Tárogató, 1938-1939 (1. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)

1939-04-01 / 10. szám

16

TÁROGATÓ

Frail Jack Clines, who became a cabinet minister and one of Britain’s most respected labour leaders, began work for seventy-five cents a week, when ten years old, in the dreary Lancashire cotton mills, because there were seven small mouths to feed at home. Jack, after working for several years, saw his salary soar to four dollars a week, but of this he could keep only eight pence, or sixteen cents, to spend as he pleased. On one occasion he spent more than two weeks’ allowance on a second-hand dictionary, for he had ceased even part-time school attendance at the age of twelve, and now had to rely upon self-education.

Elihu Burritt, the “learned blacksmith,” was the youngest in a family of ten children. Through his knowledge of nearly twenty languages, all selftaught, Burritt came to understand and to love the people of other lands. Among the many tributes to his memory was one by a famous judge, who said: “When I was a boy the only way I could secure an education was by long weary walks over the hills to a small schoolhouse; it was the example of Elihu Burritt which gave me ambition to do this.”

Examples of great men and women who have come from big families, and who have made their mark in spite of handicapes often accentuated by the length of the dinner table, could be continued indefinitely. In every one’s circle of family and friends are others who, though they have not won fame, are great in heart and soul.

WITH THE LOGGERS ON THE PACIFIC COAST

Visiting at a logging camp in December, Mr. Laite, of the mission ship “Melvin Swartout,” says, “I found just one boy of eight years amongst the older folk there. His mother is teaching him and he is doing well in his examinations by correspondence. She told me that last year he wanted a Bible for Christmas and while we talked of him she said, “Mr. Laite, I do hope that he will follow your calling.’ There is joy in service when we find mothersi trying to instal the right ideals in the minds of their children. I made certain that this boy would get a copy of ‘The Life

of Jesus’ which he could read and enjoy.”

“THE HOUSE THAT MIKE BUILT”

By Rev. J. T. Stephens, Superintendent

of All Peoples’ Mission, Edmonton.

It all began with the death of the boy. He was a fine fellow, but lack of sufficient nourishment made it impossible for him to build a reserve strong enough to resist the dread disease. That, and the poor little shack which they called home. All the family were Communists —probably we were to blame for that; there seemed to be more sympathy to the left than to the right, if you know what I mean.

After the Communists and Young Pioneersi had buried the boy—and there wasn’t much comfort in the service I confess—the mother asked me to say a prayer over the grave. I did! After all, religion generally has the last word in hours like these. And so, in the presence of a huge crowd of Communists, we commended the lives of all troubled folk and broken-hearted ones to the care of the Father who always knows and always cares. I think we all felt better—even the Communists.

But then, what about the poor little shack? Were we going to wait, more or less patiently, until the next funeral came from the same litle place. By no means. We challenged the Communists to a fifty-fifty proposition and they did their best—not a particularly good one perhaps—but they did something. That to their everlasting credit. There came the opportunity to buy a fairly large house which had fallen into the cellar, for thirty dollars, and we bought it, the money somehow came, and it certainly talked in this particular case. Mike got busy. He tore down the house, and with the lumber built himself a model home. We have had no more funerals. Mike is one of our elders now, and one of the homes we like to visit whenever the opportunity comes is, “The house that Mike built.”

And so the Church shares in building homes; and, building homes, builds lives in a ministry that touches life at every point in this vast Dominion of ours, as well as in lands beyond the sea.