A CHRISTIAN friend, who is active as an evangelist among the Red Indians of Canada relates what follows:
Not long ago I found myself in the neighborhood of an Indian reservation. I had frequent intercourse with the Indians. One day I was asked by a chief to visit his son, who had consumption and was rapidly approaching his end. The chief was a Christian and longed earnestly for the salvation of his son.
As soon as it was possible I went. I found the young man suffering much. I sat beside him and talked to him of Jesus, and what He had done for sinners. But the sick man seemed not to listen; no sound escaped his lips. When I left I thought it right to tell the father. He listened with deep emotion, and then said with a sigh, “I am not learned; I can do nothing; but I am certain Jesus will do something.”
The son was an educated man. His father had given him a good education, and during the previous year he had even attended a High School. Many of the young Indians in recent days, have allowed themselves to be taught some things for their improvement. Indeed I have repeatedly noticed during conversations and reading over the word of God one or another Indian youth produce his. Greek Testament to follow the passage in question in the original tongue. Yet although this sick man had enjoyed a superior education, he did not know the Lord Jesus. He had indeed heard much about Him, but the hearing had not been mixed with faith. His father had the steadfast confidence that the Lord would hear his prayers and convert his son. “I am certain,” he said, “that Jesus will do something.”
Now it is the joy of the Lord to answer the faith of His own; and it was impossible that this chief’s faith that the Lord would do something for his son, would be put to shame.
Soon after my first visit, I went again to visit the young man. But how astonished I was when I saw him. It was not that his sickness had improved; no, his cheeks, if possible were paler and more sunken than before. But the face, once so distressed and hopeless, now beamed with joy, and the wasted hand Went out to me in a hearty welcome.
What had happened? The lost, wandered sheep had been found. The young man who before had appeared so unmoved, had accepted the Word of Life, and now peace and joy filled his heart. He loved to gather his relatives and friends round his bed and speak to them of the Saviour.
His mother wept one day, as he sat at his bedside, and held his fevered hand in hers. Now only those who have had much intercourse with Indians can understand what that meant; an Indian weeping! They are taught from their very earliest childhood not to weep, not even by the faintest sigh to betray what they are feeling. But the mother wept and a tear fell on the hand of her son. Surprised he looked up and said: “Mother, why are you weeping? Because I will so soon be happy? I am going to Jesus. I fear you are not certain you are saved; for if you are saved, you have no cause to weep. You are coming soon, where I am going—to Heaven.”
One of his last wishes was that his body should be carried to its last resting place by four believers, and that a hymn of praise be sung at the side of his grave. I need not say that his wish was faithfully carried out.
The young Indian rests now for a short time, while his spirit liberated from its fragile shell, dwells with Jesus. Soon will the trumpet sound and the dead in Christ wake up incorruptible, and together with all who belong to Christ will leave this earth forever, to rest above in the Father’s house and to sing the praises of the Lamb throughout eternity. Many Indians also will be found among the redeemed, and join their voices in the new song. What a happy blessed multitude will it be, redeemed to God out of every tribe and tongue and people.
Not one left out—Thou callest them all
To sing aloud the glory song:
Worthy the Lamb once slain.
My reader! will you also be of this blessed company?
ML 01/28/1912