THE mission school at Gong Tapa was a subject about which the mothers of the girls who were Miss Fiske's first scholars, never seemed to grow tired of talking. Like the women of all Eastern lands, they went daily to the well to draw water for household use, and when they met there, or visited each other at home, one would say to her friends, "When my daughter Mohana came home for her holidays, she told me such a beautiful story about a prophet who was cast into a den of lions because he prayed to the true God. But the God whom he served took care of him, and would not suffer the lions to hurt him.”
“And I," said another closely veiled woman, “visited Sache at the school; I saw her among her young companions, and I heard her singing with them the praises of Jesus. The girls are truly taught many things we their mothers do not know. They can read and sing Christian hymns, as well as sew and embroider. I almost wish I were a child again, for then I would go to school.”
“Thou canst not go to the school, Salome," said an aged woman. "But why not ask the teacher to come to our homes? We will sit at her feet, we will hear the words of wisdom from her lips.”
A murmur of "Good, good," ran through the little group of women, as they turned to go to their homes. Soon a messenger was sent to invite Miss Fiske to spend her next holiday at the house of one of her pupils. A promise to do so having been given, the news spread quickly, and on the day fixed for the visit, quite a large company of women were gathered to receive her. A mat had been placed for her to sit upon (the Persians do not use chairs), and the women sat or stood on the earthen floor.
A few were anxious to hear the sweet story of a Savior's love, but by far the greater number had been attracted only by curiosity to see Miss Fiske. As soon as she entered the room, they began to ask questions about her dress, her home, and her relations. "Why do you not wear rings in your ears, or silver ornaments in your hair, as we do?" said one. "Tell us about your grandfather and your great-grandfather," cried another. (The Persians are very fond of talking about their relations.)
Poor Miss Fiske soon found it would be impossible to answer all their questions, and that to attempt doing so would only be a waste of time; so lifting her heart to the Lord in prayer, she said to the women, "I see the customs of your country are very different from those of mine. Now as I am almost a stranger in your country, you will not be angry with me for telling you that in my country when one speaks the others remain silent.
“Now I have something to say to you about a relation of yours, and mine also; her name was Eve. Do you not think that is a pretty name? But before I can tell you her story, I want every one of you to place the fore-finger of her right hand on her lips, and keep it there until I have done speaking.”
The women looked surprised, but became very quiet. Miss Fiske then told them in very simple words the story you have often read in the opening chapters of Genesis, of the creation of Adam and Eve. She then told them of the Fall, or how sin first entered the world, and of the first promise of a Savior. (Gen. 3:1515And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15).)
The women looked very sorry when they heard, that on account of their disobedience to the command of God, Adam and Eve had to be sent away from the garden of Eden, and one or two took their fingers from their lips as if just going to speak, but remained silent at a sign from their companions.
When the Bible lesson was over, and they were at liberty to talk, more than one said to Miss Fiske, "We did not know God was so good. Eve was the first to disobey God, and yet He said a woman should be the mother of the Savior. Will you not come again very soon, and tell us more of these good things?”
On the next visit, Miss Fiske had a still larger number waiting to welcome her, and God richly blessed the simple gospel message she carried to the homes and hearts of these poor ignorant Persian women. Many of them became true-hearted disciples of Christ.
Some of Miss Fiske's pupils were among the first converted in her school, and they were very anxious for the salvation of their schoolfellows, speaking to them about their souls, and holding little meetings to pray with and for them.
Soon the Lord called one of His young disciples to be with Himself in heaven. Her name was Sarah, she was received into Miss Fiske's boarding school when she was about ten years of age. She learned to read the Persian bible (printed in Syria) very quickly, and was very fond of learning psalms and chapters, but it was not till about five months before her death that her teachers were quite sure she was really the Lord's. From the time she first confessed Christ she grew rapidly in grace, and was a real help and comfort to her teacher.
When she became very ill, it was thought best for her to leave the school, and return to her father's house. On being told so, she said, "Let me pray first." After a little time spent in prayer, she came to her teacher, and smiling through her tears, said, "I am ready to go now." She then left her much loved school, never to return to it. During the last few weeks of her life, though often in great pain, she was always bright and cheerful, and often spoke of the loving kindness of the Lord.
The last day of her life was a Lord's day. She was very weak all day. Her father, who was a preacher of the gospel, and had been asked to go and preach at a village some miles distant among the hills, noticing she seemed worse than usual, said to her, "Sarah, shall I go to preach, or shall I remain at home with you, as you are very ill today?" The dying girl answered brightly, "Go, dear father, preach the gospel, and I will pray for you.”
Her father then set out on his long walk. Early in the afternoon Sarah became much worse, and forgetting through weakness where her father had gone, asked for him; on being reminded he was away preaching, she smiled and said, “It is well, do not send for him, I can die alone." Soon after, she expressed a wish to see Miss Fiske. Her sister was leaving the room to fetch her, when Sarah called her back, saying, "Do not go, for I remember this is the hour when Miss Fiske reads the Bible and prays with my companions. Do not disturb her, I can die alone." Half an hour later, and dear Sarah's spirit, absent from the body, was present with the Lord.
Blind Martha, as she was always called, was the next to follow. From the time of her conversion she seemed to long to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. She would often say, "I have never seen the sunshine or the flowers, but I do not mind, for soon I shall see the face of the Lord Jesus, and His face is brighter than the sunshine, and more beautiful than the flowers.”
Like Sarah, she was obliged to leave school on account of illness. One night she called her mother, saying, "Mother, I think it is time to get up, for I can see a great light. Is not the sun shining?" Her mother told her it was still quite dark, and asked her if she felt herself worse. "No, I am not worse," she replied,
“but I think I shall soon see His face." Her mother lay down again. When the morning light filled the room, she saw that God had given blind Martha the desire of her heart. She was truly asleep in Jesus.
THE flowers which deck my pathway round
And skirt the shady wood,
Proclaim as with a thousand tongues,
That God is very good.
The ripen'd fields of waving grain,
For man and beast assign'd;
Tell that the great Creator is,
Not only good, but kind.
The glorious sun and peerless moon,
And stars which round them wait;
Prove God to be not only good
And kind, but very great.
But oh! the Cross where Jesus hung,
Doth yet more strongly prove,
That, though so good and kind and great,
The mighty God is LOVE.