QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Services continued longer one Sunday than usual, and after the meeting
was over quite a number of those who had come a distance, upon
invitation, decided to stop with others who were not so far from home.
Two carriages drove over to the big spring. The Newcomers went with
the Sunday school superintendent, and others went elsewhere.
This manner of visiting after the meeting on Sunday, is sometimes a
good thing and sometimes it is not. It is good if the occasion is used
for the spiritual benefit of those concerned. Sunday is the Lord's day.
In the afternoon, at the superintendent's house, the conversation
drifted about on the various phases of religious life, church work,
Bible study, educational work, the conversion of children, missionary
work, books, papers, and present day life.
The little folks were out somewhere, engaging themselves as they saw
proper. Sometimes they came into the room and remained a short time,
then out they would go all together.
Charlie remained, however. There may have been _two_ boys who
preferred to stay in the house.
Toward evening Charlie came to one of those who had been talking with
the rest, and leaning over on his knee, he wanted to ask some
questions. He had been hearing and not saying anything, and now he
wanted some things explained.
"Tell me," he said, "how old is old enough to join the church."
"That varies, Charlie, according to the intelligence and teaching of
the child. Some are more fit when they are ten years, than others at
twenty."
"Well, but, am I old enough?"
"I think so, don't you?"
"Yes, I do, but another thing. Does an education make a person good?"
"No, it will make you better if you are good, but if a bad man gets
education, that doesn't make him good."
"Then is it any use to study so hard to get a good education?"
"Why certainly."
"Tell me."
"Education, Charlie, is just development. You know what development
means?"
"Yes sir."
"Well, development gives strength."
"You have noticed that large tree out in the orchard. It was only a
chestnut once, but now it is developed. That tree is only an educated
chestnut. Which is stronger,--the chestnut tree or the little
chestnut?"
"The tree, of course," said he, "but I heard some one say, I think it
was just last Sunday, that education spoils some people."
"The right kind of an education will never spoil any one."
"I'm going to get a good education. Papa and mamma said they'd help
me, but I want to earn the money myself, and then go a long time."
"And then you'll be a missionary won't you?"
"Could I?"
"You can if you choose."
"What must I do?"
"You must be a good Christian at home, and do all you can for Jesus
now. Whoever is not good at home is the same away from home. Do things
so people will all love you. If your associates and acquaintances do
not love you, it is not likely the heathen will, and love is a great
deal of the missionary's preparation. And give. If you have not much,
give a little, and if you have more, give proportionately. But it is
not all in giving. There is more even in living for the Lord, and just
letting one's self be all His."
Charlie seemed to be thinking of something else then, and he spoke out
in earnest:
"Doesn't the Bible say we ought to send missionaries everywhere in the
world?"
"It says we must '_Go_', yes."
"Were there heathen fifty years ago?"
"Yes."
"Well, then why didn't we send lots of missionaries fifty years ago? I
wish I could go."
"Do you want to know, Charlie, how you can tell if you can be a
missionary when you are a man?"
"Yes sir," said Charlie.
"Be a little missionary now. Be a Christian. Get new scholars to come
to Sunday school. Live for other people all you can. One little person
quit eating candy, and gave the money for the Lord, another bought a
dozen eggs and raised chickens and sold them for the Lord. A little
farmer boy raised potatoes on a little corner of land his papa said he
could have, and then sold them for missionary money, and there are
many other ways."
"Oh, I know, I know what I'll do!" said several at once. "I'm so
thirsty."
"So am I." "No, wait." "Come on."
"We can all do something, then, can't we? I'm dry too."
And the one who was answering questions, together with for six little
people, who had gathered around him, went out under the grape arbor,
and down by the row of evergreens to the spring, and they all drank
heartily from the old tin cup.
An hour later all the visitors had their faces turned toward home, and
the children were thinking about being little missionaries at home.