BAREILLY is a large military station, lying on the plains about ninety miles southwest of the foot-hills forming the outskirts of the great Himalaya Mountains. We were stationed here some time, working among all classes of people.
But, as the sun beats down upon the plains, making it dangerous to be out from ten in the morning until four in the afternoon, we decided to work the hill stations until the rainy season began. Accordingly, we left Bareilly at midnight, April 3, arriving the next morning at Kathgodam, which is the terminus of the railway at the foot of the hills.
After some delay, we secured a dandy (an arrangement in which one is carried by native coolies) for Mrs. James, a horse for myself, and two coolies for the luggage. Thus we started at eight o'clock to complete our journey, consisting of fourteen miles over a rough mountain path, to Naini Tal.
All the way along new beauties presented themselves. As we mounted higher and still higher, these beautiful scenes broadened. It reminds one of the highway of holiness cast up for the redeemed. We can not walk that highway without continually beholding fresh and glorious views which but a moment before may have been shut out by simply one rock of evil in our character. Mounting these hills takes energy, perseverance, and determination, if one succeeds in reaching the heights. Will the pathway leading heavenward require less?
Having made no previous arrangement concerning rooms, the Lord opened the way whereby we could stay with a Methodist minister until a location could be found.
Naini Tal is a beautiful place, ranging from 6,000 to 7,000 feet above sea-level. A lake, one mile long and one-fourth of a mile in width, situated 6,000 feet above the sea, is a wonder, and it is surrounded by mountains, upon the sides of which the people have made their homes. The highest of these encircling hills is 2,000 feet above the lake.
The next morning, after seeking guidance of our heavenly Father, I started in search of rooms. Three times during my search I passed by the sign-board of a private boarding-house, and each time felt a strong conviction that I ought to visit the place. But, thinking a boarding-house no place for those doing their own cooking, I passed it by. The sign was down on the road, but the house stood somewhere back on the hillside.
After running over the hills until almost worn out, a man directed me to a house, but before it stood a sign just like the one I had seen below. By this time, however, I was willing to enter, as no way had yet opened for rooms. Here we found just what was needed, being centrally located and a very healthy place. We were also placed under the same roof with those who needed help.
A woman on the verge of nervous prostration, with a small child to care for, pressed open the way to reach hearts. A widow, sixty-eight years old, trying to manage the place, needed a kind word and some one to answer applications for rooms. She had always thought Sunday was the seventh day. Several missionaries were in the building, also. I thought, How long it takes the Lord to get people where He wants them, and how much time we loose simply because we do not heed that still, small voice.
Many people were anxious for the paper, Oriental Watchman. One lady in charge of a hotel, hearing that an agent was in the place, immediately sent for me, that she might have the paper again. She had lost the address six months before, while moving, and wanted it, that she might place the paper before her guests. Thus is the truth published to those in high positions.
After canvassing a native man, head clerk in a large government office, he said, "If you allow a Mohammedan to subscribe, I will gladly take this Christian paper."
As a result of the paper work, the way is open for any number of Bible workers, especially in the large cities. Many times I am kept at one place for an hour or two, trying to help honest hearts to throw off deceptions, the theory of which has been ground into the very life. Surely the Lord has some one who will be willing, yea, anxious, to come and break the bread of life to these hungry souls.
