke thickened, we sickened.
So we crawled out. up a ladder, on lo the deck, where we slipjied about, till we
touched at the village-port, where we were to change to kurumas. "We" means
Sarah Thompson, her helpers, T. San and S. San, and myself. "San" means Mr.,
Mrs., or Miss. In this case it means Mr. and Miss. It always comes after the
name it adorns.

And now came excitements manifold. Sampans wobbled us ashore. A crowd
collected and commented. Kurumas had to be bargained for, and a slight lunch
despatched. Finally we were packed up, and trotted off.

How funny it felt; especially, when, after leaving the village streets, we were
jogged up and down, over what they called roads, but which we should call "ruts,"
in a manner upsetting in more ways than one. Sometimes after a plunge of un-
usual severity, my knruma-man would turn with a cheerful " Oh ! " and a glance to
make sure I was safely inside, and once I replied with such an irresistible peal of
laughter, that the other three floundering along behind, caught the infection, and
followed suit. At last we descended and walked, that being the easiest mode of
locomotion. Our men were the most obliging of ponies, gleefully slopping to
gather flowers for us. We got such beautiful things, yellow lilies which turn terra-

cotta in old age ; azaleas pink and crimson ; sweet-scented creamy blossom, like
bramble ; lall royal fern, and parsley fern, two feet high, and all manner of dainty
greenliouse treasures, whose names I know not.

We passed through a long avenue of pines, the huge trunks wreathed with ivy
and Virginian creeper; under foot, however, it was less delectable, the long
twisted roots gave us many an unexpected jump, and between them lay pools, pretty
to look at, cool to splash into. Most of the way it drizzled feebly : we lived under
our umbrellas, and enjoyed life from a new point of view. At last we arrived at
our halting- pi ace, for the next few days ; and were trotted in triumph to the small
hotel which was to be our headquarters.

At the door we were greeted with bows and smiles, and escorted through
rooms scented with flowers, to a pretty little one overlooking a garden. In each
was an idol, with offerings of rice before it, and in one was the fatnily shrine, where
the ancestor's tablets dwelt, and incense-sticks, stuck in ashes, slowly smouldered.

Being wet, for the rain was of that insinuating kind, which makes no fuss, but
quietly soaks you, we changed our raiment, and sat down on the floor, to await the
advent of the inevitable tea, It came, served on a round wood tray, in pale blue
china, by a woman of honourable age, who bowed to us most devoutly, ihen the
preliminaries over, sidled gently up to me, gazed at my hair, by this time dry and
fuzzy, patted it, and remarked, " No oil at all on it ! "

A Japanese feminine head is a sight to behold, black, and shiny, and anointed
to a degree unknown in other lands, thus you see, her remark was not inappropriate.
Sarah possesses hair which is fair, so they say she must either be very old, or much
addicted to washing it, it presenting to them a somewhat bleached appearance.

That evening we had a large meeting, of men chiefly. About half way through,
there was a sudden rush. One of the few women there had fainted, and in a few
minutes twice as many people as the village could have been supposed to possess,
were crowding, rushing, and shouting about her. All down the street too, they
swarmed, the movable walls had been pushed back, and we could see them in
hundreds, with their paper lanterns flitting to and fro.

In the thick of the throng, held by as many as cotild get at her, lay the
poor girl ; all round her the people pressed with tiny bowls of water, scores and
scores were handed up from the outer rim of the crowd, until they reached the
central point of interest, where they were seized by those nearest, and then followed
an exciting trial of remedy.

First, the men filled their mouths with water and shot It over her, till she
was well drenched, then they got tire, and pressed it to the poor little bare feet,
separating the toes, and squeezing it between them : this proving fruitless they
shouted her name, thinking thereby, we were told, they could call her spirit back.
For half an hour or more, they yelled, and sobbed and wailed, gathering close

From Sunrise Land

enough to terrify her out of her

the much- besought spirit kept

round her, and screaming into her ears. It '
senses, or them out of her, had ihey returned,
its mysterious distance, and she lay, wliite and stiil, in the midst of it alU

Finally, they sent for a doctor, who came and looked, and listened, then
mixed some white stuff, with his finger, turned the cup round with an air of
wisdom, handed it lo the howler- in -chief, and sat down on the floor with calmness
unruffled, to smoke till she revived.

We could do nothing, and of course dared not interfere, so we left at this
point. 1 quite expected they would turn upon us, and pack us out of the village,
especially as last time missionaries were here a kuruma-man fell down dead in the
street. But instead, they thanked us for coming ; and next day, when we went to
inquire for the poor little wife, her husband apologised for the trouble she had
been in the meeting.

Their courtesy is a marked characteristic. If one gels in your way for a
moment, he exclaims that he is an honourable bother, (rather meaning that he
has had the honour of being a bother to you,) and promptly removes himself.
Your kuruma-man bows, hat in hand, when you pay him, and you hardly feel
comfortable, when you reflect how little you have given him ! Servants kneel
when they address you. You kneel and bow elaborately, if you want to be very
polite. At first one feels it impossible to compass such prostration, but speedily,
especially if robed in Japanese garments, and living on the floor, it becomes
easier to perform than abstain. Their courtesy manifests itself in trifles which
are not trifling. You have been kneeling in their quite agonising position, until
your back aches, but fearing to break some nicety of an etiquette hardly under-
stood as yet, you don't like to move, and curl up rationally. Somebody notices
the fact, gently urges a Hltle relaxation. " Deign to sit as an honourable foreigner,"
otherwise "we understand you want lo be one of us, but don't tire yourself, we
accept the will for the deed." And you are grateful.

We are going soon to a village near, where they have only heard once. In every
English village, how often have they heard ? Oh the need — it wrings one's heart !
All around us are lovely hamlets nestling among the woods, all untouched. There
is no one to touch them. Surely the blessing in the homeland would be greater,
if instead of keeping its best, it freely gave \ Never should one be urged to come,
unless he felt the burden of souls and the Master's call. But, oh ! in the face of
such scenes as these, one wonders why so few do. Is it as the Chinese lady
said, as grieved at heart, she turned away from Christian England's coldness^
" These people don't love their God enough " ! Can it be really that ?

A touch of the prosaic may interest you perhaps,
up of " going to meetings."

for you know life isn't made

Mission Tour No. i ig

One evening, after the somewhat novel experience of the Japanese Bath, (the
first question aslced you when yon enter a Japanese hotel in the evening is, " Will
vou condescend into the honourable hot water?"), I lucked myself between the
layers of blue quills laid on the floor, and being alone, and tired, composed myself
for slumber.

" Honourable pardon deign ! " So spake a voice outside my paper wall ; it
slipped aside, revealing an aged form convulsed in bows. " Come in," I said, and
she came. Then she sat down, and waited for me lo begin. Not knowing how
else to, I sang "Jesus loves me, this I know," which I had laboriously learned, in
faith that with the proverbial quickness of a Japanese, she might recognise her
own language ; she smiled and went away.

I fell asleep, but not for long; enter visitor No. 2, another ancient dame,
with a grandchild tied on to her back. They seemed to think I was shamming
ignorance, for they chattered away to me, eagerly asking " Honour.ibly under-
stand ? " Then, not to be defeated, they tried the effect of speaking both together,
very slowly, and very loud, as to a deaf old person : foiled again, and they
departed ; to return at intervals all through that long queer evening, with a sort of
" keep her company " intention, I expect.

The other returned about midnight. They had been to a village some miles
away, where nearly two hundred gathered to liear. . . .

While I was writing this, another bit of the comic came in the shape of another
visit. Three women, each baby-laden, appeared, bowed, and sat down. Of course
I had to slop writing and bow too. Then one dropped her infant on my lap, and
retired to observe. I expected yells, but no, the fat little morsel chuckled, and
wriggled, and crowed, till it fairly doubled up with mirth, and lay hopelessly
tangled, in its scrap of a frock, a jeliy of giggles too funny for anything. The
other babies were introduced, and now they have all retired, the mothers highly
gratified.

Then came some friends who were musically inclined. A concertina was
produced, and I was requested to perform. Never having tried one, and this being
the most atrocious of its kind, you can imagine the effect, for 1 went at it with a
gusto which charmed my audience, opening and shutting it wildly, and the result
was — ^not music

II is Sunday night. One may get accustomed to many things out here; to
xisting, minus chairs and tables ; to going about hatless out of doors, and shoeless
indoors; to the sweet publicity which begins with the performance of our morning
ablutions upon the verandah, and concludes with the nightly crawl under our mos-
quito nets, and hardly then^but to an encompassing heathendom one can never
^t accustomed.

From Sunrise Land

All day long tlie whirr of the silk weavers, the thud of the rjce-pounders, ihe
tramp of the matling makers, has been in our ear, and now they are working at
a sluice, unfragrant to a degree, just opposite.

No Sunday here. No Rest Day. And how long is it since He told us to go
into ail the world with His Message of Rest ?

This morning we had a meeting with some who are inquiring. Tliey asked in
what manner we prayed to our Gods, did we clap our hands to call their attention,
as they must do with theirs ? Another said it was hard lo understand, for how
could a God /ove ? " Once or twice is seldom to hear this teaching, could you not
come ofiener? " said one. But we cannot. Oh, to think that we must say so ! If
only you could see the need, as we have seen it to-day, I think we should not long
have to say that sorrowful "No."

Monday. — To-day began in true Japanese fashion; we were wakened by the
murmur of voices outside our paper windows, for the wooden shutters had been
rolled back some hours before. So we looked out, and beheld a quiet group of
children standing there, patiently waiting until we should reveal ourselves. Much
entertained we emerged from our nets, threw wraps round our shoulders, and — for
it was too good an opportunity to lose —began to sing —

I laves us, lliis jve tiiirui. For eur Hely Book says He does. Friends, will you
trust His lave, for it is strong f
Ah. Jesus Im'ts me ; He is Ihe Lord nf Ijnie ; il ii Tfritlin in our Holy Book."

Speedily the group grew into a crowd, and we sang on until the tiniest child must
at least have understood that we meant them lo know our God was Love.
Then with bows and farewellings we closed the window, (i.e., slid it into, being a
wall,) and for the time, retired into private life.

As I write, another constellation of eager twinkling orbs is visible ; for the
window is open again, and (here is only a little space between one room and the
street. They are following the movements of my pencil, as it forms these
words, and from one little baby-faced child comes a sound, recognisable surely
— it is our morning's chorus, and it never sounded so sweet to me before. But
now, through the children's chatter, another sound drops heavily. It is the-Temple _

1 ; low, mournful, monotonous, it seems laden with hopelessness. It is meant
as praise to the gods. "Do you think they hear?" I ask one who comes, and
stands beside me. " Alas I 1 fear not often," is the sad answer.

We have beautiful glow-worms here, and fire-flies, like fairy stars. The glow-
worms light up the ferny banks, with their quiet lustre, the fire-flies flit with their
pulsing light away and away to the regions beyond. And as one looks one longs
lo be just cither one or other. His Glow-worm hidden where only He sees, in some
hedge of His planting, hghting it up for Him ; or if He will, His Fire-fly, carrying

the iamp He has lighted, over the hedge of the home life, far far away through the

I only posted yesterday, but it is a relief to write again, one's heart gets over-full
1 mine has been so since we said good-bye to the kindly village folk
whom we may never see again. Just before we left, old Mrs. Springtide came close

that we must go.
The one true God

take it in ; clasp-
ly over, the tears

1 me, stroked my dress, and softly said how sorry her heart
Once again I repeated the now well-known little sentence,
honourably deigns to love you." For the first time she seemed
ing her withered old hands together, she said the words sli
running down her cheeks, and then we had to go.

She had a strange dream while we were there, and described it to T, San. She
seemed to see a beautiful city, shining and golden, but between it and her, ran a
dark deep river, and she could not cross over, she was too weak and old. The
golden city was like Heaven, T. San told her, and the dark river like death. Jesus
our Saviour could carry her over, if she would let go her false gods, and trust Him
only.

Pray for the dear old lady, that for her, life's autumn may prove its spring.

Some of the inquirers came to help us to pack. One, a very well educated
man, who had been reading the New Testament, wanted to know all about Pales-
tine, its history, geography, national customs, and so on. Specially he asked about
Jerusalem, Calvary, and the tomb where Jesus lay.

Last night we had a women's meeting, but a number of r
and we could not turn them out. Sitting on the matted lloor,
idol before which rice and flowers lay, and incense burned, w
and His love for them. Over and over again we repeat the
strangeness to them, no words can describe.

As we passed through the streets the people came out to look and bow, several
stopped us with the polite formula, '' Honourable thanks are, honourably hasten
return," and one of them added " Why do you stay so long away ? " Yes, why f
I pass the question on to a wider circle than they thought of — why do yon stay so
long away ?

This evening being fine, we walked over to the pretty village which is now our
resting-place. Half-way we were met by some children, bright eyed, gentle little
things, who had come to escort us home. When we arrived a crowd had gathered
as usual. Men and iads nd lib., a sprinkling of women, and children by the dozen.

As I write they swarm below the verandah, gazing, gazing. Everywhere one
turns one sees eyes big and little, wide open and slitted, all black, and always

len crowded in too.
It the foot of a large
; told them of God
same message. Its

22 From Sunrise Land

The meeting is over, and now before the kaleidoscope gets another shake, I
must tell you about it.

Picture then a whole house thrown into one large low-ceilinged room, with
walls which are not, having been slid into nowhere ; the boundary line, street on
one side, garden on the other. Here and there, are lamps more picturesque than
luminous, a crimson Chinese lantern hangs among the trees, and the semi-darkness
is further relieved by the dull pipe-glow, for the audience is placidly smoking, and
you sneeze and choke and wonder how you are going to get through.

The meeting begins, we are in the middle of a hymn when a splash in the
near distance, tells us that somebody is in the middle of something else — but I
refrain.

We sing, or try to, then one of our helpers speaks, again we sing, and then my
turn comes.

Oh the strangeness of it ! By this time the smokers have ceased to smoke,
and the noisy tapping of the tiny metal pipe bowls, upon the charcoal braziers, has
ceased too. I think the Lord Jesus is leading me on with great gentleness in this
new work, for He knows how hard I find it to speak in a noise, and so far I have
never had to. T. San interprets for me, and then for Sarah who closes the meeting
with singing and prayer.

Most of the time there had been close attention, unbroken even when a fond
parent undressed and rubbed down her juvenile son, and now that it was over,
there was perfect stillness, as if waiting for " what next ? " But the moment we
moved there was a scramble, everybody talking and gesticulating, eager as it
seemed to exchange opinions upon the whole performance, in the midst of which
we departed, and mounting our ladder-like stairs, prepared to be seen no more.

Vain hope. We were just ready to get into bed, only as yet there were no
beds to get into, the quilts not being produced, when visitors arrived, and to my
much astonishment, bowed politely and came in.

Then our possessions were inspected, one lifted the bread we had brought,
turned it over, and shook his head, it was beyond him. Another examined my
little dressing-case, and another examined us. And all with such perfect politeness
that it was impossible to mind very much. At last Sarah got our feminine helper,
to tell our masculine helper, that we should be obliged if our gentlemen friends
would retire, which they finally did, while the ladies still lingered to see the last of
the show.

Then they brought our quilts, spread them upon the floor, helped us to hang
our mosquito nets, and at last we were left in solitude, to sleep on the bed of the
lowly, and awake, I at least, feeling much as if one were somebody else, and living
in a story-book, unable to get out.

Mission Tour No. i 25

A pause came here, and now the week is half over, and you must hear of its
doings.

I am writing on the tiny verandah overhanging tlie street. Just underneath is
a carpenter's shed ; in the middle is a shrine, a roughly made thing on the top of a
great stone. Behind it, a graveyard hides among the trees ; all over the country
they are dotted, like the mounds in poor dreary China, one is constantly reminded
" The night cometh," oh to work while daylight lasts !

I don't think I have told you what a Japanese hotel is like, it is so wnlike
anything called by that name at home, that it is not easy to describe it.

Here we are well off, for we have an upstairs; in our last abode, there was
none, and they gravely assured us that "stairs could not be good things," for they
never had them there. So we lived on a level with everything and everybody, and
got sore throats in consequence.

When we came here, we looked out eagerly for the " not good things," and to
our joy discovered them, leading out of the kitchen, each step utilized as a reposi-
tory got at from underneath, but rea! stairs nevertheless, which was the important
point. With alacrity we ascended, and once aloft, fresh surprises awaited us, for

two siraighlbacked cane chairs, (and a table twelve
upon this fortunate upper chamber, and we rested,
and felt Westerns again.

To return 10 our subject. Hotels, like all
purely native houses, are built upon stilts (see
sketch for the how thereof). They are spaces,
enclosed or not, as the case may be, in wooden
shutters by night, and paper walls by day, at leasi,
two sides and often three, seem to be of the Utter
uncertain description. You can't lean upon them
— they would go through, (that is, when they are
there at all :) you can't hang things on them, they
would come down ; in short you can't do anything
with Ihera, but slide them about, and be thankful.

Furniture there is none, unless you call a vase
of flowers, a smoking box, and a brazier, furniture.
On the floor are perfectly clean mats, "Tatanii,"
by name, each mat 6 x 3 ft. fitted neatly, and care-
fully dusted. Upon this you must never walk
with your shoes on. Upon it you live, sit, by day,
and sleep by night. The rooms are divided one
from the other by sliding walls of tinted paper,
sometimes ornamented with old Chinese characters,

ches high) had been bestowed

'*^

^•-^>--

LC_

24 From Sunrise Land ^^^^^^^^^H

so well nricten that nobody can read tliem ; or adorned with landscape, perspective ^^^^^|

quite in abeyance. Thi-re is no such unnecessary luxury as a door ihat will shut, ^^^^^|

much less lock, but Japanese etiquette is so ^^^^H

IffM:

highly developed, tiiat this little omission is ^^^^^|

».*^

not so appiUing as it sounds, ^^^^^|

In tacli room is a small dais, or place ^^^H

of honour. The wall on this side is solid, ^H

■fi*

and a scroll of some rare old design, such as ^H

^i> '

tliis bit of branch-beauty which is before me ^^^^^H

as I write, hangs upon it, just over the vase ^^^^^H

of flowers, or curio, or perhaps idol, which ^^^^^H

■ ^'Cv'''^"'-

stands in the centre of the dais. A "hibachi" ^^^^^B

or brazier, with a kettle set upon it, is a ^H

^^-^ ^K

probable item, and a pipe box, and perhaps ^|

} "^

tray and diminutive tea set, share the floor ^|

with ■

In the front or living-room, is a non- H

'^T

descript assemblage of odds and ends of . ^|

everything. It is hall, kitchen, and bedroom H

> -\S#

all in one. There are no ovens, ranges, or H
fireplaces, in our sense of the word. They ^|
seem to cook things anyhow, over small fires, ^|

which smoke into anywhere, and yet the H

"^■^^^j^jki^^^^r T result is always satisfactory, from a Japanese ^M

I^^^^^^M ^k P°'"* °f ^'^**'- Down one side runs a sort of |

o[jen walk-way, upon which the inhabitants ^|

) ' a WnS

clatter in clogs ; it leads to the rear, where a H

-^#m

gardenised courtyard closes the scene. ^|

Everything which can be artistic, is so. H
Food is served in the daintiest lacquer or H

^ \^:1li

cliina, upon black or red lacquer ira)-s, one ^|
10 each person ; each such tray is a " thing ^|

' ^ '^I^B^ °^ beanty," here the quotation aiiruptly ^

■ ^*

stops. Anything further removed from "a ^|
joy for ever" than are its contents to the ^|

•S?

iiverage English palate it would be diffrcuU H

' ^ ■ to imagine. ^m

^^^^^. .1 1,1 ij ,.,.,„.., i,...„!.. ^^ change ihe subjecC^here is a lillle ^|

^^^^H flower-artangement, in wliidi Mr. Keats might revel, uninlerrupled. I am daily becom- H

^^^^^ :ng more enanioure<l of the Japanese flower-taste. It is so simple and so satisfying. ^|

And now a gentle
voice announces our

noontide meal, served
by a bright-faced girlie
with sweet soft eyes,
and elaborate hair- puffs.

So, for my menu-

Fish, unblushingly raw,
sliced, and adorned
with brown sea-weed ;
something green, in a
blue bowl, a sauce

wherein float fragments of ? A cup of black beans in a liquid

like senna tea. Rice plentiful and good, a pair of chopsticks. We
have brought a supply of tinned things however, and yesterday Sarah
invested in a chicken (i.e. thin and bony hen), which we cooked our-
selves in a small pot over a brazier, tishing out morsels as tliey grew
lender— so we don't starve.

This isn't a fruit country, flowers they consider far more iraporunt,
but one new to me, and very nice, is the dried persimmon, something
between a fig and a date. There are huge oranges too,
and later on " Biwas," a fruit like which they say we
have nothing at home, so I need not attempt to de-
scribe it. In the woods are berries, tempting— till you
taste them, and everywhere are flowers.

We have been to an ita village.

The £tas are a pariah people, and when we asked why, they told us this —

Long long ago a god and goddess landed upon these favoured shores, from
them are descended the present race, now the t.las were here before they came,
therefore they are not descendants of the gods, wherefore the Japanese despise
them.

We discovered the existence of a colony of these unfortunate beings, and said
we should like to go to them with our message. They were our sisters and
brothers too. To this proposal, little encouragement was offered. It would spoil
our work in the village, for if it was known we had been there, no one would come
to our meetings. They were a stupid people, not worth going to. There was no
room to be had, they were busy with silk-worms, and so on. We listened to all
these weighty objeclions, and finally went, escorted by half the village.

And we had a good time. Silting under the kaki trees, upon our umbrellas.

From Sunrise Land

(ihe ground being damp, and our dresses
thin) we sang and talked through our
heliiers, to tlie people who gathered round.
How pretty it was, the country-side already
yellow with harvest. Great Daisen in the
distance, then the lower wooded liills, and
then the valley, with its streamlet winding
through, like a thread of silver among the
'""' °'""^" ■=«■ green and goM. Clustering all about us,

was the little brown-roofed hamlet, and its people in their dark blue raiment,
stood framed in pink azalea. Men and women straight from paddy field, and
silk-worm lending ; children with bright eyes, and shy yet fearless ways ; babies lied
upon mothers' backs, quaint creatures, shaven pated, and faces most expressive of
a note of interrogation ; old crones, bent nearly double, in a perpetual bow ; old
men with wrinkled foreheads, and haif-weary, half-dull eyes — there they were, and
I looked and longed over them ! Earnestly we spoke through our interpreters
about the God who loved them, then we knelt and prayed that something might
remain, some good seed take root. And then we came away.

What can once telling do ? Can it even ruffle the dust on the surface of their
beliefs? And yet Paul rejoiced in the bare fact that Christ was preached. If he
could, well may we. . . .

There seems to be a sort of silk-worm epidemic in the air — everybody is
distracted. The worms control conversation. To-day they lent me a book on
their culture {excuse the mixture of pronouns) from which I copy
the following gems. Three old women, two girls, and two men C~%i^
are bending over, and fervently gazing. "Ah!" says one i
tone of chastened joy, "our hotwur-
abU worms and we ourselvts are
going to England in a Utter til"

Home again, and home in the
raia How it can pour here ! For
twenty miles we sat in pools in our
kunimas, while our patient coolies
plodded through mud, ankle deep.

We have had a happy lime,
though a sad one. For me, this
first liitie enperience of itinerating
work and ways, has, as it were,
opened a door into a new world, a
\Vorld of Want. To think that

■^^Zr^

Mission Tour No. i

these people are utterly unreached, to think

they must remain so — not because God

plans it so, but because His people will not

obey. One thinks of a crowded meeting

at_home — a missionary one perhaps — and

wishes that through the might of the Spirit

a sudden power to feel might be given — to

feel as God feels. It would be as though a

bomb had burst in the midst, and speedy

would be the scattering ! Not that one

would pit the importance of foreign work

against home, but surely the proportion of

workers is so cruelly unfair that words can- . ., .

not describe it. " In the four quarters were . J V''.

the porters : toward the East, West, North,

South." Four thousand nine hundred and

ninety-nine to a third ef ane, is the fact as it

stands to-day. Four thousand nine hundred

and ninety- nine porters to the West quarter,

and a third of a porter to each of the other

three. A princely donation truly ! The

Shepherd left the ninety and nine, and sought for the one

we stay with the one, — the ninety and nine, all wandering,

are left to take care of themselves.

Mr. and Mrs. Parrot, two of our party, have been

spending the evening with us. A baby-organ and a hymn-
book might seem poor entertainment to offer one's guests '^'"' "'' """''""•

at home. Not so here ! We had such a nice time singing hymn after hymn with a

zest which would have charmed a Salvationist. Really hymns seem rea! now. They

come with a new freshness, and we enjoy them thoroughly. It is just the same

with Bible verses. You know how the one about the two or three being gathered

together, is quoted in prayer-meetings two or three hundred strong. Here, where

oftener than not, there really are only " two or three," the force of the fact attached

seems emphasised. In the most practical possible way, you know that there He is,

in the midst.

People sometimes kindly pity missionaries. They needn't ! Our Master gives
us so many compensations that I think He must let some
handfuls fall on purpose for us. It would be just like Him.
(I, But the fiery pain is the thought of what it is costing

*■ 3'ou. One day when this was just burning, He lit up a

28 From Sunrise Land

Word for me, — " Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ to suffer for His
sake." ** Unto me, who am less than the least, is this grace given that I should
preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." Given to suffer^
Given to sen*t\ Is there not a connection between the two ? Perhaps we could
not be given the one without the other —

" Never the exquisite pain, then never the exquisite bliss,
For the soul that is dead to that can never be tuned to this."

Surely any loss were well worth while that we may know Him, and the power
of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, that from the darker gift of
|)ain, may come forth the brighter gift of service. A fuller passing on of those un-
searchable riches than could have been possible, had He not called us to follow Him
through the very shadow of death, where He keeps His treasures of darkness.

** For which cause we faint not : for our light affliction, which is but for a
moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 7vhiie we
look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen : for
the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are
eternal ! '* And part of the glor)- will be, the Service Gift all perfect —

•' For He h.ith met my longing
With words of golden tone,
That I shall ser%*e for ever
Himself, Himself atone/*

** They shall go no more out : and His ser\'ants shall ser\*e Him : and they
shall see His face ; and His name shall be in their foreheads.''

CHAPTER IV
■CQitb tbc power ot (Bob bcbtiiB it

" On/y a buried griiiH,
Only Ihi falling rain.
Only the mn'i Mghl glaiy
Bursting through heaviu'i lop storey, —
Only a grain, only a grainy
Bnried and dying and living axaiii."

Sunday Jitght, June 18. — We had a stonny time at our meeting. Buddhist agi-
tators have been exciting the people, and ami-foreign, anti-Christian sentiments
prevail. To-night they gathered in crowds, tore down the doors, pelted us with
stones, and carried off our shoes. The Christians were anxious lest we should be
hurt, and two of them saw us home, but as the stones came from all quarters at
once, and the streets were quite dark, they could not do much, " He shall cover
ihee with His feathers, and under His wings shale thou trust ! " We were safe.
Praise Him for opposition. It shows us the devil sees something worth fighting;
anything is better than stagnation. " Make Thou a large calm in the midst of
strife," O Lord, and keep us still !

Up the lake for a day's seed-sowing. You shall hear all about it. Yesterday
Jane and I set forth in the cool of the morning, and divested of shoes as usual, sat
on the clean matting they spread in the little boat's bows. After a long wait, we
started, a breeze ruffled the blue water, breaking the reflection of hill and cloud
into a sort of rippHng loveliness. We had half a dozen eager questioners at once,
and Jane talked a little to our fellow- passengers, while I listened, and wished I
could, After a couple of hours we reached our destination, and were landed by
means of a sampan, amid the usual crowd which springs from shore or sea,
wherever a foreigner goes.

Our first thought was to get five quiet minutes, if possible, before beginning lo
do anything, so we walked down the long straight village street, went up the hill
behind, and found we were — as usual when we try to lose ourselves anywhere — in
the precincts of a beautiful Shinto Temple. Always one is being reminded one is in
a shadowed land. Never can one escape that ever-present darkness which may be
'^fetl." It was a peaceful spot, not a sound but the song of a lark far overhead,

30 From Sunrise Land

the rich green of camellia trees, arching a glimpse of the lake and its hills, umler-
fooi ferns and mosses and flowers. We had a big basket of leaflets with us, and
we asked thai ii might indeed be His seed basket, and we His sowers that day.

Only n grain o! wheat, wiili ihe Power of GoJ behind ii."

I was just thinking of that, when a little woman with the inevitable baby on
her back came up the path below us, so we sowed our first seed,

"There's harvest in a grain of wheat.
If given to God in simple trast.
For though tlic grain dolh lum to dost
It cannot die. It lives, it niiut,"

— for the Power of God is behind it.

It was lovely work. As we passed down the village hundreds of hands were
held out for books : we only gave to one in every group, or to one of every two or
three houses. The people did not know what they were for, wanted to know how
much there was to pay, asked us what they were about, and so on. Always they
began to read them at once ; soon you saw at every corner, clustering round one
who had just got a book, quite a number of eager faces, while he read aloud slowly
and wonderingly the strange new story they had never heard before. Some did
not even know the name "Christianity," much less its meaning. We had thought
of going back by boat, but in passing had noticed many stray hamlets among the
trees by the lake-side, to reach which we must walk. It was only ten miles, we
were told, to Matsuye, the sun was not very strong, so we walked.

How they gazed at us in those strange, little, out-of-the- world places, coming
up from the paddy fields, where ihey were planting out the rice, to gaze upon us,
and gratefully take our books. One who could not
understand that they were giivn, kept saying how
much he thanked us, but he was poor and could not
buy : at last the facts of the case dawned upon him,
„ .,__ _. and then his bows suggested suffusion of blood to

C'^'-A, / Y'^'J the brain. He was a funny old character too, and

y t- ~- ■^ \~\ toiled away in the slimy swamp with his clothes

bundled into a bunch, and a smile of content on his
face. (My sketches don't profess to catch the expres-
sion, it would be a pity you know to leave nothing
to the imagination.) At one little mud-and-paper hut
they asked us if we were men or women, and much
marvelled because we could read their hieroglyphics
h Chtktt Bandiid tMto a BmkA. wcU cnough to be able to read from a hymn-book, and

With the Power of God behind it

sing to them. Oh, to be able to speak freely ! They are everywhere so ready to
listen ; but we could only sow the little leaflet seeds, and pray for the rain and
sunshine. So, sowing and praying, we went our way. And a long way It was —
the fabulous ten miles spinning out like a Scotch "wee bittie" — till, wiih mosquito-
bitten feet, which refused to do their duly, at last we sat down on a little stone
bridge and thought of Jesus being "wearied with His journey," and rejoiced that
we might be a little weary too. There were some inviting- looking sampans lying
near, but everybody was either in the rice or silk line, so we sang " Praise the
Saviour, ye who know Him," revived, and went on.

At the next village they told us Matsuye was still five miles off, at the next
six ; but to our joy we got kurunias there, and were trotted along in bliss. It was
an exquisite evening. The road, following the windings of the lake, curved in and
out among rocks and woods. How solemn the great pine trees seemed in the
waning light ! Now and then we passed a belated pedestrian with his straw cloak
folded across his back, and his big hat (the identical basket sold at sixpence for
those three-legged work-things at home, here costing three-farthings) tilted half-way
off his head. And then the glow of the sunset faded, and we reached the outskirts
of the straggling little town as the quiet lake was wrapping itself in mist wreaths,
and shining its last Goodnight. Here the hush of Nature's lullaby was exchanged
for its strangest opposite, and the sunshine was lost in cloud once more, for we were
plunged straight into a throng of people carrying lanterns, passing swiftly on and
on. No rest here, only eager hurry and subdued excitement. The lantern throng
parted to let us pass, and soon we got to the heart of it all. Here, where the sad-
ness was' focussed, there was a sort of frightened stillness, quite indescribable but
very feelable, and we knew we were looking at that weirdest of all weird things, a
heathen funeral. From a house beside us the mourners came, carrj'ing the white-
covered box, within which was the round cask which held all that was left of one
who had died in the dark. Forms in shrouds led the way, bearing tall bamboos
and flowers, the gUmmering lanterns closed round, the scent of incense rose,
silently ihey all moved on and were gone. No wailing, no weeping, for that would
make the departed spirit sorrowful, and hinder it in its journey through the great
unknown. Can you see it, I wonder? I wish you could /«<■/ it, too !

One evening we passed a wedding procession. The bride was dressed in white
to show she had died to her old home, and would never leave her husband's until
she was carried out — dead. After she left her father's house, fire was burned and
incense offered, as if a dead body had just been taken away. White, you know, is
the mourning colour here — we do most things upside down, in Topsy Turvydom.

Will you pray for those villages where we sowed the little life seeds ? The
ground is hard and dry as yet. "Thou makest it soft with showers." Let us trust
Him to bless the springing thereof, so that one day even these valleys shall be

Land

covered over with corn, that of ihem the angeia may say " They shout for joy, they
also sing."

June j8. — Item No. i is of a startling character. I am reported dead, buried,
to be exhumed, and reburied in England. Yesterday this intelligence reached me,
other people as usual knowing more about one than one knows about oneself. It
happened in this wise. One of our workers chancing to visit the village where we
were a fortnight ago, was commissioned with a note lo the hotel folk from me, and
found it occasioned surprise — for I was dead, had '"deigned to cease to become,"
and ihey told him all about it. After some difficulty, the testimony of an eye wit-
ness as to my then existence was received, they had grieved to bear of so early a
departure, now they rejoiced, and inscribed a yard of congratulation, which was
duly handed to me. A note of condolence would have been more apropos, I
should have thought. This small tale is worth telling, because it shows how
rumours go, and stories grow ; ami how careful we have to be to set no stones
rolling which might do any possible harm. The origin of this one was simple
enough, but it would take longer to tell than it is worth.

Being somewhat freshly interested in the sepulchral subject, I unearthed quite
a curious mummy in the shape of old custom. Only in the writing, the thing loses ;
you should hear it as I did, extorted bit by bit, in quaint broken English, while the
breeze rustled softly in the bamboo, and camellia petals fell like rosy snowflakes
round. When a man dies, the priest gives him a new name, by which he will be
known in the spirit world, and by which he will be addressed in prayer, by his
relations. This name is poetical and highly honourable, it is carve<i on the tomb-
stone, and painted on the ancestral tablet, which tablet, sacred to his memory, is
placed in the household shrine, or on the Idol shelf. Before it, flowers, fruir, in-
cense, and rice are presented, and when they think the departed has had lime to
absorb the essence thereof, they demolish the substance themselves ; the absurdity
of such action does not strike them in the least.

In the coffin various things are put. Sometimes a gill ball to denote space ;
money to pay the old woman who ferries him across the river Sandzu, the Buddhist
Styx, which separates hell from paradise; beads, which {Roman Catholic like)
he had " told " in prayer through life ; and a staff to help him on his long long
journey.

What befalls him thereafter, I do not know ; it seems a misty subject altogether,
fiaught with contradictions and sadnesses indescribable ; for the Buddhist hell is an
awful place, and thither according to their theology at least, the majority must cer-
tainly go. But the Japanese mind docs not dwell upon this, — for them the horrible
has little attraction. They prefer lo forget it.

After the funeral, things go on much as usual till the great yearly feast to the
souls of the ancestors. For a week the spirits are hospitably entertained, visits are

paid to the graves, and ihey are freshly tidied up. It is a time of paying and re-
ceiving grave-calls. I go to your friend's grave, pray to the spirits therein, and
leave ray name on a bamboo incense-stick, stuck into the ground. You return (he
call, doing likewise.

When the week is past, the departed are requested to withdraw. Little straw
or wooden boats are made and launched in the nearest water, the assembled rela-
tives gathering on the shore, and seeing them off. This is always ilone in the
evening, and the priest burns the purifying torch in the dim light, as the spirit-tleet
floats away to the land of shadows.

There is something pathetic about it all. Contrast it with our sure and cer-
tain Hope !

It is Sunday, midnight. The house is quiet, but through the open window of
my room, comes a sound I am learning to know loo well. For across the street is
a temple, some one is praying there now, and sonorous waves of sweet gong-music
fait softly round me, and breathe sad thoughts. You are in full swing of Sunday
afternoon work ; all over the land the children are gathered ; their hymns are rising
now ; it comforts one to think that somewhere, some one is praising Him.

And now the gong has ceased, and the pitiful prayer begins, every word is
audible, and one listens almost breathlessly in the silence which follows, for some-
thing, one hardly knows what. But the old words come back with tenfold
deepened meaning, "There was neither voice nor any to answer, nor any that
regardeil," Only a dark-hearled bit of humanity, praying into the dark ; but what
must that "only" mean to the Christ who died for him? And what should it
mean to us? Oh ! if only once for an hour, all we could bear to know of what
Calvary meant to P"ather, Son, and Holy Ghost, could be flashed upon our hearts,
burned deep into them, our thovights upon this "only" of heathendom would
become transfused with the fire of a Love Divine, our lives henceforth would be
transfigured. And the heathen would know it.

As one lies thinking of the great world lying in wickedness, turning away from
the Love-light, wrapping itself in the shadow of death, a cloud seems to close upon
one's spirit, pressing closely, heavily. Then comes a thought-beam piercing the
earth mists, and looking up one sees the first faint glimmer of sunrise breaking
over the sky, and thinks of another awakening, near perhaps, and welcome :
" In Ike chill he/ore Ike dmening,
Btlvittn Ike iii'^t mid morning,

" Behold, I come quickly ! Even so, come. Lord Jesus."
I have been reading Regions Beyond. One thought in this May number I
should like to ring back to you all^" ' Ora pro nobis ' is the longing cry of the

Sun

rise

I.nnd

' 1

brothers and sisters from across the sea." It is indeed. Your prayers are almost
everything to us. Often the mails are delayed, and we may be weeks letterless, as
in many another land they are months ; but prayers come vi<1 heaven, and God
forwards the answers straight on to us. We know when they reach us, too, and
look lip and ask Him to thank you. I wish I could make the reality of this vivid
to you. A little sketch in outline may give you a glimpse into things as they really
are at times.

In a far-away land a sister of yours wakens one morning feeling dull. Perhaps
she has been to a late meeting the night before, and is tired, and the devil has a
rather mean way of leasing tired people. Perhaps she has got discouraged because
of the way ; perhaps she is very homesick. Suddenly is fiaslied to her a sweet love-
nole from the Lord, who knoweth our frame— a scrap of psalm or hymn, a promise
long known, now going to be fulfilled. His felt presence, a nearness never known
in less lonely days, soothes and thrills her, and the consciousness comes, " Some one
is /raying /or me." She finds herself breaking into "Praise Him ! praise Him !
Jesus our blessed Redeemer," "Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory to the
Lamb ! " The cup runs over again, Himself its overflowing portion. All the day
long that dear home-prayer is with her, and she knows it.

