T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
July, 1933
226
Courtesy N. Y. K. Line
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0
By OPAL LEONORE GIBBS Tokyo, Japan
chine was not broken so much, but my face had two cuts, also from my arm blood was flowing. The shopkeeper was very angry until I produced my purse, then he asked four Yen as reparation fee. I paid it most regretfully, for my allowance is not yet due for two weeks, and there is only a little copper coin left. I have been hoarding somewhat to buy some chocolates, and now I can have no chocolates at all, nor cigarettes either. Matsu Chan had many laughs at me, and I returned home at twilight very crestfallen, feeling shombori, which means like a chicken in the rain. The peach tree in our garden is in bloom and is very beautiful. But I have heard that in America peach and cherry trees all bear much fruit as well as flowers, perhaps because they have no insects there who eat on such trees. S unday , M arch 22. Mr. Hayashi called for me tonight and invited me to attend Christian church with him. I was happy to go, and the convocation surprised me very much. The foreigner was not present, but his Mrs. played the organ in a most lively manner. There were perhaps sixty people present, but I cannot understand why they seem so joyful. Some arose and spoke gladly at the beginning, and there were many songs. One was about the perfect peace o f God. At the front o f the church was printed in large black letters words which translated would be, “ He that calls asking the Lord shall be saved.” I kept thinking of those words. The preach was good except that he should use more diffi cult words for us, and not such childish Japanese. He made us understand clearly three points: What is a Christian? “ Oh, G od ! please excuse me, but I wish to call on You asking to be saved from all sins. In truth I understand I am a sinner sometimes, yes, every day. I have told many falsehoods and often been unkind. When my teacher pub licly reprimanded me once about an essay, I did not for give him, nor do I yet. I hate that teacher, for he was unjust to me. Please pardon all this hate and make my heart clean from it. I have not done dirty sins as do almost all men I know but I have thought such thoughts many times. Also I smoke cigarettes, and that is not good for Christian, I think.” Why become a Christian? How to become a Christian. Now I have returned home and I felt to try those words on the church front. But I did not know how to do prayer, so I kneeled down and said in a soft whisper,
S y n o p s i s : When Jinsaburo Tajima came to Tokyo to live with his uncle and to attend college, he had no idea that he and his fellow student, Mr. Matsufnura, called also Matsu Chan, would so soon become regular attendants o f the Thursday evening Bible class held in the home o f Mr. McEdward. But in the journal which he is keeping for extra credit in his advanced English com position class, he tells how he is attracted by the cozy home and cordial welcome of the missionary, as well as the desire to im prove his English. He becomes a warm admirer o f another mem ber of the class, Mr. Hayashi, whose prayers often touch Jinsa- buro’s heart and move hint almost to tears. At the close of one Bible class during the March vacation at the college, Mr. McEd ward approaches him on the subject of his salvation. “If you can prove to me that Christianity is true religion,” Jinsaburo answers, “ then will I become Christian.” The missionary’s emphatic reply is, “ By the grace of God, we will try and do that.” CHAPTER III. M arch 21. s a s m a l l b o y I have played all week, with many adventures. Once I went with our neighbor’s boys to fly a big kite. It was so heavy and tall as I, so I helped in the raising o f it. There were many rubbers stretched across it, and it sang like a great bird in the high winds. The blue sky was like a pattern o f silk cloth with kites of every kind and many colors. Some boys cut the strings o f others with their own, which were glassed over, and every one was very merry. This morning I went across the city to a friend of Uncle, who has a three-colored cat. It is also a male cat. So rare a thing it is to find a male of three colors, that it brings good luck to the house who keeps it, and Uncle wished to receive it. I carry the cat home in a basket, but it cries, “ Y an ! yan !” all the way, and I am much ashamed on the tram. A fter giving it over to Aunt, I was relieved and escaped to Matsumura San’s house. His uncle had come to visit from Shinagawa. He was to remain until another day, so he was willing to permit us to play on his bicycle. As for me, I had not yet learned to ride bicycle, not having oppor tunity. Hence my desire to become proficient quickly. All the afternoon I rode about as possible. Then we went to the hill, by the rice fields, and Matsu Chan went down and around the curve very swiftly. I was determined to do as well, but alas for my certainty! The bicycle rode so fast that I felt strangely, confused and forgot to make the turn cor rectly. So bump! bump! I ran straightly into a small shop o f bean cakes, breaking the glass box and coming to an abrupt halt in a great mass of soft sticky cakes. The ma
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