Chapter VIII (3)

Prithu had indeed a trying time before him, his faith and perseverance had to endure a very sharp test. He was carried off into the land of Cashmir, which does not belong to our Queen, that he might be quite beyond reach of Christian friends. He was washed in so-called sacred springs; he was talked to by famous Brahmins; he was made to sit day after day before one of the hideous idols whom the heathen worship. Those around him tried to stir up the pride of the youthful Brahmin.

"Alas!" said one. "That you should trouble so holy a man as your father, and disgrace so great a family by becoming a Christian!"

"If I am the son of a great and good man, why should I not put out my hand to take a great and good thing?" was Prithu's reply.

Prithu had indeed put out his hand to grasp the Christian's hope; but would he have strength to hold it fast? The poor boy's comfort and strength was found in prayer. Even when forced to crouch before a hateful idol, the young convert was lifting up his heart to his Lord.

Prithu was specially comforted by the Saviour's promise, "BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, AND I WILL GIVE THEE A CROWN OF LIFE."

Prithu had no opportunity of writing to Mr. Bateman, and yet he contrived to send a message to him. The way in which the poor lad did this is one of the most interesting parts of his story.

Before Prithu had been forced to leave his Christian friend, the two had studied together a part of the Bible which to some of my readers may be little known. In the law of Moses it is written that a freed slave might have the choice of serving his master still, if he loved that master so well as to resolve never to leave him till death. In sign of such earnest, devoted love, the freed slave had his ear bored, such was the token appointed by Moses. Now Prithu had resolved to take the Lord Jesus as his Master for ever, and he thought that he would have a sign like that of the freed slave. There was no need to bore Prithu's ear, for it was already pierced for rings, after the custom of the East, where boys as well as girls wear jewels. Prithu, as a token of his love for his Master in Heaven, had put a little sprig of wood into the hole in his ear, and had told Mr. Bateman that if ever he, Prithu, should take that sprig out, it would be because he had given up serving Christ as his Master.

Often must the missionary have anxiously thought of his tempted boy, and have asked himself the question, "Does my poor Prithu still wear the sprig in his ear, or has he thrown it away, and with it cast away his faith in Christ, and his hope of heaven?"

Mr. Bateman was not to be left in doubt. One day a letter from Prithu's father reached the missionary. I do not know what the letter contained, most likely words of reproach, perhaps of abuse. But it was not on the letter itself but on the yellow envelope which had held it that the eyes of Mr. Bateman were fixed with eager interest.

I have seen that yellow envelope in the missionary's album, there kept amongst his treasures; and why is it thus preserved and valued? It is certainly a very common-place thing to look at, and its neatness is not improved by having on it an odd little sketch of a head in profile, a head not so large as a pea, and roughly drawn, as if by the hand of a child. Out of the head something appears to be sticking, such a very small thing that when I saw it first it scarcely attracted my notice. But that tiny head with something sticking out of it, had not only attracted the missionary's notice, but had filled his heart with thankful delight. Not the finest painting in the world could have given Mr. Bateman such joy as did the rude sketch on the yellow envelope. He knew that Prithu, his brave noble boy, must have drawn it on the cover of his father's letter; and was sure that the small line, which to a stranger would have no meaning, must represent "the sprig in the bored ear!" The tried, tempted Prithu in that sketch had sent a token that he was still resolved to serve the Lord.

Mr. Bateman described his feelings on seeing the tiny picture as like those of King Darius when he heard the voice of the living Daniel coming from the lions' den, "My God hath sent His angel, and stopped the lions' mouths, that they should not hurt me."

It wanted but one day to the end of the three months of trial, when the Brahmin father brought back Prithu to Mr. Bateman. There was a little disappointment felt by the missionary at that meeting; for though Prithu said that his faith was firm, yet he did not ask yet to be baptised. Perhaps the lad's courage failed him a little before he took so decisive a step; perhaps he shrank from cutting himself off from family and friends. Prithu may have been suffered to feel natural fear, that he might know the better that all his former strength had been given by God. But if Prithu wavered a little, it was not for long, his mind soon was made up, and soon the Brahmin convert was baptised in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, thus openly confessing his faith, and devoting himself, boy and soul, to the service of his Redeemer.