Or perhaps she is trying to give the message. In very visible weakness, in
much fear and trembling, knowing it may be that some one is listening for the first
and last time, hardly knowing what to say, hardly daring to say anything for fear of
saying wrong. Then comes stienglh. In the power of the Holy Ghost the word
is spoken fearlessly, and as distinctly as if a voice had told lier so, she knows if is
(he ansTvcr to a home-prayer rising then.

Once more, and if you doubt the truth of this last picture, ask some one who
has been out, if it is not so. Temptation and testings come. Insidious little
things, scarcely recognisable al first, " subtle wiles " indeed. The cHmate is trying.
Home friends and ways are missed. Trifles have a power to fret and chafe.
Perhaps study or service try to press in and hinder quiet with Him who says, " Be
still and know." It is terribly possible to get out of touch. She feels it, and
shrinks in shame and pain from the very thought, " Oh, what if it should be so I "
Then she learns the value of home-prayers as never before, knmvs with a quite
curious certainly that even now, in the tnomenl oj need,one of the Lords rememhranters
is reminding Him of her, knows too that He Himself has prayed for her that her
faith fail not And such reassurance comes, such rest !

Dear friends, will you not send us ever so many prayer telegrams ? Pray for
s whenever you think of us, turning thought into prayer, and know that not one
ever miscarries. Nor will the answer come too late."

Summer is upon us now, and robed in the coolest obtainable raiment we still
feel hoL The natives retire into nothing, or the nearest possible approach thereto.

With the Power of God behind it 35

and the children aie clothed in Itttie, save comicality. This, be it known, is chiefly
when the pohceman is out of the way. When that uncomfortably got-up gentleman
in tights, whites, and gloves, all complete, appears upon the scene, there is an
immediate scuttle of the undressed. Their politeness is something wonderful.
The other day a coolie watering ihe road, as we passed, apologized volubly for the
scantiness of his toilette, and struggled to get into something, for our sole benefit.

Everywhere the people are so accessible. Sometimes we go up the lake to the
unreached villages among the hills. Will you spend one evening with us ?

We have put up at the quaint little hotel, with its deep, overhanging eaves, and
have suppered picnic fashion, squatting upon the mats, and, to the delectation of all
beholders, wielding our chopsticks vahantly. We have brought tinned meat, bread,
and condensed milk, by way of supplement to the questionable delicacies provided
—such as ancient eggs chopped up in sugary jiiice, " chicken," usually " a fowl of
much experience," treated likewise, leathery scraps, nature unknown, floating about
in some terribly fishy liquid, sliced bamboo, lily roots, odoriferous radish, fish,
boiled or othtnt'isi, sea-weed, sea-ears, sea-slugs, plus pickle, plus rice.

But supper is over, and we, having warily partaken of the good things of this
life, go out together into the unlighted streets. A small boy trots beside us swing-
ing a pink paper lantern. Soon we separate, each taking one side, sowing the
leaflet seeds, gospels, simple "doctrine books," texts and hymns, here and there
where He seems to lead. Everywhere they are received with bows and smiles,
almost always they are at once read aloud to a listening circle. But how much can
they possibly understand ? God knows, and He the All-knowing One will be their
Judge. With Him we leave the seed, Hh seed, feeling that He giveth the increase.

At one of the houses they say there has been preaching once here, will there
be some to-nighl ? Sorrowfully we must answer, we have no interpreter and cannot
speak much. Soon all the books we can spare have been given, and followed by
the quickly gathering crowd of the East, begging for more, we return to the little
hotel. But ihey will not leave us yet. So sitting on the malting by the open
window-walls, while they cluster close about us, we sing to them over and over
again the Japanese translation of the children's hymn, "Jesus loves me, this I
know" till they catch the tune, and shyly try to sing it too.

Then the " God is Love," embroidered on my dress, forms the text for a few
broken words. We sing again and say "Good-night"; but they linger still, wait-
ing with (he strange un-Western patience which never seems to tire. Can it be
that these nations have waited so long, though so blindly, for the Word from the
Eternal, which makes all time grow precious, that they have lost count of the hours,
and think of them as minutes ?

At last we leave them, for we are very sleepy ; unlike the brook of nursery
lore, we cannot " go on for ever." Upstairs our thick blue quilts are soon spread

From Sunrise Land

upon the floor, the large green mosquito net is hung lent fashion over us, and we
try lo sleep. Vain try I On ihe other side of the sliding paper wall a Sak6 party
is in progress. Till long after midnight it continues. Then peace externa/ is re-
stored. But here 1 draw the curtain, only adding, by way of explanation, that the
fact that we were foreigners, and the first foreigners who had ever slept there, was
speedily discovered by visitors other than human. Early next morning we parted
regretfully from our kind hostess, and setting off once more in kurumas scattered
the seed.

That morning I shall never forget— Ihe sadness of leaving those people so.
The many hamlets dotting the lovely landscape all around, where as yet no one
had ever been with the message given so long ago, the solemn groves of Crypto-
meria and pine enshrining many a shrine, the Ijuddhas by the wayside, the
heathendom visible, audible, feelahle everywhere, the utter hopelessness of every-
thing! Oh, the tears uva/ii come as I thought of it all! What was the use of
giving away a few little books here and there ? What were they among so many ?
The poor people couldn't understand, we couldn't explain. Malsuye was a long
way off, for one who even wanted to know more, to come to : was there any use in
trying to do anything at allP Then with a freshness indescribable, with a power
irresistible, came the Word of the Lord, " He that goeth forth and weepelh, bear-
ing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves
with him." In the face of the improbable, impossible, His " doubtless" stood out,
shone forth. It must be true. It shall be true, yea, it w true. From those very
villages now steeped in idolatry there shall be sheaves to lay at His feet in the
glorious harvest home.

Oh ! that some abler sowers would come to the unsowed fields. Here there ia
room for all sorts and conditions. Why don't some of the leaders come ? Surely
England could spare some. She has so many. Why does not she give more of
her vtry best ? There is work through interpreters to be done. Cultured minds
are wanted, for the Japanese can think. Simple workers are wanted, too, by
the thousand. AH over the great world-field the cry is rising, and growing in
intensity day by day.

■ ' // cm/ie! -wilh a dim in ef fiili/ii/ u-aHfii^,
It temtt viilh a plat w6h/i is ilroiig and frnailixg—
Far Christ's saki /c mt,
Fer Christ t sakt la tha.
Oh what, oh what, shall the amnrer bt f "

And yet one dare not write a " Come " without His added, " Tarry ye in tht ]
diy of /erusiilem until ye he endued with pcwer from on liigh." " Ye shall receive i
power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto |

With the Power of God behind it

Me both in Jerusalem and in all Jud?ea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost
part of the earth."

There is much one would like to tell the dear Helpers Together who "hold
the ropes" for us — how where the valleys run among the mountains, in villages
nestling under green woods, we have had the joy of sounding forth the Life-Word ;
and how the people listened, men, women, and children, too, gathering in little
meetings from forty or fifty to two or three hundred. Do not mistake listening for
believing, but pray that the one may soon follow the other.

One triumph of the Gospel, and I close. "How did you become a
Christian?" I asked one, Stephen-like, "full of faith and of the Holy GhosL"
And he told me how, when he first heard of it, he was bitterly opposed to it, and
mockingly laughed at it. He was a schoolboy then, and two or three of hia class-
mates were Christians. They prayed for him, and asked him to pray for himself;
and he prayed, " Oh ! God, keep me from being hungry without food, and make me
pass my exams, without study." So turning from them scornfully, he went his
way. But tliey went on praying believingly, and Ihny lived Cliriit. This won him.
He could resist words, but not lives. He yielded, came to the Saviour, was led on
lovingly, by his missionary teacher ; and now, having laid aside all that makes life
precious to a young Japanese of position, he has joined the followers of the
crucified Saviour — yea, rather, has enlisted in the arniy of the King of kings.

One of Christ's schoolboys may read this story. You cannot come to the
forefront yet. He means you to carry the banner at home, And after all,
though we speak of " the field " as if it meant foreign lands only. He says, '■ The
field is the world," — England as much as Japan, Now will you ask your Captain
to help you to be so true to Him, that the boy in your form who cares nothing for
Him may be won for Him through you ? Ask Him to tell you which special one
to choose, and pray for him, and live for him till you have the wonderful gladness
of leading him straight to Jesus, Don't give him up till he is safe inside the
kingdom.

And now once more, as a farewell word, " Ora pro nobis." Ask for us this ; —
" That He may grant us according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened
with might by His Spirit in the inner man ; that Christ may dwell in our hearts by
faith, that we, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with
all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height ; and to know the
love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that we may be filled with all the fulness
of God,"

* ' f.ord, aw asi il, hanily knowing
What Ihis v«rtu/reui gift may he:
Yrt fulfil to mitrfiawiag—
Thy gnat meaning lei m let."

CHAPTER V
3 cannot, can (Boo ? 0o^ can !

" Hert weri enough to tuatcA tie Atiisler a/ort.
And catih hints of Ike praftr craft,
Trieta ef the touts true play."

Browning.

MosguiTOEs ! All they are responsible for in the way of small misery, I hesitate to
state. You would not understand. A sting lasts from a week to a season. It dies
down, and revives again. It feels like the application of the Essence of Irritation.
Butterfly life is various. Big black beauties Hit about ; they have electric dusted
wings, purple and blue. Dragonflies, three times our home size, are ever on the
dart. Beetles of pugilistic character prevail. Creatures of the locust tribe, of
superlative size, with voice to match, astonish the beholder. Pink land crabs crawl
about Ihe streamlets in the hills. Great toads, which inflate when you pat ihem, sit
on ancient stumps ; and frogs of vivid green, whose conversation deafens, congre-
gate in swampy plain and hollow. Strangest of all new insect friends— or foes — is
the " Senimie," a golialh flj', possessed of three distracting notes, to be heard from
dawn to dusk. One sounds like a scissor-grinder's whirr, another like bacon
frying, the third must belong to an egotistical member: he says, " Mee, mee,

niee-ee — ah !" Among the
number which we general-
ize as " Things," the most
shuddery is the giant centi-
pede. I^argerat times than
this. He has forty legs,
and a bite worse than a
scorpion's.
rti wf!i ■n«u r '' ishot now, over 90°

always, and the Fan season
is on. Be you in church or shop, you are immediately offered
one. A fan is as much a necessity as a iwcket handkerchief.
One day I watched them being made. A bamboo stem split
finger-wise, was spread upon a board. Two picture-papers were

From Sunrise Land

^saffi:

I, mnJ SIkmil.

flowers or figures upon teapots, which t/ity use for their legitimate purpose, while
we, lo their infinite amusement, put them on our mantelpieces. You can see them
carving wood, dyeing cotton, weaving baskets, making paper lanterns, pohshing
crystals, cutting agates into odd little knick-knacks, doing a hundred other curious
things, in their open shop fronts, without the slightest attempt at either privacy or
speed.

Friday night, July i+^May the Spirit of Truth now hold my pen, as I try
to tell you of yesterday's life. A week might have been compressed into those
twelve hours, one seems to have lived through so much.

Early in the morning we heard that quite close to us an old man was
possessed by " the fox-spirit." Demoniacal possession is much the same here as in
Palestine, of old. I had heard about it, but barely believed in iL We listened now
while they talked.

It was the old story retold. " Wheresoever it taketh him, it teareth him ; and
he foameth and gnasheth with his teeth and pinelh away."

And as we listened wonderingly, suddenly flashed the question, " Why could
not we cast him out ? "

Almost stunned with the thought, I went straight to my room, and asked Him.
And the answer came, " Because of your unbelief."

Of the next few hours 1 cannot write.

Then I went to T. San our interpreter, and asked her, did she believe our
Lord Jesus was willing to cast the devil out of that man. She was rather startled,
but after praying over it, she too believed.

Our first impulse was lo go at once, but " this kind goeih not out but by
prayer and fasting " caused us to wait ; in the meantime we sent a message to the
people, asking might we go to see him, and they replied we might, but that he was
very wild, " had six foxes," and was tied up.

Then we waited, T. San and I, each alone, before the Lord. I cannot tell

I cannot. Can God ? God

you much of these solemn hours, but just this much seems to His glory. Even
physical strength and menial power left me, it was in literal utter nothingness we
went forth in His Name. What was done, was all of God.

We went, and were taken upstairs. 1 had been prepared for much, but for
nothing so awful as this. Stretched upon the floor, fastened crosswise upon two
beams, bound and strapped hand and foot, his body covered with burns and wounds
— it was terrible. . . . But nothing to what followed. At ihe name of Christ
a fearful paroxysm came on. It seemed as though the powers of hell were let
loose. Blasphemies which even I could recognise as such, were poured forth. A
voice not his own spoke, and then hh voice, dry and cracked, seemed to echo the
Other. He struggled to get at us, but they held him down, and covered his face.
We knelt and prayed, but it seemed as though the devil were mocking us. He
grew more violent every moment; it was worse than useless to wait Can you
think how I felt then ? His Name dishonoured among the heathen, and / had done
it. Far, far better never to have come t This was the fiery dart which was hurled
against me. And yet, surely He had sent us, surely it was no self-movemenl. " My
sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." In the lull which
those words brought, I could hear it again. " All power is given nnlo Me," it said.
" These signs shall follow Ihem IhiU believe: in My Name shall they east out devils.
Fear Ihou not, for I am with thf.e!"

As the poor wife followed us to the door, with no thought of reproach for what
must have seemed to her a cruel intrusion, I could tell her through T. San, what
had just been lold me, our God would conquer. When the evil spirit was cast out,
we asked her to let us know, until then we would pray at home.

And yet, I'm afraid my fahh was very weak, for I was almost broken down,
and when dear Sarah met us with loving sympathy, and told us she too was praying,
it was very comforting.

One hour afterwards the Answer came. The "foxes" had gone, the cords
were off, and he was lying, weak indeed, but himself again. At night they sent once
more. He was sleeping, very prostrate after all the excitement, but well. We re-
membered then, how when our Lord cast the "foul spirit" out of the child, he was
as one dead, but Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up, and he arose. So
we asked Him to do it for him.

This morning he asked to see us. I should not have known the man. Only
the scars on the " sore vexed " body told of what had beea One could hardly
speak for very gladness : it was such a transformation.

He sent for flowers, a lovely spray of scarlet pomegranate blossom, and offered
it gracefully to me. Then iced water was brought, the first we had tasted this season,
sugared, and served with chopsticks instead of teaspoons. Joy and peace reigned
in the selfsame room, the fury had raged in, yesterday.

From Sunrise Land

We talked to him, and his gentle wife, and prayed with them ere we left them.
They knelt and joined with " Hai ! hai ! " Yes, yes ! when T. San asked for a
saved soul, from Him who had saved the body. Clothed and in his right mind,
worshipping the God he had reviled. How glorious it was 1

As we came away, a priest passed, and looked at us with no friendly eye.
Among them is a sect called " t'ox Exorcists." The spirits of evil are supposed to
take the form of foxes, one or more take possession of the victim, henceforth he
lives a dual or a complex life. There are various medical eMplanalions, which I
don't understand. It is mysterious enough to be considered fabulous by those who
do not know how true it is.

Certainly we are in a land where the Prince of Darkness has power. The
dreaded Fox Spirit is worshipped, shrines are dedicated to him. Little stone foxes
are often set side by side with the Buddhas by the wayside. The strangest tales are
told and believed, many of course superstitious, but many based on fact. Fox
Spirits have been known to lead their prey into deep mountain pools, and there
leave ihem to drown. This poor man, out of whom our God cast six, according
to their count, was bent upon destroying himself. "Ofitimes he falleth into the
fire, and oft into the water," it sounds very much like that.

To-day I have been reading an opinion given by a Professor of the Imperial
University of Japan, upon the phenomenon, as he calls it, and I see how what seemed
serious hindrance, has resulted inglory to His name. The exorcist's first endeavour
is to impress upon the patient his own great power, and thereby win his confidence.
Had this man or his friends believed in us, had I been stronger in the crisis hour,
and seemed as one empowered, the cure might have been attributed to us. As
it was, they all saw clearly enough that we were nothing. There was nothing
tangible to lay hold of. All the glory went straight to God. Truly we may trust
Him to plan His own means, for us 'tis "work enough to watch the Master work."

Siiliiriiay ez'eniiig. — A message came to our cook to-day. The kind people
wanted to know if there was anything foreigners liked to eat, as they wished to
send us something, and were not sure what we would fancy ! They are full of
thanks, which we try to turn upward to Him to whom all arc due.

To-day we took the poor man some toilet vinegar for his head, he seemed so
feverish, and the heat tried him. But he put it on his burns instead ! So we got
some more suitable stuff for that purpose, and bound the poor scarred limbs in soft
cambric. Most of the wounds are caused by the " moxa " (our mugwort) which
they dry, roll up into litl!e cones, light, and apply to the skin. It is considered a
panacea for almost everything. Two or three applications produce bad sores, and
naturally much increase the trouble. . . .

Since writing, we hear our patient is telling every one who will listen, what
great things the foreigners' God has done for him. But his son is a strict Buddhist,

I cannot. Can God? God can!

and does not like this. He protests that the family must not forsake their old gods
for a " new one," and to this the relatives all agree.

And now I want you to join hands with me, and let us all form a Prayer-circle
round him. It is not a little thing to ask you to pray. Do we half know what we
are doing when we say, " Oh, yes ! " to a friend's " Will you pray for me, or about
such and such a thing ? " Prayer-engagements are, after all, very sacred trusts.
Real " praying is no plaything."

And now good-night, and dear ones all —

" Oh, sing untu the Lord a new song,
For lie hath done marvellous things.
His right hand and His holy arm
Hath gotten Him the victory!
The Lord hath made known I^ salvation,

His righteousness hath He openly showed in the sight of the heathen.
Sing unto the Lord, before the Lord the King, for He cometh!"

CHAPTER VI
accoas Sapaii be Ituiuma

" 7S^ pride of thi ktight, Ike elfar firmament, the beauty of Heavin with his gloricm shew
. . . great is Ike Lord that made ('/."— The Apocrypha.
'^ All upon this tarlh is broken beauty."— U\t. BoNAK.

The others have gone to Mount Heizan, near Kyoto. T. San and I are waiting
for a few days longer, for we are anxious about our old friend. A low fever has set
in, his relations press for the use of charms, etc. ; he is too weak to resist, and
clings to us. Also, we cannot bear to leave him until we feel he understands about
salvation, and he does not yet. The native Christians are helping together by
[jrayer, some we hope will visit him, when we have to go.

To-day we had a talk about prayer. His questions were intelligent, he was
struck by the fact that our God is always ready to listen, and needs no hand-clap,
no gong, no offering. He is reading the New Testament now. May the entrance
of His Word give light !

_/w/v 23, Keswkk Sunday! — How I am with you in spirit, and 1 sing even
now, as you will on Saturday next, —

" Set on fire our hearts' dtvotion wilK ihe love of Thy dear name,
Till o'er every land anJ ocean, lips and lives Thy Cro^s proelaim !
Fix our eyes on Thy returning, keeping watch till Thou shall come,
Loins well girt, lamps brightly burning. Then, Lord, lake Thy servanls home."

We left Matsuye on Thursday. The Christians assembled and bowed us off,
and we started happily, trusting that our purpose in waiting was accomplished,
our old friend understands, and we think believes. It is such a rest to leave him
with God. One needs to learn the lesson of confidence in His power to keep that
which we have committed to Him against that day, irrespective quite of our power
to do anything towards guarding it Very often the word seems to be " Hands
off," and we can do nothing, literally nothing, but pray and trust.

And now here we are crossing Japan by kuruma. The first stage was tiring,
the first night restless. Heat and " things " combined in keeping us wakeful till it
was almost titne to rise, and then an " Honourable morning is ! " assured us that

>ss J apan by K uru ma

three o'clock had come, which was the hour fixed for our start. Our men must
not be kept waiting, (it is not easy to run in the heat of the day,) so we struggled
up, breakfasted upon cold rice and eggs which perhaps remotely were young, and
departed.

Our way lay among the hills ; evening found us in a narrow valley threaded
by a river, and closed in by wooded heights. Sometiities where a sodden turn hid
the moon from us, we seemed engulfed in gloom, but it always opened into a way,
wherefrom I learned much.

There were sharp curves bending round rocky walls, and boulders blocking the
path. Once in the depth of a ravine, a band of coohes carrying bundles slung to
bamboo poles, and swinging paper lanterns, met us. We drew up close to the side,
and they passed on single file, each with a word of apology, to which our men re-
sponded pleasantly. The flash of old-world courtesy, the glimmering globe-hghts,
the flow of the rapid river, the faint fair moonshine, the darkness beyond, starred
here and there with pale-green firefly showers— it was all so strange and new, one
seemed as if carried on in some swift dream.

When we reached the village where we were to sleep, we were shown into a
room opening ofl' the street, wherein were a dusty old model of a Shinto temple,
and a whole row of gods and prayer-papers. But the people seemed very poor, and
nothing could be had to eat save rice, cold and sticky, and dried flying-fish, all skin
and bone, and heads and tails. I had forgotten to bring tea, and the other foreign
comforts we usually carry, but a little bread I fortunately had, and so we suppered
somehow, and survived.

A little crowd gathered even though it was late, and watched us curiously.
Foreigners were rare here, it was not one of the customary halts. When we knelt
to ask a blessiiig, a murmur of wonder ran round. We had our backs turned to the
idols, to whom could we be praying? T. San told them, and we gave them
books. They had never heard before.

Remembering last night's experience I slept on the bare mats, and at two
o'clock we were up and off, for a rice-field round the corner offered malaria gratis,
and no breakfast was to be had. Ten miles further on, we found ourselves where
rice and eggs were obtainable, and by noon we reached a gem-like place set in hills
and pine woods. 1 hved in the river that afternoon. It was too hot anywhere
else. Our kind little inn-keeper was much concerned, and seemed to think drown-
ing the least of the possible ills 1 was courting, but nothing happened. She was
a funny old lady ; when we paid her small charge, she tendered part of it back,
saying, " Condescended a little piece of your honourable cake, deign to sell 1 "
You should have seen her face when she received a remnant of the dried-up cnist,
plus the cash.

A ride through splendid pine-woods brought us to our present resting-place.

From Sunrise Lana

where we are spending a quiet Sunday. There are temples all round us, and one
is so close, that as I lay awake last niglit, I could hear them chanting prayers. The
Head Priest's voice leading, the others responding. A Malsurie is going on in
honour of some god. The houses are decorated with bamboo branches, flags, and
lanterns ; the bridges crossing the river arc hung with lanterns too, and the water
sparkles back in broken crimson flashes. It is all very pretty, but very, very sad.

It is almost time for your early Communion at St. John's (Keswick). This
time last year we were together there. Now, how different one's surroundings ar&
Instead of crowds of Christians, there are crowds of heathen. (Does not that fact
suggest a possible scattering upon the part of the great home band ?) Instead of
hymns full of " glory to Thee for all the grace I have not tasted yet," one hears the
weary, dreary, meaningless chant, and knows that to priest and worshipper, to the
careless throng passing all day long, to the httle child, and the old man, there is
nothing to look forward to save the certain drop of the curtain, and beyond, the
uncertain hereafter. Will you not think of these far-away ones ? Will you not care
for them loo ? " For ray own part, I never ceased to rejoice that God has appointed
me to such an office. People talk of the sacrifice. . . . It is emphatically no
sacrifice I " So wrote Dr. Livingstone, and, though very humbly, so write 1. The
sacrifice is on the home-side. Our hardest part is the thought of yours.

ju fair.

"For ah, tht MasI

Thai they who n

Can never test on earth again.
And they who see Him, risen afar,

On God's right hand to welcome Ihem,
Forgetful stand of home and land,

Desiring fair Jeruialcm I "

^V Monday ww/'wiw^.— One of our kurumas has broken down, and while they mend

^M it, I talk to you. Whereupon observers gather. One, under pretext of fanning me,

^m has come close behind, and peers over. One sits beside roe, and passes remarks.

^V Some stand in front, and talk to each other, about it. They cannot understand it.

H In turning over my basket to get pencil and paper, a photo was discovered, delight

H and amazement knew no bounds. Wonderful! Charming! Who was it ? Ah!

H They perceived the family likeness ! And so on, question and interjection ad

^M infinitum.

H . . . Noontide rest in a little hotel, and dinner in course of preparation. I

H wonder what it will be. Some ghastly skinned cuttle-fish hang near the door; and

■ cucumbers' outside portions repose in a bowl of water, the insiile which we prefer

I is not in favour here. Enter the trays— rice of course, plentiful and good, pickled

H plums, sugared fish (not cullies, mercifully,) a creature with eyes, in a bowl of soup,

Across Japan by Kuruma

vinegar in a tumbler, chopsticks. Here come our kuruma-men, on bended knee.
" May they worship my honourable picture?" i>., presume to lift adoring glances
to it. So it is on view again, and through the hanging blinds I can see quite a
collection of admirers gathered under the spreading vine, trained so as to shade
from the burning sun. It is over ioo° now, in this " cool " room.

Tht Mountain. — A hot train journey to Kob^, a hotter night in the Christian
native hotel. More of the melting train, to Kyoto ; thence to the mountain foot by
kuruma ; a weary climb up a rough steep path, and at last The Camp. There
loving welcomes awaited me, for our party had long since gathered, and settled
down gipsy fashion, in tents pitched upon clearings in the cryptomeria forest. All
were deeply interested in hearing about our old man, and the Lord's great grace.
We praised Him together for it.

Aritna. Aug. ii. — We have come here for the Missionary Conference. The
journey over the hills was another of the all things He giveth us richly to enjoy, for

Down the mountain-side in a kango {here is a rough sketch of one), I wish
you could see it all with me ! We started in early dawn ; the valley wrapped in
its dream-clouds lay sleeping still, the heights above were swathed like babes in
their christening robes. The fairies had been at work, powdering diamonds upon
bush, blade, and fern, wearing veils of silver filagree, over the waterfalls, bathing
the woodland in beauty. Above us the boughs of cryptomeria and pine interlaced
like the roof of some mighty cathedral. Underfoot their sweet-scented red-brown
needles carpeted the path. Soon the fleecy mist-wreaths rolled up and floated away.
The mountain-peaks pointed up into crystal blue, — and the sky in these altitudes
is something beyond power of simile, a thing you look through, not at. Then the
sound of life and laughter from the hamlet in the valley, rose and mingled with
the semmie's cry, and so the world awoke.

48 From Sunrise Land

By train from Kyoto (an iindelectable midday experience in August heat), and
once more by kango two thousand five hundred feet up and over the hills to
Arima. The views were fine. The wide green rice flats, merging into wide blue
sea flats, and far away purple islands hanging half in sky and half in water. Then the
sun set, and the whole was flooded with wonderful glories of colour and gold. But
the blight was upon it all, for idol shrines claimed the choicest spots, and spoke
of Jehovah's dishonour. It was as if a dark spirit had flown across the landscape,
touching its life into death, throwing the mountains in shadow, staining the new-
born bud, leaving its mark on the frond-curl, everywhere marring all things. Oh
may God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, so shine through us
now, that something of Him may be seen and felt by the people pressing around us !

Some of us have been reading the Life of Mrs, Bouth, Such a book is an
inspiration. It reminds one of Carlyle's terse way of putting things, " The nakcdest,
savagest reality I say, is preferable to any semblance, however dignified." Truth
in the inward parts, and fearless truth- speaking — thai is our need to-day !

August 13. —It is late, almost midnight, but an idol fSte
is in progress, and sleep is impossible; Through the trees we
can see the crimson glow of hundreds of paper lanterns swing-
ing from bough to bough, and gable to gable, in long chains
of light. A wild fantastic dance has been going on, men
masked and painted taking part Now it is over, and the
noisy throng Is breaking up.

An hour ago I went up the narrow lane which leads to
the Temple Srjuare, and passing among the crowd of eager
watchers, reached unobserved the shrine of honour. A new
god has been made to-day, a new temple dedicated. A god
of health he is, who will heal the sick. Before him lie piles
of fruit and cake, on either side are flowers— the
sacred Lotus, with its delicate pink blossom,
and tall lilies, pure and fair. Below are the
gongs of praise, hung with rosaries. Before
one, just then, knelt a man, striking it, bowing,
clapping, praying in weariest reiteration, un-
heeding the constant passers to and fro. Only
one word I can catch ; over and over again it is
rejjeated— " //f(7jf, phase, please!"

Sitting down on the wide low steps I looked
long, looked till the scene was burnt upon my
very soul. Would that I could dip my pen in

Across Japan by Kuruma

liquid fire, and bum it upon yours. The little temple festooned with ruby light,
its panelled ceiling " richly dight," its delicate carvings, fair flowers, rich colours ;
its lavishment of beauty ;— deeper still, its intensity of sadness ; the scores of candles
flickering upon those useless offerings, the fumes of incense rising aimlessly ; the
fearsome god of hell, wrapped in his glowing flames ; — and deeper, deeper siill its
utter hopelessness ! How many a suffering one will pray long and vainly for
the cure which will not come, liow many will turn away heartsick with hope
deferred !

At last there was silence. The pleader turned and looked at me. Longing
to give him even a crumb, I said, "The one true God loves you." He pointed to
the idols — how many there were of them in that one small shrine — and looked in-
quiringly. Oh 1 to be able to explain. Quickly slipping through the crowd which
had gathered closer now, I sped to our lodgings, got some books, and returned.
Evidently expecting some result from the sudden flight, he was waiting still. Verj'
gladly, and with many thanks, the little booklets were accepted, priests and people
sitting down before their idols to read them then and there. One could do nothing
more, but it was hard to leave thera so; the Arima people may have heard more
or less, but there were many gathered here from the country round, who perhaps
had never once heard of the Saviour who " bare our sicknesses."

The Missionary Conference is just over. There have been a number of
friends from China, and awful news they have brought us, of sorrow and death.
May God comfort the bereaved ones in far-away Sweden, and once more, may the
blood of the martyrs be the seed of the Church !

Soon after we arrived here we found that some were longing for a fuller con-
secration than they had known as yet, while others, most of them earnest workers
from China, were seeking the filling of the Holy Spirit. The little meetings
held morning by morning in our lodgings, were very solemn, as one after another
confessed failure and heart-need, and claimed His cleansing and deliverance
All week He kept us at the point of full surrender, but yesterday evening a
time some of us will never forget was given, when He drew near, and to some was
given in a fresh, deep sense, the gift of Pentecost

Since then a letter has come from a missionary of many years' standing, at
whose feet 1 sit in spirit. Well I remember my faithless shivers when she, so much
one's senior, began to attend our little meeting. She tells how for years she had
been longing for some unknown something. Her work had often been drudgery,
and it was almost resultless. Now she has found out the reason. She had never
" tarried at Jerusalem." Her letter finishes with such glad praise to Him — praise
Him indeed I

We have come back to the " Mountain of chilly heights," and the event of the

muslin. The best however are beyond our means, and we look, and admire the
old embroideries, and silken scrolls, delicate china, and bronzes, and ivories ;
buying perhaps a trifle or two to remind you, our dear ones at home, to care for,
and pray for, these far-away brothers of yours.

Here is a sad enough curio— an old bronze incense-burner, which a skilful
hand has drawn for you. It has been used many a time, could
it speak, it might tell full many a taie.

And here are carved ivories (or bones), little things for
balancing the pipe or pencil case, which hangs from the broad
black belt, and is part of a gentleman's toilette. Will you
think of it, as you look at them, these things were wrought
by men who never once heard of the love of God. Never,

A tale has been told me worth passing on. The Indian
tale of the Buddha re-set, in the days of old Japan. He was
a prince who had left all to win The Great Enlightenment.
After many adventures and trials, he settled upon a mountain
top, in a hut of grass, through which the wind blew keenly. r^^"'.

Sometimes when he had prayed most earnestly, it breathed --■■-
more softly. He was very lonely, His life was one long pain.
One day he heard a voice from the mountain gorge. It was
speaking holy words. Something told him this was The Great
Enlightenment. Swiftly descending he found a fearsome fiend,
it was weary and hungry. He 'promised it rest and food, if
once more it would speak the words which had thrilled his
soul. And it bargained thus — the Buddha must ofler himself
to be devoured, and then it would speak again. " Speak first,
and then I will willingly die," so spake the Buddha. But the
dragon was implacable. First the sacrifice, then the reward.
Wide yawned its awful mouth, in sprang the Buddha. It
closed, opened, pale petals formed and the gentle one sat
unharmed, enthroned in a Lotus flower. A moment, and he
was gone, the heavens had received him, he bad won The
Great Enlightenment. , }i

A strange old story, and only a legend you say, but to me ' "^i

it speaks of something most gloriously true. For was not ' ,

Life's Enlightenment won for us through death ? and from the
Tomb did not a lily blossom on the Resurrection morning ? It touches us closely,
this thought of the life laid down, poured forth upon the sacrifice and service.
The world is bright and beautiful —

From Sunrise Land

"Bat nil through life, I see a Crojs
Where sons of men yield up [heir breath.
There is no gain except by loss,
There is no life except by death,
There is no vision but by faith,
Nor glory but by bearing shame,
Nor justice but by talcing blame.
And that eternal Passion saitb,
Be emptied of g'ory and right and name,"

This is 3 lioly mountain. In olden time five thousand Buddhist temples were
hidden away in its mighty woods ; three hundred years ago there was a general
burning of the temples and massacre of the priests. But new ones were built, and
to-day, wander wherever you will, crowning the grandest height, nestling deep in
the loveliest vale, everywhere, always is the visible symbol of heathendom ; audible
loo, for ever and anon the tolling of the great bronze gong rings through the stately
forest, and echoes from peak to peak, For " this land is full of idols, they worship
the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made," and " the
glory of His Majesty " they do not know.

If you could travel across this beautiful isle of the sea, and pass from town
to town and village to village, where there is no raissionary ; if you could gaze upon
the masses of Satan-bound people, hurrying on and on, down and down ; if you
could see the hopeless faces, hear the hopeless words, feel the hopeless weight of
an encompassing heathenism, as even in four short months one has seen, heard,
felt, you too would feel as though spirit, soul, and body — every particle of your
nature were one great ache. Until one faces the thing in its totality, one cannot
half realize what is involved in being " without hope in the world." Here are two
pictures sketched for me this morning by one who knew whereof he spoke.

An old, old man, upon whose head the snows of time have fallen, whose eyes
are growing dim, whose ears arc growing dull, whose heart has been for a long,
long time heavy with forebodings of what is surely creeping nearer, nearer, A
Btiange voice speaks. He listens. " Old man, death cannot be far away from you,
what about the future!*" Hear the answer. Ponder it till it means to you what
it meant to him — "Dark, dark, all dark."

A child, a winsome hitle maiden, life's glad springtide laughing through her,
sunshine falling on her way. A shadow chills her, she is sick, dies. The priest
comes, chants, prays, then, with extended arms, cries, "Go." Away, away the spirit
flies, into the great unknown, a friendless liltle stranger embarked on a long
journey, its bourn who knows where? The father speaks^and fathers in Japan
dearly love their little ones — " She is gone, gone for ever, we sfiall never see her more."

"Without hope in the world." Oh! if but one drop from the ocean of
heathendom, as it is, undiluted, unidealized, could be microscoped, caught in some

Across Japan by Kuruma

great lantern slide, and flung in all its loathsome vividity upon the sheet, if but one
note from the grief-chorus which rises day and night — "for half the world is
Macedon " — could be telephoned across, and sounded through the hall, while with
bated breath you listened, I think you would hardly leave fhaf missionary meeting,
saying " how nice it was " and how much you had enjoyed it ! Oh, one longs for
anything to disturb the peaceful slumbers of His daughters who are at ease, any-
thing to waken up His soldiers who are off duty, to the intensity, the urgency of the
need.

The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Our Master, our King may soon
be here, and what will He say when He comes ?

CHAPTER VII
Itsoto, anO OnwatSs

'• My tivta lie

PttftCl Ihl CI

KvoTO, Sept. 9. — An Eastern carnival — is it describable? Can I make it live
for you ? Last time I wrote, I longed for a fire-dipped pen, but now it seems as it
one could write with one's own heart blood, if by any means we could touch some.

All week a " Matsurie " has been raging. Eleven hundred years ago this
wonderful old city was founded, and partly in commemoration of that, and partly
as a consecration of a new temple, a fete has been proclaimed, and revelry runs
riot.

Passing through the town by day, you see signs of it ; but not until the city is
wrapped in darkness, and myriads of coloured lights gleam out, and its streets throb
with intensest life, can you dream what the East can do.

It is not easy to reduce the raase and blaze to b'ack and white, but I must try
to tell you something of what I saw an hour ago.

We are riding together in a kuruma, a Japanese girl and I. Spinning along
through deserted streets, dark and still, we hear in the distance the beat of drums,
the clang of cymbal, the hum of a thousand voices. Suddenly it breaks into a
roar, and we are in the midst of it all, caught in the whirl, swept along with it
through streets all shining with crimson light, over bridges reflected in crimson-lit
waters, under arches dropping with crimson fire — it is as if the stars had fallen upon
earth, changing colour as they fell. A burst of "all kinds of music," Nebuchad-
nezzar's orchestra in full swing, drowns our voices should we try to speak. A blaze
of colour, vivid, gorgeous, dazzles us as we look. Some strange pandemonium
this might be, so frenzied, so unearthly does it seem. Onward rushes the mighty
rabble, another coming from another quarter meets it ; there is a lock, and wedged
in the comer between the two, we watch the weird happenings around us — so un-
Westem, they defy description.

Men and women in exchanged atlire and gaudy colours flit past, and mingling
with uncanny monster forms dance the wild Matsuri dance, with abandonment in-
conceivable, every step a parody, every gesture a caricature. Dragons, gritfins,

reptiles, fishes, birds there are, all dancing, waving fans, shouting, howling, singing,
noising in one form or another, in chorus perfectly bewildering. Old crones with
wrinkles showing through the paint, babies wrapped in rainbow hues, gazing with
astonished eyes, children gay as butterflies and as bewitching, men of good position
in grotesque masks, women of the gentler order, forgetting all refinement in the
strange glamour of the hour^ endlessly on and on they swarm, for the throng has
parted now, and we are on the wing.

Suddenly a monkey-masked creature, with a lantern fastened in his hair,
catches a glimpse of us, struggles across, waves his fan in our faces, and with a yell
of " What a fine fellow am I ! " rushes on ; another swings his lantern round us, and
gives chase. They meet, posture, wave their fans, dancing all the time, fling them-
aelves into the crowd, and are lost in the tumultuous swirl.

And now there is a break in the solid central mass, and we look up to see
lights swinging high overhead, hung upon waving bamboo branches, while the shrill
ting-ting of the Kan^ pierces the monotonous thud of the drum. A huge car is
coming, drawn by scores of revellers. It is festooned with flowers and tinsel, and
wreathed with chains of light. Standing within it, and walking before and after,
are girls robed in silks and crepes, palest shades of pink and blue, glittering with
embroideries of gold and silver. They are twanging the Jeking, beating the bells.
Pale, expressionless faces are theirs; dead, vacant, joyless, their heavy half-shut
eyes hardly glance at the revelry around them. Their weary feet drag slowly on.
Wc turn away heart-sick, for this is heathendom indeed.

