AN EVENING WITH A BIBLE-WOMAN.
By Mrs. S. B. Capron
THE following from the Advance shows one of the methods used in getting the knowledge of the word of God before the natives of Hindustani:— "Come to M.'s house first," said the Bible-woman in the early morning, "and I will meet you there and will have the other three houses ready." I was going through this Bible-woman's list of pupils, who were reading and learning to read. They were mothers and wives, all Hindu women in their own homes. As I drove up to the lane that led from the street, I saw, standing on the broad stone doorstep of a low, tiled-roof, mud house, my expectant, faithful fellow-worker. How often have I thought as I entered these houses prepared for me, a welcome visitor, "Come, for all things are now ready." The house-mother comes forward with two fragrant yellow limes as her greeting. She leads the way through the long entry, and we come to the open court surrounded by a wide veranda, into which open the family rooms. Here is my chair, possibly borrowed, and here are the women who are to be my audience. The Bible-woman sits near me, an eager observer of all that is going on, and of me especially. It is good to her to sit by and listen, and as she has reported all her visits to me, she often carries on her face the wonder as to how I shall meet the needs of the occasion. There are seven women present. The house-mother does the honors, is attentive, but does not care to learn to read. Her son's wife is reading in the Bible which she herself has brought, and turns to the words last read with the Bible-woman. I tell her to read to me what comes next, which is the parable of the rich fool. This she does, slowly and distinctly. All are listening, and I ask them to notice the words which are oftenest repeated. They soon recognize the words "I" and "my," and are being prepared to answer the question, "What would you advise him to do with his surplus after his store-houses are filled?" It is always interesting to see how practical these women are, and, leaving generalities, one says:— "I would tell him to pay K.'s debt." As K. is one of the group, she is quick to respond to this kindly touch. This encourages others to make suggestions as to a wise disposal of that which will gladden the lives of their neighbors. A swift transfer of responsibility from the rich man of the parable to possibilities lying within their own means, is a lesson to be remembered and enforced by the Bible-woman. It is inspiring to think how this faithful worker is noting the points made which will be used by herself not only, but she will enforce them upon the listeners of to-day. When my reader comes to the words, "This night shall thy soul be required of thee," she instinctively pauses as if she felt that I would say something. We dwell upon this until each one has said something which shall show that this truth of life everlasting has impressed her. Then, emphasizing the word requireth, we set forth the utter misery of soul when he found himself summoned by his Maker, powerless to refuse and unspeakably wretched. The Bible-reading ended, we expressed our satisfaction that our dear woman could read so well, and urged her to read the parable with our explanation to as many as would listen. Just here a young girl comes bounding in. She is one of my school-girls, and seeing my conveyance at the end of the lane, other girls were hovering around it, awaiting my coming. Finding where I am, my little friend runs back to beckon them in, and a cheery row it was. "We have been reading God's blessed word," I say, "and before we go, you shall sing," "Sweeter than honey is the name of Jesus." Then follows a prayer, and the simple service is over. House number two is then announced, and we make our way to it. The Bible-woman has told me that here is a mother-in-law who ridicules the young women who wish to read, and interrupts them on all occasions. I have never been in this house. I soon see the forbidding face away in a corner, but give myself to the welcome of my new-found friends. They have not only provided a chair for me, but on a little table is a brass plate on which are the tokens of good-will. These are permissible only on a first visit. Here are bananas, oranges, limes, pomegranates, two of each, a pot of jessamine buds, with a center of pink oleander, a little paper, unfolded, of cloves, another of brown sugar, another of rock candy, another of raisins, another of dates, a few cardamon seeds, some betel leaf and aveca nut—altogether quite a spread. Here we hear reading from a primer, recitation of Bible verses, and I read the story of the miracle of feeding the five thousand men and women and children. A word to my cross-faced woman about loaves of bread tones her down, and when she is consulted about the condition of the two fishes, she comes nearer, and, wise as any commentator, gives her opinion. We have won her, and how the Bible-woman enjoyed this, and how much she learned by it all, and about the other two houses, must remain untold. "O the hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?"—Mrs. S. B. Capron.