You may think that Prithu had now passed through his trials, but they were not quite over yet. The boy was dear to his family, and even after his baptism they would have taken him back to their home and their hearts, had he consented to deny his Lord. But neither entreaties nor taunts moved Prithu to give up Christ.

The first time that Prithu's father came to see him after his baptism was a painfully anxious time for Mr. Bateman. The Brahmin took his boy alone with him to the top of the house; what passed between them I know not, but the time was one of great anxiety to Mr. Bateman, who remained below. The private conversation lasted so long, that the missionary grew very uneasy. Great was his relief when Prithu at last appeared, corning down from the top of the house, and singing that song which has cheered and encouraged so many Christians—

"Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on His gentle breast."

When Mr. Bateman, on account of shattered health, came to England, he brought his Prithu with him, and it was thus that I met the Christian convert. So bright I thought him, so clever, so full of intelligence and affection! I hope to meet Prithu again in his native land. The dear boy is anxious that the Gospel should be carried to his loved country; and he "wants me to see his mother."

And now, what lesson shall be gleaned from the story of Prithu the Brahmin boy? Dear readers, great is the need that Christian men and women should go to that dark dark land to tell the poor heathen, who worship wood and stone, of a Father in Heaven, and a Saviour who pities and loves them.

Let it first make us more zealous to help the cause of missions. Whilst I am writing this, the fields of England are bright with the golden harvest, sheaves are ready to be carried into the garner. Would it not be grievous if hands were wanting for the work, if no sickle were gleaming in the sunshine, if man looked on it with folded arms, till the overripe corn should rot on the stems, or be destroyed by the frosts of winter?

And India is a part of God's harvest field, a part many times larger than our isle. There are more than "two hundred millions" of souls in India! Oh! How vast a harvest, and the labourers how few, how very few! I have heard that there is but one European missionary to "five hundred thousand" natives! Oh! Pray, earnestly pray to the Lord of the harvest, that He may send forth more labourers into His harvest!

Pray that amongst the natives themselves many teachers may arise; even children may speak to children. The lips of a boy, young as Prithu, may be opened to tell former playmates of that loving Lord who hath said, "Suffer the little children to come unto Me."

And pray for the English labourers already there, and those who are going forth to help them. How few we are, and how weak! Think of the difficulties before us, remember our need of help from above,—of courage, wisdom, patience, and love.

But why should we ask the prayers of those who perhaps have never once in their lives really prayed for themselves? The young Brahmin will, I fear, rise up in the judgment to condemn many who have had an open Bible before them from the time when they first could read it, those whose parents, unlike Prithu's, have tried to teach them to know the Saviour. Prithu, in face of opposition, turned from his idol to serve the living God. Reader! Will you turn away from God to serve your idol?

"We have no idols in Britain," perhaps you reply.

O Reader! Search your own heart; do not flinch from the duty. Ask yourself; "Has God the first place in my heart?" If not, some idol is there. It may be pride, or selfishness, or love of money; whatever it be, if it be what we will not give up at our Lord's command, it is as much an idol to us as is a bit of carved wood to the heathen. St. John's warning is for "all"—"Little children, keep yourselves from idols!"

Remember the sprig in the ear of Prithu, the sign that he had given himself to serve the Lord, and Him only. How often during his months of trial must the boy have felt tempted to take out that sprig, to give up the hard struggle, and go back to his heathen state! How often in such moments of temptation did God's Word sound in his heart, BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, AND I WILL GIVE THEE A CROWN OF LIFE! Do you know anything of such a struggle, are you seeking for, or caring for the crown of life? Think what it must be "to win;" and oh! think what it would be "to lose it!"

Dear Reader, I earnestly entreat you, "seek the Lord whilst He may be found, call upon Him whilst He is near." "Choose you this day whom ye will serve," and if your choice be made to serve your Master in Heaven, like Prithu, be faithful and firm, keep not the sprig in the ear, but the love in the heart. And oh! by the grace of God's Holy Spirit, may we be kept from falling away; and when our trial time is over, may we receive a welcome from the Master whose blood has bought and whose Spirit has led us! May we hear from His blessed lips the gracious words, "Well done, good and faithful servants, enter ye into the joy of your Lord!"

_FINIS._