Then our kuruma-man speaks : " Have we seen enough ? " Ah I yes, and far
more. He takes us home, and we leave behind us the chaos of sound, and colour,
and mirth all hollow, and sin all dark, and in the silence of a pain we cannot con-
quer, we find ourselves just spirit- crushed, "and with no language but a cry."

Dear friends, it is awfully real this heartless, hopeless, heathendom.

Much is said about the work done. In one sense much has been, and is being
done, but with it all, the very verge of the fringe has not been touched. Said one
of the Kyoto missionaries to me to-day, "Sometimes I wonder if Japan will ever
be won for Christ ! " And it seems somehow as though, even out here, our eyes
are so taken up with looking at the tiny comer, the "station" or "school"
where "our work" lies, that we simply lose sight of the world outside the
compound — the world that lieth in wickedness, the city " wholly given to idolatry."
May God keep us from getting accustomed to the awful verities which encompass us !

Yotiago, Province of Hokii, Sept. 21. — 3 o'clock a-m. After vainly trying to
forget the odours, and lihputians, in slumber, I turn to the forlorn hope that the
writing of a " missionary journal " may prove as sedative in its effect, as the some-
time reading thereof

We reached Matsuye safely, after a voyage round the coast which was Un-

56 From Sunrise Land

diluted woe. Then, owing to some mistake in the Japanese part of ray passport,
I was politely but imperatively turned out of the Province of Idzumu, and
consigned to the adjoining Hokie, until it should be rectified. It is a rather
curious sensation for a free Briton, to find oneself thus under the strong Arm
of the Law, but — " In everything give thanks."

You may like to hear something more of Kyoto, Japan's old capital (and
Japanese dates go back a long way, their first great Emperor Jimmu Tenno came
10 the throne in 1660 b.c— at leastso they say). I stayed therewith kind American
friends who work the Girls' Mission School, connected with the Doshisha College,
and they very thoughtfully planned so as to show me something of their city.

From above it looks like a waste of low black huts, from without, like a maze
of streets, temples, and bridges, from within, like a curio-cabinet. Essentially it is
a city of temples, and its temples, beautiful works of art, are among its chief sights.

They took me to one, but all the time we were in it, it seemed to me as though
the Master were looking down with such surprise in His eyes. How could we care
to see what grieved Him so? I think that unless He sends me to one, as His
messenger, I have entered a heathen temple for the last time.

U'e saw the famous Cloissonn^e works. Among the vases were a pair they
were making for the Emperor. Three years of careful work would barely suffice to
finish them. Upon the foundation of copper or enamel, fine silver wire is laid in
the desired pattern, the intricacies are then filled in, with enamel powder in delicate
colours, atom by atom. Much rubbing, pohshing and burning follows, and the
work completed is likely to be a joy for ever, for it is practically unbreakable. As
we watched the careful handling, and tireless skill exjjendeci upon each tiny vase
and cup, we thought of what Job says, "Thine hands took pains about me," and
thanked Him it was so.

We saw the palace. In the wall surrounding It and its gardens there is an in-
dentation, a concession to the power of evil spirits. From this still spot proceeded
for centuries that strange strong rule from invisible Mikados. One felt in the very
centre of a marvellous civilization, fast vanishing into the land of myth. One
seemed to feel its heart beat,— fainter, fainter. We stood there, in the silence of
the twilight, the eaved roofs, and gnarled pine branches darkened against the pale
pink flush in the West — and then we came away. Near to the old palace, stands
the Christian College, founded by the burning-souled Nishima San, type of the
best part of the change the years are bringing, and near lo it is the beautiful
school, where Japan's gentle maidenhood may learn what their mothers never
dreamed of. All things pass — " The Cross it standeth fast."

" No bli&I of lime, no hnrricane of eaiih's nide clime
Can shake III heavenly aled fastness."

Kyoto, and Onwards

Evening. — My dear little teacher and helper, M. San, the Dundee Y.W.C.A.'s

gift to me, is with me here. She has been translating for me, while I talked to the
hotel waitress about sin, what it is and is not. She seemed to think that to kill
an animal must be the sum total of human wickedness, while to tell a He, if for
purposes of courtesy, mattered not at all. But anything in reason is permissible,
if politeness is in question. A servant of whom we know, wanted to leave her
situation. She did not like to hurt her mistress by telling her so. So she got her
father to telegraph that he was ill, dying, in fact, and wanted her home at once.
Thus armed with conclusive proof of the need for her immediate departure, she
cheerfully stated the case, and begged leave of absence. The fact that the little
plot was discovered did not in the least disconcert her ; her conscience was inno-
cent of pricks. If it iinist be a case of Scylla and Charybdis, far belter be slightly
untruthful than seriously rude. In this, as in everything else, the power of God
puts all straight. They that stumbled are girded with strength !

This afternoon I went with Miss Porter who works here, to see a young girt
tile only Christian in her family. Her gentle mother is inquiring now, and listened
attentively while Miss P. read and talked, the daughter putting in a bright word
now and then, to clarify the meaning. After reading and prayer, she offered to
play for us ; it seemed a curious sequel, but was her way of expressing her thanks.
Then came a long tune in two notes, without apparent beginning or end, all a
monotonous middle, after which we bowed profusely, and farewelled.

You will know how solemnly we praise God for an opportunity through His
grace " bought up," when you hear that our old man at Matsuye has died, or as I
trust we may say, gone Home. It was malarial fever. His wife says he passed
away clasping his Testament in his hands. We had hoped he would live to God's
glory, but He knows best.

Septcniher 29. — Still here. There must be some reason for this break in our
plans. Changing the D of disappoint meiil into an H makes everything right.
Another of those seed-sayings which help one so, at times, was given me by Miss
Tristram of the C.M.S. at Osaka ; from whose nursery for God, (of which I saw
something, and from which I learned much) M. San comes. Here it is then—
" With Christ for men." It will bear thinking out: and its reverse is equally
beautiful. " With men for Christ."

One more, for perhaps somebody may be helped a little by what helps us
much. — It is the " Yes, Lord," of trustful acquiescence in whatever He may say
or do or ask. Let us look straight up to Him, and give Him a glad " Yes, Lord I "
not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver.

You know the lines —

" / ght you the end of a goUm 'Iring,
Only Uiiii.l it inta a hall.

will lioii you siraigh! to Heavtn's gaU
Buitl iu /iriiialeni's tual/."

Just such a golden string-end is this simple, sweet, " Va, Lord." Let us wind
it into a ball, and following it, we shall find ourselves in the presence of the King
of Peace Himself.

We were down by the lake side to-day. We sal on the rocks from which many
a weary one has flung himself out of life. Close beside, a Buddha reposes. The
living Christ stood to welcome Stephen, when wicked hands hurled him heavenward.
The dead Buddha siis impassive, while his devotees sob and sink.

As we sat there, musing thus, a peasant came carrying a bundle of prayer
papers, which he proceeded to paste all over the image. Then he bowed, clapped,
scattered some rice before it, knelt to pray, and rose to go. We told him of the
one great Heater and Answerer, and as we talked a fisherman with a basketful of
cuttle-fish joined us. He too listened, but observing that the creatures' tentacles
were hanging over the basket-edge, he interrupted us to shake them in, and
seemed very slightly interested. And then they moved off, bowing.

Oh, how one needs to be kept from hopelessness, which is faithlessness.
After throwing one's whole soul into the moment's message, it is hard to see it
tossed aside as a thing of no importance. And the whisper is sure to come — " Is
it any use ? "

But it mast be, for God is, and God laves these poor dark souls far far more
than we do.

There is a little church here, the Christians who belong rather to the "upper
ten," have been kind in calling upon us. At one time there was great opposition,
which, as usual, meant blessing coming.

The hotel-folk are most kindly ; one of the girls has just been inquiring if I
should care for a chicken, instead of the perpetual fish ? and my prompt " No,
thanks ! " has astonished her. The reason however she knows not. One day I saw
them plucking the poor things before they were dead, and don't desire a repetition.
It is not that they are cruel. Perhaps less so than any nation, but being Buddhists
they are not expert in taking life. (/»/;, it would seem they don't consider belong
to the animal creation at all, but perhaps they argue that they die naturally, being
foolishly unable to go on living when extracted from the water.)

The aforesaid tittle maid touched me much yesterday. Something had sent
my thoughts home, and I wasn't very hungry. She sat as they always do, while we
demolish our " gozen," ready to supply more rice or tea ; and I noticed her eyes fill
with tears as she looked at me.

Then she turned to M. San, and said she thought I must be lonely so far from
my honourable country — I fear I wasn't very heroic, for the tears in her eyes

Kyoto, and Onwards

brought them to mine, and for a minute or two she and M. San interchanged
" Honourable poison of spirit is " ! which meant, how sorry they were. And then
we had a talk with her, telling her why it was, and how, if she would beUeve in, and
love the Saviour, who loved her so much that He had brought me all this long way,
to tell her of Him, 1 would be gladder than words could tell. " And not the least
sorry ? " she asked. " Oh, no, not the least sorry I Only glad for ever and ever I
have left my own dear home for you 1 " She seemed to believe it, and went away
to tell one of the other girls. Wasn't it loving of her to care ?

We are having nice times with the children. Yesterday I was alone, when for
the first time they came, and very shyly bowed themselves in. They wanted to
see the foreigner rather than to hear the message, but after a few minutes of mute
gazing, they gathered closely round me, and all sitting in a circle on the floor we
sang :—

" ZifiS/ of Grace ! vit are waiuleriiig afieul upon the dark road:
Ged is Love.
People vanuh, the earth changes, Grace does not :

Cad it Lme.
Cleiids csver At sty. iul the fate ef Lave is always bHghi ■

Cod is Lave.
And through all sorrow, Cal gizli us hopi and {omfort
God is Love.

Oh, let us lave too
The Honourable Cod,"

Not exactly a child's hymn, but it " takes " here ; perhaps because the thought
of a God who is " love" is so marvellously new to them. So eager were the dear
little things to learn it, that they had quite caught both words and tune, before M.
San came in. Then she explained it most sweetly to them, and they learned
" Come unto Me all ye that ' are tired and carry' /leavy I'urdms,' and I will give you
rest," repeating it over and over again, until they knew it perfectly. We closed the
litdc meeting with a short, simple prayer, each repeating it aloud: " Oh ! God,
You love me ; please help me to know and love You." Then they went away with
ihe promise that in the evening we would teach thera more.

The evening came, and so did they, bringing with them several older girls. In
the middle of our talk the paper wall slipped aside and revealed quite a large group
of men and women who had been listening outside, and wanted to hear better. So
ihey came in too, and for over an hour there was not a sound, while for the first
time they heard the story of Jesus and His love.

Can you in the least imagine how helpless one feels in such a moment — how
one is, as it were, thrown back upon, and shut up to the power of the living God ?
Ob, the intense solemnity of it. To think from your lips for the first time they

From bunrise

^and

hear the message of life, and that ihey may never heat it again ! Of the much you
want 10 tell, what to tell, hew to tell ! One longs to "so speak " that they may
believe. For naturally listening does not imply believing. And yet one expects
supernatural rather than natural results to follow every "meeting "of God with
man. Oh ! for the mighty, convicting, convincing power of the Holy Ghost !
Oh ! for faith to remove mountains, to ex^ed them to be removed! Pray for us, for
the mountains are very tanglbie, and our faith is very weak. Lord, increase our
faith, increase it until " nothing shall be impossible " unto us !

A day or two has passed since I told you of our " yesterday," and 1 must add
one word of praise.

This morning a message came from one of the menwho were present at the
meeting, and to whom we had sent a Testament, to say that he was reading it, and
had many things to aslc : might he come to hear the "truth of the true God"?
He came, and we had a very earnest little time together. He had never seen a
Bible, and was full of wonder over it. He had read all the Gospels, and was deeply
impressed with John vi. The connection between the miracle of the loaves and
the subsequent teaching had struck him, and he wanted to understand it. He had
been searching through the labyrinths of the world's beliefs to find the clue to the
true one, and now he said this Book had something the others had not, and he
must read more. Gladly we lent it to him again. Let us pray, and belitve too,
that the blessed Spirit of truth may guide him into all truth.

The other day we climbed a hill near the lake, and after the turmoil of life
below, we rested ourselves upon the peaceful loveliness of mountain, wood, and
water. Then we looked down upon the poor little sin-tossed town, lying in the
shadow at our feet. Even as we looked, ao answer to our longings shaped itself in
symbol before us. Built as it is, in the shape of a two-fold cross, whichever way we
looked we saw the sign of victory ; and coming down the steep hillside, in the glow
and the glory of sunset, our hearts sang " Hallelujah."

CHAPTER VIII
ZoicbCB, Qbougbts, an& a Hspboon

" OA, LerJ, Ihal I coitlJ waste my lift for Biheri,
With 110 tniit of my own.
Thai I (Sttl4 pour myself into my krelktrs.

And livi for ihtm aloitt.
Stith TPO! the life Then liv^st—self-ahjurins,

Thini amn pains never easing.
Out burdens bearing, our just dfom endnring,
A life iirilAoiil silf-pltasing"

FaBEb.

Yokohama. Matsuye. Oct. i. — We had a pretty little journey up the lake to
Matsuye. The rice is ripening for its second harvest, and the setting sun shone on
sheets of gold on either side, as we entered the narrower waters. U'hen we reached
the bridge the short twilight had darkened, and the upper lake was lighted with
hundreds of torchlights where the fishermen in their sampans, and quaint one-
masted junks, were out for a night's work.

When bedtime comes, in hotel life, they give you a candle encased in a shade,
wherein it abides in faintness and peace, until morning. These torches with their
wild flare, were out in the open where rain might fall, or storm blow roughly. Out
in the dark, out with the fishermen.

Then we thought and prayed together over this, asking that we might be God's
torches, far from the easy places, far from all care for mere connforl or safety. Kept
from getting inside soft shades, (unless at the word of the King.) Kept from settling
down to life's least. And that is as possible here as at home. (Why do home
people " pedestal " missionaries so ? We need praying for instead, that the fire may
ever be burning, for manifold are the devil's devices to quietly water it out.) So we
prayed together, M. San and I, and some fine verses, whose I know not, rang
through me as we waited watching the moving lights upon the water^

" Full long our feci the flowery wnys of peace have irotl,
Content willi creed and garb and phrase,
A hauler path in earlier days led up to God.
Too cheaply Truths once purchased dear are made our own r
Too long the world has smiled to hear
Oor boast of full com in the ear, by others sown.

How you would have enjoyed the meeting to-night, if one may use such a word.
It was packed j " it," sirictly speaking, consisting of the large open front, the broad
roadway, and surrounding vicinity. There were a number of men and lads. Per-
haps a Saul was among them, a Paul to be. All through, they listened well,
making none of the usual noise and confusion. If those who spoke, and we who
prayed were in the Spirit work has been done for Eternity. But some of the young
men came only to hear and compare it all with the teaching of their sceptical books,
the West's last gift to the East. The Poison Cup of " Modern Thought," with its
tincture of babblings profane and vain, and oppositions
of science falsely so called, whereof, if a soul
drink or a nation, it drinks its own death
warrant — is it not a cruel gift from Chris-
tendom to Heathendom?

Oh for the coming of the King, y^^HC^HvdflH^H l^^SltKt
conquering and to conquer ! Truly ~

in vain is salvation hoped for from
the churches, or from the multitude
of missionary societies, truly in the
Lord our God is the salvation of
His world I

October 6.— I i
stay with Mary, until she goes to
Vonago, an important out-station
needing help. Poor Sarah has
broken down and been ordered
home, and Mr. and Mrs.
Farrott went Eastward in
summer, so our little
band is thinning sadly.
the fact that God
belter than we can do,
wants that the camp n

Just now the curio-shops are full of ancient metal mirrors, carved on
one side, polished on the other. Here are two I got the Other day ; both were
in use perhaps hundreds of years ago. More and more, as one sees proof of the
genius, artistic and otherwise of this noble Japanese race, one longs that it should
be won for the King — a jewel rare and costly redeemed with the precious Blood.

Some students called to-day for " spiritual conversation," as they said. They
know a little English and sometimes astonish with startling bits of grandiloquence,

JIV iLovt f»( l.'.i flsMi fhsloid /or your .lilidaliat ■

gleaned from phrase books and grammars. I learned, as I listened, how trying to
the risibilities my Japanese must be to them, and how perfect their courtesy is, for
they bow one through one's blunders with unruffled suavity, betraying no emotion.

Sometimes, however, their little tiuotalions are not so far out Said one, when
Mary asked him what was left, if he look God out of the universe — " A plus and a
minus," " which equals nothing" was her rejoinder, and his quick wit would
appreciate the point his blunder had hit.

One of the happiest bils of my work, is a weekly Bible Reading in EngUsh with
a Christian student, who reads Genesis much as an English schoolboy would
"Ivanhoe." It is most refreshing, and we have lovely limes together, I learning
far more from him, than he can from me.

It is evening, and the temple gong is sounding ; you know how a church bell
tolls when the funeral procession draws near. It is just like that, one note, then
silence, another, and again a pause. Intensely sad and solemn, it always seems to
me, a death-knell, with no glad resurrection music, ringing through.

We are surrounded by Idols. This morning in the grey of the dawn, sounds
under my window startled me ; three low claps, then a voice quite close, and clear,
three more claps, then quiet. I got up and looked out, but saw nothing ; after-

Torches, Thoughts, and a Typhoon

; found that due

absence

. old s

shrines in the garden had been
furbished up, there were prayer papers, flowers, and rice, and some lately offered
cakes, so the hand-clap under my window explained itself, it was some one wor-
shipping idols, even within Chrislian ground.

Octobfr II, — We have got the house pholoed for your delectation, the trio
standing in the upper window must be taken on faiih for Mary, Sarah, and me.
This is the house back; its front is to the town. The mulberry field is in full leaf
now, likewise the frogs in full croak. They live in the stagnant trenches by the
side of the innocent green.

October 15.— And now for a leaf from the book of the unexpected.

When we woke on Saturday morning, it was to find a typhoon whirling round
us^ All day we lived in a stale of "what next?" One moment the large window
in my room was blown out. The next the great pine tree in the garden was torn
up by the roots, and hurled across the wall. The roar around was deafening ; we
could hardly hear ourselves speak. They put up the wooden shutters, so we lived
in semi-darkness. It was exciting, but nothing to what was coming.

That afternoon I sallied forth clad in weather- proofs, but was drenched in no
litne, for 11 poured and poured. The domestics had been in a state of mind about
my venturing out at all ; but they told of broken bridges, flying housetops, etc., and
it was no good trying to keep cooped up in the house when such deeds were
adoing.

This morning Matsuye was flooded. Between us and the lake, on the one
side, was nothing now : road, mulberry field, garden, all a great wide waste of
waters. Between us and the street, on the other, was a deep, quicklj-deepening
canal. We seemed to be on the swim, for underneath us was water loo. It was
raining hard, and still that tempestuous whirl circled round and round.

Well, we breakfasted somewhat vaguely, watching the rising of the water mean-
while. When it began to creep over the verandah steps, we took up the mats, and
before long .were in the thick of a " flitting," for we knew that once upon the
verandah, the uninvited visitor would take immediate possession of the lower storey,
and the only safe place for us and ours would be upstairs.

Just then there was a commotion outside. The landlord and his family had
been drowned out, and had taken refuge with us. There^ too, stood Mr. Buxton.
He had waded through two-and-a-half miles of water ! It was getting deeper every
moment, and we must come at once back with him to Akayama. There he was
knee-deep just outside the door, and looking tired enough ; but he came in, helped
us to get our things piled up, insisted on our coming with him, and as soon as wc
had put up a change of raiment in my hold-all, which is fortunately water-proof, and
rigged ourselves in wading-garb, carried us oflT almost in spite of ourselves ; for
though we apprehended nothing more than a passing inconvenience, we wanted to

From Sunrise Land

stay with the servants and our own poor people who might be frightened. Had we
known there would be real danger soon, we wouldn't, couldn't have left them.

So off we started. I got my plunge over first, as Mary and M. San were
carried through the earlier deep bit. The sooner the rather peculiar sensation of
just stepping in is over, the better.

Many a piteous sight we saw as we hurried along ; little children crying wildly
being carried out of wet rooms into wetter boats, for the very few which were
obtainable were in great request; poor drenched creatures tying up bundles of
clothes, or pulling at bits of fumimre, trying to save their household gods from
immediate drowning ; worst of all, old men and women with ashy faces and
drooping heads, half hanging, half being held, npon men's backs as Ihey were
rescued from the rapidly rising waters. As I write I seem to see one old worn
form, with long straggling grey hair all wet and limp : we couldn't bear to look at
him, but that one glimpse was heart-rending. Everywhere was debris, sticking
round the corners, tearing along in the current, telling of ruined homes. God
comfort them, poor homeless ones to-night.

At last we got lo Akayama, wel, oh ! so weL Poor Mary is very tired ; she
wasn't fit for the walk and the welling. It is not an easy thing to keep up wiih
driving wind and rain, and water nearly up to your waist, but she got through it,
and I trust will not be the worse for it.

And now all day we have been hearing accounts of the greatly increasing
floods. They say that if the water rises to the second storey in Yokobama, the
house will cave in, and everything will be swept away. In such a moment of dire
distress it is wicked lo think of one's own,— but, my baby-organ, shall I ever see
you again ?

A few hours ago we heard cries and saw lights moving along the streets, now
even in this high ground, full of water. To stay in was not easy. Mr. Buxton,
Jane, and I could not do it. So we got lanterns and waded out— cautiously this
time, for coming up I had slipped into one of the open drains which run on both
sides of the street, and was up to my neck in a second. We found ourselves in a
Venice out-Veniced. Here and there the dark waters gleamed with the broken
reflection of a lantern-lit sampan laden with the newly-rescued, or a belated fugitive
feeling his way along, guarding his precious light under his straw overall. We
found many thankful to hear that a welcome awaited them at Akayama, should they
come. As long as their houses were safe, those who had upper storeys wanted to
stay there ; those who haven't have been taken to the temple and public schools,
where already many hundreds are packed in comfortless security. To add to their
sorrows, hardly any food can be obtained, and half Matsuye has gone hungry to
bed — if bed it has at all.

We don't know how wide-reaching this may be. If it is at all extensive you

Typhoon

is the

may hear of it by wire. We are " under His wing " — so safe always, f
time 10 live our hymns. After all the waters are in the hollow of His liand. He
" holdeth " them there, When I was a little child I took that quite literally, and
used to think being drowned meant going down //// we just touched His hand.

Friday, October 20. — It seems more like a month than a week since I began
this letter, little thinking, as the story-books say, what was coming. Now, instead
of peace and prosperity, al! around us is desolation. The villages for miles and
miles have been covered. There is want and sorrow everywhere. Until Monday
at midday the rain poured, the tempest raged, and the waters increased. Then
came the eagerly walched-for rift in the cloud ; but soon the heavy leaden grey
closed above us again, and that night the flood rose higher. At last came a decided
break. Quickly the waier fell, till we could see the streets again ; and to-day,
except near Yokohama, where it is still deep, I suppose it is not much over the
ankle. But the poor people with their ruined homes, and the sick otd people with
no shelter, and the hungry little children ! A relief fund has been got up, and this
afternoon the Christians are going round to the most needy with rice.

On Tuesday evening we went out in a sampan. It was so strange to tind
oneself thus locomoiioning among streets and houses and through gardens. It was
the dreariest vision of dreariness. We paddled into a once dainty little garden, and
up to the home of our head calechisL Then he and his wife pJunged knee-deep in
water and groped their way in. The flood had risen so swiftly a*^iiddenly here,
that on Sunday morning they had wakened to find themselves swamped, and only
escaped in time. Now they wanted to save a few of the things which previous to
their flight they had piled on shelves out of reach of the water.

Our poor abode was perfectly desolate. All the lower rooms had been
flooded, and of course even yet the garden is a pool. Looking under the lifted
boards in the dining-room, I saw water touching them still. But we are very
thankful the house has been spared. Most of our belongings are uninjured, al
least so far as we have had time to see. My baby-organ was safe. After giving up
one's things it was lovely to get them all back.

When we got home that evening we found Miss Porter here. She had been
away in an outlying village, and literally had to fly for her life. An hour or so after
she got out, the road was impassable, and many were drowned. One whole boatful
was swamped, and all perished. A girl was seen floating down, her dark hair veiling
her white face. Nobody could reach her, and she was dead. We have not heard
half yet, for the roads have been blocked, and yesterday no communication could
be passed in or out. Oh, how dreadful it is for the thousands who have lost their
little all, and for the ])Oor frail old men and women — saddest of the sad !

Jane has been away at a little village four or Ave miles from here, where we
feared there might be need. She has come back much distressed. The whole

From Sunrise "Lar

place was a sea; only Ihe upper rooms were yet livable in. Poor women and
children sitting quietly and literally starving ; no way of getting food ; nobody to
bring them away. She heard one old woman say to a little child, " See ! look at
the foreigner, She will bring us rice." But they didn't beg: it was simple, hopeless
misery. She found twenty-three families in this state. And all round it is the same.
We don't know what lo do, or how to help one out of every hundred. Oh 1 if we
could only telegraph home, I'm sure you would send us something. We are gather-
ing all we can, but it's not half enough. The destitution is a very great deal worse
ihan ever it could be in England, because of course there are so few to do anything.
There is just nobody in these scattered hamlets.

The Christians are taking it well : not a word of complaint, only earnest efforts
on the part of those who can make them to help others. They are so cheery over
it all, or try to be ; for, gasped one, as we tugged her through a torrent of mud — "I
want to joy and be cheerful, but — I can't I" and a moment later, after strugghng into
a groan- tinctured grin — " If look sad, people thmk Christians not happy in their
troubles, so I smile ! 1 1" which was the most practical attempt at obeying the
precept "Rejoice evermore" I had ever con>e across. Please don't forget the
great "Ask" of this letter. Just now hearts are touched and awed. Open doors
arc once again around us. Do ask that in His name we may enter in, and that
many may through their great sorrow and need find the Living Comforter.

CHAPTER IX
(Put or — 3nto

"Da ntf eancettv of Ung jaunuyiags ; token ikou bttientsl, tXm theu comtil ; /or ft Him H'ia
is rotryaihire, men come by loving, ntt iy Inanlling." — St. Augustine.
" / wai poor yiilentay, iul iiol la-day,
fer Jau! (ame tkis morning, and look iMe '/vor' away,"

Navtmbtr 9. — We have come for a few days' missioning, to a large village, which
Mr. Buxton is anxious to help by fortnightly visits from Matsuye, and it is to be our
Trust Master, we take it from Thee. Cleanse us now, that with pure hands we
may bear Thy holy vessels. Baptize us now, that with burning love we may witness
unto Thee 1

It is evening. From the room below the scent of incense rises. We can hear
them praying their powerless prayers. From our window we can see roofs, each
covers a heathen house. On our way thither we passed many an idol shrine. I
counted nearly fifty, and then stopped, sick at heart. Just outside this great
heathen village, stands a tall stone Buddha. We looked at it and thought of
Gideon, And now, alone in the quiet room, in the dim light, I think, pray, think—

" ThiH -aitk a rusk the inloUrabie {raving

Siiwrs lAraughoul me like a trumpet call—
Ok to rape thtseJ to perish for their saving!

Dit for their life, be offered for Ihem idl . . .!
Tkere/on, O Lord, J will not fail tier falltr.

Nay but I ask it, nay bul I desire.
Lay Btt my lips Thine embers of the altar.

Seal mith the iliHg, and fttmisk vrith thr fire.
Give me a vtiet, a ery, and a ctm^buning —

Ok III my sound ie stormy in their ears!
Throat that would thout bul eaimal stay for straining,

Eyis that ttmild weep, bul caamat wail for tears.
Quiii in a moment, infinite for ever,

SenJ an arousal bilttr than / pray.
Give me a grace upon Ike faint endeat-eur,

Souls for my hire aad fenteiost to-day. "

From Sunrise Land

hat sin away. Please make i
s dear one who was to be c

" Oh Honourable God, I did not know before a
Oh ! I did great many wrong things. Please take iha
to show people Thy glory," So she prayed, — t
First, and from the little group kneeling around came a soft " Amen."

For this was her first [)raycr to the true God, and only He knew how much it
meant. One seemed to almost understand its purport, by sympathy, at the time ;
and afterwards M. San gave it to me, as I have written it. How glad we were I

Last night we spoke to a little company of women. We told them of the
Father's love, love for them; then asked if any would trust that love just now?
But there was no response, and disappointed, we came away ; for we had asked
that we might " so speak " that some one would believe, and come.

But to-day, while we were out visiting the "Jesus houses," scattered here and
there like stars in the darkness, we got a message to say that one whom we had
noticed as seeming impressed, had gone home to think ; so much " her heart had
heavily longed" to hear more, that she had given up a day's silk-weaving, so that
she could have time to listen ; would we go to her ? So we went.

She told us that serving her gods had not rested her. She could not " lean
upon them." Our God was so strong, so good, she wanted to trust Him, After
a long talk and prayer, translated lovingly by M. San, sentence by sentence, we
had a silent time ; and then came the low, half-frightened voice, like the bleat of
a lost lamb as it feels the shepherd draw near. She was found. Think of His
laying her on His shoulders rejoicing ! Think of " the gladness of making God
glad 1 "

Out of into : what does it mean ?

According to Sir Monier Williams, Ouf oj hopelessness, dreary, profound.
Buddhism says, "Expect a neverceasing succession of evil worlds for ever coming
into existence, developing, decaying, perishing, and reviving, and all equally full of ■
everlasting misery, disappointment, illusion, change, transmutation."

Out of levckssness, lonely and sad. Suppress and destroy the desires and
affections utterly : aim at inaction, indifference, and apathy, as the highest of all

Intot Ah ! who but the Eternal Source of all hope and love can tell us what
is wrapped up in His own word-picture, " Out of darkness into Mis marvilhus
light" t

And truly the little company of His redeemed here are showing forth Hia
praises. We heard of one who, when the price of rice doubled after the flood, sold
it at the usual rate, and so daily lost what to him was a considerable sum (invested
it rather in the bank of heaven). For how could he, a Christian, gain through the
suffering of others ?

A simple question, but one which involves large issues. Think of the result

Out of Into 71

■were the same principle applied lo the laws which govern the commerce of Chris-
tian England. Not quite so much rum would be shipped off to Africa, and perhaps
the opium question would find a speedy solution.

And there is another, scientifically inclined, who a year ago lived for (he
" 'ologies." But life became more real for him, its purpose more intense. Perhaps
he reflected that in the great hereafter the Rash of a moment would perfectly reveal
all and far more than a life-time could but dimly decipher, and that the one little
span between the two eternities might be more worthily filled up with " the things
that aWde." For he let all go, yielded himself, mind and money, to God and His
service, built a little preaching room, and with his wife helped to form a centre for
the little circle, which would have rejoiced the first great missionary, and does, I
expect. Would it be too heretical to draw comparisons here ? Perhaps it is better
to let the Christian scientist, literate, or otherwise intellectually absorbed, do it for
himself.

•' Only ane life—il luill lean he foil-
Only whal'i done fsr Jeius v/ill last."

Of one Other, one of the Lord's prisoners, I must tell you. We found him
sitting cramped up on the Hoor of his little room, just shining the love of Jesus.
Most gleefully he told us how Buxton San had deigned to send him the honourable
holy Book, and that its good words made him glad.

His wife carries him to the meetings upon her back occasionally, and thereby
hears the Gospel as well as sees it in her husband ; but she clings still to her old
gods. Will you pray for her; I think were she brought in the dear old saint's cup
would run over !

I am writing now in one of the long waits incidental to most travelling in ihe
EasL Since ihe great flood which wrought such havoc far and near, the bridges
have been impassable. The very temporary ones we crossed lo-day are in an
extremely shaky condition ; the roads are in some places lost in swamps, and
everything is in a state of ui>seL

We have arrived at the liiile town on the lake where the steamer for Matsuye
starts ; but as the wind is very high, they are holding a lengthy discussion as to the
danger of going. These little cockleshell things would not stand much roughing
it ; but 1 hope they will risk it. We must not miss to-morrow's work ; and though
there are kurumas to be had, they don't want to go, the road is so bad.

I am sitting on the floor of the very chilly little hotel, trying to dry my wet
things over a scrap of a hibachi, and in the intervals of comparative success, write
to you. Just behind me is the " honourable place," whereon are arranged upon a
slab of wood some golden persimmon, a spray of blossom, and a bowl of the ever-
present incense. It is the anniversary of the "deigning to cease to become" of

brom sunrise

.and

; offerings to his departed spirit Above ihem liangs a

Buddhist celebrity, Candles are burning with a sickly

ere is an unreality about it, a hollow form,

next room is the shrine, set into the wall, and atices-

flow

some relative, and these a

roughly drawn picture of .

glimmer beside the bright

with nothing inside. In

tral (ablets are ranged within ; and there is a little gilt idol with numbers of arms

and hands, the goddess of mercy. Lamps swing before it, and when night comes

ihey will be lighted, prayers will be chanted by any specially devout members of

the family, and so the day will close in this and In every house in the town. For

from this village comes the saddest of all cries, the cry of silence — the silence of

death.

You who can resist the half articulate pleading of many and many a heart to-
day, can you resist ///«? From millions of voiceless souls, it is rising now — does
it not touch you at all? The missionary magazines try to echo the silent sob.
You read them ? Yes ; and you skim them for good stories, nice pictures, bits of
escilement — the more the better. Then they drop into the waste-paper basket, or
swell some dusty pile in the corner. For perhaps, "there isn't much in them."
Very likely not ; " there isn't much " in silence any more than in darkness, at least
not very much reducible to print ; dul to God (here is iomething in it for all that.

Oh ! you— you, I mean, who are weary of hearing the reiteration of the great
unrepealed commission, you who think you care, but who certainly don't, past
costing point, is there nothing will touch you ?

Just so far I had written when we heard we could get on, and now a few days
afterwards this has come to pass. This morning one of the little lake steamers
started from one of the villages at the upper end, and arrived here all right. When
the people were getting out, a sudden rush overbalanced it, it fell to one side,
turned over, and all except ten or twelve of the thirty or forty on board were
drowned within a few yards of land. One can think of nothing save those still
forms lying down by the water's edge — this morning so full of life, and now dead.

Coming down to Yokohama for our meeting, we passed through the crowd of
many hundreds gathered upon the bridge where a view of the scene was to be had.

Round a heap of matting stood a group of careless gazers, underneath it lay
those who had just been got out. Except upon the faces of a few who were wildly
trying to get to the place where the bodies were being carried^and these were
grief-stricken indeed — there was nothing of awe, nothing of sympathy, only an ex-
cited curiosity or " can't be heljied " expression. Life is worth so little to those
who never heard what a price was paid to redeem it.

Dear helpers-together, all of you, will you ask this for us, as your Christmas
wish, and I will ask for it for you, as mine — that we may work while daylight lasts ;
for the night cometh when no man can work.

Yokohama. Matsuye. N<n\ 29. — Our home is at Akayama now, but M. San

Out of-

-Into

and I come down daily for visiting and meetings, our children's is just over.
Imagine yourself fronted by forty or fifty restless sprites: your vocabulary, you
remember, is limited, your interpreter gentle. The girls who sit behind of course,
as inferior beings, are docile enough, but their baby-burdens require occasional
shaking up and down. The boys are not docile at all. They are ingenious, though,
and can cause distractions manifold, And yet something gets done. Some of the
little girls, we trust, do simply and truly believe. We cannot get very close to
them ; one day we tried having a talk with those who wailed behind, but it
resulted in their being kept at home for a fortnight afterwards.

There are several tilings in my mind for you, but just overhead is a rat, he is
gnawing a hole in the low ceiling, and I cannot dislodge him. I have shaken the
beams, and thundered at them, till I deafened myself, the creature knows he is safe
on the other side and works away undaunted.

You have often heard of Hibachifs. Here is one for you, the young lady has
by mistake dropped a chestnut into the charcoal glow, hence the explosion. I can
sympathise with her, having once done much the same, — one never does it twice.

We have been visiting in the house of our old friend who has fallen on sleep.
His widow hears with interest, but we fear the house will soon be closed, for the
relatives upon whom she depends are exceedingly opposed. To-day our reception
from them, was a flat refusal even to listen. So it is not aJways as some would
fancy, a drink- it- a II- in receptivity. Satan is neither sleepy nor kind, as he surely
would be, were that so.

From Sunrise Land

My new Japanese brother
A marginal reading struck us i
Joseph understood theen, for ar
may typify all manner of helps,

P. San, and I, are studying Joseph this week,
passing, Genesis xUi. 23 : " They knew not that
interpreter was between them." An interpreter
id necessary, but nothing must come be-
vith him while

Iween, if we would know our Joseph. "There stood no man 1
Joseph made himself known unto his brethren."

It has been coming to me of late, that our Master's words about gathering up
the fraymenls that nothing be lost, may touch more than life's loaves and fishes. I
think I must gather some Love-frag men is up, and give them to you, or the wind
of Forget may blow them away to Oblivion.

A homesick day. Such days do come at times — a day when everything seems
set to Tennyson's " Break, break, break, on thy coKl gray stones, O Sea " ! I was
having my Japanese lesson, " But O for the touch of a vanished hand I " came to
my lips more readily than the verb I was struggling through. There were some
flowers on the table, and to gain a moment's respite, I turned to look at them, but
the flowers were roses, their scent was the scent of home, it was the "last straw.
Just then a whisper came. " jyaldi, my child ; waUh Jor whal I am sending you ! "
What could it be ? Was it something to tell me His love was near ? So I watched.
That afternoon a parcel came from one of our band who had been out in the coun-
try, Inside, was a motto worked in white letters on bright Turkey-red. "Faith
IS THE Victory 1 " She had made it during her little tour, and sent it for a sur-
prise. Can you think what it meant to me?

A few weeks passed, and I wanted some Testaments to leave in the hotels of
the villages through which we passed, but at which we could not stay. I asked for
£,\ to buy them. Next mail brought me just that sum, from an old school friend,
it was '■ to do what I liked with." Was it not just like Him?

One more — and these are only samples, so to speak, of many more which one
cannot write about. This one may sound small to you, but it tells of a Care which
is not small, though it cares for the smallest things. One erening, chancing to be
alone on one of ihe lake boats, I sat on deck, with a gentle-faced lady traveller,
and taught her " Conie unto Me." She had nearly learned it, when a stranger came,
a respectable-looking man, he sat down beside us, appearing to want to listen. A
sudden roll of the little boat jerked my purse out of my muff, wherein it was in-
securely lying, it fell on the deck, I turned to pick it up, but it was gone. The
man jumped up, shook his dress, opened his sleeves, declared I might search him
if I liked (which I didn't), and gathering his belongings into a bundle, prepared
to make off". The surprise quite deprived me of suitable words. So I looked up,
and straight down the answer came. The man, still protesting vehemently, and
just upon the point of disappearing below, wheeled round, put the purse in my
hand, and Red. The cabin was full of men. I could not have found him, even had

it been practicable to try in the dim ligbt, so liad he not been touched by that invi-
sible hand, nothing could have been done. Once more, was it not very hke Him P

November 30. — For some time we have been trying to find out who in the sur-
rounding streets are willing to listen to our message, and here, as at home, we trace
the trail of the serpent. With one consent ihey begin to make excuse, and flimsy as
such excuses invariably are, they are terribly impervious. Only a few care to know
more, now that the novelty has worn off; but for these few we thank God, and take
courage. If we go after dusk they will listen, the evening being a free time, and
also one when less observation is excited.

