Book Selling in the Siang Valley, Hunan, China
By Percival J. Laird
WHEN last we wrote, Brother Chang Kangheo had just left for the sacred Nanyo Mountain, about four days south of Chang-sha, to work among the pilgrims who visit the temples there annually. He took a load of tracts with him for distribution. He found that the number of pilgrims was considerably less than it was a few years ago. There were several workers from other stations there on a like errand. The course taken by some of the professed Christians of this place (natives) made tract sales among the people very difficult at first. When the time came for our brother to leave the place, he found himself quite a little short of the amount he needed to settle with his landlord, and yet he was desirous of leaving that morning so as to arrive home before Sabbath. Committing his case to God, he went out, and soon sold enough books to more than meet the deficit. Considering the adverse circumstances under which Brother Chang labored, it was with thankfulness to God that he was able to report the total of 2,277 tracts sold. It is the privilege of our readers to ask God's blessing upon these little silent messengers, that they may bring the light of truth to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. October 5, Brethren Chang Kangheo, Lu Weilin, and Huany Hanyong, together with my wife and myself, left Chang-sha on a book-selling trip to Yochow. It was fortunate that we were able to secure a fairly comfortable house-boat, as we were destined to make it our home for three weeks. Strong head winds kept us from making the journey quickly. However, it may be that if we had traveled more rapidly, we would have missed some precious opportunities of witnessing for the Master. Our first venture ashore with books was in a small hamlet. Comparing notes on the way back, Brother Chang and I found that we had been praying for the same thing—either for success with books, or that we might be given opportunities for speaking to the people about the truth. The first man canvassed bought two tracts, and we must have made sales at about every third house in the village. On our arrival at Sin-kang rain was falling, and the road was quite treacherous. Although considerably larger than the former hamlet, our sales were not so large in comparison. The Lutherans have a mission at that place. Tsing-kiang, our third stopping-place, was reached in the morning. After invoking God's blessing, we each took an armful of books, and went ashore. The answer to our prayers came so speedily that we each had to make two or three trips to the boat to replenish our supplies. As a proof that the health literature is an entering wedge, it may be stated that a package of four small tracts, including one on tobacco, found ready purchasers. The package was valued at less than one-half cent United States money. Having thoroughly worked the business section, we crossed the river, to the place where the pottery factories and kilns are situated. From our efforts, more than a thousand tracts must have been sold that day. Personally, I think it was my record day for sales since coming to China. Praise God! Dropping down-stream before Sabbath, we anchored in a little creek. We visited the temple just above us Sabbath afternoon, and there found several elderly men under a vow to abstain from eating meat. At first they were inclined to argue, but when I told them how sorry I was to see men whose sun was almost sinking below the hills, still vainly seeking rest, they became most attentive. The blessed Spirit of God was surely present in that temple as we spoke of Jesus, who said, “Come unto me, . . . and I will give you rest;” “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” They readily accepted the few tracts given them to follow up the verbal message. One more stop, and then we arrived at Sianyin, a country town. It has a Wesleyan hall, and Romanists are also in occupation. Many were the forbidding and unfriendly replies we met while canvassing. But we continued our work until almost every house was visited. Our efforts were rewarded with sales amounting to 2,552 cash (about $1.25). We next visited Yochow. The people here seemed exceedingly friendly. On the whole, our sales were good, being 4,251 cash (about $2.15) during our three days' stay. We also visited Chênlingohi, about five miles north of Yochow, and had fair success with our books. On the third day of our homeward trip, the breeze increased almost to a gale. We scudded through the water with great speed. It was quite exciting, and altogether a new experience to me. Fortunately, we were not troubled with seasickness, or the experience would not have been so enjoyable. We reached Chang-sha the following day at about nine in the evening. We enjoyed being in larger and more comfortable quarters once more. Our total sales were 4,791 tracts. To God be the praise. PERCIVAL J. LAIRD.