CHAPTER V. THE MISSIONARY PREACHES.

ON Tuesday, a beautiful evening closed the day. At an early hour, the parents, together with quite a number of children, also the youth of this and other neighborhoods, were on their way to hear what the stranger had to say; some having made up their minds for, and others against the Sunday-school.

The old school-house was crowded with expectant ones, awaiting the arrival of the “Great Speaker,” as he had been reported.

There was a little grove¹ in a ravine behind the barn at Mr. Brown’s; this secluded² spot the missionary³ sought before starting to fill[57] his appointment. Here he laid his case before God, asking for preparation of heart, for wisdom, for strength, for words, and, above all, for the power of the Spirit and the ensealing of the truth upon the hearts of his hearers.

Do you wonder that his lecture on that night was endued⁴ with power from on high?

Mr. Brown offered to take him to the school-house in his wagon⁵, but as he preferred walking, he went in company with the children, one on each side of him. Their prattling⁶ conversation made his heart glad, and he longed to lead all the little ones to the Saviour⁷.

As he entered and took his place at the desk in the school-room, a deep silence pervaded⁸ the audience. After offering up a silent prayer, he asked the people to sing a hymn⁹, and all joined in the glorious old tune¹⁰, “Coronation,” with a will. After a short, solemn and impressive prayer, he called the[58] attention of his hearers to the following portion of God’s Word: “Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in to your soul, and bind¹¹ them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them to your children, speaking of them in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deut. xi. 18, 19.

He treated his subject so simply that the children could understand, and with an earnestness that commanded the attention of all. After showing the imperative¹² duty of teaching the Scriptures¹³ to our children, and that some could not, and others would not, thus properly teach them, he said that it was the duty of all Christians¹⁴ to see to it that they were taught. To gather them together on Sunday for religious instruction, was the most appropriate and feasible method. He appealed to the minds and[59] hearts of his audience in such a way as to force their assent¹⁵ to the truth of his propositions; and that, too, from persons who had come with feelings of determined¹⁶ hostility¹⁷. After another prayer, and the singing of a hymn, he exhibited his Sunday-school books and papers, picture cards and prize tickets, giving to each in turn a proper explanation of its uses, and closed with an appeal to the people to organize a Sunday-school at once.

Upon this, a man arose and said, with considerable faltering¹⁸, that he objected to any such “snap judgment” being taken; that this Sunday-school fuss was got up by a set of loafers, who were too lazy to work, to swindle their living out of the earnings¹⁹ of honest people. And he, for one, was not going to be led by them. Having thus made known his opinion, he sat down. This man was no other than Mr. Steele, with whom we are already acquainted.

The missionary did not think it prudent²⁰ to[60] cast pearls where they would be trampled²¹ under foot, so he left the future action to the people.

The short speech of Mr. Steele encouraged those who were prejudiced against any “innovations,” and some confusion ensued. Mr. Brown arose and said that he was sorry that the gentleman who had just taken his seat had thrown out such unwarranted insinuations; and as he did not offer the slightest evidence to sustain his assertions, he did not feel inclined to give this speech the least credit, and would therefore move that the gentleman, Mr. Steele, be requested to prove the charges made against those who, with the present lecturer, are endeavoring to organize and establish Sunday-schools. This was seconded by three or four, and almost unanimously carried. The time of meeting determined upon was the following Thursday night.

The excitement now became general; there being a division of sentiment among the[61] people, and as this was leading to confusion and impropriety, the meeting was dismissed; but this only gave more liberty, and instead of a calm discussion of the question, extravagant²² assertions were made, and hasty, inconsiderate conclusions formed, leading to angry words.

A number sought acquaintance with the missionary, and the result of the meeting was that he had warmer friends and more determined enemies than before.

1 grove   

n.林子，小树林，园林

参考例句：

• On top of the hill was a grove of tall trees.山顶上一片高大的树林。
• The scent of lemons filled the grove.柠檬香味充满了小树林。

2 secluded   

adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• Some people like to strip themselves naked while they have a swim in a secluded place. 一些人当他们在隐蔽的地方游泳时，喜欢把衣服脱光。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This charming cottage dates back to the 15th century and is as pretty as a picture, with its thatched roof and secluded garden. 这所美丽的村舍是15世纪时的建筑，有茅草房顶和宁静的花园，漂亮极了，简直和画上一样。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 missionary   

adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士

参考例句：

• She taught in a missionary school for a couple of years.她在一所教会学校教了两年书。
• I hope every member understands the value of missionary work. 我希望教友都了解传教工作的价值。

4 endued   

v.授予，赋予（特性、才能等）( endue的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She is endued with wisdom from above. 她有天赋的智慧。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He is endued with a spirit of public service. 他富有为公众服务的精神。 来自辞典例句

5 wagon   

n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车

参考例句：

• We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
• The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

6 prattling   

v.（小孩般）天真无邪地说话( prattle的现在分词 )；发出连续而无意义的声音；闲扯；东拉西扯

参考例句：

• The meanders of a prattling brook, were shaded with straggling willows and alder trees. 一条小河蜿蜒掩映在稀疏的柳树和桤树的树荫间，淙淙作响。 来自辞典例句
• The villagers are prattling on about the village gossip. 村民们正在闲扯些村里的事。 来自互联网

7 saviour   

n.拯救者，救星

参考例句：

• I saw myself as the saviour of my country.我幻想自己为国家的救星。
• The people clearly saw her as their saviour.人们显然把她看成了救星。

8 pervaded   

v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• A retrospective influence pervaded the whole performance. 怀旧的影响弥漫了整个演出。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The air is pervaded by a smell [smoking]. 空气中弥散着一种气味[烟味]。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

9 hymn   

n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌

参考例句：

• They sang a hymn of praise to God.他们唱着圣歌，赞美上帝。
• The choir has sung only two verses of the last hymn.合唱团只唱了最后一首赞美诗的两个段落。

10 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

11 bind   

vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬

参考例句：

• I will let the waiter bind up the parcel for you.我让服务生帮你把包裹包起来。
• He wants a shirt that does not bind him.他要一件不使他觉得过紧的衬衫。

12 imperative   

n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的

参考例句：

• He always speaks in an imperative tone of voice.他老是用命令的口吻讲话。
• The events of the past few days make it imperative for her to act.过去这几天发生的事迫使她不得不立即行动。

13 scriptures   

经文，圣典( scripture的名词复数 )； 经典

参考例句：

• Here the apostle Peter affirms his belief that the Scriptures are 'inspired'. 使徒彼得在此表达了他相信《圣经》是通过默感写成的。
• You won't find this moral precept in the scriptures. 你在《圣经》中找不到这种道德规范。

14 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

15 assent   

v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可

参考例句：

• I cannot assent to what you ask.我不能应允你的要求。
• The new bill passed by Parliament has received Royal Assent.议会所通过的新方案已获国王批准。

16 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

17 hostility   

n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争

参考例句：

• There is open hostility between the two leaders.两位领导人表现出公开的敌意。
• His hostility to your plan is well known.他对你的计划所持的敌意是众所周知的。

18 faltering   

犹豫的，支吾的，蹒跚的

参考例句：

• The economy shows no signs of faltering. 经济没有衰退的迹象。
• I canfeel my legs faltering. 我感到我的腿在颤抖。

19 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

20 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

21 trampled   

踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯

参考例句：

• He gripped his brother's arm lest he be trampled by the mob. 他紧抓着他兄弟的胳膊，怕他让暴民踩着。
• People were trampled underfoot in the rush for the exit. 有人在拼命涌向出口时被踩在脚下。

22 extravagant   

adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的

参考例句：

• They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
• He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。