See us then going out in the Eastern twilight, which so swiftly changes to
darkness, along streets unlighled except by the gleam from some half-shut shutter,
carrying perhaps a paper lantern, if wind and rain allow of such luxury.

We had six or eight names in our list, and did not know which to take first ;
but we asked the Lord, who knew the hearts He had prepared, to guide us straight
to them, and His answer was worth the sharing.

At the first open door in the long dark street we stopped, and M. San said,
" This is a house where they will hear." Was it His choice for to-night? A voice
from within said, '' Honourably deign to enter;" and we were answered. Soon
our muddy shoes were dropped off, and ourselves established upon the mats. We
bowed all round, and surveyed our congregation. Lying upon a futon spread upon
the floor was a wan face, and a head like a spring-cleaning brush, an old man or a
woman, 1 hardly knew which — crouched over a diminutive hibachi. Kneeling be-
fore the family shrine, arranging lilies for the Buddha's benefit, was one who
looked as though he could think. So much we saw by the dim glimmer of a taper
floating in a brazen oil-saucer which swung before the little gilt idol, hidden
among its lovely offering of fair chrysanthemums.

We told them of our God, who loved them, and they left the " Light of Asia" in
darkness that we might have its lamp to read by. To two of our little audience the
storj- was utterly new, and they laughed at the absurd conception of such a God,
for to them the very litie of divinity presupposes the extinguishing of Love. The
sick man was amused, the very venerable, distrustful, but the other had the " heart
prepared."

A friend of his was a Christian, though from all accounts a doubtful one, and
he had lent him a Testament. He admitted that the great Teacher enshrined
therein spake as never man spake, but denied the possibility of obeying such com-
mands as His. Then followed a shower of questions, so 1 prayed to the God of
heaven. Can you realize, I wonder, the need of such an hour — how, when one's
helper is interpreting the last sentence, one looks up and waits for the next in such

From Sunrise Land

absolute dependence, that were it not given word by word, as to a little child, one
dare not speak at all ?

Tlie crucial point was the difference between Buddhism and Clirislianily. As
one passed from contrast to contrast, each stronger and more striking than ihe last,
until one reached the climax and spoke of the mighty chasm eternally dividing a
dead creed from the living, life-giving Christ, his attention was rivetted. "True,
true, it must be true," he exclaimed at last. "Buddha died; we know it. How
can he help us, who live to-day ? He may say, ' Be good ; ' the power to obey he
cannot give ; " — and long he pondered over the words, " Saved by //is life."

There was a pause, and then, looking deep into my eyes, as though he would
fain look through them, into the soul behind, he said what I shall never forget, and
for this I have told you the story — " If this is so, you are as an angel from heaven
to us ; but if it is so we want to see it lived, and "—but the innate courtesy of the
East checked the half-utlered, " Can you show it to us I "

Then and there, we knelt, and prayed ; and when we rose he told us how he
felt "in his heart we were speaking from our hearts," and how he wanted " to go to
the depths of the depths" of what we had lold him. Then came what gladdened
me : " If, indeed, I come to believe it, I will tell my wife, friends, everybody. You
come from a very far country to give us good tidings. If we find them good for us,
we must share them with our people."

And so we caroe away, praising Him who goeth before, even down the dark
streets of the dark cities of dark Japan.

We have to meet many and varied phases, and shades, of thought, and culture,
from the simple credulity of the peasant, who " worships " the house and garden,
and all belonging to the dwelling of the "foreign barbarian" who gave him rice in
the flood-time, to the superior incredulity of the scholar, who worships nothing, and
studies John Stuart Mill and Herbert Spencer. But from however diverging points
of vision each may look, all are as one great Eve, watching to see if we live what
we teach. Can we, do we s/um' it tn them ! If we cannot, we had better go home,
for, kindly and sympathetic in all other judgments, can we wonder if here they are
keen and uncompromising ?

CHAPTER X
£(ttbfias &ltte

"Afakt me stmibU of real aHni'irs Iff actHal rtqiml!, ai eviJcHit of an interchange betviien
mysrlf and my Saviour in heaven."— CnKWlt.9.s.

"T believe in the Haly Ghost."

Dteember i. — A few months ago Mr. Buxton gave us a Bible Reading upon the
Victories of the Holy Ghost a.o. 33 to 65, and the question has been forcing itaelf
upon us, why not in a.d. 1893, and till He come? Is it because "we are not willing
to be made invisible by the investiture"? And another thought is being borne
upon me. The deep importance of the five great "^r" which embrace all other
^prayer-and-answer conditions, each of which includes all. They seem to form a
five-linked ring, each link depending upon, and fitting into the other.

John XV, 7 touches our life in Him and His In us.

Matt, xviii. 19. Our hfe with others. It must be " clear as crystal." We can-
not " agree " with them, if there is anything unloyal or unloving between.

Mark xt. 13 touches our own soul-life. There must be truth in the inward pans
about this thing.

\John V. 14, 15. This touches the circle of the Infinite. We do need to know
God well, if He is to be able to make known to us what is, and what is not. His
Will

John xiv. 14. " In His Name." How much it means ! And the answer comes
back folded up in that beautiful Name ; " with Him also " (only what can be given
wilh Him can come,) giveth He freely all things.

We want to know more of all this. We want to live so close to Him that He
can confide in us, as He could in His prophets of old. " Surely the Lord will do
nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets." He made
i ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel. " The servant
knoweth not what his lord doeth, but I have called yoii frunds" Abraham —
God.'?, friend, " shall I hide from Abraham the thing that I do ? " Oh for the life of
dwelling deep in the secret place, where earth's sounds fall faint, and God's voice
whispers His secrets ! This must mean giving up a great deal more time to quiet
with Him, than one used to think needful— which means letting many other things

From Sunrise Land

go— one's reputation, among ihe number — the loss of all things — that I may know

Him I

Dfcemhfr 20 — We have been learning something quite new of late, shall I
try to lell you about it i" I cannot explain it, I can only tell you simply and truth-
fully of it. Perhaps it may help some soldier-soul in some lonely out-slaiion, the
very vitality of whose faith is being touched and scorched by a fiery dart, to have
one more little witness-word to the fact of facts that God is. Proof positive have
we, proof tangible, visible, utterly unanswerable, for, in old-time phraseology,
"Is He not the Hearer and the Answertr of prayer?"

We were gathered round the breakfast table one morning when the question
was asked, " What can we agree for as touching our village to-day?" Last time M,
San and I had gone, we had asked and received one; but surely our King had
a still greater gift waiting for the faith which could rise to it. Could we not believe
for two ? Four of us felt we could. A few hours afterwards we started.

When we arrived, things seemed against us. H. San, the grave and elderly
catechist in charge, called to " Sodan " us on the subject of after-meetings (we had
attempted one of the mildest description last lime we were there) ; and before he
had got half way through his circumlocution I had absorbed the fact that our,
cautious friend was alarmed at the idea of being loo definite, and we must be very
careful. Being juniors, of course we bowed to his seniority, and the evening passed
as gently as possible, I wondered how the Lord was going to keep His promise,
but knew it would be all right.

Ne\t day He began to work. Our dear " 6rst one " of last time, brought a
friend to us who wanted to know how to be a Christian. For a long time we
explained in the simplest way the simplest things, and over and over again we sang
Ihe wonderful words of life. At last she understood, and, praise Him, believed.
We led her to His feet, and left her there.

And now we wanted our second, so we asked Him to take us straight to her.
As we rose from our knees the sliding door slipped back, a premonitory cough
announced a visitor, and in came H. San. In less time than I could have believed
possible, he had got through his polite preamble, and was in the heart of his
subject The old lame man's wife wanted to see us. She had never come to the
deciding point, but knew the truth well ; would we help her? Gladly we went at
once. All the time we talked to her the good H. San prayed for us. There he
knelt, or crouched rather, his head buried in his sleeves, steadily praying, till we
could turn and ask him to praise instead, for she had come.

Next morning we came home, and the four who had " agreed " loved the Lord
all Ihe more " because He had heard."

A fortnight passed; again we were going. And this time a strange thing

rthday Gifts

came to pass. When I went to Him, asking Him to tell me what was in His heart
for the place, the answer was, " /-'uur souls." From the home-view point hardly a
startling one, perhaps, from ours very much so. And yet the Gospel had been
taken there a year ago. A faithful little band of eight or nine had been witnessing
brightly, and from lime to time sowers had been sent forth from Matsuye, who
had Bcallered the life-seed in faith, and watered it with prayer. What if in the
thought of the Great Husbandman the time for the upspringing of the blade had
come? What if He could do no mighty works there because of our unbelief?
Bul/ot/r ? It seemed loo much ; slill the impression deepened that it was of Him,
and the conviction came that one other would be able to "agree," and so the con-
dition would be fulfilled, " If two of you." It was so. Then one of our Japanese
brothers felt he could believe for two out of the four ; and thus garrisoned with the
prayer that prevails, for this kind of " agreeing " goes deep, we set out to conquer,
in His name.

A kuruma ride, at a slow man-trot, over roads deep in snow and sand, but not
a mile too long was it for the all-essential quiet with the Captain upon the eve of
battle. Pastor Slockmeyer says that when we are speaking to a soul for Christ all
the powers of hell are against us at that moment, and we must " be all the lime
_under the blood ; " and surely this is true of the hour before and the hour after we
storm the citadel, than which none are more profoundly solemn, except the central
one of all, when the forces invisible meet, and there is the shock, the recoil, the
moment of pause intense,— and then the triumph song !

When we arrived, the Christians met us as usual. We told them of the four
who were to be delivered, and they were very glad, but saw lions in the way. To
begin with, where were they ? We did not know in the least, but told them God
did, and they all promised lo pray. Then we went to the meeting. Very few
came, and it was very flat. That night we sandwiched ourselves between our
quills, warmed by the curious brazier-in-a-cage arrangement ihey have here, and
slept, to wake expectant.

With the dawn a post arrived, and a post-card was given lo me. It was from
one who, being away at the time, knew nothing of our specially large request ; but
she wrote : — " I am asking for a marked blessing for you for your birthday gift,"
and then I rememljered what I had been almost trying to forget, that it was the
i6th of December, my first birthday away from home. But the dear ones there
were not forgetting. As we rose, even then, ihey, going to bed, were thinking of the
" to-morrow," so faraway. They loo were asking for "marked blessings," God's
beautiful " very best," and I wondered no longer at the strong prayer-leading of ihe
last few days. It was God answering home birthday prayers beforehand.

And yet that day was not an easy one. It was the busy season, and nobody
had time lo be saved. Hindrances sprang to meet us wherever we wen!, obstacles

From Sunrise Land

greal and small faced us, excuse after excuse was given in the different houses
to which our perplexed guide took us ; and at last, baffled and tired, we were fain
to return to our hotel, and rest for awhile before the evening meeting. One more
house we tried. There they seemed pleased to receive us. They got us tea and
cake {which I devoutly wished anywhere), and they lalked a great deal about very
little, while we sat there, as if under a spell, as helple.ss to help them as if we had
been a thousand miles away. One could almost see the devil, one could almost
hear him laugh.

And then came thoughts, the " wiles " which cling, and twist, and entwine one.
"So much for being sure of the Shepherd's voice. Next time better wait and see,
before telling everybody. You can't expect conversions every time you come. It's
quite presumptuous. Fancy going back to Maisuye empty-handed ! What a pity
you told them about the ' Four' !" But worst of all was the fear I had missed His
will after all. It looked very like it.

Was He trying to teach one, that not by might or by power, not by time or
Opportunity, but by His Spirit only, God's victories are won ?

The precious afternoon I had unconsciously counted so much upon was gone;
I had got to the very end of my resources. Prayers and pleadings alike seemed to
fall back upon one. The listeners just sat and ga/.ed and smiled, and fell nothing.
With a sort of blind longing to rush away into the darkness and lose oneself in the
snow, and forget it all, I was rising lo bow myself out of what seemed like a prison
of mocking spirits, when there was a sudden sense of a presence gone, of a
Presence come— let those doubt it who may— and in that moment of the wind and
the waves His voice spoke its " Peace, be still," and there was a great calm.

We sal down again, and a hush rested upon us. Then almost without preface
one of the women, who had been listening carelessly enough before, said quietly, " I
want lo believe." White we were talking to her, a young man came in and knelt
down. Within half an hour, mother and son were both Christ's. As if under a spell
before — as if in a dream now — ^we were simply awed unutlerably. God was so near.

Then we came away, and as we passed one of the Christians' homes, we went
in to tell them. They said they had one more waiting for us at the preaching
room : would we go to see her at our honourable convenience ? She was another
brought by our " first," and she, too, trusted Jesus, and was saved. Oh ! it is so
easy to write, so easy to read, but so tremendous lo be.

By this lime all the Christians had assembled. We told them we knew God's
fourth must be somewhere, and one, the son and brother of the two who had been
brought in, exclaimed, " Why, it must be my wife. She wants lo be a Jesus-person,
but she is away at her own village. We cannot get her to-night." At once we
knelt, and asked that He would give us this one more, before we left the place.
Ilmo, we did not stay to think.

Birthday Gift;

Next morning early a message came to say ihe wife had unexpectedly returned.
We went straightway to see her. Before her family and relations, she confessed her
desire to be a Christian, and there and then she loo " was illuminated" (a very
literal lighting up, out here 1). And they all, with one consent, praised the Lord,
and sang the chorus we had taught them :—

J.s,,t g,tut m> tifi for m,,
ftsiii gmv fiis life for nie,
GbiI /mics mt, lines me, lin.<es me, and I lave Him.

It was all done with such absolute ease. Our part was simply to stand Still
and see the salvation of the Lord. Time, loo, or its absence either, mattered
nothing to the King of eternity. Truly we learned that

" Litlle is much if GoJ is in it,
^ian's busiest day not worth God's minute."

As we wished them good-bye, the mother said, " By the grace of the Honourable
God we laugh merrily this morning ;" and since then they have written, " Do not
be anxious for us. His love !s dropping down upon us. Please soon return, and
lead us more."

Finally, just before we were packed into our kurumas we farewelled the old
lame man and his wife. They pointed gleefully to the now empty idol shelf,
and told us how they had burned their gods, and smashed with a poker the
unburnablc ones ; and again we sang our chorus, and praised Him who had been
the Doer of it.

" It is so cold, you will not want to come back to us," said the kind people
as we parted ; but we were much too glad to mind anything that morning. I never
knew joy was such a warming thing. The glow of it lasted all the way home, and
it has not faded yet.

And now are you not glad too, and isn't it worth while praying to such a God
as ours ? For I cannot too strongly emphasize that this, and every bit of blessing
we may ever have, is distinct answer to distinct prayer. Two of those who visited
this village in early days are in England now. One of them (Mr. Buxton's sister)
has, he tells me, never ceased to pray for it. I am sure dear Sarah prays too. So
we have two at home, and two out here, both among the pioneers, who pray to
purpose for JL And almost every mail brings me a letter from some one perhaps
unknown, at home, which tells of definite prayer, sometimes monthly or weekly,
and sometimes, praise Him, even daily. Thank you all, dear ones, so much," so
very much I

Oh, it seems more and more true that infinitely more important is it lo kntnv
hmo to pray than to know how to work ; ask that we here, when the consciousness

82 From Sunrise Land

of our '' DO might " is so forcibly borne upon us, may enter deeper than ever before
into its realities.

And should there be any sorely pressed — *' fightings within, and fears without:*
there are such out in the battle front, God knows, — will they not look up, and sng
a Hallelujah ? Behind the darkness of heathenism, yea, through it all. His son
shines still.

From those at home who " hold the ropes " we ask for the prayer that upon
each one of us the holy hush of His Presence may rest, that we who bear His
vessels may be clean, self-less, " clear as crystal ; " and ask this too, that across
every day of our new year may be written in letters of light, " He gaeth before^'* tfll
He call, or till He come, " very fSar better," gloriously best of alL

84 From Sunrise Land

while? Never, never shall we he sorry then, that we had " Nothing too precious
for Jesus."

Dear Florence came on Christmas Saturday, so she was my special Christmas
present. Soon afterwards Mr. Consterdine arrived, after a wearisome journey round
the coast. You will like to hear of their welcome meeting which was also the
annual gathering for all the Christians.

After a service in church, they came up lo Akayama. I wish you could have \
magic- mirrored us then, for there could not have been a gladder, prettier sight

The rooms were adorned in Japanese style. A great fir branch and a spray of
cream camellia, stood in a vase in the hall ; in another some exquisite crimson
bloom. Brilliant berries in a large brown jar brightened one room, and another
had touches of crimson leaves and pure white blossom. A willow branch, hung
with pink and white trifles, was caught in the corner facing the entrance, and
above it was written " Welcome and God hUss you," while " l/nfo you is born a
Saviour" shone out in red letters, lighted from behind. The white matted floor
was covered with rugs, the gayest obtainable, and in little groups and circles sat
the happy company of His redeemed from among the heathen. Oh, don't you
think He must have joyed over them with singing ! His own. His sheep that were
lost ! And to think that over every one of the hundreds the song had been sung
iQ heaven. It was good to remember that !

The evening began with supper served in neatly fitted boxes. Then came the
meeting of welcome, and finally we all sang, —

" Awakt my i/inl and hi brave.
And go oil itrenglhtUfil icilk Almighty Pffimr.
The Ckhvii of Victory ■aiail! for us .' "

Tea and cakes, blue, pink, crimson, and green, closed the proceedings, and we
parted, to meet next raoming at 7 o'clock for a little prayer time, before separating,
perhaps not all to meet again till the Meeting in the Air.

I had a very sweet letter from one of our dear Seven, of whom I told you.
Oh, what a crown of rejoicing they are ! She writes, "Don't be anxious, don't be
troubled ; I am safe in the love of our Honourable God."

A few days ago a message came to us from an old woman wlio was very ill,
and very unhappy. " To hasten, deign," she said, so we straightway hastened to
her. Poor old lady, she greeted us eagerly, and though very weak begged us to
explain about salvation ; once, long ago, she had professed it, but had never
clearly understood, and now felt herself drifting out into dark waters.

Usually we cannot do more at first than lay the foundation for subsequent
personal deahng. There is so much to be cleared away before the seed has a

Christmas and New Year in Sunrise Lafid 85

chance lo grow, but ihis time I felt clearly that we were to lead her to Jesus and
believe for her immediate salvation. And praise Him, so far as we couid see she
did indeed intelligently trust and receive. Before leaving her we taught her the
text, " He loved me and gave Himself for me." " My memory is old," she said,
" please wrile it out, for me." And M. San wrote it in large clear characters. She
donned a pair of spectacles, and read it over three or four times, "Now I shall
not forget," she said. " Me, even me He loved ! "

We left, promising to call again, but they will not admit us. It seems the
house belongs to her son, a strict Buddhist. He was from home the day we were
sent for, (how glad I am we went al once !) When he returned, and heard abotit
our visit, he was indignant, and decreed that our first should be our last. But we
will not fear for the poor old soul. Our Saviour is able to keep !

You remember our Yokobama children ? We had a treat for them last week,
about 100 came, lea being the attraction. In the evening we had a magic-
lantern, and the place was crammed with men and women, standing
and pressing round the children. One of our Japanese helpers
very earnest boy, explained the pictures of the Parables, and
we had hymns and texts from the boys and girls in
turn, and then all together. It was so nice. Too nice
to be left unmolested. A poor wretch, far gone in
sak^, was sent, and then a set of rough men and
lads, to break up the meeting. They gathered round
the door and threw in snow and mud. It was dark
outside, and nobody could see who was there. I
wanted to go out then and there, and try the effect of
a surprise, but the helpers would not let me, and in-
deed I had enough to do inside, for there was a general
rush back, and the little ones were in danger for a
minute or two. None were hurt, praise Him, and it
was all over soon. But oh the confusion ! The wooden
sandals always left in the porch, were here and there and
everywhere, and the possessors thereof were much perturbed. '''"" '

Being the New Year, most were in the finest of finery ; upon such the ordeal
was severe. One gentleman, who had come to see the children's pleasure, had on
beautiful crepe and silk. He was sadly splashed, but, in his kindly fears for us, he
quite forgot himself. After a considerable quantity of crockery had been smashed,
and a general melee produced, the rabble rushed off, and we were left in a slate ol
be draggle raent and peace.

Upon the presence of the aforesaid gentleman hangs a tale. The first three

86 From Sunrise Land

days of the New Year are devoted to cards. Dressed in its best, the world turns
out and calls upon itself. If you desire to be specially polite, you pay a proper
visit. But your card left in the box, fastened either outside, or inside the door,
counts as a casual call, and is accepted. Not to call at all would be rude, tbe sin
of sins in Japan.

One afternoon M. San and I were going our rounds among the streets where
we had been visiting lately. Family parties were the order of the day, and as these
were not Christian houses, we did not like to intrude ; (other than evening visitation
not being usually appreciated by such.) So we left cards and passed on. However
in one place they heard us coming, and invited us in ; after the necessary amount
of pressing had been vouchsafed and responded to, in we went.

The family, old grandparents, married children and their friends, were gathered

round an immense iacquer tray laid upon the floor, on which were thirteen dishes.

The ceiling was hung with branches laden with tiny oranges. Fresh flowers and

bowls of rice lay before Che ancestral tablets. A vase of single camellia and a bare

drooping willow branch, stood upon an ebony stool, (it looked

luch more interesting than the accompanying sketch.) The

'hole was lighted by a small brass lamp, of antique make, hung

among the greenery.

After tbe elaborate bowings all round, and an
immense amount of gasping — for in Japan it is polite
lo be breathless— ceremonial tea was served. First,
the bibacbi and kettle were brought in, and set in a
peculiar position before the master of Ihe house.
Then a little cabinet containing the various bowis,
the cloth for dusting them, the brush for stirring the
/\ \ j mixture, (a sort of dusty powder) the spoon for measur-

ing it, and the sacred case for containing it. These were all
placed in a certain, and very distinct order, and with great de-
liberation he proceeded. The turn of the bowl, the way the
duster was folded, and unfolded, the angle at which the spoon
was laid down, the twist with which the kettle was raised, the
number of times the concoction was revolved, the gesture with
which it was handed to me, the bow with which I had lo lake
it, the way I had to hold it, and last, but not least, the grace {t
use the word advisedly,) with which I had to drink it— all were
matters of extreme importance. The beauty of the whole lies
in the perfection of the minutiE. So perhaps a more detailed
description would be risky. 1 drained the yellowy-green luke-
warm portion to the bitter end, returned the bowl, was grateful

From Sunrise Land

of talking and laughing all together — commonplace souls. Sou!s\ oh they have
sciilsl How much <io we care that they have? We have tried to talk to them
to-day, and one has seemed interested, but they don't want to listen any more, and
we can do nothing but pray. Oh lo care, with a deeper caring— to pray with
Diviner power !

. . . It is quiet now, the men's loud voices have ceased for awhile, the
smoky lamp burns low — longings are finding words, taking shape — I am writiug
them down in my lesson book, just as they come, all fast and thick, struggling up,
leaping out —

Oh for a passio.....%. ,.~^ — .,■•

Oh foe a pily that ycamii !
Oh fpr ihe love that loves unlo death I

Oh for the tire Ibat burns !
Oh foi tbe pure prater-power Ihal prevails,

Thai pours itself out for the lost;
Victorious prayer in the Conqueror's Name,

Oh for a Pfniccoil !
InRnile Saviour, in mighty compassion,

Take Tliy poor child lo-night ;
That which she hath not in tenderness giv
her.

Teach her lo pray and fight.
Cost what it may of a sell- crucifixion,

So that Thy WUl be done ;
Cost what it may of a loneliness after.

So only souls be won !
Jesus, my Saviour, beyond telling rare

The jewel 1 ask of Thee :
So much it meaiieth, this talisman, Prayer,

Will Thou not give it lo me ?

Intensely, iiilenstly I long to know.

Deep into this solemn thing ;
Intensely, intensely I long to go

All lengths with Thee, my King 1

And now in the hush of this solemn hour,

I would lie at Thy feel, oh Christ f
Whilst Thou, all majestic in love and power,

Dost keep with Thy child a trysle.
Thyself, unveiled, in Thy beauty fair,

Would darile these earth-born eyes ;
Bui oh, one day I shall see Thee tlicre,

In the glory of a surprise !

Thou art speaking now — dust Thou give to me

A choice, as in olden time?
Dear Lord, wilt Thou put the end of the

That pulleth God's prayer-bell chime.
In my little hand, Thhii infelding, se

That nolkittg may be of mif
When it soundelh above our Father will know,

'Tis rung, O Beloved, by Thee !

CHAPTER XII
mnto 1}fm be iBlote

"GWj goodiKis JhTVs arouHii our iiitompUttmss,
Reimd our nsllasnisi. His Rtst."

Mn5. Browning.

" Our Lami hai vien,
LH HI fallaw Him I "

ZlNZENDORF.

Our latest arrivals have reached us safely. They appeared at the little hotel at
last, looking more Hlce animated snowballs, than anything human. Fortunately
they seemed to take kindly to enduring hardships, but one could not help wishing
for a good English fire to blaze a welcome for ihem. We had given them up tor
the night, and the kettle seemed disinclined to boil again; but no fires, delayed
cups of tea, and all the sundry inconveniences of hotel-life, at night, in winter, were
cheerfully accepted, and we finally laid ourselves down to sleep, each on a quilt
radiating arm s-of-a- starfish-fash ion, round the kotals, and slept— or not, till morning.

A kotats, by the way, is a hibachi in a frame, or sunk in a hole in the floor.
A quilt is thrown over it. Under this quilt your lower limbs may creep, and you
bake below, and freeze above ; the alternative being to sit huddled up on the top,
simmering, and shivering by turns. At night it is placed at the foot of the quilt
upon which you lie, another quilt covers both it and you, so that none of the heat
is lost ; it steals up, and envelops you soothingly, and for once in the twenty-four
hours, you are warm all through. There is no fear of asphyxia, the draughts circling
peacefully round, take care of that, and the worst you have to fear from the char-
coal fumes is a headache in the morning. You may choose between it and a cold.
One cannot have everything !

Our new friends are rich in bright choruses, which do us all good. Coming
down the lake we sang —

" 'Tis Jesus in the momine bow, 'tii Jesus all Ihe day,
"T\s Jesus in the eventide, 'tis Jesus a.11 the way.
So— 'tis victory in the morning hour, 'tis victory nil the 'lay.
'Tis victory in the eventide, 'tis victory all the way '. "

How much it helps one just to turn from everything, and sing ! Many a lime
in this land of false-god praise one feels sore to think there is none for Him. As
one passes along the street one knows that unless one's own heart sings, He hears

From Sunrise Land

nothing. The thought stirred me once when Florence and I happened

be rather drearily inclined, and sat silent in the darkening room,

more given to mope just then than sing. (Missionaries ! Yes, they

human as you, don't jf» ever fee! like that?) Weil, we were

sitting thus, when suddenly it flashed upon me that if we were dumb

■night, no praises would rise to Him for streets and streets around.

e missed so much for us once, must He miss anything we could

offer Him now ? Surely not ! So we sang, brightened up, and went

to bed quite happily, " Evil spirits dark and strong Jly before

bright melody." " Whoso oflfereih praise glorifieth Me."

^^^^^^1 >J / one already, so I need not re-describe, but one new thing this fete

^^^^^^H VI has shown me, never seen in all its beauty by me before. Quiet

^^^^^^1 " . shining places are dotted up and down, elsewhere coloured lights

^^^^^^r j I intermingle in a bewildering blaze. Here, there is only the clear

white of shaded lamps; and the people who pause to gaze seem
stilled by the loveliness. They are looking at the Ceremonial
Flowers. An arrangement so exquisite, so perfect in grace of line and colouring,
so intricate in strange symbolic meaning, that the less remark one hazards, the
better. These sketches do not give the faintest idea of what it really is. It must
be seen, to be known, and studied to be appreciated. The loud laugh is hushed
here, the rough voice softened. If only one might feel they were look-
ing "through Nature up to Nature's God," but they are not. They
cannot hear without a preacher, and to these thousands thronging in
from vale and village, no man has ever preached.

January as, 1894. — Unto Him be glory! Unto
Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His
own blood ; and hath made us kings and priests unto
God and His Father, to Him be glory and dominion for
ever and ever ! Amen.

You know how of late, in a way I cannot ex-
plain, certain definite numbers of unknown
souls have been laid upon me before going to
ission at our village ; first one, then
<o (four of us agreeing), then four
(two of us agreeing) ; and now eight
was the number given to me by Him.
For a fortnight this distinct prayer-

leading lasted, and with it, as last lime, the
assurance that another, the one who is ever
ready to lead us on unto the deep things of
God, would receive discernment as to the
mind of the Lord upon this point ; and
though one almost feared to face so
great a thing oneself, much less speak
of it, so strong was that strange pres-
sure, that one had no choice but to "believe and receive and
confess it," and thus win the two-fold Victory- Prayer.

All was as He had said, and we started, M. San and 1,
very helpless in ourselves, but strong in the Word of our
God.

Sweet and clear Uke the chime of a bell, my dear little
Keswick watchword rang in my ear all the morning— "/fe
geelh dn/ore "—and when we came within sight of the village
among the hiils, another note was added^" He goeth before
you into— " ; "tkere sJiall ye see Him."

The first thing was to tell the Christians. Their faith had been strengthened
by the four of our last visit, but they were not prepared for this.

That night at the meeting, one was brought in. Before all
present she " confessed," as the Japanese say, and I believe was
saved.

We asked them to come to our room next morning, and they
came.

Sitting all round a kotats, they spoke one by one. I was asking
for an impossibility. The busy season was not over ; very little
visiting could be done, and very few would come to the meetings.
Even were it not so, for such a number to believe in one day was
too much to expect (here I offered to slay till Monday,
instead of returning next morning, but they said we could
arrange for no meetings, so it would do
no good) — better pray for a '■ blessing : "
then there could be no disappointment !
To pray for things and not get them
was a " very bad happening." But that would
not do.

92 From Sunrise Land

And 1 knew that He wanted our united faith, as the faith of one, to rise to the
measure of His purpose, and honour Him by bringing Him a petition worthy a king
to grant. So we read over the five great prayer promises, each with its If-Link, and
then there ivas a iong silence.

At last, good H. San slowly spoke : " You are a Jesus-walking one ; if His
voice speaks to you, though it speaks not to us, we will believe." But more than
their belief in my belief was needed; and we turned to Zechariah viii. 6, and to
Jeremiah xxxii, 27 and 17, and simply faced those grand fearless faith- challenges —
Rock truths through two millenniums, while not a word was spoken except heart-
words to Him.

" Thus sttith the Lord 0/ Hos/s, If it be marveUous in the eyes of the remnant of
this people in these days, should it be marvellous IN Mine eves, saith thb
Lord OF Hosts?" ^' Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh, is there any-
thing TOO HARD FOR Me ? , . . Ah, Lord God I Behold Than hast made the
heaven and the earth by Thy great power and slretdud-oul arm, and there IS

NOTHING TOO HARD FOR ThEE ! "

These men are very far from being credulous, but they are extremely con-
vinceable ; so they saw the reasonableness of expecting miracles from a miracle-
working God, and as a result of a miraculous Penlecost They kept their Bibles
open at the verse, "Should it be difficult in Mine eyes?" and then they knelt and
prayed.

To get them to this point through the medium of interpretation, was not a
thing one could do of oneself, and one had just to throw oneself upon His power,
leaning upon it, counting upon it, in a way 1 cannot describe. Quite visibly the
" Energy of the strength of the might which He wrought in Christ," wrought in their
hearts as they waited there, and before they left us tliey had " agreed."

Within half an hour I could hardly think, with acute neuralgia. 1 don't know
how long it lasted, but before it had gone a message came to ask us to go to the
chief Christian's house, to see some who were waiting there. As the bitter wind,
snow laden, swept against us, and strength of mind and body seemed nil, the truth
of the home-learned sentence, " All God's biddings are enablings," was proved once
more.

"Please tell just the beginnings, only of God, not yel of Christ." Obediently
we began. We spoke of the Creator and Preserver, and His power and love ; the
rather— God, who had made man, watched over him, loved him all his life long.

But "witnesses unto Afe" must mean more, so we tried lo unfold the great
Love-plan, and (old of the dear and present Saviour, who loved us and gave Him-
self for us. Then another came in, and we were going over the slory again wheti
something I cannot at all describe came over those who listened, and we who
spoke, and the Christian who prayed. He afterwards described it as the "im-

Unlo Hiin be Glory 93

ptession of the Holy Spirit." There was perfect silence, tlien ihey prayed, folding
their hands and closing their eyes, as they noticed we did, praying for forgiveness
for their " heaped-up sins," praying for the pity and love of this wonderful Saviour.
The solemnity of that moment fades for you as I try to put it down in black and
white, but it was something I shall never forget.

The next hour was spent with some who, though they were interested, did not
at all wish to decide. One, a young girl to whom confessing would mean much,
came close to the line, hut did not cross it. She asked us to call to-morrow : we
promised, and came away. These people seem very real, perhaps because it is not
an easy thing to be a Christian in Japan. Slowly I am learning that if the Holy
Spirit has done the work of preparing the heart, very little pressing is needed. It
is just here one is in danger of offering strange lire — substituting human persuasion
for Holy Ghost power. May He keep us from such deadly dangerous sin !

Then we were guided to the house of an old woman of many prayers. A year
or so ago, when Mary and I. San went first, there was no room for them in the inn.
Being Jesus-people, they w-ere welcome nowhere, and tired and wet they searched
in vain for a resting-place. This old woman saw them, had pity, and gave them
food and shelter. Ever since she has been prayed for ; but though admitting it was
a " good doctrine," she still clung to her idols, and professed no desire to be saved.
You may picture, if j'ou can, how we fell when, after a few minutes' talk with her, a
change passed over the kindly lisUess face, the dim eyes lighted up. She seemed to
awake all over. It was as if the sun had suddenly shone forth, chasing away the
mists of a life-time; she clasped her hands, and prayed.

To one more house we went that afternoon, the same where the three had
come to the Saviour last lime we were there. "This is a holy room now," they
said. '• We do not sleep on these mats, as we used to do, but only in the other
rooms. We keep this one for God. We sing all together, morning and evening,
sitting round the kotats, and even the litUe ones can sing too ; " whereupon they
wandered vaguely into what was intended for a hymn, the words only being recog-
nisable—and ihey all seemed very happy.

But the old grandfather and great grandmother were still outside the circle.
They told us she was in the house, and asked us to talk to her. Yes, her heart was
not resting yet. She wanted rest. Her gods had not given it to her ; she would
trust our God. Twice before we had tried to lead her to Him, twice we had failed ;
nowahecameof herself, and He who said, "Come unto Me," in no wise cast her out.
The grandfather was out, but would return late that night. We promised to come
and see him, and they all promised to pray, that he might at last give in, for until
now he had been holding out strongly against the foreign doctrine and all con-
cerned in it.

We had barely time for a hurried supper before starting for the evening meet-

From Sunrise Land

ing. Nobody came except a few children and the Christians. Then the question I
had never questioned before, rose in niy mind, " What was the ditferencc between a
grown-up soul and a cliild's soul in God's eyes- — «'<k then any 1 " No ! of course
not, and yet the thought of trying to win one of these little ones had quite a
startling effect. How could they understand? How could they hold their own
against all the others? Did it really come to this, then, that there was no use in
seeking to win a heathen lamb, though a heathen sheep was such a precious posses-
sion ? But that could not be. " Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do ? " , . .
So we had a children's meeting.

Very quietly the boys and girls listened. When their time was up, they went
away, still quietly, two only staying behind. And these two were genuinely
anxious, the boy, a fine little fellow of ten or twelve, covered his face with his hands
and sobbed. Even cautious H. San was greatly moved. " It is the Holy Spirit,
He is here," he said, and they gathered closer together, and prayed. There was
not the least ripple of excitement, but they were immensely in earnest.

M. San has a winning way with children, and part of her training with Miss
Tristram was in Sunday-school work ; and she talked to these two dear little ones
until she was sure they quite understood what was meant by " loving Jesus," And
then ihey prayed, following her lead ; and so the Good Shepherd gathered His
lambs with His arm, and carried them in His bosom.

Then we found that the boy was our chief Christian's litde son, Father and
mother were both there, and oh ! so pleased. The girl had heathen parents, and
would have to bear much petty persecution ; but she seemed so trustful, that we
could not fear for her. With sweet gravity they sang ihe " wheel chonis," so called
because it goes round and round like a kuruma wheel, "Jesus gave Himself for
me," and then —

" Kvcn though uur liwellings ore fnt leparaleil
We meel in ihe presence of our loving Lord God,"

And last of all the chorus of the day— learned iy heart at last—

" Faith is the victory,
Faith is Ihe vtclory,
O glorious victory
That overcomes tlie world ! "

By this time it was late, and I wanted them to praise for the whole eight This
meant taking by faith the one yet unwon. This was a new idea to them, and they
pondered over i John v. 14, 15, till they had absorbed something of the wondrous
truth therein contained. Then each taking one of the eight, and praying for him or
her by name, they asked for the strong keeping now so needed, and praised for the
glorious salvation that day bestowed.

And then we went lo win our last, the grandfather aforesaid, a proud old n
for fifty years a slave to sin, so he told us, and we read it written on his face. But
for three days his heart had been heavy, and now he was ready to humble himself
before God and man, and confess himself a sinner. We gave him i John i. 9, telling
how the very desire for the sin which had entranced him and enthralled him could
be utterly cleansed away. Kneeling there before us all, looking straight up with
fast-shut eyes, he prayed aloud, "Honourable God, deign to forgive, deign to
wash," and the whole family joined in a thanksgiving which must have made Him
glad.

It was neatly midnight ; but the Christians were still waiting in the preaching
room. They piled fresh charcoal on the hibachi, and we watched the red underglow
touch the black mass above— kindle, transfuse, transform it — and solemn thoughts
came which I cannot write here. And at last we got to bed, and fell asleep in the
peace that deeper goes than any weariness.

Next morning a message came from the girl, upon whom we had promised to
call. She was ill and could not see us. And as they told us this, and we remem-
bered that exactly eight was the number laid upon us, and exactly eight the num-
ber given — not even this one over— a profound sense of the reality of things unseen
came over rae. A sense of their eternity and majesty — and to think one had, as it
were, touched them so—" Behold now I have taken upon rae to speak unto the
Lord, who am but dust and ashes ! "

And then the dear Christians came and said, " Our faith was weak : we are
ashamed," and I told them mine too had been just that, and I too was ashamed ;
though I had believed (because I could not help it) that we should have those
eight, I thought It would be hard to get them in so short a time, and my proposal
to wait sprang from a desire to give (jod two days longer to work His miracle. So
joy in the riches of His grace was mingled with sorrow for our own faith- poverty.
As one looks at the grandeur of His purpose, and the littleness of our power to
enter into it, one feels very tow.

