Chapter XIV: Believing and Confessing

ALTHOUGH Hira fully made up her mind that henceforth she was going to "try His works to do" who had so loved her, yet she found it was not always easy to leave off doing those very different works which she had been doing all her life.

It was not easy always to ask, "What would the Lord Jesus like me to do?" for one who had been accustomed to ask, "What would 'I' like to do?"

Shushila looked on and prayed much as she saw daily battles being fought, in which her little charge was sometimes defeated and sometimes victorious.

She understood that every contest was a clear proof that a new principle had been introduced into the child's life which was trying to subdue the old one.

There could be no doubt that, though still weak and faulty, Hira was really a new child in Christ Jesus.

Shushila began to wonder how she could best explain to the little girl the next step to be taken, so as to make her baptism a very real and lasting blessing to her.

So one day she read to her the story of the woman who touched the hem of Christ's garment and was made whole. And as she finished, she asked, "Hira, why do you think the Lord Jesus asked who it was who had touched Him? Because He must have known."

Hira considered a minute, and then she said, "Perhaps it was because He wanted her to say 'Thank you,' just like you teach me to say 'Thank you' when you give me anything."

Shushila smiled as she answered, "Yes, I think that was one reason, and besides that, I think He wanted her to let all those other people know how good He had been to her. When we were in church to-day, I thought that perhaps if the Lord Jesus had been there, as He was that day, He might have asked, 'Where is that little girl whom I have made ready to meet God?'"

"But, sister, if He had, I would have said directly, 'Here I am.'"

Then Shushila explained how the Lord Jesus had appointed a way by which His followers could confess Him before men, and let it be known that they belong to Him.

Hira listened gladly, then she said, "I am so glad, because I would not like anyone to think that I am a little heathen girl when I am not, and really belong to the Lord Jesus. Please let me be baptised very soon."

Shushila did not answer at once, then she said, "Hira, I want very much that you should be, but supposing after you have been called by the name of Christ and received into His Church you tell lies and get into those naughty tempers, those who see you will say, 'Is that what Christians do? Hira is no better than heathen girls'; and so the name of our Lord Jesus will be dishonoured."

The little girl looked very sad and grave, then she said, "Sister, do let me be baptised, and I will ask the Lord Jesus to put His hand on my lips so that the lies will not be able to come out, and another on my heart to keep the naughty tempers away."

"Yes, Hira," was the answer, "He surely will if you trust Him, for that is just what He came down from heaven and gave His life on the cross for. You have learnt that verse, 'Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.' You are one of His people, and these are your two special sins, so I am sure He will save you from them; it is just what He came to do."

Hira gave a little sigh as she said, "I wish I could be cured like that leper was you told me about, his leprosy went away all at once. I wish my naughtiness would go like that."

Shushila could not help sympathising with the child's wish. "Do not you think, little sister," she asked, "that if you want to tell a lie, or to be angry, and you do not because you want to please the Lord Jesus, that is one way of showing that you love him, and that He is really able to save you? Those who are in no danger do not need to be saved, do they? You are going to be made a soldier of the Lord Jesus, and soldiers always have to fight."

"But you do not have to fight," said Hira.

Shushila smiled. "Yes, indeed I do," she answered; "sometimes I have to fight very hard not to be impatient with a little girl who will not do as she is told."

At this point someone came in, and so the conversation ended.

A few Sundays later, Hira had her wish and was baptised. It was a day never to be forgotten in her experience, for it was the "visible" line which separated the old life from the new, darkness from light.

Besides Rámpál Singh and his daughter, there were two others among those who were present who watched the ceremony with strong feelings of interest.

Of these, one was Mary Dayál, who had been much interested in the blind child ever since she came into their midst.

As she saw her openly confessing her faith in the Lord Jesus, and being received into His church, there was some regret mixed with her joy. She thought to herself, "Hira is a precious jewel which the Lord gave 'me' the opportunity of seeking and finding for Him, but I was unfitted for the work, and so He has given the honour to another."

As she thought of this, she determined that she would with all her heart seek for other jewels which should adorn her Master's crown.

The other spectator was of a very different appearance, and had very different feelings. Soon after the service began, there crept into the church a poor woman, who looked as if she was little accustomed to enter such places. Without looking for a seat, she sat down in a corner on the ground. No one noticed her except those who were sitting close by, and while the last prayer was being read, she got up and went out. Then Mary Dayál saw her and recognised Sukhiya.

Her fears had been to some extent realised. It was quite true that Hira, in the days of her comfort and prosperity, did not feel the need of her old friend as she had done when she was her only friend.

This was quite as much the woman's fault as the child's; for, partly because she thought she was no longer needed, and partly because she feared to let it be seen on what familiar terms she had been with the blind girl, she kept out of her way, and except when she came occasionally to sell her milk and butter, Hira saw nothing of her.

Still, it had occurred to her that she would like her old friend to be present at her baptism, and so she had begged her to come.

Sukhiya had promised, and that is why she was there; but to her, it was a time almost as sad as when her last child died. It was the final severing of the link which had bound her to the child who had filled the empty place in her heart, and been the one bright spot in her sad life.

Now Hira was a Christian, and to Sukhiya's mind that meant that henceforth she lived in another world to her own.

It was very true that every time the child had had an opportunity she had pleaded with her, "Sukhiya, do believe on the Lord Jesus, and let Him make you ready to go to heaven, for I do want you to come too."

But she had always shaken her head and said, "Child, I am too old and stupid to understand these new things. All my sense has gone in weeping. I will go on selling butter and milk a little longer, and then my days will end."

Hira grieved over the indifference of her old friend, for one of the first lessons taught her was that, having come to Christ herself, she should now seek to bring others; and who so likely to be the first as the one who had done so much for her in the darkest days of her life?

After leaving the church, Sukhiya went to her home, and that day no food was cooked, and no milk and butter sold, for the poor woman cared nothing for those things.

All that day she sat and wept. The next, she went out with her basket as usual, and her husband found his food cooked, and from that time, all went on as before, only that Sukhiya never talked of the blind child, and went to see her even less frequently than before.

There had been some discussion as to whether Hira's name should be changed at her baptism. It was Harnáth Singh's custom to let each convert choose for himself or herself, and child though she was, Hira was quite capable of knowing her own mind.

When she was told what was the meaning of her name, she said, "Then, please, let me keep it always, for I like to be a jewel belonging to the Lord Jesus; and some day, He will make me as shining and beautiful as a real diamond."

So Hira she remained.

A LIGHTENED LOAD.

BY CATHARINE SHAW.