In one of my visits to a neglected home I found a little orphan boy of ten years whom I invited to our mission Sunday-school, and he seemed pleased to know he had a friend. I had told them, during my visits, of our little Sunday-school, and as I was leaving I gave him a little Sunday-school card with a beautiful verse of scripture and asked him if he could read, whereupon, he answered, "No;" then I asked his foster-mother if she would teach him the text—she promised, as by this time she too was getting interested. I left them seemingly glad for the little time I had spent with them in their home.
Some time after this I was going down town, moving briskly along, when a small boy came plump up against me, saying, "Hello, mister! don't you know me? You're the Sunday-school man which was to our house. I know you." "O yes, I know you now," and I said, "tell me about yourself." "I have been to Sunday-school four Sundays, and have a nice teacher, and enjoy going very much; we are in a little class and have lesson-picture papers, and I like it so much I want to go every Sunday and all the time. I know a boy who does not go to Sunday-school, and he has promised to go with me next Sunday."
Saturday evening, June 2d, it was my privilege to meet with the Mossy Grove Christian Endeavor Society. About forty-five young people were present and took a hearty part in the meeting—quite a number joined in prayer during the twenty minutes' prayer service. This service was all the more interesting because a work of our planting, and from a very small beginning has grown and is full of Christian earnestness.
This was the home of the "unfortunate man" I had found as I went through the mountains. It was my privilege to look into that man's face and note the change that had come to him. In the Sunday-school I was teacher of his class. He seemed interested in the lesson and showed evidence of being a changed man. As I preached of the "sprinkled blood" he somehow appreciated all the more how he had been rescued. In the house-to-house work among this people I found many encouraging results and think our work there will develop until we have a church organization.
In one county I found a number of people off by themselves in a little nook of a valley, but not over two miles from Sunday-school and church,
yet not attending. As I went into their homes and talked about their opportunities and duties, many promises were given that the future would find them more active for themselves and children. One man who had not been in Sunday-school for four years made a humble confession, and pledged that he would go to work. He spoke of his early life with its Christian activities, and now when he has a family he has neglected to take them and go to the house of God. So many men are waiting for somebody to lead them to their duty—they see it and know it—but have not moral courage to go forward unless encouraged in some special way.
On Children's Day I was in Pleasant View, and am sure if our Northern friends could have looked in and have seen the bright, happy children that were engaged in their first Children's Day service they would have been encouraged and rejoiced. Of course the service was far from perfect, but while this was true they were having a new experience. I had told them about Children's Day, and urged them to use our order of exercises, which they did, but the songs and recitations were too hard for most of them; yet, as I saw the real effort and interest, I could not restrain the "well done." But this was not all; I was again to be surprised when the names were called and the "little envelopes" presented with their "little Children's Day offering." They were happy in the thought of doing something for the good people who had aided them. They are very poor people and cannot do much, but a great change has come over them since I first found them. Our Christian Endeavor meeting that day was one of profit and help to all. One little boy about ten years old led in prayer.
During the month there have been two hopeful conversions and many evidences of spiritual strengthening and growth. On the other hand, hundreds are waiting for some one to help them "while the water is troubled." In all the meetings of the month there has been a marked evidence of spiritual interest.