I remember hearing Dr. Andrew Bonar speak on Ephesiansiii. 17-21, at his last
Bridge of Allan Convention, and he, who knew so much more than most of us there
of the breadth and length and depth and height of that love which passeth know-
ledge, told us how he thought we were not so much humbled by looking down at
the miry clay and the honible pit, as in looking up at the mountains of blessing
which might have been ours, the great things God longed to give us, but which we
had not taken. And now I know how true it is.

The ride home was so cold that our poor kuruma-men could hardly run.
Over and over again they stopped, declaring they could not go on, they had pains
in their honourable insides, they must try the reviving effect of tea, and smoke.
For hours we slowly froze, but the heart-warmth lasted all the time, and the joy

From Sunrise Land

was past all telling. Surely some of you at home must have been praying strongly
for us then. We shall know when we meet at Home.

It is Friday, the 26th, to-day, a week since that day of "Magnificent Deliver-
ances." I have been off duty ever since. This sort of thing takes it out of
one.

And yet to His praise I should tell you that this time He gave in His love
a deep new peace, a calm reliance upon Him, upon Whom lay all the responsi-
bility, which excluded strain and struggle. There is much. He knows, one must
mourn over : one's very prayers need cleansing, but how one thanks Him that His
" Goodness flows around our incompleteness," and to the praise of the glory of His
grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved, let us ring it forth once
more — ** unto Him be glory ! "

Matsuye. Feb. 8, 1894. — You may like 10 hear something of what we are doing
now. As soon as the deep snow liad gone, and we were able to get about, Mr.
Buxton sent one of his helpers with me, and we went to a village up the lake, where
we had once given rice in the flood time.

The chief of the village was most kind, and told us so great was the distress
just then, that the Mikado had sent 2,000 yen (£2^"^) to the province of Iztimo,
which, however, when divided among the hundreds of needy villages, would only
allow a few shillings to each. He sent an old man with us, to guide us through the
waste of rice and cotton fields to a little hamlet near the water's edge, which had
been all but swept away. While this was being arranged indoors I had a s
of children round me outside, clamouring for looks and books. I tried to tell them
something even in the few minutes, but they had never heard at all, and with
puzzled faces asked each other, "What God is she talking about?" A God who is
living and loving is a bewilderment to those whose sole conception of such a being
is connected with death and dread. Poor .little things ! One could only teach
them a simple text and chorus in colloquial, and leave them so. We should like
to send some one to this village, but there is no one to spate, and all round us
are hundreds darker still. Disentangling ourselves from our noisy body-guard,
we followed our guide to the hamlel in ruins. A few of its scenes may picture

An old couple homeless, poor, living in a shed made of rough boards plastered

98 From Sunrise Land

with mud, their all lost — themselves too old and too weary to work, waiting quietly
there, in the dreary cold, for the drearier end, which could not be far away. It is
on the old and tlie frail the flood has told most heavily.

The other day one of our workers visited a little court, where she had gone with
rice six weeks before. Missing face after face among the aged poor, she asked were
they ill? Oh no, it was only that they got wet, and cold, and hungry, and at last
they " deigned to cease to become."

And now we saw a woman very sick and very weary. No mats, no quilts,
only a few tattered rags all through this bitter winter. There she lay, on the hard
bare boards, com/ortltss. How should we like our mothers to lie so? She, too, is
somebody's mother, dear, perhaps, as ours. The people did not like us to see her.
" We cannot remove her body," they said, feeling, with all the sensitiveness of
their race, how it must look to us. Bat thanks to your help, she need He so no
longer. To-night quilts would be sent to her, and we told her they would be
presents from the true God, who loved her. " Who was He ? " She had never
heard, never once. We thought she believed a little, for she asked how she could
thank Him, and was so surprised and pleased to hear that she need not try to clap,
(for " much strength have I not"), because He was so close to her that He could ,
hear the little whisper of her heart. We left her repeating over and over again the
strange new words, " Loves me, loves me,"

Another, a family this time, living in a hole we should not care to ask a dog to
sleep in. Across the path lay their old home, the soft thatch in mossy patches,
strewn about the little garden ; not a vestige of the upright about the place.

Sadder still, up among the bamboos on the hill, a hut of wood and straw, a.
lonely man within, home gone, means of making a livelihood gone, wife and
children gone, hope a dream of the past, only despair ahead. He bore up bravely,
till a question about bis family touched too sore a spot, " I cannot keep them
any more," he said ; " my little ones I cannot have," and he broke down and
simply cried.

Once more, and again an old man and his wife. They had "removed their
residence," explained my helper, rubbing his spectacles vigorously. He is not an
emotional youth, but I think he found it as hard as I did to keep the tears back ;
it was all so very desolate. Heaps of rubbish, broken shrubs, bits of their treasured
matting carried off by the swift rise of the water, drifted back to them now soaked ,
and useless, fragments of furniture and potter}', scraps of prayer-papers too, and
drowned and deserted idols. There they were, the two old souls who had held
their own against wind and tide for many a year— stranded at last, a helpless ■
wreck, upon rocky shores. Uncomplaining, too, bearing their woes with that dumb '
patience we only set- among our Christian poor at home.
" How was it the flood came ? " we asked them.

Co-worker

Listen to the answer, think till you feel, feel, till deep into your soul the iron
has entered.

" Often, often we gave our gods rice and cakes, often, often we prayed ; but
somehow we offended them. They were angry, and sent the flood ; but we do
not know what we did wrong, only they were angry." Like little children in the
dark, with poor weak arms upraised to ward off cruel blows, coming they know
not whence or why ; so it seemed to me.

To all those whom we saw that day the good tidings were new or almost so.
One man had been given some tracts by Mr. Buxton as he passed along the road
— more than the little ihey told, he did not know.

In some of the houses specially large offerings lay before the gods on the shelf
or in the shrine, in mute appeal for pity and help, but in others there was no sign
of any worship, " They arc no use," said one old man, " they did not hear, I pray to
nothing now ; " which is the deeper fall to pray to the Buddha or to nothing at all ?
Almost as many here do the one as the other, some because they have found out
like this old man that " they are no use ; " some because they have heard enough of
the true to loosen their faith in the false ; and of Japan, as of India, it is seriously
true — " If Western thought and science merely act as dissolving acids, and destroy
all faith in religion, a terrible chaos may be predicted " — which may our God avert !

And now a little bit for the children. One day we were away in a village some
distance from Matsuye. \Ve had walked about a good deal, and were rather tired.
Nobody seemed to want to hear out message, everybody had an excuse, and we
were beginning to feel disheartened. Was it any use at all ? Just then some little
children saw ns, and cried out, " Look, look, Jesus is coming ! Jesus is coming I "
We knew it was only in mockery, but all our tiredness flew away at once, to think
that when ive came they should say He was coming t for it was true. Along the
narrow path among the rice-fields, I seemed to see Him walk before us. Before we
came to the sUppety bamboo bridges. He had crossed them. Sometimes we turned
a corner— He had turned it first (so He met what was on the other side before we
did), and so it was all along the way, only really and truly and not make-believe at
all, for He says that " when He puttelh forth His own sheep. He goeth before
them."

And this was what I said to Him then, won't you say It too ? " Lord Jesus,
please help me to follow so closely to Thee, that wherever I go even the little
children may feel Jesus is coming, Jesus is coining."

One more little story, just for you — it happened as we were going to our
village to tell thep eopleabout the great salvation they need so much, and know of
so little — and it goes of itself into jingle for you.

i-workers

Wakening up 'mtd t1ie shadows of night,
Dimly (eding after Ihe lighl —

Hoi

e best unfolil

Whot shall

Holy Spirit, our power is vain ;
Helpless to help, on Thee wb cbII :
Shine, oh shine in these !i earls fo-nighl.
Witness of Jesus, the dark world's light 1

Of the power of sin and its danger.

The Deliverer mighty to save

And able to keep, we spoke to them

Through the picture the Bii-Slory gave ;

They looked at the winged -niousie nestling

In the soft warm fur of my muff

And whispered — "Yes we understand it,

And we knew we had said enough.

So we sang to them and they listened,
"Tis the hymn of the Bat," they said.
For It echoed Ihe self-same message ;
And then from Hia Word we read
The wonderful old invitation
"Ye weary ones, come unto Me "—
And we told tliem how Jesus loved then
Yei loved everlastingly.

And among the women who listened

Was one who was tired of sin,

Bui she had not come lo Jesus,

For her faith was very dim.

And the simple story touched her,

And her doubts all fioated away,

And she prayed — "O God, please save me.

As the bat was saved to-day I "

Very soon in the Angels' presence
There was joy and the music of song.
And the Saviour-Shepherd led it —
" Rejoice with Me friends, for long
I have sought, and now 1 have found il,

My own. My sheep that was lost
rejoice, rememlieiing
"■ a by its cost !

lis worth to Him

Others had sown the good seed before.

Sowers and reapers rejoice together
Rejoice with the Angels of Heaven

it, gongs were beaten, offerings
made, the priests and their aco-
lytes swung the incense and prayed
and chanted for hours. The re-
latives of those who were drowned,
sal quietly watching and weeping.
Then the pageant was over, the
spirits prayed into Paradise, and
they ail came away. I longed
over one, a pale young widow
with two little children clinging to
her dress. And now as we
saw this poor old woman
praying there in the dark, we

wondered if she too
had tost some dear
and tried to
speak to her. But
she would not listen,
and very sorrowfully
we had to leave her.
Oh this strong,
bitter, heathendom !
thinks of it
all, one feels bowed
and crushed. But with the grief comes com-
fort. The battle is not ours, but God's. In
Divine Enterprise of Missions," he mosaics

three wonderful passages, bearing upon Service—

" For we are labourers
toget/ier with God. . . .
We then as workers to-
geHter with Him." i Cor.
iii. 9. ch. vi. I.

" And fil! up that which
is behind of the afflictions
0/ Christ" Col. i. 24- I

" When the Comforter is
come, even the Spirit of
Truth, He shall bear wit-
ness of Me, and ye also
shall bear witness." John
XV. 26, 27.

Co-labourers with God. Co-sufferers with Christ. Co-witnesses with the
Holy Spirit. Surely in such a marvellous Partnership, success Is assured, unless
marred by failure on our part. Our responsibility can only be to keep in touch.
The burden which would crush us, passes then to Him, And yet there is such a
thing as the burden of souls. What one of old knew, when he cried, — " that
mine head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and

104

From Sunrise Land

night for the slain of the daughter of my people." And again, " If ye will not
hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride, and mine eyes shall
weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord's fJock is carried away
captive." Paul knew this heart-ache too. " For many walk, of whom I have told
you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the Cross
of Christ." Oh God, give us love which can care like that !

February lo. Morning. — The roads are in a bad state still, and the hours of
Coss-and -tumble we spend in itinerating, tempt one to launch out in description.
Suffice it to say, they leave one willing to wish oneself a jelly-fish or an indiarubber
ball or anything under the sun or sea, except just what one is, a being possessed of
a nervous system, ganglionic, and cerebrospinal quite complete ! The mending of
these roads has been curious. In one case where nothing was left but a hole half a
mile long, they laid masses of camellia and laurel down, heaped sand over, and
trod it. The first time we passed after it was finished, the poor branches with their
buds and leaves, still fresh and green, were sticking up through the sand, .\gain
we passed, and now only a feeble few fluttered up at us. 1 did not like to trample
over them. It seemed so hard for them to have to die when they didn't wanl to —
poor beautiful broken things ! Others were mended in a more prosaic manner.
Heaps of rubbish collected and tied in bundles, formed a sort of lumpy foundation,
mud and stones did the rest. Roads skirting the hills, and sometimes cut deep into
them, are paved and walled with " stones of rolling," to quote Ezra. It reminded
me of Bible times to watch the tireless patience and skill exercised in moving those
lai^e blocks, and in carefully " rolling " them up the steep hill-side.

"Bum, buro, O Love, within my heart,
Burn ceaseless niglil and day,
Till all Ibe love of self and sin
Is wholly butnl awayt"

That is our prayer as once more we look forward to a few days with our village
people. It is such a solemn thing lo work with God — our holy God. Who shall
not fear, O Lord, and glorify Thy Name ? for Thou only art holy ! The more one
realizes that unspeakable holiness, the more utterly one abhors and " retracts "
oneself. Praise Him for a patience which can sit as a refiner and purifier of silver,
that we may offer an offering in righteousness, " then shall the offering ... be
pleasant unto the Lord."

February 17. Night. — Back again, and once more with hearts full of praise for
blessing which lays one very low, and yet lifts one into the heavenlies.

The evening we went, we had our usual meeting for the Christians ; one who
had not decided, came in, and listened. When it was over, he said he would like to

Co-workers

" believe to-morrow." " Delay no time, delays have dangerous ends." To-night,
it should be, we felt ; and praise God, after a long time of talk and prayer, to-night
it was. The Christians knew him well. As so often before, we were only helping
across the hne one whom they had led up to it. You remember the question some
one asked the stone- breaker, when at length his stroke took effect — " Which blow
broke the stone?" "Faith I It was the first one, and the last one, and every
one between ! " I often remember that, here.

Next morning we all met again for prayer. The Word He had given me was
2 Samuel v. r8-25. For each new battle there must be new inquiry, new guidance,
if there is to be new victory. " .\s we have done, so we shall do," is not a rule in
God's army. We cannot marcli until wc get the Captain's marching orders. And
we need not try to fight (if we do it will end in failure,) until we hear the dis-
tinct " sound " of the Lord, for only then do we know with certainty that He is
going out before us.

This came with practical force to us all, for perhaps the feeling had been
afloat, that it would be this time just as it had been before. But no soul-number
had been laid upon me. It was to be quite different.

It was different. That evening's meeting closed in a scene I shall never
forget. About half-way through, it simply broke itself up. The Christians drew
up in a corner and prayed, the few anxious ones who were there in another
and listened. It was awfully solemn, solemn beyond all words. At last upon
one and another light broke : one by one, they prayed aloud. Oh that first prayer !
Did ever mother listen more intently for her child's first cry, than we, that night,
for the birth cry of those souls ?

Then followed a praise meeting. The joy of the Christians was beautiful, as
nearly akin to His, I think as anything human could be. And there was the
Matsuye gladness to look forward to ; deepest and highest of all, there was HU
to know, and rejoice in. Oh it was almost loo much — joy unspeakable and full of
gloiy.

Will you not pray for these new-born babes? Ask that they may grow strong
in the Lord, and in the power of His might Ask that they may be no lukewarm
half-hearted believers, but real, red hot, blazing firebrands — fired with the fire of
the Holy Ghost.

CHAPTER XIV
Co OsaKa aiiO Xacti

" He fixed Ikce 'mid this danci
O/flailu- n'reiimlance."

ROIIERT BROWNINO.

Osaka. March 4. — Our party has come here for the C.M.S. Conference, and
(necessarily) also, for the renewal of our six months' passports. The present
passport system entails a great deaJ of traveUing to and fro, and apparent waste
of time, but it must be among the " All Things," and so all right. It is so nice
to know there is no second cause. We are scattered among the hospitable Osaka
missionaries, I am with Miss Howard, which is very pleasant as she is not quite
a stranger-

The Conference opened with a prayer meeting at Archdeacon Warren's
house ; next morning we met for a beautiful solemn Communion Service in the
College ChapeL Then divers meetings followed, and reports were read, some
interesting, some not. There is much I should like to tell you of the ingathering
among the Aino race, and at Fukuoka, fruit of long and patient sowing ; of the
work among the lepers, those poor "not human ones," as they call them here;
and of bright itinerating work in the snowy Hokaido, in the interior, and round
about Osaka ; but of all this those interested will read in the C.M.S. report. One
little tale, however, I must pass on. During the typhoon which brought the flood
last autumn. Miss Ritson was out in a small native steamer, exposed to the fury of
wind and wave. All hope was given up, but she prayed earnestly that, for the sake
of the poor trembling heathen passengers, they might be saved. And even as she
prayed, the boat ran into a creek, and the word was passed down " Safe I " Then
she told them what she had been doing, and they were much impressed. They
too could have prayed, they said, but their sea-god was on shore, and so incon-
veniently out of reach. It was an opening, and she entered in, telling them what
she could in the time, and teaching ihem, at their request, a simple prayer. Would
it not be a beautiful thing if one of these should be brought to Him, a storm-won
jewel, for His joy and hers for ever?

And now the Conference is over, and we hope lo start for Matsuye soon.

To Osaka and Back

107

Among ihe many impressions left upon my mind, is admiration for the couriesy
and charity of the older missionaries, and their readiness to be of service to their
younger brethren and sisters. A year in the field wakens within one a wonderful
reverence for " old missionaries, men and women who may with honour unbuckle
the harness we are just putting on." . . .

It has been decided that our dear Mary Sander must go home to recruit. She
has been far from strong of late, but would not give in. We shall miss her very
much. Another good-bye is near us now, in a few days Mr. and Mrs. Buxton sail,
for a few months' visit to England. They ate taking their little Murray and
Alfred, but leave the Baby San, to represent the family.

From Matsuye, bright news comes. Hilda and M. San went to our village
last week, and another soul has been won. How glad they must be ! Another
over whom our blessed Saviour may see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied.
Praise Him indeed !

M. San goes on to give me a bit of the grey too — for side by side with the
gold, its dull shade always lies.

" I went to visit new houses, but they did not want at all ; they never heard
before, so 1 ask them very earnestly to listen till I tell about Him. Though they
make no answer, I went on to speak a little, but they did not want, so I could not
help them. I was very disappointed. It is very difficult to get people's souls."
Very difficult indeed I But the battle is not ours but God's.

" Oh for trust that brings the triumph
Whea defeat «eeni» strangely near.
Oh for fslth that change? fighting

Into victory's ringing cheer ;
Faith triumphant : knowing not defeat or feai \ "

Matsuye, March 14. — We set forth on Saturday morning last, in all good faith
and an innocence truly touching. We were due to arrive on Monday, for two or
three days we could manage nicely, in our somewhat circumscribed second class,
we meaning, this time, Mr. C. and five of us woman-kind. Our joint cabin was
also possessed by three Japanese gentlemen, it was clean, had a shelf running
round, and a floor of about 6 ft. x 6.

We dispersed ourselves as best we could, hired quilts, which we spread on
the thinly matted boards, concocted pillows out of travelling bags, and when night
came, murmured softly " Here I lay me down to sleep," and endeavoured so to do
To which there was a series of preventives. The screw was exactly underneath,
every vibration went as exactly through us. The quilts were poor in quality, and
did not materially soften the floor. Our portmanteaux were not downy; our
Japanese friends began to play a sort of clattering game, and to smoke.

io8

From Sunrise Land

Sunday morning dawned. We arose in various stages of unsatisfied sleepiness,
and breakfasted in the captain's cabin, kindly lent for the purpose. It boasted a
table, we had brought food, reduced our wants lo a mininaum, made one teaspoon
go round the company, cheerfully used the same knife for tinned meat and jam,
and were very comfortable. A little service followed. So homelike and restful,
we thought of dear ones far away, and prayed much for you. All day we were
steaming through the Inland Sea, a dream of water, and island, and rock. Think
of the strangest loveliest blendings of form and colour your fancy can paint, and
you see as much as you can see, ten thousand miles away.

That night our troubles began ; the wind rose and woke us, it was woeful.
. . . Monday we spent in the depths, it was lucidly described by one sufferer
as "going up, and going down, turning upside down, and inside out." Three of
us contrived a place on deck whereon we could roll in rugs. The rest were loo
much depressed for even this.

It was strange to pass the Straits of Shimonoseki, where I landed Robinson
Crusoe-fashion nearly a year ago, A little life-time seems to have passed since.
There has been gladness and sadness too, for part of one's first year is spent in
getting disillusioned. But praise Him, He abldeth faithful. Thou remalnest I
Sometimes letters come from friends known and unknown, which make one wish
the writers could see straight through to things as they are abroad. For too often,
it would seem, an ideal is fancied, existing perhaps in the " Fields of fair romance
which no day brings," but certainly nowhere else. The heroics we leave at home.
They sound nice, but won't wash. The joy we have, is

' ' Not as idle ore, bill iron Jiig from cinlral gloom

And healed hol with burning fears, and dipped in both of kisiiiig liars."

Some of us used to think the net on the hnme-side needlessly tine in its mesh,
we do not think so now. The tests seemed hard, we understand them better now,
for we have seen what life can be to one who successfully slipped them. They
were only steps to those awaiting us here. Stepping-stones to higher, if far sterner
things —

" Machinery jusl meant to give thy soul its bent ;

Try thee, and turn thee foflli, sufBcientty impressed.

Then welcome eacli rebuff liiat turns earth's smoothness rough 1 " |

But to return — Monday dropped us in Hamada Bay. At this point, one member
set forth her intention to land, and proceed by kuruma. There she stood, in the
grey drizzle, in a bedraggled mackintosh and an indented hat, grasping umbrella
in one hand, and handbag in the other, a see-if-I- won't sparkle in her eye, resolve
in every wrinkle; ofif she went in a dripping sampan. Night came and we started.

To Osaka and Back

log

But of progress not a mile. Tuesday saw us where Monday left us. Out bread
began to fail At this opportune moment some one remembered that this boat was
notably casual. We might not be home for a week, whereat we began to question
the advisability of following the derided departed. But though it grieved us sore
to stay in durance rile so long, " full well we knew the loss of pence would trouble
us much more." So we waited, thought of St. Paul's journeyings often, and tried
to be good.

There were comic touches too, and Florence's yearnings for her kodak got
quite monotonous. She longed for it one morning when a calm hour encouraged
thought of breakfast, and, attended by admirers in semi-foreign clothes, and heads
like well-brushed hedgehogs, I beat up our remaining eggs in a great blue bowl,
while the Cook San, eager for information, broke them one by one beside me.
Likewise, when we scrambled into dressing-gowns and under rugs, on the corner of
our shelf, carefully avoiding a sitling-up posture, lest we should knock our heads
against the ceiling. Likewise, when we rolled double, to avoid rolling singly, upon
the prostrate world below, to the tune of the agonizing screw, half in, and half out
of water, while biscuit tin and frying-pan danced merrily together, and a " Can I do
anything for you ? " sounded hopefully through the din.
Sea-sickness, they say, has three stages —

ist you fear you are going to die.

2nd you don't care if yoa do.

3rd you are afraid you aren't.

In a somewhat modified form, we experienced those degrees of bliss.

Our cabin grew no larger, but much stuffier. It opened upon a storage
place, (the original tst class) wherein odours nioie multifarious than spicy floated
loose.

On Tuesday we sampanned across to the shore, and landed. On one of the
pine-clad heights which encircle the beautiful bay, we found a Shinto temple, where
hundreds of prayer papers, planted round, told their sorrowful tale. In the open
front chamber of all Shinto temples, nothing is to be seen except a mirror, and per-
haps a few old pictures ; at the back is a closed room, and in it the emblem of the
god or goddess lives, wrapped up in silk, and placed in the innermost of a series of
boxes. The high priest only is allowed access to this holy place, and even he not
often. No one ever looks al the guarded Symbol, and no one knows what it is,
whether a sword, a stone, or a mirror, except the priests, and those to whom they
tell it.

We had an impromptu meeting on the hill, for the dozens of people who dis-
covered and followed us. A little C.M.S. work is done here. Two catechists are
stationed in the town, but what are two to thousands ? And yet so it is every-

where, and so it i
scatter.

But don't let

From Sunrise Land

lust be {unless He come,) if the Church does not awake and
us wait for glorious improbabilities. Let it be for each of us

"At Thy feet I fall.
Yield Thee now my all,
To suffer, live, or die
For aiy Lord crncified."

That evening we were hungry, and finished our last crust at supper. We looked
at each other, and wondered. Another night of exceeding bitter toss and tumble,
but it was our last. Next day saw us home, and we thanked Him for iL

Two lovely sea pictures were given us.

We were lying at anchor in Hamada Bay. Upon the shore-side, the moon-
light lay in long wavering lines, every ripple silver-tipped. The other side was in i
shadow, Then a breeze from the sea stirred the surface of the water. The effect
was electrical. All over the darker side, there was a sudden breaking forth into
phosphorescent light. Living, dancing shining tire-balls sparkled up from the dark-
ness. We looked at the moonlit reach again, it lay as before, calm and fair, no
fire-life visible there. It needed the wind and the darkness to bring it out. We
have the one. Oh for the other ' The darkness of heathendom may be felt. Come
from the four winds, O Breath, and breathe ! Then shall the death-gloom be .
lighted with the life-fire, and these slain souls shall live 1 . . .

One evening we watched the home-coming of ihe fishing-boats in tbe sunset ; |
scores of them, with their sails full-set, sped along from the open into the bay. In i
one, as it passed us closely we could see a woman sitting at her spinning wheel,
quietly working on to the last And those swift-gHding things, glorified for the mo-
ment as the sunset gold illumined them, spoke to us of " the entrance in full sail
into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ," For so He
bringelh them to their desired haven.

"And wki» Till reach the shore al last
iVe shall nol counl Iht hHlsws fail."

March 20. — " Papa, potato, poultry, prunes and prism." One could fancy our
visitor is mentally murmuring that " surface "-forming phrase, so replete is he
with propriety. He has come to call, and as no one else happens to be available,
I am entertaining him until a better comes. He knows no English, my Japanese is
not assured enough to venture much upon ; so, after the interchange of introduc-
tory courtesies, we relapse into pauses, and I study him. A gentleman, every inch

a gentle man, he would not injure a mosquito, he could not be anything but polite.
Given to leisurely ways, given to circumlocution, against decision, in word, tone,
or idea, I should imagine, his whole sou! slowly rises, and solemnly protesis. And
yet a fibrous man. One with pith and worth in him. One who thinks — not in our
fashion perhaps, but thinks, which is the main point. How I wonder if he has ever
thought about the one great Question, and carefully 1 ask him. He has heard of
it, would be glad to know more. While I am getting some books for him I. San
arrives, and I subside. Presently it is discovered that he has come to cast an ador-
ing look upon the foreign house, if such is our honourable occasion's opportunity.
So we take him all over it. Nothing is missed by those quiet, quick, eyes. They
observe, among other barbarisms, some badly arranged flowers. Pained, but too
polite to express the pity he must feel for us, he gently turns away. No wonder,
we are bunglers in the Art ; our coohes understand it better than we do, the poetry
of line is mystery still to us. And now I. San is talking earnestly. Our friend
listens with interest, promises to read and meditate upon this new and strange
enigma. Turns over the leaves of his New Testament, while I. San explains its
order, and something of its story. And then he bows and goes. Cuf heart- though is
follow him. Oh chat the visit to the foreigner's house should lead to an acceptance
of the foreigner's God. Nay his as much as ours, though he knows it not as yet.

The beautiful Spring Blossom is beginning. We have an eight-foot high
branch of Plum, just breaking into crimson, in a vase downstairs. Every twig gives
one a separate little thrill of delight. The whole is something too lovely for words
of mine ; and I take refuge in Mr. Fox's —

" Oh, colour, colour, Love's last opulence 1
Tby universal language doth enshrine
The mystery of all m.Tgnificence,
A supernatural ministry is thioe.
These larger fonns of speech doth God employ
To shadow forlli His Own unshadowed joy."

Here comes a peasant, carrying a huge bundle of straw rope. He is one of the
flood-sufferers, from the village of which I told you. He tells his story, and I re-
member him — the poor man who sorrowed so over wife and children parted from
him. We gave him a start again, he says. (A few pence with which to buy straw
to make rope and mats.) Since then the skies had smiled, and so had he. He had
got work, his dear ones were with him now, and he beamed, and bowed, and begged
me to accept the aforesaid Rope, in token of his never-dying gratitude.

Here then is the rope, drawn by the kind I. San, he gives you the giver too,

112 From Sunrise Land

and he wrote two tiny Japanese " poems " beside it, the translations whereof 1
append.

■' Only sira-ai Ropi,
But viortk mote than geld became ef
Ike Ifje it speaks of:'

'■ The hag dislaiut all unminded be-
cause ef fail grace for which
thanks must fay."

He has gone away now ; we
talked to him of the God of Love
from whom his happiness had come.
We gave him books, and as he said
goodbye, he asked us to come soon,
and tell his people loo. We hope
to go, — oh if only one were divisible, ^ ^

how convenient it would be 1

114

From Sunrise Land

How is it we so faintly reali/.e the realities we believe? We don't seem to grasp
their significance. Our grip of tliem is loose. Is it because we could not bear
the full, grand, force, as yet? Would the vessel break with excess of delight?
1 have been reading Miss Nugent's New Year's Booklet, " Our Own God " ; and
fcailing is a tame way of expressing my enjoyment therein. Sometimes a flash of
the glory of things touches one into a moment of " rapture all Divine," (a sensation
oftener sung about than experienced !) and one can revel in the loveliness of " our
own God," being our very own I Its complement, too — just think of it. We are
His own ; His very own I

" Hit tTBH .' Thtir joy skduld Bt le bnr His Cress and shamt,

Tkiir tun, ta pour for ethtri' vvuitdi a balm,

Tliiir nil, IB labeur graitdly in His Nemr,

Tt liaagi lartk's try of angtiish In a fsalm.
Slui/I from lluir clasp shaiild drop all siiptris dm.ii

T'o frft Iktir hands, CtxT s ktating tup iB btisr:
Steifl frem thtir brnos lift em a royal tifom
Ltil GaTs Namt tn Iktir fonhtads virilltn fair
Be hidden, and soitu sad soul miss il Ihtri."

Oh that the eyes of our understanding being enlightened, we may know what is
the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the
saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe
which can lift us into ownership in such a God ; and transform us, poor unwonhy
ones, into what His own should be !

Eaitcr Monday. — M. San has been telling me about the old woman of whom I
told you some weeks ago, whom we were allowed lo see once, and who in that once
believed. She died when we were at Osaka, and was buried as a Christian, for she
died, simply trusting in Jesus. She remembered the hitle text she had learned,
and which we had left with her, written upon a slip of paper, "He loved me, and
gavi Him St If for me."

NffU' I understand the impelling to lead her straight to Him, which so seldom
comes, or dare be yielded to, in a first visit ; it was our last chance.

Will you pray that we may be quick and sure in buying up the opportunities ?
How suggestive that R.V. mar. is of Eph. v. i6. Buy up, as something worth
buying. Wisely, for bad bargains are possible ; promptly, for the chance to buy at
all may pass before we know, and pass beyond recall. "Redeeming it out of the
hand of the wicked one," as Dr. Wordsworth has it, brings lo the fore another thought;
some one else is bidding for that priceless " opportunity," some one keener to see,
and swifter to buy, than ever we can be ; unless we are living so near our Master
that He can tell us when the chance is coming. Not long ago I missed one. We
were in a river boat, behind us tied on by ropes were two sampans. The owner

ihc rope.
. under it,
he splash

c of them climbed into ours, as wc steameii along, and stood beside u
Then he dropped into his own again, and began to unfasier
It slipped, the boat overturned, and he sank. When he came up, he w;
and he could not get it righted ; It was a critical moment, we could see
and struggle. By this time our steamer had slopped, and the other s
off to the rescue. He was saved ; but tlie shiver lasted, and lasts yet, as I think of
it. One chance was given us of reaching that soul, we missed il, and before we had
realized it had come, it had gone, almost gone for ever. And gone for ever it may
We may never see him again. Oh opportunities are not toys to be

Tr.iy lliat we may buy lliem ii[i

Ptay thai sa one with Iliin «e

Just when lo speak, and wben to be iliil, and daily grow

Mote and more wiapl In Hiving ihe souls He lovelb to !

There are some very superior men in Maisuye, for it is an old feudal town, and
in it are many of the retainers of the nobles who voluntarily surrendered their
powers and lands to the Government in the Revolution of '68. By far the greater
number, thus suddenly deprived of all means of support, drifted down ihe stream lo
want and woe. Some struggled up, and bravely faced ihe world again as scholars
i( not soldiers, and their sons are among the thinkers of wonderful young Japan,

Svich a one Florence visited a few days ago. He had been to England, had
all our favourite books,' could discuss British affairs, and was up in everything,
except, alas, the one thing needful That he respected as an interesting science,
nothing more, and the Bible he put on a level with the writings of Confucius.

There are many such men who have travelled through " Christian " countries,
and returned to their native land confirmed sceptics— having lost all, and gained
nothing, their last slate, surely, sadder far than their first.

These scrap letters, being written from ihe interior, whei« our work lies mainly
among ihe simple though thoughtful villagers, naturally deal with the things concern-
ing them, rather than with life as it may be elsewhere. Btit it would not be true lo
Japan to give this side only, there are great cities, as you know, where Western
ways prevail, and ihe foreign element rules ; there are colleges and a national
university, and everywhere there are good Government schools. Japan is becoming
fast "the Britain of the East," and her Stork may give place lo an Eagle before
many days are past. Whereat some rejoice and some don't. We Maisuyeiies love
the " Old Japan " best, and 'care little fur much that is new.

Can you make out what this is meant for? A family party, their goods and
chattels, an^i their god, drifting slowly down the river, drifting slowly, who knows
whither? For as I stood on the bank, and waiched the little sampan and its

ii6

From Sunrise Land

sirange sad burden, passing down and on, lill it slipped round a wooded curve, and
«-as lost to view, it seemed to me that the Idol in its gilded shrine was the moving
influence, the active principle there — and no one dreamed that it was so. Those
people, the man sculling in the stern, the women sitting in the bows — tliey thought
ihey were taking their god to a new home somewhere beyond, but was it not rather
thai it, or the Power of Darkness it stood for, was bearing them swiftly down the
river of life, and out to the sea of Eternity ? Poor slee|>ing souls— one longed lo
send a cry of recall ringing across the water, lo spring somehow from bank to boat,
and hurl that painted thing overboard! To say anything, do anything to shock I
them into wakefulness and life ! But one could do just rwlhing.

'-..^\

.■^^-'r'

And so it is day after day, month after month, year after year. They are
pa-'sing out of the world, Ihey are coming into the world faster than we can reach
them. This century has seen 60 times as many births as baptisms. Four millions
won for Christ, and the heathen population has increased by two hundred and fifty
millions. Ten hundred and thirty millions are to-day drifting thus.

We stand on the shores of an infinite ocean, we stretch our arms to them.
Some seem to pass us so closely that we can almost touch them, but we strain lo
reach them all in vain— they have glided pasL Some are away and away beyond
our ken. Fifty thousand of that spirit-fleet will touch their horizon to-night.

Oh one turns from the thought with almost despair ! And yet not so— for His
Word abidcth. The time shall come when the seventh .'Vngel shall sound, and the
great voices say— "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our
Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever!"
Manh 29, —

" Oh could I tell, ye surely would believe it I
Oh could I only say what I have seen '.
How should I lell, ot how Can ye receive it.
How, till He bringflh you where I have been?"

117

One's thoughts flow hoi, iike some fiery lava-slream, but something in the very

telling seeras lo cool them down, till they are like that same lava when the fire-glow

has left it a mass of expressionless grey. One can only bring Him the poor little

;akly told siory and trust Him— if in love He will stoop so low — to breathe His

And well, thrice well, if He " turn to ashes " every bit of tlie human in it, if so
be it may be a live coal in His hand, alive with the altar fire, quenchless for ever-

And now for this afternoon's seeing, and a sad enough one it has been, had
we but eyes to see deep. On tlu surface, beauty everywhere— the wooded hills fair
already with early blossom, villages nestling beneath them, bright with busy life:
under iht surfoee — death, death, death. We might have been walking in a living
graveyard. " Dead in trespasses and sins " — those words mean something now.

There were three of us — two English-speaking Japanese and I. We had not
arranged where to go to, and had a little talk and prayer over His "Going Before" —
a new thought to them, which they took to, with a simplicity which reminded me
Iiy contrast of some good folk at home, who are so much too wise to take the Bibie
liierally. When the customary " Where deign to go ? " was asked them by any we
met, I noticed they answered " Our God's honourable leading's way we go."

At the first hamlet we came to we stopped, and they gave away leaflets and
talked to any who would listen, while I sat on a big mossy stone near a greaB
ancient Buddha, and thought of the time when the idols He shall utterly abolish.
bome pilgrims came just then, with their rosaries and bells, small idols slung across
their backs, baskets of prayer-slips, each with the same meaningless formula written
thereon, in their hands. 'I'hese papers they stick all over the images, a dozen
perhaps on each one of the hundred visited, hojiing, poor souls, some will reach
some one, somehow, somewhere. Forceful indeed are the old liible verses— "Vain
repetitions as the heatheu do, for they think they shall be heard for their much
speaking," for example, has a terrible ])oint when one sees the thing being done.

After a while we drew a little crowd, and had an open-air meeting, standing
under the shadow of ihe Buddha. The people looked at us in blank astonishment
while I played upon my little harp and we sang, and talked, in the simplest fashion,
and tried to teach the children clustering round us the few words of the chorus,
liut ihey did not care to learn : it was all too strangely new to be even desired.
They gazed, listened dumbly, and that was ail. Again a Bible word seemed sadly
a prvpos, "And lo thou art unio them as a very lovely song of one that hath a
pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument : (not that thii applied !) for
ihey hear thy words, but they do them not,"

We gave books, and left them standing in little knots pondering dimly still.

The next village was a mile or two further on, and here it was much the same.

tiS

From Sunrise Land

Nobody seemed the very least interested. Tliey were willing to listen, and re-
sponded with the unfailing courtesy of their nation, but of true soul-hunger there
was none. Poor things, they had never heard there was anything to hunger for.
Praise God, there are Spirit-prepared hearts hidden away in the darkness could we
but find ihem, (and more and more I am impressed with the fact that just in pro-
portion as we are in touch with Him, so He will lead iis straight to them;) still
there is ihe work of the herald, as well as that of the ambassador. He hath need
of ail.

We had a talk with half a do^en women who were silting on the wayside
round a basket of shell-fish, picking the creatures out with long pins, and packing
them into unfragrant market boxes. They were close to a paddy-
field, too.' It was not a savoury spot. I'm afraid while we sang and
talked to them 1 cnuldn't help commiserating those unfortunate
whelks. It was such a very uncomfortable proceeding, and when
they kindly offered me one for my immediate refreshment, I
wondered how one would possibly do if it came to a question of
eating (ivhich it most mercifully didn't). "He giveth mor^ grace"
had in it a wealth of reassurance unajipreciable by you dear home
people, who never were offered a snail in your lives, and neict
expect to be. It would be such a comfort if one could Uve nn
native food; but though some of it is very good, it doesn't seem
to contain much nourishment, and you have to get through sucli
lots of it if you are to get on at all— not always possible to the nnt
ravenous foreigner. Until He guides otherwise, I am living as ail
Ihe others do, very much as at home ; but to be native all round, is
the goal of my ambition. Will any of you who can do it with un-
prejudiced minds pray about this?

