AT a village near Warsaw there lived a well-to-do Jewish couple with their two children. The husband was compelled to join the army, and although his sorrowing wife did her utmost to release him, it was too late, and he was sent off with marching orders to Wilna. On his way thither he was accosted by a colporteur, who succeeded in selling a Hebrew New Testament to him. As he got time he began to read, and soon found out that, properly speaking, as it seemed to him, it was not a book suited for him, but intended for Christians. However, there being no chance of returning it, he thought to himself, “It will do me no harm, and I am curious to know what is the foundation of this Christian faith. I am sure it will not make me a worse Jew, and certainly will not draw me away from the faith of my forefathers.”
As he read the Book, and read again, and kept on reading half his nights, the desire grew upon him to know more of this Jesus of whom the Book was full. His peace of mind was gone, and hover much he struggled against the thought of becoming a Christian, he could withstand no longer, but was baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
This, however, was the beginning of troubles to him. The report of his conversion soon spread and reached his parents, who immediately cast him off. Meanwhile his wife’s endeavors to get him free had succeeded, and he hastened home. Great as was the joy of the meeting, it was mixed with bitterness, for the news of his baptism had preceded him here also. His wife’s father insisted on immediate separation, and on her objecting to this he cursed both of them; and the mother-in-law, who had taken the daughter’s part, had much to bear for her sake day by day. Still the man stood firm, and joyfully bore the burden of the Cross. But his unrelenting father-in-law gave him no rest, and unmercifully persecuted him until he was a ruined man.
This faithful follower of Christ now works as a laborer in a lime-kiln, and puts up with dry bread in order to bring home all his earnings to his wife and children, who cleave to him with wonderful affection and constancy.