WHEN Dr. Bettelheim went as a missionary to the Loo-choo Islands which belong to Japan, he was at first badly treated. They tried to prevent him from landing, and threw his goods into the sea. But when the ship had sailed away and left him there among them, they seemed to think he was some superior being whom they must not kill, though they could easily have done so.
When he had built a hut, the government had eight huts built around his, and put five persons in each, so that he should be thoroughly watched. But this turned out to be of great use to the missionary. From hearing these spies he learned to speak the language, and was at length able to preach the gospel to them.
When Dr. B., his wife, and little daughter went into the streets, all the women and children ran away and hid themselves, and though they longed to be allowed to speak to them, they could not get the opportunity. At length they hit upon this plan. They built a brick oven—the first that was made in Loo-choo—and Mrs. B. made some nice sweet cakes and baked them in their new oven. Then she used to fill a bag with these cakes, and when they went for a walk they would drop the cakes, or throw them to the children.
Now most children like nice sweet cakes, and the Japanese children used to pick up these cakes and became fond of them, and you can easily suppose that the children soon got over their fears, and instead of running away from the missionary’s wife, would watch for her coming, for the sake of the cakes she dropped. But it was a long time before the children would allow themselves to be touched. Dr. B. said he dated the success of his mission from the first kiss he received from a little Japanese child; but that was not until he had been there five years! From that time the work went slowly on.
Surely children at all parts of the world whether white, or brown, or black must be very much alike; they will all make friends with those who can give them anything that they enjoy. A little boy I know used to say, whenever a friend of his went to see him, What have you brought me? or, What have you got for me? Well, here’s good news for us all to know. God is the greatest giver there ever was! It is true He does say, “My son, give Me thine heart,” but then He gives us something far better, He gives us life everlasting.
My Little Friend.
ML 08/19/1900