We had another open-air meeting in this village, and then
walked along among woods and fields for some miles of further seed-
sowing. There was a Fox-Matsurie going on in town, and the country people
were thronging to the centre of excitement. Many carried offerings of rice,
cakes, Dowers, wherewith to propitiate that much-dreaded deity.

Very few refused our little books, and we gave away a great many to those who
had evidently never seen one before. And as we walked, we sang a somewhat
revised version of "Bringing in the sheaves" (certainly nothing just then, and there,
seemed more impossible than a be-it-ever-so-distant harvest), ending, however, with
the inspiring chorus adapted to —

'■ Bringing Jafaotie,

Bringing Japanese,
Yes, tut'JI come r^aicing.

Bringing in tie i/iiaiici!"

k!n.ih ^Jf-I

Not Yet — Ere Long

119

My tvo dear helpers quite brightened over it, and one felt so glad that though one
could do so little (for, of course, though I have said "we" it is Ihey who really do
the work) one could help to sing ihein through the fight. Over and over again a
group would gather, listen, gaze, and move on. How dull seemed each unre-
sponsive face ! It was as if the soul was asleep, or a long way off, and needed
awakening or recalling. One felt inclined to fairly shake them, to clap one's hands
as one does on all occasions here when one wants an absentee — anything to arouse
that dead thing into being. But only the touch of the Living One can do that.
How one feels one's impotence in the presence of this colossal mummy of heathen-
dom ; a mouse might as well try to overturn the Great Pyramid as one of us seek
to win a single soul.

"But God hath chosen" — let us have the thought in full sweep— "but God
hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise ; and God hath
chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty ; and
base things of the world, and things which are despised hath God chosen, yea, and
things which are not, to bring to nought things that are ; that no flesh should glory
in His presence."

Ah 1 there we have it — the sentence of death passed upon tht flahy the bap-
tism unto dtalh, the dying which lives again in the much fruit, the '* not /, bul
C/iriit" life. One begins to enter into it a little deeper as day by day He teaches
one the absolute uselessness, anil worse, of all fleshly energy. No word from the
last Keswick came straighter home to some of us than, "God sends us to the
heathen for two purposes, to do them good, and to find a grave for a good self."
May He make our self-funeral the greatest fact in our existence.

Not an exciting day, you see. Nothing seemed done, nothing happened.
Things are not always "happening," you know, out here, any more than at home ;
there is plenty of " humdrum" here. We had to leave them apparently just as we
found them, asleep in the snare of the devil —

" Bound, who should cooquer ;
Slaves, who should lie kings ;
Ntaring Ihtir one hofe luilk an tmfty weiider.
Sadly laiiteiiltd u/ith a shirm of Ihingi."

And so I have no harvest songs to sing this time. And the sower's songs are
tears. For you must not paint our skies blue always. There are cloudy days loo,
and days when the heavens above us seem as brass — deaf, dumb, pitiless ; and days
when all seems lost in the horror of a great darkness, and we can only look blindly
upward, and hold on, and lean hard, and know that through all He loves. "/ have
prayed for thee that thy faith fail nol," comes to one then with a power unknown
before.

But they are not ail so, praise Him \ Sometimes the sun shines forth and

I20 From Sunrise Land

chases the clouds away, and the blue comes out again (it was there all the time, we
knew, could we only see through to it), and we catch an echo of the victory song,
and sing it too ; and then, perhaps, longing that those who tarry at home should
divide the spoil, we sing it once more to you. Can it be that the eager, instinctive,
turning you-wards so, is just a faint far-shadowing of His calling together His
friends and neighbours? Or can it be after all a better thing still, even His own
saying it all over again, *^ Rejoice with Me^ for I have found My sheep that was
lost ? "

And so there is often more of light than of shadow in one's home-tellings : in
the darkness of defeat and disappointment, one talks to Him alone, in the sunshine
of gladness, one wants you too ; only don't forget that there is more, far more, of
the one than the other. It is not all ** Hallelujah " yet,

" We sec not yet all things beneath His feet.
Not yet, not yet ;
No cooling hand has quenched earth's fever heat.
As yet "—

But praise the Lord —

** Beyond the raging storm there shall be culm.
Ere long, ere long ;
And winter si^h shall change to summer song.
Ere long I "

Matsuye. April 3.— You will like to hear about our village. We felt distinctly,
; being sent to strengthen rather than lo extend the work. At first the
■e disappointed, for they are very earnest about winning more, but
soon they saw the force of it, and arranged for limes of waiting upon God. By
Sunday ariernoon we were so thoroughly warmed through, that oil were willing to
become fools for Christ's sake, and bold an Open-Air. You can hardly think what
that meant to them. It was not till they remembered how often our Lord had done
so, that they could quite rise to it. So we set off, singing, —

" In the name of the LotJ. there is victory,
Now for me there is viclory,

Ilallelujnii!"

After a long walk by the riverside, and under wooded hills, we came lo a little
scattered village, which seemed half asleep, for not a sign of life was visible any-
where. Could they all be at work in the fields? The Christians looked at each
other and at me. Had we come all this way for nothing? It was rather flat. You
may imagine how I prayed, for they were weak as yet, specially weak in this new
form of witnessing : and a disappointment at the beginning would be trying. We
stood in a circle and sang, but nobody appeared. Then we scattered to give tracts
to each house, empty or otherwise, and 1 went on praying. Now they had insisted
on my bringing my Auto Harp, carrying it themselves, (which in itself is most un-
Japanese) and as 1 walked along I began to play it softly, more lo myself than to
IS nobody seemed anywhere. But an old woman came to hfe, then
another ; then some boys and an old woman, all attracted by the unwonted sound
and sight. In a few minutes we had over a dozen, and in a few more, twice as
many. There was no one near to interpret, so I held them as well as 1 could, and
soon He sent a small child who could be posted off to gather the band. Within
twenty minutes we were in the full swing of a splendid open-air.

The Gospel had never been
preached here before, and the poor
astonished people gazed and gazed,
as if they did not know what to make
q( it all.

I think the Chrii
^ain, they seemed so much
couraged. Even the girls ;
whu must have i)een very tired, said
their hearts were so happy that their
feet maitererl noL 'Ihey all turned
u(i at the C.30 prayer meeting r
moming, after which we had two n
Bible readings, and then we lel^.

/i/rii 4.^It is kite-time. Every
boy, large and small, is dying one.
t'lom the windows we 1
a score or more high up in [he clear
blue.

By some curious arrangement
of string, they make a musical mur-
muring hum, which fills the air, like
the sound of a thrething machine in
harvest time at home.

Here is a leaf from a child's a l,^/ Mm a chus , .4 a c />«■*.

ABC book, which will show you how young Japan is instructing her yoi
to iheir indoctrination in matters knickerbockerish, for don't imagine her little
boys are all so painfully English yet.

Ever since January this song of the kite has filled all space, and once I
made it myself. For one day a boy of three feet high was flying a monster of six :
observing my interest in his operations, he gave me the siring to hold, and I made
a discovery. The kite only sang when the string was puUeil tight. Wherefrom
came a question, — what if it be that the light-pulled siring is what makes the music
wiihin us? It is worth working out. if you will. Taking the kite to be oneself,
the string the "dragging-down " influence, fAe soi/u/Aing one is tempted to fret
against and from which one would fain break loose. Perhaps even now the music
an it be that the cord has slipped slack?

Kites to begin with. Fights to continue with. You see I am giving you
two classes, plebeian and patrician. One does not often see this sort of thing in
the land of amiabilities ; but the other day, I came across something not unlike it ;

'Never heard these Honourable Words

and its memory aLides. It was
so un-Britiah and so Japanese in
ils expression ! Upon the oilier
side of the question I need not
enlarge (the dapper little police-
man, with a sword at his side,
and white cotton gloves on his
hands, who promptly intervened,
did most probabi) ) lest jou
should be overcome by the
^sopian character of this pre-
sent communication, so farewell
lor to-day.

April J. — We have !>eeii
to a cherry-blossom beholding.
We toolc tracts and scattered
them among ihe hundreds who
flocked to pic-nic upon beaiiiy.
They were always accepted with
thanks, and often read at once.

These people have the
delicate sense of enjoyment con-
ceivable, and ihey express it as
delicately, To them, a hillside
white with cherry - bloom, a
flower shower, with the sunlight

Thi Bcf iai OHrlHmia lit TBWt-h.

124

Sunrise Land

mire. Sometimes they bring slight lunches in little lacquer boxes, tied up in
coloured handkerchiefs, so ihat they may spend all day in gentle pleasuring. There
is nothing rude here, no boisterous ]jlay. They accord lo their flowers far more
reverence, than many a Christian bestows upon his Christ. As one watches their
tender way of handling, and their almost respectfulness of altitude in dealing with
them, one cannot help contrasting the rough touch of that Sacred Name. The
familiar approach, which forgets that the lowly Saviour is also the King, Eternal,
Immorlal, Invisible, llie only Wise God, to whom be honour and glory for ever.

" Never, never heard such honourable wordi ! "
been listening while we told him of the one true God.
This was tiis answer. We were visiting among
houses, in a bamboo wood on the hill. No one
had ever been there before, they told ua, and the
people asked us in, and listened curiously.

" One God? Why [here are many — look!" and they pointed to the idols in
the little open shrine. " And He /oj-es us ; how amusing ! " Yes, that was the word
they used. It sounded so utterly incomprehensible and unlikely. Then the oldest
of ihem all spoke slowly. " You are children, you have not iieard much yet, but I
am not a child, and even I never, never heard these honourable words ! " The old
man's answer rang in my ear, as with one more earnest assurance that indeed these
tilings were so, we had to come away, How often we hear it said.

135

Mary had a lalk with an old woman one day, as they travelled together, by

boat After she had heard about Christ and Salvation, she asked her how long it

; the Saviour came to the world. Mary lold her. " Ah," she said, " that

a long lime ago, I never heard it in my youth, when I might have turned, now
I am 100 old to take a new religion ; my mother and my father never heard it ! "

Oh that more would come I If we believe what we profess, is it not almost like
jckery lo come so late and so leisurely?

But js one passes on tales which are heart-aches, one cannot forget that those
at home who will feel them most, can't come, because they may noL Here is a
word of comfort for such. Have you been refused by the medical board, or other-
; kept "by the stuff"? Do you remember that twice over it is told us that
they could not go over the Brook Besor? All the same, they went forth to meet Him,
and shared the spoil. Is it not true that the point is not so much where we are, as
wheihtr-^c are where our Lonl wants us to be? The work is one, what would
become of ns, out here, if for one day you ceased to " hold the ropes " ? Only,
wherever we are, lei us pour out our "love like the rush of a river, wasting its
waters for ever and ever,' and when the King comes back, for ever and for ever we
shall rejoice together.

April lo. — We have had an encouragement this afternoon. For the first time
the small weekly meeting we hold in a court in the town, seemed to interest itself
in our message, and the shyest of its members were more inclined to fraternise.

Sometimes the Japanese way of receiving our advances, reminds me of a scene
on the Lakes one winter, not very long ago. Two girls were skating together.
They had been talking about various little nothings, and at last one of them
ventured a word upon a greater Subject. It was assented to, as were all such
harmless roundabout remarks, with perfect equanimity ; and so they went on most
amiably, till a straight question, as to her own salvation, elicited the astonished
rejoinder, " Why ! I'm a clergy "inn's daughter ! " and suddenly recollecting an
engagement the young lady skated off.

But presently she returned. " I've told my Father," she said sweetly, indi-
cating that gentleman, deep just then in the sublimities of Figure Eight- Backwards,
" and he says you didn't mean anything, so I've come back I "

Verj' much so do our friends here at times. While we talk affectionate
platitudes, they say, " So it is ! so it is ! " and like us very much. But face them
square, and mark the result, for ihey are Japanese, and by no means coinmon
heathen! And then they ruminate awhile, or confer with one another; iheir
natural charity of disposition suggests that perhaps after all the foreigner didn't
mean anything, it may have only been her barbarous ignorance of social etiquette,
and so on. So they return, which gives us another chance to mean something, and
do it ; and they listen again ; perhaps perplexed, perhaps provoked, perhaps,
praise God I to be persuaded.

126

From Sunrise Land

Sometimes one wonders Ihey will listen at all. Think what it must be to hear
that all you have reverenced all your life is pure delusion ; that your best has been
lavished upon a mere Nonentity, or worse ; that everything which to you and your
forefathers was esteemed precious, must crumble inio dust, if what you now hear for
ihe first lime from stranger-lips prove true. Surely a truth so unwelcome would
never be received, were there not something Divine behind. But praise Him ! we
don't come with negatives only. It is rather, "Whom therefore ye ignorantly
worship, Him declare I unto you."

Florence has good news to give. She and her interpreter were visiting in a
family, where ihe son is a CM.S. catechist. His grandmother accepted the
Saviour, this afternoon ; and yoti may imagine the joy that means.

Could you see the people, feel ihe deadness, the weight of the death of
centuries, you would know that the winning of a single soul is a tremendous
miracle. A proof stronger than Ions of volumes of Christian evidences of the
existence of the infinite living life-giving God. It is hard to understand how any
can be half-hearted in belief. Either one must be intensely a believer, or — a

blank r

•ihing.

We met some pilgrims to-day. They go from shrine to shrine, they tell us,
praying and offering trifles. This seems to be a favourite season with such. They
combine pleasure with duty, as tisual ; and choose the fair spring-lime for their
weary perambulations.

Mary had a talk with one. He had been going about for three months, from
shrine to shrine, hoping to find healing, for he was very poor and suffering. She
talked to him of the great Physician, and then, as he was weak with long disease
and little food, gave him some money to buy lice ; whereupon he pulled a little
idol out of his sleeve, and began to pray to it, and thank it, saying, "Oh Buddha I
Buddha, hear ! "

The poor little acolytes seem to have a harder time than falls to most in this
land of lightsome life. For on the surfjce, japan is a pleasant place, it is only
when one goes deep, and strikes up^n something hard, that the dull broken ring of
pain tells one, all is not gladness there. The acolytes are often orphan boys, who
are given to the priests in early childhood. 'I'hey have to study hard ; sometimes
are allowed only a few hours' sleep. We know of one who always had a hghled
incense stick, fastened to his hand when he lay down, so that at the txjiiration of the
time allowed he should be wakened by the touch of fire. At last he escaped from
this monkish bondage, and now is studying on his own account, among oiher things,
Christianity.

Side by side with profound scholarship is a credulity equalling what one has
read of in tales of the Middle Ages. Just lately it appears lights have been seen
hovering over the place near the bridge, where so many were drowned; and the
Btory has floated all the way down Id Yonago, that these are spirit-lights; the

'■Never heard these Honourable Words"

ghosts of ihe departed have become uneasy, and are haunting thus the scene of
their woe.

We passed a stream one day. Close to it, fastened longwise, upon four
bamboo stems, was what looked like a large blue cotton handkerchief. Near it was
a little wooden ladle. As we paused a traveller passed, stopped, poured a cupful of
water from the stream upon the cloth, waited while it soaked slowly through, and
went on. It was a deed of charity. Until the cloth was worn quite through hy water
thus poured on, a mother-soul must stay imprisoned in the fiery under-world. In
some far back existence she had sinned, and Buddhism knows no forgiveness. Poor
mother! The sweet flowers blossomed fairly round, they tried to tell of another
Love, but their language men knew not. A little bird in the bamboo chirped to
its male, the streamlet murmured on ; and wondering many things, we came away.

Yesterday M. San, a young evangelist, and I, went to a hamlet some distance
from Malsuye, and held an open-air for the pilgrims who crowded it, en route for a
famous temple ten or twelve miles further on, whither they told us the gods had
repaired for some purpose unknoivn to them. They could not wait long, and after
listening to our message, and learning the chorus, which, to their great interest, 1
played upon my little harp, they moved off en masse, saying thousands of pilgrims
had already assembled, and there would be no room for them if they delayed.

And as they hastened on, the thought came to me, why should we not go there
loo, and witness for our Master? It was such a splendid chance I

But my helpers saw otherwise. It was too far to walk, and kurumas could not
be got. The road was rough, and we would be tired out : we could not return that
night, and the hotel was sure to be full. Altogether it was impracticable. All of
which only made me the mote determined to go, if it meant sleeping on the road
ten nights, instead of one ; as for being tired, what did it matter ? Oh don't blame
too much. It was an opportunity which doesn't come every day, and only the
Devil was buying it up.

M, San was des|iatched home to tell the tale, and we two set off. We had not
got far when the Still Voice, one had not been quiec enough to hear before, began
to speak. " I am not going before," It said.

This meant a full stop at once. . . , It was dreadful. First the fact, and then
that one would have to tell it But there was no help for it. Clearly enough, one
had been carried on by the energy of the flesh, and not of the S]iiril. Turn, we
must. So we turned, but first we knelt down on the grass by the side of the path.
The thing was confessed and forgiven. How good He is, how patient. " For-
given . . . from Egypt, even until noiv !"

At our starting-point we found M. San delayed by a woman who wanted to
hear more. Then a man appeared, heard we had given up going to the far-away
temple, and suggested a nearer one, reachable by water. This lime we asked the
Master, before deciding— it seemed to me a special mark of His love to trust one

128

From Sunrise Land

—and as all three of u

felti

% of Him, I

forth, and M. San, with her revised message, was posted homewards. Everylhing
fitted, everything does, when He is going before.

The afternoon shadows were failing across the landscape ; the trying glare, which
had dazzled one all day long, was gone. On either side the quiet river, rose banks
of high, straw^oloured grass, and then came valley, and wood, and hill. Except
when a wild bird broke the stillness with its note, there was no sound save the
ripple of the water. It was very still and stilling, and His Presence very near.

And then we reached the Temple, a Shinto one, with its shrine beyond shrine,
set deep in the woods under the hill, and approached by a long straight avenue of
cherry, in full blossom. Down by the water's edge, and wandering away anywhere
it liked, was a little village, a cluster of hamlets rather, primitive to a d^ee,
untouched as yel by Western life.

There the evening ablutions were distinctly in progress. The family tub was
in »ome places set in the open front, with its fire-pipe turned towards ihe road, for
the convenient injection of fuel. The blaze below, and the steam above, with a par-
boiled head in the midst thereof, reminded one rather painfully of the early Christian
Martyrs, but nobody seemed to mind. In one of these curiously frank abodes, a.
woman oculist was operating upon an unfortunate sufferer, with a terrible pair of
nippers in harid, and a smile of conscious skill on face. Around was a crowd of
spectators. Perhaps a little initiation into matters occidental would have done no
harm here, but the appearance of a thing in foreign clothes (I had set fire to my
Japanese dress, and had to descend to my own,) so disconcerted the victim, operator,
and beholders, that I had to beat a hasty retreat, and leave them to conclude in peace.

Then we went to the Temple. Since that day at Kyoto, I have kept clear of
such places, unless when consciously sent. To-day was such a time, and we knew
He was " going before " and followed fearlessly.

There were a few pilgrims hovering about. They accepted otir books, and
listened while we spoke a word or two, but 1 felt there was something more for us
to do, and asked might we see the Priest? Much astonished they pointed out his
house, we went, were admitted, and saw a young man, his son as we afterwards
heard (for Shinto priests may marry), who not only listened most courteously to
what we said, but gave us his card, told us his father was out, and asked ns to send
him our holy Book, promising he would read it with interest. He had heard of rt,
he said, but not seen iL

We came away praising God for such an opening, truly this had been of Him,
for such a reception is not usual in the dwelling of a Priest.

As we passed through the large courtyard in front of the temple on our way
back again, we saw what has not left me since.

A thick band of prayer Hags, white paper stuck upon slips of wood, ran all
round the shrine. " What do they mean ?" I asked. Bereft of the honourifics and

card these honourable Words "

hiimblifics thus was the answer given by our boatman, who, heathen though he h
had come up to help us in any way he could, —

mypraytr.

■i ^ag, ,

Ikcir

There were bamboofuls of coloured ones, hanging over the porch, brjght
touches of colour, blue and pinic and yellow, against the weatherworn grey of the
wood — they me.int just the same.

Then I noticed bunches of sea-weed, brown and green and crimson. They
were to remind the gods that the men of the sea had been there, craving their help
and protection. Written about everywhere was the one constant unavailing "Oh

ciful ! Oh n

cifull"

And lastly I saw what touched me most, a long shining lock of woman's
hair : over it was written this brief prayer and promise,—

" Oh most merciful, hear me, and I will give you all my hair ! "

Poor sad woman-heart, bringing its pitiful woes to a pitiless non-existence !
Can we think of it quite unmoved ?

A woman here glories in her hair : and yet at the great Temple of Higashi Hong-
wanji in Kyoto, I saw huge coils of rope used in lifting the heavy pine beams to the
roof, and these ropes were made of woman's hair offered in devotion to the gods.

" A long time a|;o ! " does some one say ? Japan is Christianized now ! " This
Buddhist temple, said to be the largest in the land, was founded in i6oz, burnt down
thirty years ago, rebuilt within the last few years, and is barely completed yet.
Satan has not quite quitted the held.

And yesterday as I stood in that Temple porch, looking at that offering which
had cost some one so much, words you have thought of too, I doubt not, rose in
my heart, — "Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that
which doth cost me nothing ! "

" All l»me for me, and shall my courird heart refuse ill best to Thee ?
Lord Jesus, lake me to Thy fellowship whale'er Ihe cost may be.
A (ellowship of sulTering txit no curse, thai cup was drained by Thee.
A fellowship of resaiiecdon joys, and life of liberty !"

Coming back we had a talk with our boatman. He believed in idols, believed
they heard, and perhaps would answer, he had worshipped them all his life, he
prayed to ihem every day. "Have they ever answered you?" I asked him. "Mada,"
he said, " Not yet."

It was a perfect moonlight evening. But moonlight, though lovely to look at,
is cold to sit in, and we were not sorry when at last we were put ashore, and set off
for our walk to Matsuye, over roads which seemed rough to our lired feet, through
lanes, among woods, and by paddy-fields lighted by pale flitting fireflies and thick
with talkative frogs.

CHAPTER XVII
Saapa-XKti Ancb So

April i8. Among Ihe numnlains en rvtiit for Kobi, — Here is a tale for the childmi.

One day, in (he great flood, a poor woman lost her husband. It was sucb a
torrow to her that *he did not want to live any longer, and &he threw benelf into a .
deep well, and was drowned.

Sometimes in these countries, where the people do not know aboot God and i
His " happy land far, far away," they think that by dying with some one they tovi^
they may be able to help him in his long strange journey through the spirit-woild.

I do not know if it was so with this poor widow, but we do know that her
heart must have been very dark and very sonowful, and so she did this lerrtble
thing. She left one lonely little girl behind her. The people in her village sympa-
thised lO with her, and ihey collected nearly a pound among themselves, and gave
her tome clothes, and brought her to Mrs. Chappell of the C.M.S., who has a home
for such friendless little children. I need not tell you she was welcomed there.

And now the liillc flood-child is learning about the Lord Jesus who loved her
and gave Himself for her. Are you not very glad, and don't you want to ask Him
to make her His own little girl, so that when she grows up, and even before that,
•he may tell her people about Him, and win thetu to love Him loo?

I don't know her name, but if you tell Him you mean the little dood-child. He
will unileriund.

I am writing while crossing country with our dear Mary, who sails for England
■oon.

What she is to us is belter told than I can tell in the Japanese poem sung by
one at her farewell meeting : a very poor rendering — its only merit being its as
near ai possible literal ness— is all I can give you : —

Snow on ihe tnououint melting, increaseth Ihe ilieams in the valley,
Nighting^itei eeue from their aini^ing, far in ihe heul of tJie foresl.
Flying uroM lo the village, wooed by the tccnl of the flowerets.
Anil In the beauliful >priQgii<[e cometh a sorrowful parting
From you, with whom In the po-il our (oiil huh held closest communion;
Ah I like \ bird you ate Hfing, iwidly away in the springtime.
Mournfully leaving behind you colour, and fragrance of bloMom,
Leaving behind you heattt which are bitterly grieved at your going.

And like the ptunj blnasom aie yaa, patiently bea.niig the sufTenng,
Fearing neither llic hlasl, nor llie frosl, noi the snow of the ivinler,
Softly it sheddeth its [letnls, leaving the opening chetry
Sweelly lo taste of the joy of the many trees budding thereafter.

t the porting, but if the flower never fBllelh,
Never may it develop the gloty of perfect fruition.
So let us bear the pain of the cruel but brief separalion,
All (or [he sake of the fruit it will certainly bear hereafter.
Like a brave soldier are you : God sent you to flghl in our lutlles,
Saving the perishing louU bound fast in the mate of the devil.
Closely united In spirit, lighting still under our Captain,
One Khali our song be of triumph, when the long light is all ended.
Peacefully rest you your heart so, never a fear for the i)
Though you are out of our sight, and far lir away o'er t
imoke-cloud loseth itself in the dist
Still standing there by ihe sea, we lovingly follow In npii
Longing to hear of you safely reaching the shore of your

Back again at Matsuye. After seeing the doctor, as every one advised, I
returned with Hilda and Nurse Evans, who were waiting in Kob£ for their pass-
ports. And not being up to much stud/, or other sensible pursuit, during the
journey over the hiils, I scribbled bits of its slory there and back for you. Please
skip, if yovt fee! it loo painfully elastic,

Kumma tiding is jolly indeed, so much so, you cannot attempt (o read.

And as my very rebellious brain refuses a word of sense to retain.

I think I may os well spend the lime in pickling our journey in spirits of rhyme,

AiTording it thus the recreation of a total change of occupation.

Our kurunia men are the greatest fun.

They chatler and laugh and sing as they run,

"" hasten lo explnin.

Is a perfectly inappropriate n
For >

which truth compels one I
n of rcAned caterwaul.

call

The characteristic most strikingly
Displayed is their equaoimily.
The way may be short, the way may be long,
And things may go right, or things may go wrong,
The sun may blaze, or the rain may pour.
They may lie frcih, or perhaps fool -sore ;
However it be, they take life as they find it.
If nice, all the better, if not lliey don't mind it.
When an English cabby woulil fret and fume
They laugh, and serenely howl a tune.

From Sunrise Land

Wlien (lum his lips would [n)ur phrases hor.

They bianiily remark — "Doing side is nol."

And ever ready lo help each other,

A lired one will push (or a llreder brolher.

But good as they are, ihey arc nol perfecliDn,

They'll cheat you wilhoul the least hcsilalioii,

S'niling as sweetly as if they thoDghl ,

They were doing exactly as Ihef ouglil.

If you find them out, they will smile ihe more.

And respect you twice as much as bel»rc.

At intervals they are devoted lo smoke,

And into their toy pipes tobacco they poke.

A whiff or two, a bowlful of rice,

Some pale yellow tea, some condiments nice.—

Then up they jump, inck their pipes into cases

Fastened on (o their belts with old cords or laces.

And balanced, each one, with a queer little bangle

Like these &mall sketches, which herewith dangle.

And (hen without the least sign of flurry

'" calmly tear off— at a huiry-skurry.

Our

nical c

They trot on in front fastened o
Like young tandem ponies carefully lliatched
In straw overalls, wideawakes lo match
When it is wet— but when it is fine
Displaying Adamic perfection of line.
And when Ihe road is exceedingly hilly

They lack themselves on to you, willy-nilly.

One night a strange thing befell us. We were tired, it was very late.

We got lo a lonely hamlet and knocked at the little inn's gale.

But ihey quite refused lo lake us. We pleaded wcM lie on the floor

Of the kitchen, if they would let us, we could not go on any more.

At last they consented to have ua, and to our relief and surprise

They gave us a nice little bedroom, and of quilts most lavish supplies.

The house seemed still, and empty, why had they refused us before ?

Km they cared not to answer questions, and we beard ihcm bar the door.

All around ns rose the wild forest, the river was flowing near.

lis rush and its ripple mingled with the moan of the nit;ht-wind drear.

We eould hear (he people whisper ; 'twos a weird uncanny place.

But thankful for any provision we trusted ourselves to His Grace.

With dawn we rose and departed, but in going downstairs ID prepare.

We founil out the sorrowful reason, a dead man vas lying iMtrt.

And sorely it grieved us to leave ihem, unwarned, and uncomfurted,

A* iheep wandering over dark monntaina, for whom Jesus' blood WM abed.

ig the ^
Ihem ?ihcpliei

nlets we hasten through
lO can slay In lell
of Heaven and hdl.

When shall il

Of lline t<

Some one will dime

Of Cod and Salva

or Love eternal. Divine, an<l free,

or Love so precious lo you and me,

That wilhoul it we could not bear l<

Docs not this thought make U!t long

To the left-out ones, who need it so

Arul who never bciiril, and who never mAy knc

Will you not ponder what these words n

Mcaningrul are they, i

Then come, let come, or help come; for Indeed,

Though great is the cost, gi^aler still the need.

Dear one, open your heart (o the call.

Do you not love llim best of all ?

One day it was hot
(Very often it's nol|
And we boih bougf
A big basket thing

Thas bedeckeil

;e*d hav

The n

lused.

For Ihcy are not yet used

To foreigners thus decoraled.

Brought strings, turUey-red,

And we lied to our head

What fell like a full moon iatti

That day on the road.

My gooil troder slowed

His pace for a moment oi two

And pickeii up n hat

Which WHS crushed rather Ilil,

And covered with dark navy h

Ai he had not one.

There was nought to he done

But appropriate il, wilh ease;

When a

cry o

" Hold or

Pursued

us in

best Japan

And the

That the fuss

was about

The hat

for

s owner ca

To pel it ion il back.
With a bow— not a smack;
'Tv^as returned with a grace edifying.
Next day we had rain-
Not that I complain,
'Tis merely a tact in my story,
Some hours of downpour.
And I noticed, no more
My man went tiatlai in bis glory.
For a new one had he
As like mine as could be.
And I wandered wherever he slowed il
Then under his head
Peeped oul turkey -red.
And, "heedless of grammar," I knowe
t stopped there am! ihen

And

, that

I pnrchased that classl

His bright smile grew dim.
And his bow thaweil my icy
I gave him my haL In add!
him a elighl admonili

For the rest of the day
guile damp-let us hope

Scraps — Very Much So

And we sang Hallelujih '. Hit Imnd had rBsbloned Ihe ^tdcn.

Full U tlie earlh of His riches; everything sayeth Glory I

One night we walked up the hillside : winding the way was, and tiring ;

But when wc got to the summit ali thought of '

Wholly forgotten and lost in the marvel that butsl

For a£ wc turned the last Corner, suddenly uprose

Outlined in red fire before us, fire-jewelled, fire- en wreathed, tire-croHned.

How so, or wherefore we knew not j sometimes, they say, do the ivoodme

Set the long stretches of brushwood blazing like this through the darkness.

And all around us was beauty, pearly grey mist and soft moonshine.

Far, far below lay the valley, dark in the depth of [be shadow :

Far, far above rose the mountains, ridge and peak showing distinctly,

Seemed they as mutely beholding this their illumined brother.

High above all it was lilted, liFled in loveliest lustre ;

All the more wondrous because so lonely and still in its splendour.

And as we looked at it, and then away down to Ihe valley

Where lived the men and Ihe women and innocent little children,

Bound and beguiled by ibe devil knowing not uf their redemption,

Somelhiag reminded us then of matters sublime and eternal.

God means our lives to be dual : one lived deep down in the valley.

Low with the lost souls He lovclh i eartiestly seeking to win them,

Caring for nothing, so only some may be brought home rejoicing.

One yet the same ever dwelling high in the radiant uplands.

Hidden with Christ in Uod, in the depth of the heigHt i.f ills glory.

There are some brave souls, ami Cud knows them well.

Though magaiines may not their praises swell,

Whose life breathes a fragrance, juit fell, not seen.

Like Ihe scent of the violet lost in green.

Trusted with pain in a shaded room,

Trusted with office, or shop, or loom.

Trusted with pen, or needle, or broom.

Such, day by day, tail, sufTer, and pray.

Contented to serve their God any way.
llul some there are. supetlinely moulded,
Wlio sit Willi hands submissively folded ;
Wiio vegetate, rather than live, and suggest
Good cabbages, doing no harm at best.
or the poor dark woitd's dark need they know :
'ITiey lake a great interest in missions, and oh
At times they are almost ready to go —
But then, by some Raw in their calculation,
1'hey " mistake laziness fur Resignation."

For they are so speedily persuaded.

That all the reasons by which they are aided

To gravitate back to the easy chair

Arc fully as solid as ibey are fair.

r -/>

Fro 21 S-irrii^ La^d

T:' vvn I ieiui^en vie psad tms ;

=0h -vil VJC u&e -iriic^n v^

I>ji : rhinic :aas "^^ r^ii cal * biubc insiiuciT

I: '^ivr* The Kjar^r i-.a sooii :a vsnr uc.
r^ v.il .{amis: j-vir kol vxi a zmnssi^ !k>c
An«i s«MU>iaee ir^ anii v;a. fiUil
7 "lit /jj vc Krr.iv( kohs -jcaer j^j'
Aa^ arw, v%n *: 70& 5ice iz. aaii

^^r .'a^ fTM ar> >ji:^ hi a lACci
<'> 1 7*r7 *' srxBisKU:* ■" descrrCEQ

W^ -m^ arB.7

A-vi w-t yrjr/avi oar foeeu wlca *• Rffir'T^gy'" a f^^

W* j^^ ;r.r/i r>ert,

^>-.r«€:v«^ aori o«ir seij
Wm li^^tT a. icrecs,
A riuft thifl^ of paper,
Tr.T'-^m^ whiicfa j{;Uace9 keen

T<^ *ee what CAvUi te leca.

We bj 4^^*Mik, u I uiri, and attetnpced to sleep,

Boc «»r ffientk ^^mte a. yxlifirafion did keep.

An asllimalical gentlemnn'!. breathingB were dec
Anti a baby, poor cheruh, developed a weep.
So, though our (ired eyes shut as tight as cduIc
Our eats remained open itralionnlly.
Thus tossing and tumbling.
With walls made of paper we did disagree.
Then as vfe lay there, with distlnctnew we heard
Bewildering chorus of cough, cry, and word,
The frogs too were croaking, a ralher absurd
Combination i>( voices, pathetic and gay.
Excited, monotonous, effectually
Successful in keeping us waUelul till day.

For ige« we listened unwillingly, llien

Peiceiveil thai our excellent kuruma-n:

Had begun to diF^cuss

Our doing! and lit.

It appeared, on ihe morrow.

Fresh helpers they'd borrow.

Than »

1 lawful,

weie wc
Til be asked then lo pay :
So we heartl ihem nil say j
And they kindly agreed.
With a candour indeei!
Most sweetly confiding,
That we were abiding

And would easily be
Taken in by the deep
Little scheme ; th|n asleep
Were they all in a nice.

We kept still a
Saying unto ourselves,

Next day, oui besl-beloved kuruma-man
Slated, with gravest composure, the plan
He hoped we believed.
He felt greatly grieved ;

But ihe fact was that tvc
Must give twelve sen a ree.
And not ten any more
As we'd given before.
{Thai even being double.
Because of the trouble
The great Hood hod wrought,
Ttian Ihey usually sought.,)
Il pained him to know
Tliey coukl iisl dei^n ti

Un.l

For the fact »

So spake our besr-belovcd kunimn-maii. —
"Tell him." said Hilda, "as fast as you can
Just how we heard Ihcm lay their liltle plan !
'I'ell him we'll walk. Not a single sen more
Mean we lo give than we've given before.
Tell him we won't : and that's all about it.
They'll come like one o'clock,— never you doubt it !
Greatly perplexed was our kuruma-man.
For this he wasn't prepared, and he ran
Kound lo the others, who with dubious faces,
But, lo their credit, the best of good graces,
Rigged themselves up in llieir straw waterproofs.
Smothered their groans in their blue-covered roofs.
And then for once and for ever we all
Thankfully blessed our despised paper wall.

■■<■

Scraps — Very Much So

Then this dictum catch I faintly
Chasing after me downhill.
What exactly, lost in rattle,
Something touching — ** make yottr will** t

139

Sometimes like the wild birds singing

Or like sun beam -flight,
Thoughts rise swiftly upward springing.

Such a one to-night
Thrills me with triumphant gladness,
I^anishing the shades of sadness,
Which are wont to intertwine
Round this coward heart of mine.

Something of its restful meaning

I may give to you.
And it is no empty seeming.

But His love-note true —
We are threading passes winding,
And the evening mists are blinding
All the prospect, drearily, —
Whispers low a Voice to me.

** Come with Me, My child," it sayeth.

From the life below.
From the littleness that stayeth

Thy free spirits' flow,
** From the top look !" Sweet it ringeth
Through and through me. My heart flingeth
Far away each chilly fear.
It is sunshine : He is near.

From the top look ! So thy vision

Crystal clear shall be.
In that moment of transition

Surely thou shalt see
Tangles straightening, wrong re-righting,
Victory encrowning fighting.
Peaceful mountain summits are,
Bright the view of near and far.

From below, the world's brief morning

Seems to close in night :
From above, one sees the dawning

Of Eternal Light.
Can it be that every shadow
Comes because our view is narrow?
Clouds of densest darkness frown
All around us when we're dcram.

From the top look ! Hallelujah !

Christ is Conqueror !
Even now the Song of Triumph

Swells above the din of war.
Closes so my mountain story ;
To His Name be ever glory.
Hallelujah unto Thee,
King of kings, eternally !

CHAPTER XVIII
"3t Will be a Seeb"

•' Ckritl Ikt Sen ef Gad hatk ant ml Iknugk the mUinighl lands.
Mitu tki mighty urdtHolicn gf the fitriid Hands."

Matiuye. May 3. — Dear Nurse Evans has been seriously ill. We think she got
knocked up in the little hotel of " very |>romisciis description " of which I told you.
There were symptoms of typhoid, and she suffered much ; praise Him, the danger is
over, and we trust she will soon be well again. This coming so soon after our jour-
ney together over the mountains, has made us realize how narrow the boundary
between the Seen and the Unseen. A step, and we have crossed it, and entered
"straight another golden chamber of the King's larger than this we leave, and
lovelier."

Ever since dear Nurse came she has gone for weekly missionings to Sakai, the
little port down the lake, and much blessing has been given. We thank Him for
giving her back to the work which so needs her!

May 5. — With a " Please pray " attached to each, may I give you three
pictures ?

We are in our village once again. The Christians there arc beginning to feel
the stirrings of heart we long so ranch to see. They are ready to carry the torch to
some of the many places arounil, which lie in the darkness still.

In the home-mind sometimes, there is a rose-coloured fallacy afloat, that the
moment a heathen is converted his first impulse is to tell everybody, and win every-
body straight off. Is it so with home convetsions ? Is it so with one in a hundred ?
Ten thousand miles geographical make less difference in things biographical ihan ,
some of us are apt to imagine, till we come and see. Human nature is much the
same, and the devil is just the same, everywhere ; and so it comes to pass, we re-
joice exceedingly when our Christians are on fire enough to be aggressive, and,
praise God, some are splendidly so.

