ON the south of Russia, a country far away in the east, is the little Protestant colony of Karass. It was near the Caucasian mountains, a wild district where the people were very lawless, and the little children were brought up to believe that everything they could take from the settlers was theirs by right. They lived in their mountain fastnesses very secure, because they knew no one would dare to make the effort to discover their dwellings or to drive them from them. When they grew to be men they spent most of their time on horseback and were the terror of the peaceable inhabitants of the plains and valleys, carrying off cattle and horses and even men, women and children. These poor people were obliged to protect their pastures by inclosing them.
One morning seven little boys were sent to take care of the cattle, but in the eagerness of their play forgot all about their charge and allowed them to stray from the enclosure. When their sports were ended they found to their dismay that the animals had wandered a long way off, and forgetful of the danger, started in pursuit. A race over the plains discovered the truant cattle, but while driving them back they were pounced upon by a party of Caucasian horsemen and carried off to the mountains, where the poor little fellows were stripped of most of their clothing and sent half naked to feed their sheep.
Homesick, longing for the friends they might never see again, and almost starved on the coarse bread—the only food the robbers allowed them—the days passed wearily on, and at night, instead of the shelter of home and the loving greeting awaiting them, they must lie down upon the ground to sleep, with nothing above them but the cold sky. But they were not alone, for a kind heavenly Father was watching over them with tenderest pity, and knew all their sorrow and suffering.
Among the boys was one named Philip, who called the others around him and told them what he had learned from his mother, that Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd had promised to hear the cry of all His people when in distress, and requested them to kneel down and ask Him for help. So these seven little ones knelt on the green grass while Philip offered this simple prayer: “Good Shepherd, have mercy upon us; here we are as poor, lambs in the midst of, wolves; deliver us, Good Shepherd.” And each day the same petition went up from the sorrowful group.
But in the meanwhile they had resolved to attempt an escape, and daily laid by a small portion of their scanty allowance upon which to subsist while in the woods, secreting their stock under a stone; but the very day they had fixed upon for the attempt they found the shepherd dog had eaten it all up. Poor little children! they were greatly grieved, and believed that now all hope of escape was cut off, and they must serve the robbers the rest of their lives. But God heard their simple prayer and remembered His promise made so many years before: “Leave thy fatherless children; will preserve them alive,” (Jer. 49:1111Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me. (Jeremiah 49:11).) and was preparing to answer it in a way they had not thought of. He knew that if they had been allowed to carry out their wild plan of escape they would surely have perished in the woods, either torn by wild beasts or overcome by starvation and fatigue, so He allowed the dog to take their food and thus prevent them from making the attempt.
We don’t always see what is best for us at the moment, and like these little boys, think God has forgotten all about us, just the time He is doing for us the very best thing.
But to return to the home at Karass. When the news of the capture reached the settlement the poor parents were almost in despair. It was worse than use-less to follow the children, and no help or rescue seemed nigh. But a kind lady, the wife of one of the missionaries, who believed that the boys could be bought back for $1,500, undertook to raise the amount. Many offered aid—one lady, the wife of a Russian General, sending a costly pearl necklace to be sold. The whole sum was soon subscribed, and sent to the robbers the very day after the boys had been so saddened by the loss of their little store of food. They were immediately returned, and there was great joy in the little village of Karass that day.
ML-02/15/1920