The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1901, Page 27

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The Lutheran Pioneer. 27

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Under God's Protection.

The daughter of one of the missionaries in
South Africa went to see her sister, who lived
more than a hundred miles from her father’s
station. She set out in her wagon, taking
with her two native young women besides the
drivers. They had often to unyoke the team,
and while the men went to sleep, the oxen
would wander about in search of food and
water.

One day the oxen could not be seen, and
the drivers were obliged to go in search of
them, leaving the three young women alone
in the wagon. ‘Those who are used to the
wilderness do not think much of being
left alone, but the poor girls had not
been left very long when they re-
ceived a most unexpected and un-
welcome visit; for up walked, in a
very leisurely way, a large lion, who
sat himself quietly down among the
harness close to the wagon.

As you may suppose, the girls
trembled at the sight of the terrible
creature, and lifted up their hearts
in prayer to Him who can stop the
lion’s mouth. Happily they did not
lose their presence of mind; and as
they knew that fire would terrify the
wildest animal, they thought that they
would try its effect upon the lion.
They, therefore, drew out one of their
mats, and having set it on fire, threw
it upon the savage creature. The
king of the forest seemed very much
astonished at the flames, and walked
backward a few steps as if he would
go away; but his courage was not
shaken, ‘and he soon came to his for-
mer station.

The girls now kindled a second mat
and threw it upon him, but it seemed
to have little effect upon the watchful
beast. A third mat, however, was
more successful. It put the lion in
such fear that he scampered off and came
back no more. But no sooner was he gone
than the girls’ courage began to give way.
They thought of the danger they had just
passed, and became so full of fear that they
got out of the wagon and fled away into the
wilderness. A few hours afterward the drivers
returned-with the oxen, but when they came
to the wagon they found no one in it. They
were much distressed and sought for the girls
on every side.

At last, by the marks of the footsteps, they
found out the way the girls had taken. They
followed this trail, and the next morning they
discovered the girls at the very station where
they were going. God had been their Guide.
He had directed their steps, and had spread
His protection over them, though they had
spent the whole night in the desert amidst

many such lions as had visited them in the
wagon.

|
How God Called Frank. j

Frank, a boy from the city, had been pick-
ing raspberries in the woods. -As he was on
his way home a violent storm arose. It began
raining and lightning and to thunder fearfully.
Frank was very much frightened, and crept
into a hole in an old oak tree not far from the
roadside. He did not know that lightning is
very apt to strike a hollow tree. But all at
once he heard a voice that called: “Frank ! |
Frank!! come quickly !”’

Frank jumped instantly from the tree; but
he had gone scarcely a hundred feet when the

lightning struck the tree. The ground quaked |

HOUSE OF IDOLS.

willed that I should call your name, although
I knew nothing about you.”’

“Yes, yes,’’ said Frank; ‘‘God served Him-
self by your voice, but my escape came from
heaven.”’

Always remember that safety depends, not
on accident or chance, but on your Heavenly
Father. —From the German.

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Will You be a Missionary?

Sophia had been praying for twelve years
to become a foreign missionary. One day an
aged friend said to her: ‘‘Sophia, stop! where
were you born?””

“Tn Germany.”’

‘Where are you now?’”

“In America.’’

“Well, are you not a foreign mis-
sionary already ?’’

Then the friend said: ‘‘Who lives
on the floor above you?”’

‘SA family of Swedes.’’

‘And above them?”’

‘Why, some Switzers.’’

‘Who in the rear?”’

‘“Ttalians.’”

‘And a block away?’’

‘Some Chinese.’’

‘And you never said a word to these
people about God’s Son! Do you think
He will send you thousands of miles to
the foreigners and heathen, when you
neyer care enough about those at your
own door to speak with them about
God’s love?’’ ‘

Not a few need the lesson Sophia
learned. — Ex. :

—> +o -

Gathered Pearls.

O, He is asweet Master! One smile
from Jesus sustains my soul amid all
the stornrs and frowns of this world.
Pray to know Jesus better. Have no

beneath the terrified boy, and it seemed as if] other righteousness, no other strength, but

he was standing in the midst of fire.

But he| only Jesus. 0, for fullness out of Him! Why

was not hurt at all, and exclaimed, with raised | do we not take all out of Jesus? Keep look-

hand: ‘That voice came from heaven! Thou,
© dear Lord, hast saved me!”’

ing, then, to Jesus, dear soul, and you will
have the peace that passeth all understanding.

But once more the voice was heard: ‘‘Frank!| Cleave you to Jesus; be joined to Him by

Frank! do you not hear?”

faith, and you shall be one spirit; you shall

He looked around and saw & peasant} be made warm and vigorous and full of ac-
woman who was Calling. Frank ran to her| tivity in God's service.

and said: ‘Here J am. What do you want

of me?”

“J do not mean you, but my own little
Frank,”’ the woman replied. ‘‘He was watch-
ing the geese by the brook. See! there he
comes at last out from the bushes.”

Frank, the boy from the city, related how
he had taken her voice as a voice from heaven.
Then the peasant folded her arms devoutly,
and ssid: ‘‘Omy child, do not thank God any
the less that the yoice came from the mouth
of a poor peasant woman. It was He who

— soe eo

Jesus.
“Y could not do without Him,

Jesus is more to me

Than all the richest, fairest gifts
Of earth could ever be.

But the more I find Him precious,
And the more I find Him true,

The more 1 long for you to find
What He can be to you.’

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