At this particular moment we are bound for the village of which I told you
where we held a liitle Open-air. As we walk along by the river side under
wooded (lower-decked hills, we sing choruse?, with a happy abandonment as to lime
and tune, but making melody unto the Ixird, nevertheless.

"It will be a Seed "
Oh 1 it is good CO hear these who six monihs ago were in darkness themselves

"AH my lift ! give Thu:

' All my lift I givt Thee.

Dying sButi la save J "

We have brought our " Benlo " with us, and after separating to give invitations
all round, we meet in the large roomy house of the chief man in the village to partake
thereof.

First, we sit down on the floor in a circle. Then a large case, placed in the
middle, is opened. In it are layers of trays fitting into each other, and each con-
taining its own variety of fare. Upon dainty plates of curled palm leaf, the helpings
are arranged, chopsticks and all complete. I hear a kindly whisper of "Give her
ihe very best," and receive my share accordingly. Then we sing straight through
all the choruses we have learned. H. San asks a blessing, first on the Benio, and
secondly on the meeting. Finally, we begin.

Valiantly I attack my huge rice-ball, lr)ing t
dimensions in its cold and dense solidity ; and the ci
of, or rather, what are they twt made of? for ihey si
bit of everything. One ought to be "saved above'
it is a relief to have one's own food in the background.

At about eight o'clock the people begin to gather. Over and over again we
sing the simplest of our Gospel choruses, till shyly they try to join in, and we know
it is taking root.

And ihen one of the older Christians speaks, and for the Rrst time for most of
them, they hear of the God who made them and who loves them, and who sent His
Son to die for them.

Again we sing, and another speaks, and they sic and gaze. How much of it do
they understand ? How much can they possibly Cake in thus hearing it ? Most are
peasants, but even peasants in Japan seem a thinking race, and when the ques-
tion is asked, " Are you ready for the next life ? " the unusual answer is given, " We
are not ready for this life, how then can we be ready for the next ? " Still, thought-
ful or otherwise, it must indeed be bewilderingly strange. How little once hearing
may mean I am beginning to find out, though it may mean more than we in our
weak faith dare to believe — more, stupendously more, — because after all we are
dealing with svipernatural things, and have a supernatural Promise and Power and
Person behind us.

Question and answer follow now — a. sort of weeding time it is — for such con-
clusions, as chat our God must be a relation of the Mikado's, (by which they mean

3 make ft hole of galisfactory
mdiments — what are they made
■em to be composed of a little
' minding this sort of thing, but

142 From Sunrise Land

the opposite of ihe terrible irreverence it sounds) are shaping themselves in these
darkened minds, and must be met and dispelled one by one. And then my turn
comes. Very quietly they listen, and as we close witii prayer not a sound is heard
but the hushed " Amens " of the Christians,

By this time it is long past midnight, but nobody seems inclined to go. The
children have fallen asleep on the mats or in iheJr mothers' arms, or upon their
backs, and the elder ones press closer together, many crowding roimd the open paper
walls, and wide doorway. We cannot send them away, and the meeting begins
again.

It is so good to (ind oneself able to understand even a very little. It is as if 1
the thick curtain which separates iis from the people were being pin-pricked here
and there, and one were just beginning lo see through. But only a very little yeL

At last somebody remembers to-morrow will come, or has come rather, for it is
after one o'clock, and the day's work begins soon after sunrise. We say good-night,
and pass out into the lantern-lit darkness.

Our second picture is different.

Three thoughtful, well-educaied lads have come to talk aUoui "Christianity."
They can speak a little English, and between it and my broken Japanese we can get
on without an interpreter. At once they plunge into the subject "Bible having
read, we think good Book is, but minds cannot accept Jesus being God," and ques-
tions follow touching His divinity, the eternal existence of God, the Trinity, the
inspiration of the Bible, and the future life. Upon this last point they remarked that
there were very likely some people 1(1 the middle 6f Africa, 6t Cliina, or ItiAli, and
other "heathen countries," who had not heard of the Gospel. What punishment
could they have? It was not their fault ! It is an ofien-asked question. Merci-
fully we have (he answer — Christ's own unanswerable answer, " He that knew not,
and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes" ; and
they are satisfied. But their perfectly calm way of skipping their own Japan in
the list of " heathen countries " astonishes me* From the verandah we can see hun-
dreds of houses ; in each one idols are worshipped morning and evening. Eighty
thousand dollars were willingly offered in the Island of Kiushiu alone to send its
representatives to Chicago last year, that Buddhism might be worthily represented.
And yet we are not " heathen ! "

Which reminds me that a friend kindly suizgested the inadvisability of using
that term, as it implied something akin lo barbarism to the sensitive Japanese mind.
Being so new to everything one was puzzled. People at home realize iiltle enough the
woefulness of these nations left in the dark, without being further soothed to sleep
by the use of mild phraseolog)-, and to most, " unchristian " would mean little more
than what they have in their own near neighbourhood. And yet one would not
willingly wound any. So I consulted Mr. Buxton's trusted referee upon matters

11 be a Seed"

■43

Japanese, sure that if he knew of any such feeling he would tell me at once ; but he
seemed to think it best to use the word that most forcibly emphasised the fact, that
this people were without Christ, having no hope, and without God in the world.
Sometimes it seems as though we whitewash black to such an extent that we
almost begin to believe it is only a shade of light grey. But I may be mistaken :
older and wiser differ. Whatever we call them, the fact remains that here they are
all round us, people for whom Christ died, yet knowing just nothing about Him.
To-day, to-morrow, and on all the to-morrows until this reaches you, they will die
like this^die with a cry on their lips to the poor dead Buddha who cannot save.
Do you care ? How much do you care ? " God so loved that He gave 1 "

And now to return. After an hour or so spent in proof-giving as to the veri-
ties of our faith, the conversation turns upon things terrestrial. "We hear there
are churches in England called iccis" and they want to know all about them.

I tell them the old siory of the sand-pools and the ocean. They see the point
at once, and exclaim, "Ah, they are ail the same water, only a little sand between!"
And they listen with keenest attention to the grand, true sequel, how, when the
mighty tide conies rushing in, it sweeps into itself all the little scattered sand-pools,
theic very existence lost in its magnificent fulness. " All one in Christ Jesus."

"Are the seels dear to each other?" The more we love the Lord Jesus the
more we love all who love Him, irrespective quite of their particular " sect." " Do
they ever join in one ? " Oh yes 1 And I tell them of the incoming of the love-
tide in our own land, even now : they look at each other, and say, sotio voce, " That
is good."

A few of the English Testaments, so kindly given to me just before I sailed, :

in hand still. As I :

will be a seed."

Will you not stop even t
Picture number three J
The great spring Mat;

gong, the tiring drum-beat, ;
It is night, and we

ig their names in each, one of them says simply, " Jt

s you read this, and pray an earnest " Amen " ?
s different again,

uri is going on, and the air is full of the rich sound of the
md the hum of multitudinous voices,
ire going to the Shinto temple on the hiil with Gospels,
tracts, and leaflets. It is a good chance to reach the many country folk, who crowd
in from the outlying villages, and we must not let it slip.

At the foot of the stone staircase leading lo the summit, I leave my helpers,
whose presence in the strange scene at the top might be open lo more misconstruc-
tion than mine ; and, hardly noticed, pass up with the throng.

The dark pinewood is hvmg with chains and rings and stars of radiance. On
either side are stalls and booths shining with pendent light-globes. The whole place
is aglow with luminous colour, and thousands dressed in their pretty best are flock-
ing to sec the sight.

144

Sunrise Land

About half-way up I find myself in the precincts of the priests' robingroom.
There they are in a goi^eous dhkabilU of purple and crimson and blue : scarves of
gold and silver brocade irail about on the floor. The finery is quite awe-inspiring,
or will be when it is on, (I thought of Carlyle's " Sartor," and wondered what he
would have said !). Three youthful acolytes, evidently overcome by its resistless
influence, are down on their knees in a series of prolonged bows. I offer my books.
Through sheer astonishment at such audacity, I verily believe, they arc accepted, and
before they have had time to recover from the shock, I am gone.

Then up, and on, lo the lop. And at the top, what a flash and clash of light,
and colour, and sound. A sacred dance is in progress. A tiny child-figure, dressed
in the most marvellous fashion, postures slowly up and down to the measured beat
of a drum within the curtained temple. "Suffer the little children." He said, but
she does not know it yeL A few minutes and the dance is over. I and my books
are discovered. The people press and push ; the young priest in charge of the
drum leans over and asks for one ; liiile painted faces smile down pleadingly. I
fill the ouUtretched hands, and they hide them in their sleeves. Before the old
gentleman robed in flaming yellow, and reposing in state at the far end of the
shrine, has discovered the position of affairs, and arisen with dignity, I am off
again.

But it is not wise to linger longer. And a few minutes see me rejoining the
others below, rejoicing that we were able even a very, very little, to "buy up the
opportunity out of the hand of the evil one."

All the way home we were stoned more or less, and " Jesus, Sign of the Red
Cross ! " was shouted after us— honours of which we were unworthy.

And now you will pray for us, will you not ? Pray that He may so clearly go
before that we may follow after, fearing no evil, knowing His voice, obeying it only.

Pray that spirit, soul, and body may be strong to do His will. And pray for
the bread thus cast upon the waters —cast in such weakness, that one wonders
lometimes how it can ever do any good at all — ever bear one little bit of fruit to
His glory.

We can only leave it all to His patience and forgiveness, and trust Him to
perfect that which concemeih both it and us.

It is May now. This letter, begun last month, has been delayed. I had just
written the last few lines, when the Christians of our village (for we are here again)
came to go with us to another of the many unreached hamlets surrounding us.

And as we walked along the narrow iiath, among the low-lying paddy-fields,
for the first time I saw bread being literally cast upon the waters. It came with
such a message of strength and comfort, that I could not help stopping and passing
it on to the others, to whom, in this fresh and beautiful connection, it was as new

11 be a Seed"

145

er. He walked up and down the
Lnd // was muddy and iinintcrest'

There was nothing of imporiance in the so
flooded field, throwing his seed upon tlie water,
ing enough. The seed was the worthful thing.

And we took courage then. In us is nothing : that is evident ; but in tlie
life-seed is everything, " with the power of God behind it ; " and however impro-
bable and impossible it looks, "he that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious
seed, s/ia/l doubtless return again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."
"Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shall find it after many days."

Yonago. May 11. — M. San and I have come here, according to Mr, Buxton's
arrangement, to be with Lizzie, who would otherwise be alone. Dear Mary is
much missed, the Christians ioved her so.

We have been having a happy time making friends with new sisters and
brothers in Christ. Among them, are some of the cultured upper class ladies, and
some bright earnest lads, as out and out for their new Master, as they used to be
for their old. Full salvation is a glorious truth. Not only forgiveness but cleansing,
"Cleansed, and the Cleanser abiding," And even more, there is for us, praise
Him ; "Thine the mighty ordination of the piercfed hands."

Yesterday we went to the lake island, to which Florence and I. San go fort-
nightly. We took a number of Gospels, and giving one to each group upon the
little steamer, set the best reader thereof to read aloud to the others. This satisfied
all concerned, and enabled us to keep the bulk of our stock for the islanders.
When we landed a crowd gathered at once, we found our way to a hut they called
a " hotel," had a cup of tea, and a sumptuous lunch of bread and jam which the
thoughtful Lizzie had prepared ; and we were feasted upon by eyes male and
female, old, young, and middle-aged. We had our first meeting then, and they
listened quiedy, though we afterwards discovered they could not have understood
much, their dialect being difl^erent from NL San's, or even Matsuye's simplest.

Then we asked the way to the village where the Matsuyeites were to land.
They said it was hard to find, and offered to guide us there and back.

The path wound in and out, and round and through the loveliest cornfields
the sun could wish to shine upon. Sometimes the barley rose above one's head on
either side, and the wheat was nearly as high. Soon it will colour, and then think
of the miles of glorj' sheen, with its dark pine groves rising here and there, set in
the blue of the hill- en circled lake.

We had to walk single file ; and M. San tried, under difficulties, to explain
something of our message to the old woman who guided us. She told her how
without her help we could not have found our way through the mazy cornfields,
and compared the village of our desires to the heavenly home, drawing the parallel
in simplest words, as if for a little child. But it was evident she understood little,
and to each question of M. Sail's, I could only hear a " Don't understand."

Sunrise Land

Wc passed a Shinto temple, as usual buried in splendid pine, two giants guard-
ing its entrance, stone monsters too, in attendance. "The gods live there," said
the old dame, pointing to it.

There were little graveyards strewn ahout hy the cornfield-edges, and in the
woods ; and one knew as ore passed them, they were graves of those who had
never heard.

And then we reached the village where the Maisuye boat landed, and found
our way to the room Florence always sleeps in. The interested, if not decided,
members of the community heard of our arrival, and appeared with Testaments, tea,
and bows. We bowed, tea'd, and devoted ourselves to die Testaments, had a.
; meeting with the three or four who had come, then prayed, one of them
joining, that soon they might in truth "believe," and their islet be won for King
Jesus.

The room where we were, though poor, and given lo rats, overlooked a bright
little garden, and was clean and fresh. At
night however the scene changes, and those
are best off,
according to
F lor ence,
whose olfacb
lory nerves
are least high-
ly developed.
But this
is part of life
Japanese, and
some one has i
styled I
Sunrise Land as a country of '
A Hiiacki tf/iii. " Sccnts and Ascents."

To our disappointment we found we must leave at once, as we had to return
that night, and the boat was due to start for Yonago earlier than we expected.
This meant we could not wait to see Florence and I. San. So we pinned up a.
text to lell the tale of the birds that had flown in, and away, and turned back by
the way we

Over a hundred men and women (children we never try to count !) had I
assembled to see us off, and as the boat was late we had time for another meetiof^ ,
We had given away all our books, and many we knew would read them ; it was all
we could do, and we came away wishing we could have stayed.

Such work as this — and of it we all have much, needs to be done in faith, for >«

Seed ■'

anything less likely to yield result cannot be imagined. Books given, will they be
understood, words spoken, will tiiey he remembered ? These Satan-bound people,
will they ever believe at all ? These minds, by his malice darkened so, are they
even capable of serious belief?

Yes, that is all true, and much more is true than we can know, and all this is
against us ; nevertheless at Thy word we will let down the net, and as for the great
multitude of fishes — Lord, we believe, help Thou our unbelief!

The Christians here seem very earnest. At the weekly prayer meeting, the
older boys arranged to come not once a week, but every day, for Bible readings on
the Tabernacle. To-day we studied the Vail, " the Vail, that is to say His flesh."
It is a pleasure to work with such minds. They are not satisfied just with " pretty
texts," They want to kH07v their Bibles.

It is late, and I am writing whilst wailing for
Lizzie, who is out at a meeting. She will be very
tired, I fear.
Thesemeci-
ings, begin-
ning per-
haps at 9
o'clock or later,
are delightful to
the spirit, but a
weariness to the
flesh. But we
cannot help it,
now that the busy
season is on, it is
either that or no- "'^^^Jl- ""^ \ thing, an alternative out of the question.

A few nights ago the people (poor farming folk) were

so long in coming that I began to think we were meant to have a prayer meeting
for the district, instead of a preaching. But the Christians who were with us said
" Oh no I It is not late yet " (9.30 p.m.) ; " at their honourable convenience they
will come." So we went on waiting. Finally they did come, and we liad a lovely
time.

Sometimes we hear such gladdening little things. Just lately an inquirer told
our Japanese pastor tiiat he had been drawn to " The Doctrine " through noticing
the kindness the Christians showed to each other. " By this shall all men know
that ye are My disciples if ye have love one to another !" Pray that this unfeigned
outshining love may abound all through the great missionary army, the native
Church included. Sometimes it seems as if the fair Love-mantle were encompassed

F roinSu n rise Land

by spiriu of darkiieM, eager to touch with grimy Soger ia spotless paritr. And
ooljr the dofcr-cooiing presence of the llaster caa keep them off.

Perhaps bojs and giils ma^ chaaoe lo read this. Hoc then is aomething ibev
will like— at least I did very much. These queer crfd Japanese drawings are to be
had in <)iiaini old curio shops, such as we hare here. .\n ancient genilcnian, with
thlnf pale, and long pipe, lent me these to copy for yoo, for the comic toach
tickled roc immenfely. They looked more intercsiing in that little nuned room at
the back of the cutio shop, lying among old brocades and rough sketches, and all
torU of odds and ends, tlun they do in bare black and white in a letter, SdU they
may do thcjf wofk by telling how many a year ago, when they were first painted, in
pale blues and browns, these strange men and women were just as we are now,
even down to enjoying a little fun. So don't let us imagine "the heathen " are

cj^

dried up, unreal, unsatisfactory beings, but rea/ people with real minds which
can think and laugh, and real hearts which can joy and sorrow, real men and
women and children, lo be loved and won for King Jesus,

There are many things in which we need your prayers more than we can lell
you. To^Iay I heard of a young fellow who is hesitating between God and Baal,
" He wants lomc religion, but is not determined which to take. He is wishful
to livt with some missionary, to watch his doings ; and then with some Buddhist
priest, to watch his doings ; and if that missionary's doings are preferable to that
. of firieits, ht will take Christianity, and if not he will take Buddhism." Does not

•^

(

((

It will be a Seed"

149

this give a deep glimpse into the terrible possibility open to us ? We may so easily
wound a weak conscience, and sin against Christ. One would thankfully choose
the millstone, and the toss into the sea, rather than that.

Sometimes Faust's lines spin themselves into fears for me —

** *Tis thus at the roaring loom of Time I ply,

And weave for God the garment thou seest Him by.'*

Solemn, is it not ? We are weaving for God the garment, the only garment^ they
may ever see Him by. Will you not ask that we may be saved from ever, by word
or look or gesture, pushing a soul back into the dark ?

CHAPTER XIX
Mttb one JSaic Cditiifl

" IVi Ktmld be melltd ly Ihi heat of lav
By fiaiats far fiercer Ikan are bbnua I,
Atid purge Ike silvir-Brt eulullerale."

yonago. May 14. — Across the corn-fields, lies a liLtle brown-roofed village, in-
habited by a fralernity of Beggars. The story of its opening is a beautiful proof
thai the Gospel of Christ is the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that
believeili, be they whomsoever they may.

The Beggar people, like the Eta, live in hamlets hy themselves, and are
looked down upon by the Japanese in general. One day Mary went to the poor
little place, and spoke to those who listened. Then she tried to interest the Yonago
Christians in it, but they feared it would be no use. Christianity needed thoughly
these people could not think. They knew nothing, besides which they spoke a
patois of their own, and would not understand proper speech. However, it ended
in the head catechisl's going there, and becoming impressed with the opening, and
the need. And now some of llie earnest young Christians have taken it up, a little
room is being built, and all promises well. The people themselves take a keen
interest in the proceedings, and yesterday when Lizzie went she found excitement
prevailing. Some opposers had threatened to burn down the new room. The
Beggars had turned nui, and defended their property with such effect, that the
insurgents thought it wisest lo retire.

Last week we went to a large silk factory, and after interviewing the foreman,
invited the girls to come lo us for a meeting. About fifty did, and all promised to
return ; but to-night instead of them, we find a board posted upon our front door,
caricaturing the whole affair, and ridiculing the girls for coming. We hear the town
is similarly placarded. Our gentle timid girls must be tremendously in earnest
before we can expect them lo face that again.

Our daily Bible-class progresses. The boys are deeply enjoying tracing with
me the unfolding of the great plan of Redemption in type and prophecy. Oh
that one could help them more I The first year away from books and friends,
teaches one bow precious every atom of Bible knowledge is, and how very little one
possesses.

With one Bare Telling 151

May 18. — We have come to our village for a few days' work. I believe we
are going to have a solemn time, for we have had it in our own souls first. " Be ye
clean that bear the vessels of the l^rd," "Speak unto Aaron and bis sons that
ihey separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that
ihey profune not My holy name in those things which they hallow unlo Me. 1 am the
Lord" These words have been speaking to us —

" Far better id its place the lowliest bird
Should sing aright to Him the lowiint song,

i strayed sheulii lait tht Word
And sing His glory luraiig."

May 19. — We are not in our usual room this time. The honourable Mr.
Silkworms have it. When the hotel folk toUl us this, bowing profusely the while,
and we answered that it did not matter — Christians did not mind such little incon-
veniences, their satisfaction was supreme. They have given us a downstairs room
near the kitchen, and the old proprietor finds it convenient to creep in and out at
intervals. " It's an ill wind," etc. ! He wants lo hear the doctrine, but fears the
result of accepting it. Poor old man. Will somebody pray for him?

To-day my food ran short, and I hazarded I>ouUry. Tliey caught a full-grown
specimen, and brought it to be interviewed. It was a small black- feathered thing,
wrapped up in a blue cotton handkerchief. It blinked at me, it kicked, it audibly
protested. I never saw so unresigned a chicken. But hunger steeled my heart I
described the process necessary from now, till t/ieti. They professed compre-
hension, and departed. Presently it reappeared, stuck upon a dish in so suggestive
an attitude that I literally retreated. It looked exactly as though it were going to
jump at me. It had come straight from the pot, ghastly, gaunt, and cavernous : a
case of beauty unadorned and indigestible. I tried to tackle that bird, but it was
altogether too realistic. And so closed dinner, and so closes story,

A/ay 21.— Once again we are waiting at the little hotel by the lake. The tiny
garden-yard at the rear looks so pretty and bright, and our hostess has brought in a
vase of flowers for our special delectation. How these Japanese will enjoy
Heaven ! They seem capable of so much more pleasure than most, a subtle power
of delight is theirs, His gift surely, who gave us the flowers, " those beautiful smiles
of God!"

We have had, as we knew we should have, a sacred season of quiet in His
Presence at our village. At one of the Bible readings, instead of taking notes as
they usually do, one of the men sat with his face covered, silently praying. After-
wards he spoke: "For some time I have been full of thought about this, (our
message for them, which was indeed just His for us, about holiness in our holy
things) by God's special grace did I hear this morning, and my soul has fed."

One would not be surprised should the Spirit of God come upon this man, as

15=

From Sunrise Land

upon men of old, and use him mightily. Thai is Japan's need lo-day. Prophets of
her own, who, Elijah-like, will dare to stand and face the crowd, and dare to bear
the after silence of the desert; for marked out for a life-long loneliness is the man
who is "the Voice."

This man came to me with a question I never heard mooted before. Some
lime ago, at a large meeting in a village where the Gospel had never been preached,
pictures were used to help to explain the message, and among them was one of our
Saviour. The people looked eagerly ; care was taken to guard them from mis-
take as to ii, but ihe fact remained they had seen "a picture of the foreigner's
honourable God." From that time doubts as to this mode of work in heathen
lands, came lo me. Power to pray for blessing upon it was not given, and
as " whatsoever is not of faith is sin," 1 discontinued using any pictures of our Lord.

But as others older and wiser could, and did, one could not judge at all ; and
until that afternoon, 1 did not get the question satisfactorily settled. Then through
one of those guidances which afterwards one understands, it was once more forced
upon me ; the doubt came to a head, and He showed me clearly that, in view of the
possible dishonour and mi^>unde^sta^di^g which such use might occasion, I was not
to touch this natural mode of " help," but trust entirely to the supernatural power of
the Holy Spirit tO'do the whole work.

And the thought also came, — as we cannot truthfully paint that Sacred Face,
because the Godhead in it is beyond all human mind to conceive, or art to
enshrine, have we any right to paint it at all ? Is it perfectly reverent to try ? And
10 me, the one answer seemed No : an added reason to prevent one's using prints
and drawings made to sell.

This point was no sooner clear to my mind, than the very same question rose
among the Christians, who had called to take us to a meeting, and for the first time
I heard it mentioned, one saying he had felt uneasy about it for some time, while
another said he had spoken to no one, but gone to God about it, and "had got
it in his heart these words, ' pictures of His Son to God were not good,' " They
turned to nie, and I was glad for that still time with Him about it, just before. One
could answer them as He had taught one then.

My dear brother P. San is at our village now. He has left school and given
his life to the fight. You will know what a gladness this is to me. Pray that he
may be Christ's good soldier, kept true and earnest and all for Hiin.

Our dearly loved young Christians (young in the Faith at least, most of them
are older than we are, and one is a great-grandmother) are doing well, and learning
daily from H. San, who shepherds them faithfully. He is preparing them for
Baptism; they all know the Lord's Prayer, a good deal of the New Testament,
and can sing numbers of hymns. I am longing to know when they will be
declared proved and tried, but don't ask the staid H. San, for fear of seeming in a

■53

hurry. This time of testing is important, and the native Christians are the best
judges as to its duration. But one longs that the gift of the discerning of spirits
should be given again; then "the same hour of the night" which saw their
acceptance of the inward and spiritual grace, might see them sealed with the out-
ward and visible sign. As it is, we must wait till " time has proved " what our eyes
cannot now see clear enough to read.

As I write the voices of men, raised high in dispute over some game of chance
in the next room to ours, remind us where we are, and why. We are on the
King's service, let us buy up the opportunity ere it pass, and is lost, . , . We
spoke to them, and gave them books, it was all we could do. They are reading
them now. May their words sink deep. Our pleasant hostess comes in with tea,
we talk to her, but she " knows it," she says. As we pay her, she tosses a coin to
the idol on the shelf, it falls into a box and rattles. " What good does it do ? " we
ask her. She doesn't know, but it is the custom. " Will you leave all that money
there?" She laughs. Oh no, when it has lain in the box awhile she will take
it back again. "Then it is only pretence?" Oh no. li is the custom. And this
is all she knows, or seems to know. And she is one for whom Christ died.

It is night once more, and the mail goes to-morrow, so I close with a sketch
from a Japanese design, which one comes across everywhere — in fretwork, and
friezes, and tinted transparencies, and loveliest by far, in real life in the sunset on
the lake.

iS6

From Sunrise Land

jubilant ! Vou dear home heroes and heroines, His hidden ones, in hidden service
spent — you may not share the gladness of this life of Tidings- telling now. But
surely afterward, the glory for you will be double. I love to think of the surprises
awaiting you then. Last night's meeting, for example, it was yours far more than
ours. God seeth not as man seeth.

With morning we blithely departed. The road was broken, they told us, and
no kuruma could run, so we walked, and (hereby reached many we should other-
wise have passed. M. San had a long talk with a dear little woman who had never
heard before, and our baggage coolie meanwhile opened out to me, telling me last
night's hearing was his first, and that it all seemed so " thick " to him. I taught
him John iii. i6, which he struggled through bit by bit, till it was fairly in. Some-
times when the sun seemed hot, and the way long, it was such a compensation to
remember this could not have been had we been kururaaing.

In the afternoon we had a little meeting and gave away many books. We
went off the road proper, at times, and found the loveliest nooks among the woods
where in simplest rusticity dwelt a people gracious and winsome, eager to know
(he why and wherefore of our visit, and yet so concerned lest we should be weary
with the heat and roughness of the way that they would hardly question t;s till
we were seated in the shade. One could only wish and wish again for a hundred
lives instead of one, to " pour out " upon them all. Can you think how hard it is
to leave place after place with the one bare telling?

And now to-night we are waiting here; having shown ourselves and spread by
means of children manifold, that we have come to tell every one who wants to hear
of the One True God who loves them. The people seem very busy, but if indeed
He is "going before," we know He will draw the hearts He has prepared, and the
meeting will not be in vain.

A young priest has just come in. Must stop.

. . . Yes we had a good time. Our room soon filled, and the Shinto ex-
priest with whom we had been talking, offered us his, fancy a.pricst doing that ! He
had been obliged to leave the fraternity owing to illness, and having heard about
the "new foreign religion" was keen to hear more. Oh how simple it all is
when our Lord arranges for us. One gets so accustomed to surprises that one
ceases to be surprised. It is " just like Him," that is all.

Not until nearly lo o'clock did the people begin to muster. A funny little bit
of by-play was enacted just before. I went into the big dark kitchen sort of place,
to make a cup of " Liebig," hoping thereby to keep awake, for in spite of all my
efforts I was very sleepy. While the kettle was boiling, it got wind somehow, that
the honourable stranger was going to honourably dose her honourable interior, and
this " drew " the meeting ! How they crowded round and watched, while I mixed
the brown stuff with a chopstick, and then handed round a diluted portion thereof

With one Bare Telling

'57

for their aogtist benefit. It certainly worked as a charm, for between it and the
inspiration derived from a packed room of eager and sometimes excited listeners, 1
forgot all about bed till after i a.m., when once more its shadow fell upon me — and
hardly staying to see the last of our audience, and not staying at all to divest myself
of anything, I lay down . . . suddenly came a crack in the wall, so it sounded,
and I sat up again. We were wanted, the paper dividing our room from the next
was slightly opened. " Would we deign to partake of the honourable tea? " which
meant " Will you come and talk to us ? "

So we went, for these were people worth going to — as who is not ? One, our
cx-priest friend, the other a. Buddhist, and he said this — " Before this time, I heard
the doctrine spoken of, I haled it greatly, but I hated it without an understanding of
its real teaching. I was judging a cake before tasting it. This was not just."

Oh, how one longed that he might taste and see that the Lord is good; no
doctrine merely, but the blessed Lord Himself! Both priests accepted Testaments,
and one of them invited us to go to his village, promising to gather the meeting for
us himself. It seemed too good to be true, but it is a long way off, and we cannot
go at present. Can you wonder and blame us for ever and ever reiterating,
re-echoing the. cry "Come over atid help ub! The harvest is great, but the
labourers are few " ? Can you marvel that we pray with our whole hearts, " Oh great
Lord of the harvest, thrust forth more labourers into Thy harvest"? But what if
this prayer, Christ-inspired though it be, fait back upon us, because God cannot
answer it, because we will not have it so !

" Is it nothing to you, O ye Christians?
Will ye pass by and say
■ It is nolhins, wt cannot aid them '1

n give—

■go-

■ prny ;

e your soul from blood-Euilliness,
For in lands you never trod
The heathen are dying every day,
And dying without God.

Is it nothing to you, O ye Christians?

Dare ye sny ye have naught to do?
All over ihe world they wait for Ihejiglil,

And is Ihis nothing lo you?"

CHAPTER XX
On wttb tbe HbcBssge

O fmt, ta mi gt a^Jmd Ikem,
Ar imjair Jafan tkty mew,
dt thi (km ^tkt J^, 'tma It Bmttt tt J^,

" if> Uer tr»mgkt Jtrnn Ua Ma Btmr."

g tfatoi^ a 'pnoj bit of cooafij. All around are roicfaes of

B csnidids, intcnpcned whh p

s of daik green t

i rush, J

1 ffwrralrt, bean and egg pUots in soTi eiecuic Doaed about are Iktlc
browB-rooicd bonetteads, hedged with floveiing shrabs aod pine. It was too sad
to puB tben, and too bot to go to ibcm, so we have hit on a compromise and de-
■ paliAcd oar knrama-men with tracts for eacb boose, we awaiting their rctmn, by
tbe wayiide. We have been 11711^ to concoct some son of shade out of oar
karonn boods, and now, siting down in die botUxn of mine, 1 am sciibUiiig awaf
10 f on. We are knmmaing t&dajr, because it was too Cir to wail: in the beat, xnd we
have promised a meeiiog ai InKikhi to-nigbt.

It it pleasBBt 00 the road just now ; tbe scents are reduced to a minimum, and
the fiowcn are a cootifUBl jaj. I wish I could paint Ibcm, sweet bagnnce and ail.
and waft Aem o««r to jou. There are vahetJes of spirea and cjemaiis ; Glies are
bcgjiwiafr porpleand wliite iris grow in pools by die wvrside. Tbe hedges are Aill
of booeTSUcUe, detttua, sriinga, any quantity still of azalea, and here and there a
stray trail oi wisteria. The woods echo with the trilt of the nightingale, ^lidb
warUcs to a son of tntermittem whistle. One looks up through it all to Him, and
oufTcls at the infin ite tesoorcefufaKss lying behind such lavish loveliness,

Tbe towns and Tillages are rich in bir things too, fern-balls bang from cottage
eaves, large pots of spring cfarysantfacmnm, purple or wtuie iris, late peony, or
dwarf rose, adorn tbe pretty rooms ; aixl as the paper walls are all wide open
now, we can see many a dainty bit oS colour, as we pass. Sometimes a bamboo
joint hung ag^nst the wall, with a spray of blossom in it, is the only dec(»aIioD.
Sometimes an old rootlet or gnarled pine branch is grouped with a bit of opening
bud, by way of coouast of idea. There is no end to the devices of these beaoty-
loving people^ Tbe merest bnt has a gracefiU touch abooi it

How very bot it is ! Tbe lai^uid air hardly ioOaies the great paper fishes.

On with the Message

which hang from a tall bamboo, in front of the
nearest cottage. For the Boys' Festiva! is not
over yet, and from every house where within
the last seven years one has been born this
signal of joy stands forth. The Fish is em-
blematic of indomitable perseverance, from the
Chinese story of the carp which swam tip the
waterfall. M. San tells me, " So boys n
brave like them, therefore it
is their sign." One tomes
across the design in scrolls,
with all manner of variation,
and the colouring often is
capital.

Beside the fishes on the
pole, there is a long white
flag, emblazoned with various
grotesqueries, in which the
military idea predominates.

In March the little girls were feted. The shops were cleared, and crammed
with dolls and models of life from the Mikado's court in the olden time down to the
rustic of to^iay. And the children were dressed in their gayest, and played about in
their pretty demure way.^so much for beautiful fanciful old Japan. Alas for the
day when it shall be " foreign " ; devoted to top-hats, stiff collars, and kids.

Later, — We have reached our destination for the next day or two ; and now,
while M, San interchanges greetings and communications endless with her friends
in the little room below, I turn once more to you. How powerless disiance is to
separate. Though F. R. H.'s lovely lines deal with one unmeasured by miles, they
often come to me, — for our goodbye

" H.i< only parted tis a little v
And has not severed e'en Ihc
In ihe elemiil cable of
The very si rain has twined it
And added sLrenglh."

love ;

How we praise Hira for it all ! Praise Him for such a privilege. Praise Him for
trusting us so.

It is raining now, and the great drops fall with refreshing splash, but to
our sorrow this means no meeting, so I may go on writing.

I. San was married to N. San last week, and perhaps you would like to hear
about the wedding. The deed and its accessories took eight hours to get through.

From Sunrise Land

First came the knct-tying. The poor bridegroom had to march up the church all
alone, and stand in solemn solitude for about three minutes, while the congregation
looked on, and admired his back. Then there was a rustle, and with a face
betokening speedy dissolution, the little bride came in, and trembled up beside

him.

The service was simple and earnest. We knew the Master was with us, as He
was with the guests at Cana. After this, we all repaired to a large cool beautiful
place near the lake, where the marriage feast was to be held. Ail down the long
room cushions were placed, and before each was set a tray containing nine dishes,
a pair of chopsticks, and a general air of dainty arrangement as to colour and con-
tents, charming to the eye, if not to the palate.

Then the guests seated themselves. A blessing was asked, — not in the hurried
Western style, but with a reverence which allows time for it to be given ; and then
all began—or the Japanese did, kv waited by common accord, till we saw the way '
the thing should be done, and then we followed our betters.

First one bowl-lid was lifted, then another, — but I pass over the next few
minutes, and devote myself to an analysis. Remember this was a feast of the first
magnitude, such as only comes " once in a blue moon," to quote one of our
respected members.

ist. Rice, in a bowl of black lacquer, decorated with storks in gold.

and. Fish-soup with floating eggs. This in red lacquer, relieved with bamboo
tips in gold.

3rd. A mixture of fish, egg, and vegetable, in a china vase, such as we use
for roses.

4th. Pickled fish, and tiny orange-like things, cooked in sugar. A curly
china dish held these ; colours, crimson and blue ; contents, brown and yellow.

5th. Sliced raw fish, garnished with pink sea-weed, and scraps of pretty
oddments.

6th, Daikon — a sort of gone radish root, eschewed by barbarous foreigners.

7th. Roast fish. This even we appreciated. It reposed in blue china, of
graceful design.

8th. Fish paste : white rings with pink edges, carried away in papers, by roost.
This is quite the correct thing, formnaiely for us.

9th, Bamboo shoots, pickled in vinegar. Various vegetables likewise dealt \
with.

Also there was a tiny cup of bean sauce, used as condiment to the condiments.
And there were numberless little additions, also of course tea and cakes, Now,
how would you enjoy a Japanese Feast ?

I have forgotten the clothes, an item of some importance, I suppose, in sucb <i
affairs. Both were sheathed in silk. N. San in white and silver grey. I. San ia |

■ith the Me

i6i

white, navy blue and black. The Japanese idea of a worthy costume is something
rich and chaste. No show, but everything thoroughly good.

At first I was haunted with wonderings — Is it right to spend time so? Is it
right to go in for feasts and silks, when the world pressing all around us is dying,
darkly dying ? At last peace came in the remembrance that this marriage gladness
pictured the coming of the King, the Bride prepared to meet Him. The joy of
the espousals.

" The King's daughter is all glorious within. (Our little bride's inner things
were as pure as her outer.) Her clothing is of wrought gold : She shall be brought
unto the King, in raiment of needlework." He brought me to the banqueting
house, and His banner over me was Love I

"The bride ey« not her garment,

But her dear Bridegroom's face.
I will not gaze on glory,

Bui on my King of grace,
Nol on the Crown He givelh.

But on His f>ieicM hand.
The Lamb is all ihe glMy

Of EmDianucl's land."

. . . I realty think I am beginning Id understand something of the mean-
ing of the truth symbolised by the (act that the Tabernacle rested upon the
desert. The Heavenlies above us are open, and yet we dwell upon [he sand. I
was up there a moment ago, all forgetful of such earthly things as food, when a
voice recalled me. It spoke in Japanese, and it spoke as follows —

" The man has come with the chicken for you."

" All right !"

" Don't you want to see it ? "

Remembering late experiences I answer decidedly, " No, thanks,"

"But perhaps it won't be the kind you want?"

" Oh, any kind will do."

"But — — " Here I cut all further expostulations short with a desperate
explanation.

"So!" And with a shrug of surprise I know, though the floor intervening
obstructs the view, preparations are made below.

Silence, then a scufHe, and tlien, oh dreadful ! a step on the stairs, a voice
which cannot be ignored.

" Look 1 " — and parts of the interior machinery of that unlucky victim are
displayed to view upon a |jlate. "What am I to do with them?" "Throwthem
away ! " Another " Oh ! " and I am left in peace ; but the heavenly strains of

l62 From Sunrise Land

" glory, gitwy dwelleth " sound faint and (ar a*ay, disposed by forced reflections
upon to-monow's dinner.

One little showing or His hand, I think, is worth the telling. Yott re-
r about thai day some weeks old now, when I almost missed the leading,
and how in His love He took His rightful place again, and led us straight to the
pilgrim shrine and the priest's house.

A few days afterwards a card of thanks came from the head-priest, who had
been out at the time, and a request to call again.

