THE blessing of the Lord rested upon The Rough House and its inmates, and year by year the work grew and prospered. As Dr. Wichern looked at the twelve rough boys, of whom I told you in my last chapter, he saw most of them were strong healthy lads, who looked quite capable of good honest work. He knew, too, that if he set them to work against their wills, they would run away and go back to their old, idle, wandering lives.
A high bank, or wall of earth, enclosed "The Rough House" on three of its sides.
“Do you know, boys, what I have been thinking?" said Dr. Wichern as soon as prayers were over one morning,” The Rough House' is a home, but strangers seeing that wall might almost mistake it for a prison. If any of you think it would be a good plan to level it, you can follow me." And taking up a shovel and pickaxe, Dr. Wichern led the way, followed by his whole family. The boys worked well, and when the short winter's day drew to a close, and it began to grow dark, begged they might have a lantern, they were so anxious to finish their work.
A stunted and sickly-looking poplar-tree grew so near the house as to shut out light and air. Dr. Wichern proposed cutting it down. The boys were all anxious to help when the tree was felled. The next question was, How can we best make use of it? "The small branches and twigs will do for firewood," said one boy. A laugh went round among his companions, for they all knew the speaker was fond of a good fire. But a party of young wood-choppers were quickly at work, and soon firewood enough to last several weeks was neatly stacked and the trunk of the tree sawn into lengths.
“My father used to get his living by making wooden shoes and clogs and I often helped him," said a boy whom we will call Carl; "I am almost sure I could make a pair.”
“Try your hand at it, Carl," the Doctor said with a smile. And though Carl spoiled several pairs, and wasted a good deal of wood, he kept on trying. The village shoemaker hearing of his attempts, kindly gave him a few lessons, and in time Carl became quite a first-rate workman.
“I can make wooden spoons out of the small pieces Carl cannot use," said another boy, and quite a stock of new spoons were soon in daily use at meals.
“Our mother has need of a box to hold candles, and I am going to make her one," said another, and so the work went on till quite a number of useful articles were made from the old tree.
The, carpenter's shop at first was only an outhouse, so small, that two boys found it almost impossible to work within at the same time, without getting into each other's way, and sometimes it needed a great deal of good nature not to mind the knocks and pushes they could hardly help giving each other, in such close quarters.
To build a new and larger workshop was of course a great undertaking, but willing hands carried it through.
Much of the corn needed for bread was grown in two or three fields belonging to "The Rough House," and as the boys worked they sang, in the words of a German hymn-writer
“We plow it and we dig it,
And we sow the furrow'd land,
But the growing and the reaping,
Are in the Lord's own hand.”
But time passed on, and more boys than "The Rough House" could hold came pleading to be received to its shelter. They, like the first corners, were homeless, and very, very poor, and it grieved Dr. Wichern deeply to be obliged to tell them they must go away, as the Home was quite full.
The boys were sorry too, and often talked matters over among themselves, and one day asked Dr. Wichern if he did not think it would be a good plan to build a new house for themselves, leaving the old one for new-comers.
After waiting upon God in prayer for some days, Dr. Wichern felt sure he would be right in building. Money and land were given, and in time a new house was built, and "The Rough House" once more filled with homeless starving lads.
As Dr. Wichern could not be in both houses at the same time, a young man who himself loved the Lord Jesus Christ, and who had a kind way with the boys, and besides, had proved himself one whom they could trust and look up to, took charge of the new house, and in this way was a great help to the Doctor.
When the New Home (called the Swiss House) was opened, a friend sent a valuable present, in the shape of a printing press, and several sets of type, or as printers call them "founts of type" so another workshop had to be built, and soon a party of young printers were at work in it printing Gospel books and tracts for Dr. Wichern. While he was anxious that his boys should grow up good workmen, he cared still more about the salvation of their souls. Knowing for himself the value of God's word, he could say with David, "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." (Psa. 119:130130The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. (Psalm 119:130)) And so in faith and prayer he sowed the good seed of simple Bible teaching. The histories of Joseph and Daniel were great favorites with the boys, and they never seemed to get tired of listening to them. But I think the story that won the hearts and changed the lives of many, was that of the Lord Jesus, of His sufferings and death for sinners.
One day a boy was brought to "The Rough House" who, though not more than twelve years of age, was old in sin, and who said he did not believe there was a God. Another boy who had been some time in the home, took the newcomer to Dr. Wichern, saying as he did so, "Please, Sir, I think he would soon understand if you wouldn't mind reading to him out of the Gospel by John.”
In the case of this boy, the story of a Savior's love showed him his need of salvation, and after three weeks of deep trouble of soul, he could sing—
“Now I have found a friend,
Jesus is mine.”
In less than two years from the time the Swiss House was opened, the young builders were at work again on a house intended as a home for poor homeless girls. When it was finished, a sister of Dr. Wichern's kindly took charge of it and it was soon filled.
But we must say good-bye now to "The Rough House," and its young workmen. Any of my readers who would like to know more of Dr. Wichern and his work, may find the information they seek in a book called, "Praying and Working," by W. F. Stevenson, published in 1866, by A. Strahan, London. In its pages under the heading of Immanuel Wichern, they will find a long and interesting account of work among orphans and homeless boys in Germany.