EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE
By Mrs. G. A. Irwin
In this department week before last there was noted a request for prayer from a widowed sister, in behalf of her son, who was sadly afflicted, and was not a Christian. We have recently received the following word from her:— I have glad tidings to send in this letter. My dear afflicted boy has given his heart to the Saviour. He is no better in health, but I trust all to the loving Father, who knows what is best. Sometimes I pray earnestly that his sufferings may not be prolonged. He is quite helpless, and can not see nor hear much, but he is very patient. I pray for wisdom to know how to soothe and comfort him. Pray for my son that he may have courage to endure what is to come, and also for me that I may ever see and know my duty, and be faithful in performing it. The following from a brother calls for our prayerful interest, and more tangible help if possible:— I read the Woman’s page with much interest, and as I find many cases something like my own, I feel impressed to write to you. My wife has been dead five years. About a year after her death I began, by the help of God, to keep the commandments. I had not made any profession of religion before. I have four children, who are very dear to me. It has been hard all these five years to care for them and keep them from the snares of Satan, and at the same time attend to my daily work. I have to send them to public school, and sometimes my heart almost sinks within me at the thought of the help they need, but the Lord is my hope and stay. Please remember my case to the Lord, that I may never doubt His love to me. A sister suggests the idea of having texts of Scripture perforated in the window shades, so that at night, when the rooms are lighted, the texts will attract the attention of passers-by. We think this might be a good idea for mission rooms, and possibly would reach discouraged or troubled hearts from any window. It would certainly indicate the homes of the children of God, and if the lives of those in the homes were not a denial of this fact, each home might be a sort of rescue station. If any desire further particulars in regard to this, we shall be glad to put them in correspondence with the sister who presented it to us. I have lately received written word from one source that reading-racks and everything of that nature would not be permitted in the waiting rooms of railroad depots. This set me to work in another direction, and, to shield the reading-matter from the weather, I have prepared a box, with suitable remarks and Scripture texts outside, to place at the watering-trough near us, where many stop each day. I know that sometimes objection is made to putting up reading-racks in depots, especially if they are not of pleasing appearance. Your suggestion about placing reading-matter at the watering troughs meets my mind. I think it is appropriate to have the Living Water to quench the spiritual thirst beside the provision for temporal thirst. I hope that our sisters will follow out your suggestion. My mind has traveled on to different places where we might use these reading-racks,—in street-car depots, parks, etc.