So we went, and were welcomed. First tea and cakes, in the usual fashion,
were set forth, and we partook ; then, to our great surprise, a maid appeared with
two little lacquer trays containing rice and the &cs., " for we had honourabty
deigned to come a long way, and our honourable tnsides must not remain empty."

Was it not kind? We don't expect soch attentions anywhere, least of all in
a priest's house.

And then we had a long talk, which ended in their renewing their promise to
read and study our Holy Book, and lo pray to be led into the truth. That little
word "pray" opened the door into wide questioning. How did we pray? How
did we know our God heard? Did He answer? Were no propitiatory offerings
needful ?

We never like to close such a conversation without then and there kneeling
down and speaking to the great Subject and Object of it all. In this case, when
we proposed it, the priest exclaimed at once, —

" Oh, this room is far too unworthy, and the silkworm's leaves are here " (in
a comer lay a pile of mulberry) ; " in such a mean place, would your God honour-
ably deign lo hear?"

It seemed so strange to him that indeed He would, and not only so, but that
He had already heard every word we had spoken, and seen every thought, unspoken,
and knew us through and through.

We knelt then, the two priests standing respectfully. Oh, pray that they may
learn to in«/ to the Cod who loves them so.

/une 5. — Tea-time with you. " In the chill before the dawning between the
night and morning" with us. And leaning out of the open window, I watch the
first faint shine in the East, and think of you. What strangely binary things we
aie. " The shell where our spirits dwell in their wondrous ante-naial cell "may spetid
the hours in weary tosses under a mosquito net, while the inhabitant thereof, the
real me, is peacefully pillowed far above enjoying itself immensely. Tlie long
hot night, so nearly over now, has been full of songs for me. And tired in body,
but glad in spirit —

Oh to know Him ! If in this going forth with Him we emptied our hands
of all life's treasures ; if for ever after all we love, and all we prize should vanish
quite away ; should time be counted lost, strength drained, life "spelled a failure,"
it would be worth it a thousand limes, if through it all we knew Him better !

His love— it "hath neither brim nor bottom!" It is "like Himself. I go
to fathom it with my arms, but it is as if a child would take the globe of sea and
land in his two short arms." "There are curtains to be drawn by in Christ that
we never saw, and new foldings of love in Him. I despair that I s
to the far end of that love, there are so many plies in it!" So wrote Samuel
Rutherford, and now he has had two hundred years with the Lord of his love. And
one day we loo shall see the King in His beauty.

"Oh the blessed joy of meeting, all ihe desert pisl !
Oh tlie wondcous words of g[eelin|>, He shall speak a
He and I, in that bright glory, one deep joy shall share
Mine to be for ever with Him. His, ihat I am there."

To return to our little tour, we had happy meetings in Imaichi, and ther
on to the village where our friend of the Straw Rope lived, knowing that as it had
been helped in thefiood-time it would be peculiarly open to us. But the campaign
closed with an ignominious flight. We were literally chased out by " things," etc.,
and remembering that " he who fights and runs away may live to fight another
day," we beat a hasty retreat, and somewhere about midnight started for Matsuye.

We had a queer weird ride, among tirefly-lit fields, and dark still pine groves.
Once a blaze of bright red flame rose suddenly before us, and I was glad our ponies
e bipeds, for no four-legged animal could have stood that without blinking. As
it was we trotted on exchanging salutations with a band of peasants, homeward
bound, who bore, by way of lanterns, huge bundles of lighted fir.

Junt 8, — Once more we are on the wing. A message followed us lo Yonago,
begging us to return to Imaichi, so we are here again. . . .

Back from the meeting. Such a large one, and as quiet as possible. Numbers
of men listened throughout Though few houses are open for visiting yet, a good
work of broad-cast seed-sowing is being done, and F. San will reap if he faint not.

From Sunrise Land

1 a village a mile or two distant, where no one has erer
:, and after a long wait, in a beautiful open room, numbers
of people gathered. When we arrived the little tapers and incense sticks were
burning in two rows, upon the ancestral tablet shelf. After we had been bowed in,
regaled with tea, ([uestioned as to our honourable name, age, occupation, country,
mtecedents, a flicker of the meaning of the whole thing seemed to
light up the family mind. They looked at each other, father, mother, grown-up sons,
then the head of the household rose, and to my great surprise calmly blew out ail the
idol lights, and sat down again. When the guests one by one appeared they were
welcomed as we had been, (for though this large room or set of rooms thrown into
one had been regularly arranged for by F. San upon a business basis, all who came J
were treated as visitors, and when paying time came, there was quite a polite palaver,
before the neatly folded up money would be accepted). Finally we began, and |
went on for nearly two hours. Then we gave a brealhing space for questions.
" Where did our God live? What was His name?" (and a great many r
loo irreverent sounding, though not so meant, to write). It was late when we
left them, and one of them walked back with us, seemingly interested. But what
does that mean ? More than it sounds perhaps. More likely less. For Satan has
fowls always on the wing, and the sun of scorn shrivels many a quick sprung seed,
and the cares and pleasures of life choke the Word oftentime ; will any of it find
wherein to lodge, strike root, and grow? God knows. But more

h work as this
there is much to be done before e'
Spirit we know this preparatory W'
"Something in my heart tells me
to iL" So said one who for the fii

ing seed, the soil is hard and full of weeds, —
;r a seed can be cast Praise God, by His Holy
k is often done, ere we come with our message,
^hat you say is true. Something answers ' yes '
t lime listened. But this is rare. Is it because
walk in the Spirit " enough, to be " led of the Spirit " straight to such
prepared ones? How much He must have to forgive, before He can use us

Once more it is night,
still and dark. As one sits
seems to feel the shadow ol
place. And all around it

The great heathen town has gone to sleep, and all is
lone in the quiet room, too tired to sleep as yet— one
a darker darkness, a deeper slumber brooding over the
and thinking wider, it is so; this great round

world seems rolling on, away from the Love-light of God.

One by one its lands pass before me.

Africa. Think of it Think of its heroes, think of its woes. Every minute
sees two of its millions die the cruel helpless hopeless death of a slave. Think
of its needs. Words cannot word them.

China. Well do we know the line "A million a month in China are dying
without God." What do we grasp of its meaning ? What do we feel of ii

On with the Message

165

India, With her twenty million widows. That alone were enough to touch
any woman-heart surely !

Japan, With its thirty millions unreached as yet. God's islands of the sea,
where'er they be, and the Hermit Land, and the Indian's home in the far North-
West — the forgotten land in the farther South— but name them one cannot, and
what need ? We know them on our map. But do we know them in our heart f
Think of them all : dishonouring Him to-night, full of sorrow and sin to-night :
wrapped in the death-gloom to-night How can we be so cool about it? Is it
because we are so cool, we have ceased to see the old world miracles, the conquests
wiiich to/d for God? For we seem to be making no headway, not one inch —

"Oh it is hard to work for God, to rise and take His part
Upon this battlefield of earth, and not sometimes lose heart ! *'

Truthful Faber — it is just so, but praise Him, even as one writes, the next few
verses, instinct with courage, ring through one —

"Workmen of God ! oh lose not heart ! but learn what God is like,
And in the darkest battlefield thou shalt know where to strike.
Thrice blest is he to whom is given the instinct that can tell
That God is on the field when He is most invisible.

As He can endless glory weave from what men reckon shame,
He in His Own world is content to play a losing game.
For right is right, since God is God, and right, the day must win.
To doubt would be disloyalty, to falter would be sin ! "

CHAPTER XXr
Cbcist Is Conqueror

" Oi Itl the meisage Jly falter !

Tkt Hmt M iptfding amay,
A»d Iht Ihrillmg voice of the Mailer

Speaks, ' ■a/ark ■mkiU 'lis calleJ It-day, '
Thin semi ferik the nna ef gladness.

Let its echoes ring far and n
And joy shall iam'ti all sadness

Al the aiming of harvesl-lidt ! "

1 G. Stock.

Yenago. fune 13.^" Consider bow brief is llie span of life; how short the
moment of se]>aration from friends ; and how exiiuisite the joy that is set before
you ! " So spoke a servant of God many a year ago ; and truly while we look not
at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen, 3 peace given
not as the world givelh wraps us round ; and a gladness, too glad for words, is our
abounding portion. Oh is it not a magniticent thing to be privileged thus, in any
small measure, to spread the glorious tidings of our Blessed Lord ! Praise Him, ye
missionaries ! Ours is the very cream of life — and yours too, dear home ones, who
give and help give, for surely God's' good measure, pressed down and shaken together
and running over, must be yours. We are all engaged in the same great work, all
looking for, and earnestly desiring the Coming, all hastening that Bridal Day, if we
may accept the wonderful marginal reading ; ail, all, pressing " on to the glory," as
knights " in the army of God ; whose match will be onward and forward, because
of the foes on the road ! "

The oiher day, as we travelled home by boat, we had a long talk with the boy
whom Hilda led 10 the Lord, in our village last March. He seemed very bright.
and glad to have an opportunity of speaking of his Saviovir. Our converts here are
natural upon thai point, as children are al home. They have yet to learn, and we
trust they never may, the cold reserve of grown-up Christendom. His brother, he
told us, had gone to the war, which now seems a fact established. It will mean woe
behind the scenes, if it goes on— and one wonders whither it tends. The darkness
heralds the dawn, praise Him, "and behind the dim unknown standeth God amid
the shadows, keeping watch above His own ! "

Christ is Conqueror

167

June 14. — I wonder would the chiUiren like a little bit all for themselves ?
One day there was a hard thing to be done, one of ua did not want to do it.
can't," she said, but she added honestly, " at least — I don't like to ! " Now, she
s very fond of a certain hymn, you know it too, I think —

"Onwoicl, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war ! "

and her friend, who did not at all intend to give up doing this little difficult thing,
began to sing it softly — only putting it rather otherwise —

'Onward, Chr
Sitting on

istian soldiers
the mats t

Nice and wai

rm and easy

Like lillle

puBsycils.

Onward, Chr

istlan soJ<l{er!

Oh how bt

Don't we do

our Mfins

Very comforlably ? "

at which she laughed at first, but soon she almost cried, for she saw not only the
absurdity of it, but the wren^ of singing one thing, and doing another. So she and
her friend knelt down together, and asked God to make them true to their hymns,
and true lo their prayers, and then they sang this chorus, —

" From all fear of what men think or say
Viclory tor me ! Victory for me !
From ever fearing to speak sing or pray

Viclory for me ! Viclory for me 1
Lord, in Thy love and Thy power make me strong,
'J hat all may know (hat to I'hee I belong
L And when I 'm tempted let this be my song

I Victory for me! Viclory for me I"

■ And that is the end of the story, for it quite settled the question.

W Last night, 3 little baby girl came to live with us. A few minutes ago, her

I sister, our cook San's eldest child, brought her up to show lo me. She put the

I tiny bundle in my arms. I looked at the small dark ball of a head, funny little

I pucker of a face, wee doubled-up fists and feet ; and wondered various things.

■ Then she opened her eyes, long, narrow, slanting slits, stared straight up at me,
W and, according to the others, smiled. Perhaps she did in one-day-old baby
m fashion. To me she only seemed bewildered, but as she gets more accustomed
I to life, this may wear off. Now, will you ask for this little one, as you would
1 for your own baby sister — that the Saviour, who loves all children, black, brown,
L yellow, or white, may say of this dear little Japanese child, "Suffer her lo come

■ unlo Me"?

1 68

From Sunrise Land

June 17. — Back from our loved village friends. Oh what ihanks caa we
render to God for them, for all the joy wherewith we joy for their sakes before
Him! May He make them to increase and abound in love one toward ano-
ther, and toward all men, even as we do toward ihem. May He stablish their
hearts unblamable in holiness before Him, at the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ !

We spent most of the time in quiet visiting among those who are being
prepared for baptism. To my great joy H. San of his own accord volunteered
the information, that he hoped ten, including two little ones, would be ready
very soon. Others he said were " prepared in heart but not yet in head "j but
these ten firslfruits have made me almost too happy I Oh praise Him! praise
Him for ever ! My heaven will be ten heavens in Immanuel's land !

Among those who will never I fear be allowed by their relations, or suFIi-
cienlly brave to face it, is the dear old woman who first sheltered the pioneers,
when they opened the then closed village. To all we say, she only answers
sadly, "I am too old, my relations will not love me if I do." We are sorry — but
we know our tender God will make allowances, more than we ; He understands
the tremble of the poor old heart. Then there is a sweet child of twelve, whose
parents forbid it. She is being taught, however, and is living for Jesus. As yet
Ihey have not prevented her coming lo the meetings. The other of the two
little lambs gathered in that evening of " The Eight " is away ai Ishi San's Christian
Orphanage. His parents have placed him there for llie sake of the good in-
fluence Japan's )oung " Mdller " exercises over the hundreds of children he loves,
and leaches.

Others have left the village, and are in lonely places where no preparation or
teaching can be given. To Him we commit them, but oh one longs to gather
them all into some sheltered corner, and feed and watch over them until ihey are
stronger to face life's bitlles. It requires as much faith, I think, to trust for
their safe keeping as it did to believe for their salvation.

\Vc had a happy lime over our Lord's Second Coming. These men and
women have literally turned from idols, to serve the living and true God, and to
wait for His Son from heaven. It is a splendid Reality wiih them. We thought,
loo, about ihe Resurrection. A single Christian grave is sown here, and this gives
point to it all. They were much interested, and turned up the passages, marking
them carefully with red paper slips. Presently a reflective mind found diflSculties ;
and for a moment perplexity reigned. You should have seen how the air cleared
when Philippians iii. 20, 2\ was foum! and read. It answered, without in the least
explaining. We cannot fathom the depths of a love which is soundless, nor can we
measure the might of a power which is boundless. It is enough for us, that "ac-
cording to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself,"

He shall change ■
body.

We returned late ; were, through
a thermometer 95" in the shade,
pared for bed. But this was no
to the evening meeting at the
could not, we repented, and went,
packed. Three duzen children sa
knelt during prayer. Behind then

They seemed greatly interested in watching with paternal
infants' decorous behaviour, and they listened most i

delays, nine hours c

d home rather weary, and a

be, for the kind Christians wanted i

Village, and though we said at hrst w

th while- The 1

n front, and they joined in the hym

itood the grown-up Beggars, their parents.

ternal pride their

ly to everything

lish, ami a sudden rapid dissolving of half
A policeman had appeared at the doorway, and alarmed them. But
away, and the excitement subsided.

hope to go to a village down the lake which we have often passed but
; and then on to Imaichi, as they need help there so much. Some-
urging me on through these last weeks, before the hot weather

which was sa
the meeting,
he soon weni

never visited
thing seems
comes with its imperaiive " must slop."

_/u/it 23. — Drums and drumming everywhere. Flags hung across the streets.
Bamboo branches and Chinese lanterns suspended from the houses, the temples
wide awake night and day. Quiet nowhere and at no time. Such is a Matsuri.
Just now a farce is being enacted by a couple of clowns in the pay of the priests.
One wears a huge horrible mask, the other plays a lin^Ic-lingle. \n the midst of
the attendant crowd stands a small travelling shrine, hung with beads and tinsel.
The idol sits on a throne at the back. Underneath is a box for contributions,
rice and coppers are freely offered by the applauding throng. Buddhism, philo-
sophical though it may be, stoops to the burlesque oftentimes, and stoops low.

Sometimes as one looks at these unimpassioned faces, watches lives absorbed
in chasing fleeting shadows; hears, after some earnest leUing, light laugh and
careless word, feels, rather than hears or sees, the presence of the dead wall ol
absolute indifference, the spiritual befogment, the soul paralysis, only now and then
alive enough to take the trouble to be aggressively hostile, one wonders intensely,
will anything move them ! In such moments, when most deeply one feels one's
impotence, and the awful force of the "principalities and powers marshalling
their unseen array " against us, one finds comfort unspeakable in the thought of
the conquests aheady won. They are facts, they live before us. Look at that
lighted face, it was dark a year ago. Look at those wakened eyes, they were dull
as others' once. And the Christ who has conquered will conquer : even now He
rideth forth conquering and to conquer. As the glorious C.I.M. motto says,
" Christ IS Conqueror. Amen. Hallelujah 1 "

I70

From Sunrise Land

I am writing at our outstation to which we have come to lend a helping hand
at to-morrow's meetings; and the calechist has been telling me of some of his
difficulties. No visiting in daylight can be attempted he says, and very few are
open even in the evening. Of one, or rather of the opening thereof, I think I
must tell yon.

Last time we were here I was sitting by an upstairs window writing my home-
mail, when looking out, I saw some ore gmmg up at me. Nothing strange in
this. Scores so amuse themselves every hour of every day, but this time the Voice
spoke to me," Buy up the opportunity. Give him a tract." There was no other
way to do it^if I asked him to go round lo the front, he would, probably, move
off — no other way but the most unorthodox un-Japanese one of climbing out upon
the low roof, leaning down, giving it^and so obeying. It was done, and much
astonished, he bowed with what I feared was dignity offended, and departed.

A few minutes afterwards a message of thanks was left at the front door,
and that evening a iady, attended by her servant, their lantern darkened so that
their arrival should not be recognised, came to see us, bringing with her a dainty
little present, and a tale as strange as it was true.

■I'old there, in the dimly-lighted passage, the sliding door watched by ihe
maid, the gentle mistress daring lo come no farther in, trembling even then, with
the hazard of her visit — it sounded strange enough. Her husband was a well-
educated professional man, and had read of Christianity. For some time he had
desired to become belter acquainted with its tenets ; but the fear of man which
bringeih a snare, nowhere more than in Japan, prevented his inquiring. To-day he
had passed our house, and paused to look up — the rest you know. He was so
struck by the singularity of such an act, she told us, and so convinced that sfluie-
thing must lie behind it, that he sent his wife to see us, and assured us of a
welcome, could we call at night lo see him. Then to the preaching meeting,
still escorted by her servant, came the wife, and a young student who was studying
with the husband. Next day they sent a message : " When you come again please
Ictl us"; and the student called to see us. This in daylight, which meant some-
thing. Since then the house has "opened," and oh, never can we praise Him
half enough for condescension which can stoop to use the foolish, yea, the foolish
things of this world, to confound the wise, and show forth His own sovereignly
and glory. It will cost much if they follow in the cross-marked path of Jesus.
Pray that this small story maybe life-crowned, light-crowned, love-crowned through
the glad eternal ages.

June 24. Sunday Aforning. — Can you picture it — Sunday in a heathen town ?

Opposite our house a woman is weaving. The regular pass of the shuttle never

misses. So close she is to us, one can almost see the pattern of the long blue web.

Nest comes a Chinese lantern maker; he is pasting the paper sli|is round the slen-
der wooden frame, and painting thereon rising suns in flaming crimson, pale-winged
flying storks, great chrysanthemums in pink and yellow, sprays of bamboo feathery
green, devices manifold. Then comes a rice-pounder busily plying his noisy trade,
the creaky thud ceasing only for a moment now and then when he pauses to lake
breath. There is a seed-shop and a paper-shop. There is a fish-shop and a
crockery- shop. In all these the business of the day is in full swing. A little lower
down a carpenter keeps up a perpetual hammering, and so on indefinitely all down
the long straight street, where kurumas ratUe, and watercarls rumble, and bone-
clalteriiig singers wander wailing. Sometimes a grim old priest passes too, and
turns to look at the house where the foreign teacher is stay-
ing. The only sign of Sunday is the closing of the great
school behind us, a national institution this, and worthy of
Japan, But the boys thus freed from lessons expend their
youthful energies in gathering round this small abode, and
shouting "Vasu! Yasu ! " "Jesus! Jesus !" pelting it with
pebbles, which clalier down the tiles, and threaten to smash
the windows, and otherwise rendering it impossible for US to
forget for a moment that we are storming the devil's fortress,
and that he doesn't want us here.

And yet looking out how bright it seems ! Sunshine
floods the summer world, fair flowers bloom, and caged birds
sing, little children laugh and play; all seems just as if it
were not what it is, for "The whole world lieth in wicked-
ness " close-clasped in the arms of death.

Oh 1 for a trumpet peal which should alarm, arouse,
awaken ; but the heavens above are dumb, and no thunders
shake the mountains. The beautiful slumbering world sleeps
on, and we— oh what can we do ? So few, to such a ^ ^^.^ ^^^ ^^,._,j,

need I

How can any to whom our dear Lord Christ is precious bold aloof from ser<
vice true ! He who wept over the city in olden time cares still, as He looks upon
the sinning and the suffering of to-day. He cares for the great home cities, ihe

s and villages too, where thronging, pressing, sorrowing, dying souls flmg back
the love He offers them, ignoring all its costing. And near, so near, to His heart
are these lost lands, where slipping and stumbling upon the dark mountains His
other sheep blindly wander, deeper and deeper, on and on, in the lightless gloom.

172

From Sunrise Lana

Yes, that after all is the plea of pleas. There may be much of mere sentiment
mingled with the other. An emotion which melts as we face the reality. But for
God's sake, for His glory's sake, oh, who will come to the help of the Lord against
the mighty ?

"Oh, who Ihis day will rejoicingly cay,
Wilh a joyful heart and free :
Oil King Divine, my life shall be Thine,
I consecrate all lo Thee ? "

In Japan, work among the children, once it gets
Jane has two large lovely children's meetings a week
deaf and dumb child, to whom she manages to talk
believes loves Jesus. How any knowledge of Hir
know not. It must be the Holy Spirit's work within,

1 footing, thrives exceedingly.

Among her little girls is a

n signs, and whom she really

enters her consciousness, I

meeting the inarticulate work

from without ; as Jane's helper puts it, she seems to " feel Him in her heart." At
Yonago, Lizzie has a Sunday-school and a " Monday-school," and at our village the
Christians themselves have started a mission school for the poorest of the poor.
One's heart yearns over these dear liille things, so winsome in their ways, so quick
to learn, and retentive in remembering— lambs who might be folded, but because
there is no one io care, are left to wander away.

As I write M. San is telling me of a talk she had wilh some who were shy about
letting their parents know they had come to us. Here it is verbatim.

"I tell them they should tell — they say, 'frightened.' I explain about that,
then say 'When you confiss, father, mother cross, very angry, say "Go out from
house," what you do then ? ' And one of them say, ' Wil! go out,' and 1 ask, ' Bui
what will you do then ? ' And no answer come. So I say, ' Very glad to hear will
go out, but mustn't go first time they say so, — no, pray God to give patience,
strength, brave, and God surely send Jl.' "

The parents are not at all likely, however, to demand such mighty sacrifices.
They are most loving and lender with their little ones, and a father's love for his
child is much stronger than any he ever professes for his wife. But in their horror
of the foreign doctrine, and fear lest their children should become entangled in it,
they might strongly object, and the obedient little things would hardly dream of
protesting.

As ihe school gets established, however, and the parents' hearts are won by the
foreigner if not by the " Doctrine," opposition changes to approval, and in many a
heathen home to-day the seed is being sown by chiid-hands, in the shape of books
read, texts said, and hymns sung, and the fathers and mothers tell us how little Miss
Chrysanthemum sings our honourable songs to ihem in the evenings. Work among

Christ is Conqueror

173

children ain-ays seems to me to be a sort of undermining of Ihe fortress : a work
presenting little immediate result, but certain to produce one in the future.

Two special " Please prays " I have for you this mail. . . ,

A large low room, dim lights swinging from dark rafters, the music of splashing
water filling its stillness, hatcily a sound besiiie. Ten o'clock comes. The long
day's work in harvest-field and silkworm room is over. Men, women, and little
children gather on the mats, and crowd the open doorway. They listen, listen,
listen, they have never heard before, they may never hear again, and ihey sit in
silent listening, till we can talk no longer.

Will you pray for these villages, only once reached ? To leave them so would
be heart-breaking, save for His promise and your prayers.

And my second picture, this :

An old man sitting reading, in qviaint rhythmic cadence, his voice rising, falling,
rising, like the waves upon the shore. And around him are grouped faces, blank,
and wondering, and pondering, thoughtful too, and sometimes eager, but all weaving
into one form of puzzled face-expression-—" Oh, we do not understand it." Can you
see them ? Now they take it, this strange book, with stranger story, and they turn it
round and over, look within at the inscription written large upon its front page —

" Thtst Ike Wards of One True God a>i.
This iht Jesus- Doctrine Book ii.
And if mon you ■want la hear then
Co to any af these places.
They viill iitl you of Ihe doctrine"

And then come the names of the seven Light-holders, our seven little churches
scattered around Matsuye, some of them churches of only tiie " two or three " as
yet, and written in full the " Gospel in miniature " — John iii. 1 6.

They read on, one and another slips away, one and another comes, and still
the old man pauses not. And many hear to think perhaps in after days.

And so the seed is sown. Sown it may be by hands unknowing their high mis-
sion, but still the seed. With Him we leave it, whose it is— and wiih^tfw to prayer-
water constantly.

Yonago again, and a corner of time for you.

In one of my mail letters, there was an account of "such a nice missionary
meeting," held in a benevolent somebody's drawing-room, on a certain afternoon.
Oh I wonder if you have the shadow of the ghost of an idea of how those words
sound to us I " Such a nice meeting " to hear of sin unchecked, need unmet, woes
uncomforted, death unlighted. Perhaps the tea and cake which {possibly by way of
benediction,) closed this little entertainment, the curio-cxa raining, interrogation

Sunrise Land

It regarding the heathen in general, and their
particular, were exceedingly "nice." But it ii

showering, the interchange of s
representative now on \
puzzling.

" Ah but," you interpose, quite shocked with this view of the case, " we were
hearing about the work done, and fiat was most encouraging ! " Be it so, but let
this fact sink deep — every old missionary will conlirin it — The work Jane is the
merest fraction swallowed up, overwhelmed by the immensity of the work le/t
un/ione.

You know that wonderful missionary hymn, " A cry as of pain "? Will you
who read this letter do just this? Get it, words and music* (for the very music is a
prayer). Learn it, sing it till you know it, through and through. Then go away
somewhere, where you can be alone with God. Let its plea have lime to touch you.
It is His plea ; His, for His heathen. Let it well up, through you : listen, listen : —
keep silent before Him. Be still and know. . , . Then rise, and in His
strength obey. " Whatsoever He saith unto you, do i/." Will you? OA willevm
one stop and do il no^v 1

Sonieiimes strange visions of the girlhood of Christendom pass before me.
One seems to see it, sweet, sunny, beautiful. Glad with a soulless gladness. A
scentless camellia flower. One can see its pretty round of sociabilities ; afternoon
teas, tennis parties, concerts, and lectures; kindly little interests in beings, doings,
and dressings. Permeated pleasantly doubtless with the odour of sanctity, for
" we go to church, leach in the Sunday-school, visit a district, take a great interest
in missions."

And then the vision fades, and one sees in a glass darkly the girlhood of
heathendom. On the surface, in some lands it may be, bright enough, in others,
dark utterly. In all, more terrible under the surface, than one dare paint for you.

Here are some words from Ruskin, thought-out words, worth our thinking
out —

" And if on due and honest thought over these things, it seems that the kind
of existence to which men are now summoned, by every plea of pity and claim of
right, may forsome lime, at least, not be a luxurious one ; — consider whether, even
supposing it guiltless, luxury would be desired by any of us if we saw dearly at our
sides the suffering which aeeompaniei il In the world.

" Luxury is indeed possible in the future, innocent, exquisite, luxury for all ;
but luxury at present can only be enjoyed by the ignorant ; the cruellest man alive
could not sit at his feast unless he sat blindfold.

" Raise the veil boldly, face the light, and if as yet the light of the eyes can
only be seen through tears, and the light of the body through sackcloth, go thou

■ Srt FrBHtispieet.

Christ is Conqueror

175

forth weeping, bearing precious seed, until the time come and the kingdom, when
Christ's gift of bread and behest of peace shall be unto this last as unto thee ; and
when for earth's severed multitudes of the wicked and the weary, there can be holier
reconciliation than that of the narrbw home, and calm economy, where the wicked
cease — not from trouble, but from troubling, and the weary are at rest."

Here are some words from a higher than Ruskin —

" jRise up, ye women that are at ease, hear My voice, ye careless daughters, . . .
Tremble, ye women that are at ease, , , . Woe to them that are at ease in Zion /"

It is evening, Sunday evening. All the gongs are slowly tolling. All the air
is sadly throbbing with their melancholy sound. And the idol tapers gleaming
through the half-closed shutters tell us that in all the homes around us Jesu's
honour is defiled. Can you hear it ? Can you see it ? Does it touch you into
caring as He cared, and as He careth. He the Tender One who died ? O may
He who lives and loveth fill, inspire us with a yearning, quenchless, tireless, ever
burning even unto death, for these !

Dear one, it is to you, to you the Master speaks, forgive me for pressing it so.
Will you not face these things with Him now ? What will you wish you had done,
when the King comes ?

CHAPTER XXII

amen. t>a[Ulujab!

" The discard thai iiaistvelh

Some slarfling e/iuHgt of iey,
The Mtatii's hand rtsolvilh
In rickist harmony."

Frances Rh

1 Havbbcai,

Sakat, en rouU for Shanghai. July 3. — A hot, hot afternoon. My loving little
Bister M. San has been trying to plan for my comfort, while we wait here for our
boat, which is due to sail this evening. But it is wearily hot, and one is glad to lie
flat down on the half-cool mats, and dream over the days that have passed, since
last I wrote to you. . . .

We are with our Yonago boys ; it is our closing Bible Reading. " Will you
come back again and give us more teaching ? " they say ; and we answer " Yes, if
He will." Bright, earnest, thoughtful lads, the hope of the young church 1 What
a privilege to help them ever so little! . . .

And now we are slopping for a night at a village, often passed, but never
reached It does not look inviting, the shore is half deserted. An old man
hovering near, takes our small baggage on his shoulder, plods down to the tiny
hotel, deposits it on the floor, and waits for his fee. A sickly, sulky-looking woman
appears, and greets us in a most w/Japanese fashion, M. San is shocked, and I
am surprised; hotel people usually welcome us effusively. But perhaps she is
tired. " May we come in and rest?" She assents, though evidently unwillingly.
Shall we stay? we ask ourselves ; such an ungracious reception is not encouraging.
What would Jesus do? Then we pray, and stay. Soon a policeman arrives
to see my passport; minutely examines it, wants to know where I was bom, how
long ago, and why I had come ; this last leads to a straight talk. He is, in common
with most of his class, a thoroughly well-educated man. He has read the Bible,
but is fiir beyond it ! Of course he is not childish enough to believe in idols or
gods, or a God of any kind, he leaves such delusions to ladies and children.

After his departure, we consult our hostess as to a night meeting; she does
not object, and we forthwith despatch any stray children we can find to give notice.
By ten o'clock all the population it would seem has gathered- Among outside

Amen. Hallelujah!

177

listeners is the policeman standing just witiiin earshot ; and shot I pray he may be
by an arrow from God's quiver. Wc used the " Wordless book " ; its strips of black,
red, white, and gold, gummed in my Bible, speak clearly when once the purport
thereof has been grasped by these intelligent minds. What a surprise the author
of that bit of work will have I Surely it were worth a life-time's training to be used
to sow a seed which is proving so fruitful for Christ. "Little is much when God
is in it," and niuth, worth nothing at all, otherwise.

By midnight comes a pause on our part, we really cannot go on any longer.
Questions follow, and clamours for books. The eager faces, and outstretched
hands, emerging from the darkness outside, into the lamp-glow within, and then
slipping back again, seems too vivid and true a picture of what it must look like to
Him. For thirty, forty, fifty, years, these men and women, for whom He died, have
lived without hearing of Him. Now they have heard just oact, j'usl once. When
will they hear again ? How is it there is no one to spare to continue this poor hltle
weak beginning ? Why, oh why, arc the hands so few ? When shall we have done
" playing with missions " ?

But one bright thought was given me that evening. In the twilight while the
busy people were gathering in from field and fishing boat, I stood by an open
window overlooking the lake, and watched the shadows falling, deepening, until
the water's gleaming silver changed to heavy black, and it was night. Then dreary
thoughts fell upon me ; for across on the other side were hamlets and villages
deep in the dark. It seemed the invisible visiblized. Suddenly a single glimmer
flickered fainily into life, trembled, struggled up again, stronger grew, and stronger.
Then others awoke, twinkled, steadied, shone; till at last, all the darkness was
star-fringed. Spoke a voice within me saying, "So shall it be I So shall it be!"
and with the word came peace.

Next morning comes, and we must go. JVow they plead with us to stay : we
do not know why it was so different at first ; perhaps it was only a ruse on the part
of the powers of darkness to blow the first rushlight out. Praise the Lord He
conquered. . , .

They were talking together, a man and a boy. Around them lay the fair blue
lake, and their island home was bright with the first gold of harvest But on their
hearts the sunlight fell not, and those souls, meant to be flooded with glory, were
dim as their own pine groves. And yet at times, strange footsteps wandered
through them, and questions rose unbidden, like bubbles through still pools, to
rise and break and vanish, but sometimes to return again, and yet again; while
answers they had none. And one was this — Does God hear prater i For they
had heard about Him, and weekly they heard more. But they turned away and
answered, "No, no, no I it cannot be."

They turned away — to what ? To nothing — bare negation. Pitiless and com-

178

From Sunrise Land

fortless. To the thinking and half-awakened Buddhist, "life, death, and that vast
for ever " are one long sigh, and his song is ever —

" Colour and ferfumt vaaiik a-jiay.
What can bi lasting here!
To-day fanes away in Iki abyss of Nolkingtiess,
Like rke fassing image of a dream. "

Then came a day of wedding joy at Matsuye, I. San's marriage of which I
told you, and upon the island all the bridal cakes were made. The younger of our
"Two" had them in charge, and he brought them up to Matsuye, Carefully he
carried them, but as he stepped from the sampan a fear crossed his mind — some-
thing was going to happen to the cakes. A few minutes afterwards he stumbled,
and they fell upon the sun-baked road. There was no time to go back and make
more, there was no time to open the fragile little boxes and see to the well-being
of their frail contents. What should he do ? And then came the cry, listened for,
for so long. A simple little plea, "illogical" if you will (though why ?), but oh i
so welcome to the heart of the Father, who goes the longer half-way to meet the
child of His love.

And there by the roadside he prayed his first prayer ; he prayed that none of
the cakes should be broken. Then he gathered the boxes up, and went on.

The marriage-service was over, and, Japanese fashion, to each guest was given
a box of dainty make, within which lay a sweet creation of pink and white, fan-
shaped, and touched with a golden wish, for each bore the character which, in
Christian parlance, means " best blessings," sketched in gold-dust upon it. Not
one was even cracked !

Back to the island went the boy, found the older doubter, told him the tale of
the cakes. " Now I know that God hears prayer, for God heard me." It was " one
thing I know, that whereas 1 was blind now I see," over again. He told the story
to I. San, who told it to Florence, who lold it to me, and I tell it to you that you
100 may rejoice with them, in this their first jewel won on the Island of the
Lake. . . .

And now we are on our way to Imaichi, to keep our promise to help them
there once more. The dear old colporteur from Matsuye accompanies us, and we
look forward to good meetings. There are two great realities in heathendom. The
reality of the presence and power of the devil ; the reality of the presence and
power of the Lord. The more awfully the one presses, the more gloriously the
Other shines. Can it be that there is something more than we sometimes think,
impUed in the coupling together of the command, and the fact, — " Go ye into all
the worid . . . And, lo, 1 am with you alway " ?

We are in the midst of our bright and busy Sunday, when suddenly comes a,

Amen. Hallelujah!

179

collapse on my part, and I find myself environed by ivet lowels, doleful faces, and
a general sense of blur. Therefrom emerging I ask them lo pray — the meeting
must not be missed to-night ! Whereat the fatherly Matsuye saint demurs, and not
until " He givelh power fa the faint" has silenced his last objection will he con-
sent to "agree," as touching this, at all events. Perhaps there would be fewer
'■ unanswered prayers " did we, as he did then, make sure of our basis, before we
prayed at all I

That njght, or next morning rather, for it is past t o'clock before all is over,
finds a very happy little group of five, praising and thanking our own strong God
who carries His lired ones so. A meeting where fully two hundred heard, and
quietly heard, the Word of Life — a long after-talk with two who really we trust will
believe — oh is it not splendid when through the thick darkness He puis forth His
hand and touches a soul into life ! For all this we praise Him. How good He is,
how near, how tender —

" To Thee, Lot.I, my heart uiifoldeLh

As the rose to Ihe goUlen sun ;
To Thee, Lord, miae arms :Lrc clinging,

The eternal joy begun I
For ever ihroiiEh endless nges

Thy cross and Thy sorrow shall lie
The filory, the acng, and the sweelress,

That mokes lieaven, heaven lo me '. "

■ Next day we have to return to Malsuye, where all are kindly concerned, and
think I should straightway go for the rest and change ordered some lime ago. And
so it has come lo pass.

But between that, and this, comes something loo lovely to write much about
Some joys, just hke some sorrows, seem far too deep for mere word-expression.

The baptismal time at our village must be a song without words for you.

" I could not sleep one hour last night, so great was my gladness," so speaks
the dear great grandmother not six months old in the new life. I wonder I have
slept one single night since then, for joy such as this is almost too much for one's
" mortal coil," and makes one want to "shuffle" it ofT! Those who have had it
will understand, those who have never had it — would that they knew it too !

But the parting which follows is sad enovigh. One might be going away for
six years instead of six weeks. I never knew I loved ihem so dearly, nor ever
dreamed they cared so for me. " Pray for us," they write, " honourably deign to
pray for us, we pray always for ever for you I Saryonara, saryonara good-bye I "

Will you pray tor them, that ihey may be kept from the danger which lingers
near blessing ? Let us ask that this child-church, so weak as yet, may through the
exceeding greatness of His power, according to the energy of the strength of His

i8o

From Sunrise Land

might, grow strong in Him, and become a crown of glory, a royal diadem in the
hand of our God ! One turns to, and rests in, the prayer of our Saviour — " Holy
Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they
may be one as We are. . . . Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast
given Me, be with Me where I am ; that they may behold My glory. . , .
That the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and 1 in them,"
And the Father will answer His own Son's prayer, for our precious village trust.

A few words more, and I must close.

It is our last Communion at Matsuye. Side by side we kneel, Japanese and
English sisters together, one in Him. And yet through the service the difference
presses. One follows with ear and lip, the still foreign tongue, with the soul one
prays in the language of home : it is not perfect unison. But when our pastor
comes to Florence and me, as we kneel there last in line, he speaks in gentle
English, just for us, and we feel the touch of the golden ring known only by faith
before — for what save a true close kinship of soul could have prompted a thought
so kind? And as our brother ministers thus, to his sisters in Christ the Beloved,
above and beyond, one is lifted, to the land, where " lo, a great multitude, which no
man could nvimber, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood
before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in
their hands— Saying, Amen : Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving,
and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever " — "There-
fore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and
magnify Thy holy name ; evermore praising Thee and saying, Holy, Holy, Hply,
Lord God of Hosts, heaven and earth are full of Thy glory : glory be to Thee, O
Lord most high ! "

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