[79]“So you’re the fellow getting up Sunday-schools. I thought you were by your looks; but let me tell you at once that ‘you’re barking up the wrong tree here,’ and the sooner you ‘play quits’ the better. I have no time to fool away in talking about such nonsense.”
“But pray tell what objections you can have to teaching the young the Holy Scriptures3?” mildly interposed the missionary.
“I just now told you that I had no time to waste in talking to idlers, and I expect you to take the hint,” sharply retorted the unreasonable4 man.
Finding that there was no chance at present to do anything with him, the missionary bid him “Good-day,” and started. The man replied with a triumphant5 “Good-bye, sir,” at the same time casting toward him a sneering6 look.
As the missionary was passing the barn, he met a little girl, to whom he gave a card for herself and another for the family.
[80]On crossing a little stream he met a young lady on horseback; to her he handed a tract7, entitled, “Are you Saved?” A slight tremor8 was visible when she read this; the question demanded an answer. Seeing how the title affected9 her, he prayed God to bless the words to her salvation10.
He did not go far until he came to a place where two roads crossed at right angles; so he sat down a moment to rest and consider which road to take. Whilst sitting, a man with a wagon11 and a fine span of horses came along. His countenance12 bespoke13 a kind heart, and the missionary rose to salute14 him. He responded with a hearty15 “Good-day,” and an invitation to take a ride, if the stranger were going his way. The missionary had to confess that he did not know where he was going, and unfolded his object in visiting the settlement.
The man said that he had heard of a Sunday-school being organized at Clear Creek,[81] but he was not up when the meeting was held, and knew but little of the nature of the institution. Still he would be willing to “give the thing a trial,” if it did not cost too much.
“As to the cost,” said the missionary, “that will depend upon the number of books, papers, maps and other helps you get. But I will agree to donate to your school, if you establish one, half of a good library.”
This opened the eyes of the man to their utmost extent, and he exclaimed:
“Why, you don’t say! That don’t look like speculating or swindling people out of their money, as they say of you around here. I never did believe the half I heard; it didn’t seem reasonable to me. But,” continued he, “I don’t believe that we can make it go. Everybody I have talked to is down on it.”
“Would you be willing to assist me, and bring your family long enough to test the matter?” inquired the missionary.
[82]“I’ll do my best, if things are as you say. I believe the children ought to be instructed in the Bible the moment they are capable of understanding it.”
“Are there any others that you think would join us in the work?”
The stranger, Mr. Wilson, hesitated, and then said; “People here seem to be dead in regard to anything of this kind. Whether we succeed or not, a general fight over the question will, if it can possibly stir them up, be of some use. Make the appointment, and I’ll stir them out.”
“When shall it be?” inquired the missionary.
“Put it on Friday night; there is spelling-school in our school-house to-morrow night, and I’ll go down and have it given out, and the whole neighborhood will know it,” said Mr. Wilson, with great animation16.
“Providence permitting, I will be there,” said the missionary.
“And give us a speech, telling all about the Sunday-school,” suggested Mr. Wilson.
As the missionary was about to offer his hand and say good-bye, Mr. Wilson said:
“Won’t you go with me and stay until Friday? I can accommodate you.”
“I thank you, but I will not visit the neighborhood until Friday, and then I will come to your house and we will go to the meeting together,” replied the missionary.
“Well, perhaps that will be best,” rejoined Mr. Wilson, and passed on. Calling back, he said: “Take the road up the hill; it will lead you through the most thickly settled portion of this neighborhood.” The missionary nodded his head and took the road as directed. He met with various successes in his itinerancy17 until Thursday evening, when he was shamefully18 treated by a man known as ’Squire Hunt, one of the leading men of the settlement. The missionary bore the insults meekly19, but upheld the cause of Christ manfully.
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1
missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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3
scriptures
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| 经文，圣典( scripture的名词复数 )； 经典 | |
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4
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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5
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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sneering
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| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
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7
tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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8
tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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9
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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12
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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bespoke
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| adj.（产品）订做的；专做订货的v.预定( bespeak的过去式 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
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14
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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15
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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16
animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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17
itinerancy
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| n.外勤公务 | |
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18
shamefully
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| 可耻地； 丢脸地； 不体面地； 羞耻地 | |
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meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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