“Yes, sir,” said he, “I am a new beginner at it, and you have given me one of the best lessons that I have ever learned. I thank you for it; it needs no apology, and I hope God will give me grace always to do likewise.”
Our journey as we continued it to Pittsburg was pleasant and profitable.
In the evening I reached the hospitable home of the Rev. Mr. J—— in the village of T——, near to the city. It had been arranged for his house to be my headquarters, and I shall never forget the nights I spent with him and his devoted companion. I thought him as nigh Christian perfection as man is ever raised in this world. Had it not been for their wise Christian counsel and earnest prayers, my faith and courage would have yielded when I came to look on my field of labor. My new work, to which everybody was a stranger, and to be done among strangers in the bustle of business and worldly excitements, seemed to be too formidable an undertaking. All nations seemed to be represented; scores intoxicated, and blaspheming God’s holy name. And what added to the difficulty was, that my books did not come to hand for three days, leaving me that time to magnify molehills into mountains of difficulty.
But this delay was the most important part of my training. Those were days of most earnest searchings of heart, while such passages of Scripture as, “He that is ashamed of me and my words, of him will I be ashamed before my Father and his holy angels,” were constantly ringing in my ears.
On the evening of the third day the box of books came. I had engaged a class-leader in the Methodist church to go with me the first day; but the sight of the box made me tremble, and so great was the dread of beginning the work that evening, that I resolved that if God did not give me strength by the next morning, I would start home and give it up. The night was spent without sleep. I can truly say I was in an agony till four o’clock in the morning. Then in a moment of time all my fears were gone, and I longed for the morning to come that I might begin my work.
By eight o’clock in the morning I called on Mr. S—— who was to accompany me, with my basket filled with good books and tracts.
In a few minutes we entered the first house. They were Germans; very irreligious. We talked and prayed with them, and sold some books. They seemed pleased with the visit, and thanked us for it.
The next house we entered bore the brand of intemperance. The husband was sitting by the fire with a sore hand and red eyes. We preached to him “righteousness, temperance, and a judgment to come,” till he trembled and wept like a child. He promised to drink no more, joined a temperance society that night, became a church-going man, provided for his family, and as far as I know has turned out well.
During that day we visited twenty-seven families, talked and prayed with all of them, and distributed near twenty dollars’ worth of books. Many shed tears while we talked with them of Christ and salvation, and promised to attend to the “one thing needful.”
Mr. S——, my fellow-laborer, was so stirred in soul with the day’s work, that he said he must let his business stand and go the next day.