ARCHIE MOSS closed his pocket Bible, and lay back on his couch with a very thoughtful look in his large brown eyes.
“When Elsie comes," he said, half-aloud, "I will ask her to tell me all she can remember about Egyptian boys. I wonder if they learn the same lessons, or play at the same kind of games as they used to do when Moses lived among them. But here she is, work-basket in hand, so I know she is ready for a talk.”
Elsie was soon seated near her brother, and answered his questions about life and manners in Egypt by saying: “It is a very long time, Archie, more than three thousand years, since the infant Moses, hidden in a tiny ark of bulrushes, was laid by the banks of the river Nile. Many changes have taken place in the land of Egypt. It is not nearly so thickly peopled now as then; and some places known to have been once the site of proud cities—where marble palaces and stately domes made the scene a grand and imposing one—are at the present time only heaps of ruins, with here and there a few mud huts, among which Arab children, whose only clothing is a small piece of coarse cloth, are at play; yet I think we shall find much that will interest us in a talk about Arab and Egyptian boys.
“Shall we begin by supposing ourselves in one of the principal streets of Cairo. What a busy scene it is. Most of the houses are high, many of them being used as shops. But there are no plate glass windows, the front being left quite open. But as the street is too narrow to admit of much light, when our eyes have got used to the darkness, we notice the shopkeeper, who is sitting cross-legged on a mat inside his shop or store. He wears a large red or blue turban, and in a very loud voice invites us to walk in and buy some of his goods.
“But the noise outside is so great that we cannot quite understand what he is saying, so we return to the street and look around us. But standing still is not to be thought of, as there is no paved side-walk for foot passengers, it needs constant care and attention to avoid being run over. Here comes a string of mules on their way to market, laden with dates or melons. Donkeys, gay with tassels and ornamented with small bells, and donkey boys each wearing a scarlet cap (called a fez) and a kind of loose shirt, made of blue and white striped cotton, are to be seen in numbers. Donkey boys as a class are rather numerous in Cairo, but I shall have more to tell you about them by-and-by.
“But the noise seems to grow louder and louder, till it becomes almost deafening. What can it all be about? A great man or officer of State is taking the air in his palanquin, carried by bearers, who shout at the highest pitch of their voices ordering everybody to get out of the way, while several servants, armed with sticks, run before, and so keep a few feet in advance clear for their master.
“Now we look with interest at a party of Copts, who are carrying goat skins filled with water (the leather bottles of which we read so often in the Bible). The Copts we are told are the true Egyptians, and the descendants of the people among whom Moses was brought up.
“Very few women are to be seen, and the few who are on their way to market are of the poorest class, and have their faces covered with veils of blue or white cotton.
“But I must not forget my promise to tell you about the donkey boys. What a merry, merry set they are. Singing, shouting, racing their donkeys through the crowded streets. Like most Arab boys they are very poor, and often dirty. But their dark eyes are full of fun, and most of them are good-tempered.
“A christian lady, who for some years taught quite a number of girls in a mission school at Cairo, took great interest in these poor uncared-for boys, and often wished something could be done to teach them the way of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But when she asked a few of them if they would like to see some pictures, and listen to Bible stories, telling them at the same time she would be glad to see them at her house on Sunday afternoons, the boys laughed and said, 'it was very good,' but they must go out with their donkeys, and so could not attend.
“Most of the boys added that they were Moslems (or followers of the false prophet Mahomet), and did not wish to hear the books or learn the ways of Christians. One boy, Abdul Welby (servant of the prophet), told his companions that he had once attended a Moslem School, but having been severely beaten by the master had run away.
“All this was anything but encouraging. But after looking to the Lord in prayer, Miss W. made up her mind to try, try again. Perhaps she thought if the older boys were unwilling to attend she might begin with a class of younger ones.
“Before closing her school that day she asked all the girls who had young brothers to hold up one hand. Quite a number of little brown hands were held up. Miss W. then told her scholars of her desire to have a Sunday class for the boys, and asked them to help her by inviting their brothers. The girls were greatly pleased, and promised to invite their brothers and do all in their power to make them become regular scholars.
“Did they succeed? Oh, yes; for on the afternoon of the following Lord's Day, Miss W. was encouraged by seeing several of the girls, each leading one or, in some cases, two small boys. An amusing scene took place at the door of the school-room, the new corners stopped, peeped timidly in, and then tried to run away. But a little coaxing on the part of their sisters induced them to enter.
“At first, they were very shy; but after a little patience, Miss W. got them to look at some colored pictures, and soon they were listening with great attention to the story of Moses. An easy text having been repeated several times over, they were told they might go to their homes. The little fellows were much pleased, and asked if they might come again.
“And from this small beginning, two classes, one for donkey-boys another for their younger brothers, was formed, and in this simple way many Arab and Egyptian boys heard the sweet story of a Savior's love, heard His loving call, ‘Come unto me and I will give you rest.' (Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).) And we are sure, quite sure, that any who simply trusted His finished work, found rest and peace.