THE TIGER, like the lion, is a giant cat. His coat is of a bright orange-yellow color and covered all over with black stripes. Though big, he can move very swiftly and with a frightening roar he goes bounding over the ground at a tremendous speed.
One hot night in India a missionary lady took her usual walk around the mission school grounds to see that all her little girls were safely in bed. Returning to tier cottage she found a little native girl, named Mary, waiting for her.
“Mother,” said Mary, “I want to be your messenger girl this week,” and spreading her mat on the brick floor she laid down to rest.
“Goodnight, Mary,” said Mother. “Goodnight, Mother,” said Mary and soon they were both asleep.
Suddenly during the night the missionary was awakened by a loud cry. Jumping up she looked for Mary but the little girl was gone.
In the moonlight Mother saw a big tiger outside clawing at a bundle it was Mary!
The missionary lady grasped her flashlight and seizing a big stick she ran towards the tiger screaming at the top of her voice. The frightened tiger fled across the yard and disappeared into a field of sugar cane.
Soon all in the mission school were awake and came running to see what had happened. They found the missionary with little Mary in her arms. The little girl had been badly bitten and mauled by the tiger. They carried her to the mission hospital where the doctor and nurses bound up her wounds and put her to bed.
Afraid that the tiger would come back the next night, the missionary and the girls prayed, asking God to help them to get rid of the great beast. They believed he was asleep in the sugar cane so in the afternoon they prepared to drive him out into the open. A long line of girls surrounded the field on three sides all carrying tin pans. A man with a gun stood at the other end of the field. At a given signal all the girls began to shout and beat on their tin pans, making a great noise.
The sleeping tiger awoke, and, frightened by the noise he went dashing through the sugar cane in the very direction of the man with the gun. Everyone was praying, asking the Lord to help them. Suddenly the great cat emerged from the sugar cane. There was a tremendous bang as the gun went off. And that was the end of Mr. Tiger. No more would he terrorize the village and carry off little girls and boys.
How the missionaries and the little girls thanked God for saving them from the great tiger. To pray to God and ask Him for help is the privilege of all those who know Him as their Saviour. He loves boys and girls and wants to save them not only from their sins but in all the difficulties and dangers of life. The Bible says: “He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.” Psalm 91:15. Again “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify Me.” Psalm 50:15.
ML-10/20/1974