DURING the years Mr. Judson had lived in Burmah he had often heard of a strange race, who, though living in Burmah, were not Burmans. They were called Karens, their homes were in scattered villages among the mountains. No one seemed to know, and perhaps very few even cared to ask, how long they had lived there, or the name of the country they came from.
One thing Mr. Judson heard about the Karens we may be sure interested him greatly: he was told they did not worship idols, but prayed to God. They had no Bibles, were very poor and often ill-treated by their Burman neighbors; yet many of them were looking, as their fathers and grandfathers had done, for the coming of white teachers, who would bring good news and speak words of peace to the Karen nation.
The missionary often thought of them, and prayed that some way of preaching the gospel in Karenland, as their country was called, might be opened up to him by the Lord. And an answer to prayer was given, although not, I think, quite in the way Mr. Judson expected.
A Karen youth, Moung Shan-byn, left his home in one of the villages, and, after four days' journey over the mountains, reached the nearest town. He was only fifteen years of age, but his wild, daring spirit soon made him the terror of all the country round. He got into the company of a gang of robbers, and took part in many robberies and even murders. He was going to be sent to prison for debt, when a native Christian offered to pay the debt for him if the boy would become his slave—a very common thing in Burmah.
The kind offer was accepted, and Moung Shan-byn went to live under the roof of one who often spoke to him about the Lord Jesus and His love. Here for a time his outward conduct was a little better; but after some weeks he behaved so badly that his master was obliged to send him away.
Mr. Judson took him at once into his service, and though at first much tried by his fits of violent temper, went on in faith and prayer, not only teaching him to read his Bible, but explaining to him what he read; and in less than a year light from the true and only lamp, the word of God, shone into the soul of the wild, wicked Karen boy. Like one of old, he could say, "One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see." (John 9:2525He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. (John 9:25).) He saw himself as a lost sinner; but by faith he saw in the Lord Jesus just the Savior he needed. He was truly a new creature in Christ Jesus. He longed to tell his relations and friends of Christ, and when at last the way was cleared for Mr. and Mrs. Boardman to live among the Karens, he begged that he might be allowed to go too, and act as their interpreter, as the language of the Karens differs greatly from that of the Burmese.
His request was granted; and as soon as the missionary party reached a Karen village, he would collect the people, who came in crowds to listen to the gospel. Once the boat stopped near a village during harvest. All the inhabitants were at work in the fields. The only person to be found at home was an old man, the brother of the chief. When he heard of the coming of white teachers from over the sea he was much pleased, and gave orders that a horn should be blown as a signal to the people to leave their work and assemble in an open space before his tent, saying, "They have come: they have brought us words of peace; but ah! how long we have been waiting for them!”
Many of the poor people brought presents of fowls, fish, fruit, and other things, and all listened with great attention while Mr. Boardman spoke to them from John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) of the wonderful love of God.
Mr. Boardman was much encouraged, and wrote: "I believe the God of all grace is about to work in a wonderful way among these poor people. Moung Shan-byn is a great comfort and a real helper to us. He will often ask leave to visit distant Karen villages, where he preaches the gospel. Once he was away for seven weeks. We began to get quite anxious about him, but he returned, bringing with him ten persons who, having believed in Christ, wished for Christian baptism.”
Mr. and Mrs. Boardman had two children, a little girl of not quite three years old, and a baby of only a few months. The eldest, whose name was Sarah, was a very lively and engaging child. Her rosy cheeks, blue eyes and long yellow curls made her so unlike the dark-skinned native children that her mother would often look at her, thinking she was very much like some fair flower, bursting into bloom and beauty among dark, unsightly weeds.
Although so young she could speak Burmese and English quite nicely, and knew a number of Karen words. But, better still, the little one loved to hear "the sweet story of old," often saying, "Please, mamma, tell me more about Jesus." Only a day or two before her death, her mother heard her say to a Karen girl, who had been playing with her, "I cannot play now, for I wish to be alone and pray.”
And the Lord Jesus, who when on earth called a little child unto Him, had need of Sarah. Her illness was so short that her sorrowing parents could hardly believe their darling was about to be taken from them, till all was over, and they knew their precious lamb was "safely folded.”
It must have been a great trial. But through grace they were enabled to bow and say, "It is the Lord; let him do what seemeth him good." Mr. Boardman turned from the grave of his much-loved child to the work of making Christ known to the perishing Karens, with a new strange feeling that for him the time was very short, that what he had to do must be done quickly. And so he was always at work, preaching, teaching in school, talking to those who often came from long distances across the mountains to get gospel books and tracts, or translating the scriptures.
His wife thought sometimes that he looked paler and thinner every day; his cough, too, was troublesome, and he could not sleep well at nights; but he did not complain, and was so bright in soul, and so happy in his work, that even her watchful eye failed to see that he was really very ill.
But we must leave the Boardmans for a time to peep at Mr. Judson. Many hours of every day he spent in the zayat, where many came to hear the gospel, or ask for Christian books. Tracts and gospels had been carried into places many, many miles from the mission station, and from time to time the heart of the missionary was gladdened by hearing of one and another who through reading had been led to give up the worship of idols and pray to the true God.
There had been a remarkable work, too, of conversion among the elder girls, some of whom had been among Mrs. Judson's first scholars, and though Satan, who, we know, always tries to hinder the work of God, raised a good deal of opposition, the young converts held steadily on their way.
One day a woman, whose daughter had confessed Christ, but who was herself a heathen, came to the school. She was very angry, and began to shake and beat her, saying, “I have been robbed of my daughter.
She has become a Christian, and Christians do not cheat or steal or tell lies. She is of no use to me now. She will never be able to get her own living, and no one will wish to marry a woman who prays.” The poor girl took her mother's blows and abuse in a meek, quiet spirit, only saying, "Please, dear mother, do not be so vexed with me for loving the Lord Jesus. I always remember you when I pray to God.”
After a time the enraged woman became more quiet, and before leaving promised that she would allow her daughter to remain at school and not force her to go to the idol temple on her return home.