“In two or three instances it did seem as if the Spirit had prepared their hearts to welcome the doctrine of Christianity.... I could not but say to my good Brother McGilvary, who as well as myself was struck with the deep interest manifested, ‘Surely there must be much prayer going up for us here in Siam.’ Tears would come in my eyes as I solemnly urged them to leave their refuge of lies and trust in a living Saviour, ready and mighty to save. And on their part they desired to know, not how they might make merit (the usual question of Siamese), but what they were to do to secure the salvation, the news of which then for the first time reached their ears. It seemed like the dawning of a better day.” IX FIRST THE DAWN, THEN THE DAYLIGHT In the annals of missions much has been made of the long years of patient labour before a first convert was gained in other lands. It is written of Judson that he preached the Gospel six years in Burma before a native made confession of the Christian faith. Morrison patiently taught the Gospel seven years in China before he was rewarded with one disciple. The Telegu mission in India is described as one of the most remarkable in the history of missions in the contrast between the first long fruitless period and then the rapid growth; and in confirmation it is cited that “at the end of two decades only one native assistant could be reported, one church with nine members and two schools with sixty-three pupils.” But in Siam, from the time Dr. Gutzlaff arrived until the first enduring convert from among the Siamese was gained, thirty-one years elapsed. It is true that during those years much of the energy of the other missions had been directed toward the conversion of the ex-patriate Chinese, from whom there had been an encouraging response; none the less, the Siamese were also the object of constant prayer and faithful wooing. From the time that Dr. House and Mr. Mattoon reached Siam to devote themselves particularly to the winning of the Siamese, twelve years and six months passed before one lone Siamese renounced the faith of his fathers and acknowledged the Christian religion to be the truth. These wearisome years of waiting were lengthened in their tediousness by the chagrin of having impostors simulate conversion for iniquitous ends. The story of this remarkable first native convert is best given by Dr. House in his own way. First under date of March 6, 1859, he writes home of the promise of the first-fruit: