A Heathen Lady's Triumph.
A MISSIONARY lady in China who realized that the souls of the rich were of as much value as those of the poor, lamented her inability to reach them. You may imagine her joy at seeing a finely-dressed lady enter her compound one evening, followed at a respectful distance by a servant. The hair of the visitor was piled half a yard high on top of her head, and was stiff and heavy with perfumed oils, and decorated with great-headed gold pins; and her silken robe was covered with embroidered flowers and birds and butterflies. Drawing the missionary aside for secrecy, she said, "Lady, I have despised you and the low people you teach, and I know but one person who loves your God. I have a sore heart and am bowed down very low. I have been to our temples with offerings of fruit and flowers; but my gods do not help me. I have gone day after day to the shrine of my ancestors; but no one, not even my tender mother, answers when I call. I want to find the God. I want his love. He comforted my one friend over the coffin of her sweet child. I want him, but he will not come to me." The missionary sat down beside her visitor, and told her that the God whom she sought, so loved the world as to give his only begotten Son for the salvation of all who believe on him, and that Christ so loved the world as to give himself for its redemption. She told her how Christ bears our griefs and carries our sorrows, and how he invites all troubled ones to come unto him for peace. "Yes," said the visitor, "my friend who knows God told me all this, but I cannot find him." "Your friend found God true to his word," said the missionary. "He was a helper to her in time of trouble. Go to her and she will help you to find him." After receiving a portion of the New Testament in her own language, and listening to a fervent prayer, the Chinese lady went away, promising to repeat the visit. The missionary at once sought the Christian Chinawoman of whom her visitor had spoken, and begged her to encourage and help her neighbor. "Oh," said the Chinese lady mournfully, "God cannot take her. She is the rich and amiable wife of a Government official; but she is a drunkard, though no one ever sees her shame; for she hides herself away. Christ will not have drunkards for his friends." When the heathen lady came again she was still "wanting to find the God." The missionary asked her if she was willing to give up everything for Christ. She hesitated a moment, and then replied, "Yes, everything but—but—" "Yes, all but that," she tearfully replied. "And I will drink at night and sleep off my disgrace, and never disgrace him; then he will not be ashamed of his new disciple—will he?" she asked. The missionary explained to the poor heathen lady that hidden sin is just as offensive to Christ as that which is open to the world. For some time she wept and fell back on her promise. "I will never, never shame my new God by open drunkenness." When the missionary told her what Christ says about bearing the cross for him, she trembled like a slave before a tyrant. Only God knows what that woman endured before she came off conqueror over her besetting sin. But she did conquer at length, by the power of the Highest. And to-day she and her friend are moving about like angels of mercy, among the poor, degraded women of their native land.—The Friend of Missions.