Number 9. The Brahmin and his Family.
THE richest and proudest of the people of India are called Brahmins. They are admired and looked up to by the others, so it is most difficult for them to think they are sinners and need cleansed hearts.
But there was a rich Brahmin who had lost a dear friend. He was very unhappy, because he thought that his friend’s soul had gone into a dog, or tiger or bird, and that he would never know him again.
All at once he fancied he heard someone whisper in his ear that it was all nonsense about souls going into animals. He wished he knew what was the truth, and bought a New Testament, thinking he might find something there to help him. The end of his reading was that he became a Christian.
All his friends were very angry when they heard this. They were afraid that his wife would become a Christian too, so she was taken away from him and went back to live with her father and mother. It was a great sorrow to the Brahmin to lose his wife in this way, for he loved her dearly; but he was much comforted when she whispered to him “I will become a Christian.”
The Brahmin wished to be baptized and then there was more excitement than ever. His Brahmin friends came from all over the country, some of them walking over a hundred miles, to beg him to give up the idea. They stood round him, and one said, “You are a bad man!” Others declared, “You are mad.” But in spite of all that was said, the baptism took place.
Not long after this, his wife escaped one night from her father’s house. A missionary who knew what she was going to do, had a boat waiting for her, and she was rowed safely down the river to the place where her husband lived. How pleased they were to see one another again! And how glad he was to hear her say she also would be baptized!
After his wife had become a Christian, the man’s great wish was that his mother and sister should love Jesus. It was very difficult for him to see them. He did not dare to go near their house by daylight, so they arranged that whenever he was able to pay them a visit, he should let them know beforehand. Then, when the sun had set, and the darkness had come on, they would often hear a gentle tap at the door. When it was opened, there would be the man dressed like a beggar in torn and dirty clothing.
In spite of the rags, his mother knew him, and would take him into the house, and he talked to her and his sister of the Saviour.
After two years, he gave them a New Testament. The sister wondered where she was to hide her hook. Oh! happy thought! She would put it in one of the cooking pots. Her father, who did not want her to read it, nor to become a Christian, never came into the kitchen. She had the food to prepare, so he would never, never know about the treasure in the old pot, which was hanging on the rafters, amongst all the other brass and earthenware saucepans and kettles.
When no one was near, she took out the precious Book and read it to her mother, listening all the time lest anyone should come in, and find them out.
You do not have to hide your Bible, and no one would punish you for reading it, but do you read it every day, as this girl did? God says that the Scriptures are able to make you “wise unto salvation.” This poor girl and her mother went on reading the Bible till God revealed His Son to them, and they knew Him as their Saviour. Then they could no longer say their prayers to gods of wood and stone. They also became Christians and were baptized; and like the Brahmin and his wife, taught the heathen about the true and living God.
ML 04/21/1912