The Rev. John F. Goucher established many vernacular Christian schools
in the villages of India.
An American traveler in northern India, strolling on the
platform when the train had come to a standstill, saw a native
who drew near, eyed him closely, then fell before him, clasped
him about the ankles, and beating his feet with his head, cried,
“I am your servant, and you are my savior!”
The traveler bade the man get up and say what he had to say.
The native at length exprest himself: “You are Dr. Goucher,
of America, are you not? All that I am and have I owe to you.
Hearing that you were traveling through on this train, I walked
more than twenty miles just to see your train pass. Now God has
let me look into your face.”
Thousands of young Indians in the north-west provinces of
India call themselves “Goucher Boys,” and look upon a man in
distant America, whom they have never seen, as their friend and
emancipator.--WILLIAM T. ELLIS, “Men and Missions.”
(1672)