DOING HIS DUTY.
FOR the first time for months, Isa Dás had the clear sum of five rupees
in his hands. He entered his hut, and seating himself on the mud floor,
began to consider what he should do with his money.
"Shall I lay in a stock of grain while it is cheap, or buy one or two
brass cooking-vessels to replace those I have been obliged to part
with? Nay, surely my first purchase should be a blanket, for mine is
almost threadbare. Perhaps I might spare something out of these five
rupees for the work of the Lord. It would be a thank offering if I sent
eight annas (half a rupee) to the starving folk at Madras."
There were so many things on which Isa Dás wished to spend his money,
that he could not make up his mind as to which he should choose. "I
will not go to the bazaar till to-morrow," he said to himself, "there
is no hurry for me to decide. I will now just read a little from God's
Word, and then peacefully and thankfully go to my rest."
Isa Dás opened the Bible, as he was wont, with a short prayer for God's
Spirit to guide him. The Christian usually found great refreshment
from reading the Bible, but this time any one who could have watched
his face would have seen that he was troubled. Isa Dás was reading the
thirteenth chapter of St. Paul's epistle to the Romans, and he paused
with his finger on the eighth verse, "Owe no man anything, but to love
one another."
To Isa Dás had come that trouble which often meets those who have in
mature years adopted a religion more pure than that of their childhood.
Sunlight shows us blots and stains that we never noticed by lamplight.
Until Isa Dás had become a Christian, he had never regarded remaining
in debt as a sin, though he knew it to be an evil. Like many of his
countrymen, he looked on a creditor as a kind of tyrant, whom it is
lawful to cheat if you can. Isa Dás had often said that debt is like a
chain, but he had not thought that it was one of Satan's forging; he
believed it to be against man's comfort, but had not been aware that it
is against the command of the Most High. *
* The prevalence of debt is one of the most terrible evils in India,
a fertile cause of misery. Persons, for a wedding or funeral expenses,
will burden themselves with debt, which fetters them for the rest of
their lives. Interest in India is enormously high; thus debts grow
fast, like plants in a damp, hot jungle. Native Christians need earnest
warnings as well as heathen. It will take time to teach even them that
there in a difference between a gift and a loan.
"I owe four rupees to the missionary sahib," said Isa Dás to himself,
"but the thought of this has never disturbed me, for I knew that I
could not pay, and that he would not press for payment. He is no
grasping money-lender. But I can pay him now, though not without giving
up what I greatly desired; only one rupee would be left, and no one who
can help it ever thinks of paying debts. Why should I do what none of
my countrymen think it needful to do?"
"Because I am a Christian," was the faithful reply given by conscience;
"because I have no right to spend on myself, or even to give away to
the poor what really belongs to another."
Yet Isa Dás was not fully persuaded that to repay his friend's loan was
a religious duty until, prostrating himself in prayer, he had humbly
said, in the words of the great apostle, "'Lord, what wilt thou have me
to do?'"
Then it appeared evident to his soul that honesty required repayment
of a loan, and that he who would "provide things honest in the sight
of all men" must not remain in debt for a single day longer than he
possibly can. Resolving, though with a sigh, to carry over the four
rupees in the morning, Isa Dás fell asleep.
But when the morning came, the convert's resolution wavered a little.
Even after he had started for the missionary's house, which lay at the
other end of the town, Isa Dás had many doubts and misgivings. As he
passed through the bazaars, Satan tempted him first by the sight of
a beautiful blanket with a red border, then ranges of shining brazen
vessels, then heaps of grain, and baskets of ripe, delicious fruit. At
every turning Isa Dás found a new snare.
Thrice, he almost resolved to delay, at least, paying his debt. Then
came the thought, "This is the first opportunity which God has given
me of getting out of debt; if I delay, such an opportunity may never
occur again. If I neglect my Lord's command, can I expect His blessing?
Debt, like a cancer, is eating out the very life of this land; every
Christian should, by his conduct, make his firm protest against it."
So, trying to avoid even looking into the tempting shops, and delaying
his purchase of needful things till his return, lest he should be drawn
into spending more than his single rupee, Isa Dás pursued his way. He
soon left the town behind him, and came in sight of the white bungalow,
with its neat compound, in which the missionary resided.
The missionary was engaged in counting out some rupees, being the
results of a collection made in his church, when his servant made his
salam, and announced that Isa Dás was in attendance, and desired to see
his honour. The missionary turned towards a Government official who sat
near him, reading the papers, and said, "This is the very convert whom
I was recommending to you just now. He is one who has really lost all
for the sake of religion."
"And I doubt that he expects you to make up his losses," said
the officer, smiling. "I tell you again that I don't like native
Christians; they are a covetous lot, always bent on getting as much as
they can. Just you see now if the fellow has not come to ask you for
money."
"He may, indeed, need help," replied the missionary, rather sorry that
his needy convert should happen to come just at that time.
Isa Dás entered, and made his respectful salam. He then drew forth from
his kamarband * four rupees, which he silently placed on the table.
* A scarf worn round the waist, which often serves as a purse.
"What have you brought these for?" asked his friend.
"I have brought them to repay the debt which I owe your honour for what
you kindly lent me some time ago."
"I gladly add them to our church collection," said the missionary,
placing the rupees beside those which he had just been counting out.
"This is the very first time that I have ever known a native pay a debt
without the money being forced from him!" cried the officer present,
looking with interest at the thin form, so meanly clad, of the honest
convert. "Christianity has done something for this man at least. You
have told me," he continued, still speaking in English, so that Isa Dás
did not understand him, "that he has some education, is intelligent,
hardworking, and one not given to lying and cheating?"
"All that, and a good deal more," replied the missionary with a smile.
"I want just that sort of person to accompany me in my journeys through
the famine-stricken districts; one who can give me some little help
in my work of dispensing Government relief." Then, addressing Isa
Dás in his native tongue, the gentleman said, "Do you wish to take
service?" And he briefly described what the nature of the service would
be, concluding by an offer of ten rupees a month, and all travelling
expenses paid.
How readily, how joyfully was the offer accepted! Isa Dás saw himself
raised at once to a position of comfort and wide usefulness, one in
which he could specially glorify God by helping his fellow-creatures
whilst serving an earthly patron.
"You will need doubtless to make some little preparations for
your journey," said the official; "some additions to a somewhat
scanty wardrobe," he added in English, with a smiling glance at the
missionary. "You shall have ten rupees for your outfit, so buy whatever
you need, and join me here to-morrow."
With what a light, happy heart the convert retraced his steps to the
town, with eleven rupees in his kamarband! With what special pleasure
he wrapt himself in the blanket bordered with red, which he could now
buy with an easy conscience!
"This will always serve to remind me of the day when the performance of
a simple duty led to such happy results!" thought the Christian. "It
will often bring to my mind the command—'Owe no man anything but to
love one another.'"
It is not always that such results follow so simple an action, but
there is truth in the proverb that "Honesty is the best policy." He who
is known to be trustworthy is the one likely to be put into positions
of trust.
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