HOW A FLY HELPED A MISSIONARY.
A FEW years ago there was a man in Japan who was very unwilling to hear anything about Christianity. He would not listen to friends who tried to tell him of their faith, neither would he accept their invitations to go and hear a sermon. He was, however, a man with a big bump of curiosity, and he often wondered what it was that attracted so many to the Christian services. Tho he had determined not to hear about the new religion, there was no reason why he should not go to see how the Christian worship was conducted. So one Sunday he went to church and sat down on the mats in the back of the room, where he could look around and see what kind of people came and what they did. All the time, however, he kept a forefinger stuffed into each ear so as to shut out all sounds. Now was Mr. Fly’s chance. Just as the sermon was to commence, the little fellow decided that the man’s shaven pate would be a nice, smooth place for washing his face and dusting his feet. The poor man, annoyed by the movements of the insect, tried to reach it without taking his hands from his ears, but did not succeed. He then squinted up his face, hoping to make a wrinkle run up far enough to dislodge his tormentor; but all in vain, for the fly kept his place. At last, unable any longer to endure the tickling sensation, the10man withdrew one hand, intending to replace it as soon as he had made a hasty dash at the insect. Just at that moment the minister was giving out his text, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” The man caught the words, was struck by the pertinency to his case, wondered what was coming next, waited to hear, became so much interested in the discourse that he uncovered his other ear, and so listened intently to the end of the sermon. This was the beginning of an interest that finally led him to become a Christian.—Gospel in all Lands.