The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1920, Page 44

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44

The Lutheran Pioneer.

deny herself pleasure and all diversion, if mother
could not share them -with her. Her greatest de-
light was in her little private school, where she
labored patiently and under many difficulties, and
in our Bethlehem Sunday-school, of which she was
a teacher for over thirteen years. Her face would
beam with joy, whenever her class was well attended
on Sunday morning. The Easter and Palm Sunday
decorations on our altar were usually the work of
her skilful hand. Her great desire was to exalt
Christ, her crucified and risen Savior.

And now the Lord has called her so suddenly
from our midst. In her death our congregation
has lost a faithful member, her parents an obedient
and most devoted daughter, our Sunday-school one
of its most dutiful. teachers, and her little private
school has lost its very existence in her departure.
At the funeral service our church was filled to the
last seat. The children of her school had come to
pay the last honors to their beloved teacher, and to
lay flowers on her grave. The children of our Beth-
lehem School mourn her loss, for most of them were
at one time or another in her Sunday-school class.
But while we mourn, she rejoices. The Lord has
now delivered her from every evil work, has taken
her out of all sorrow and sadness; and translated
her into His heavenly kingdom. He gave, He has
taken away! ‘To Him be honor and glory forever
and ever! G. M. Kraner.

_ Our Work among the Deaf-Blind.

In one of our exchanges we read: “There are
not less than 250 deaf-blind people in this country.”
Indeed, quite a number of those who can neither see
nor hear! Some of our readers perhaps will ex-
claim: “It is bad enough to be either deaf or blind,
but what a terrible affliction it must be to be both
deaf and blind.” Such an afiliction brings home to
us what precious gifts sight and hearing are. We
who can hear and see appreciate them so very little
and yery seldom render thanks unto God for these
blessings, if we do it at all. Deaf-blind! A sad
affliction indeed! But still, kind reader, if you at
times could be with your missionaries, you would
see even deaf-blind persons happy and cheerful.
And in every case the Lord Jesus and His Word:
brings this happiness and cheerfulness to those who
must sit in night and silence here on earth!

Is it not a blessing to be able to bring the Word
of Salvation also to these unfortunate people? Sey-

~

eral of our missionaries have had, during the past
years, the privilege of bringing the good tidings of
great joy to deaf-blind. You, dear reader, have
often read in The Deaf Lutheran especially about
one deaf-blind person at Milwaukee. Many of our
readers also have kindly remembered her with their
gifts. This deaf-blind person, with two others, also
deaf and blind, was confirmed by our missionary of
that city. As a rule, they attend Sunday services.
Our Milwaukee congregation has purchased the
New Testament in type for the blind. While the
deaf watch their pastor telling them about the way
to salvation in the sign-language, these deaf-blind
have a volume of the New Testament on their laps
eagerly taking in the precious Word of Life through
their fingers’ tips. If you could see them thus
occupied, we are sure, dear reader, you would notice
that happiness in their faces which only Jesus can
bring, and you would thank God that by our Mission
they have been enabled to see, indeed, not the things
of this world, but the glorious Savior!

Our Seattle missionary also has a deaf-blind
person. He writes: “A deaf-blind, eighty-two years
of age, receives the Word of God by the interpreta-
tion of another deaf man. Have instructed this
person for the last six months: by means of spelling
each word into his hands.” By means of touch he
reads the precious Gospel from his pastor’s hands!
Oh, what a blessing!

Furthermore, also our worker at Chicago reports
a deaf-blind person under his’ spiritual care. Also
she attends services which are held occasionally in
her city. A deaf friend sits next to her, holds her
left hand and with it copies the signs of the mis-
sionary while he offers prayer or preaches. One
day, after a sermon on the forgiveness of sin, she
rejoicingly expressed her willingness to trust in and
to cling to this Savior. May she continue to cling
to Him in true faith until the day when Jesus shall
come again in glory.

In Minnesota we have four deaf-blind who-are
communicants of our Church. One of these belongs
to the St. Paul Mission. In this city monthly ser-
vices are held for the deaf and he is always sure
to be there. A friend takes his hand and also copies
the signs of the pastor, and we wish our readers
could see how eagerly he thus takes in the Word
of God! At home you can often see him with
a large book on his lap. What book is it? It is
a part of his dear Bible. Joyfully he tells his pastor
of the beautiful stories which he has so diligently
read in God’s Book. :

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