The Poorhouse Waif and His Divine Teacher: A True StoryByrum, Isabel C. (Isabel Coston)
Religion
The Poorhouse Waif and His Divine Teacher: A True Story
Byrum, Isabel C. (Isabel Coston)
Christian life -- Fiction; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction
Edwin felt that these people were conferring upon him a wonderful privilege
and honor, but he could not get away from the feeling that he was an
intruder in their meeting. He was surprized that no one else seemed to look
upon his being there as strange. In fact, all were so very kind that he
decided to get all the good possible from being there and to solve, if he
could, the puzzle of prayer, also to find out what it meant to become
converted.
Now, Edwin had never learned that there was any other language than the
Pennsylvania Dutch dialect, and having never been in a neighborhood where
the Bible truths in any language were taught in his hearing, and not
knowing that there was a Bible or a Savior, he had no way of understanding
(even in his mother-tongue) what to most people would have been simple and
readily comprehended.
When all was in readiness for the service to begin, a song was sung and
then a chapter from the large German family Bible was read. After that all
knelt to pray. Edwin knelt also, but he faced the others and gazed upon the
upturned faces as though they belonged to creatures from another world.
When Amanda and Mrs. Kauffman prayed and he saw their faces beaming with
the glory of God, he was sure that their prayers were informal, for no
books were before them and the words seemed to come from their hearts. The
reason that he could not understand what was said, he felt sure, was
because they were talking to God, and the language was that of another
world.
When they arose and began telling of God's goodness to them, some even
leaping and shouting at times, Edwin supposed that it was another form of
prayer, and as the words spoken were all in German, they too, he reasoned,
must belong to another world. Notwithstanding he rejoiced because he was
there, and he believed that everything was just as it should have been.
When the meeting had been dismissed and the people had gone to their homes,
Edwin and Mr. and Mrs. Miller went to the summer-kitchen to smoke before
retiring. While they were filling their pipes and selecting the coals to
light them, Mrs. Miller inquired, "How did you like the meeting tonight.
Edwin? Was it like you thought it would be?" His answer did not reveal the
fact that he had not understood enough of what had been said or done to
form any new conclusion. He did tell her, however, that he thought the
meeting was really wonderful, and he asked how they all knew that they were
on the road to heaven. For Mrs. Miller this was a very hard question to
answer, for she too was living in great uncertainty regarding the future
and her reward; so she said:
"They don't know anything about that for sure in this life. They must wait
until after they die before they can find that out."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account