Thank you—thank you, Bwana!” When Joseph became complete ly well he helped Miss Jan around the hospital and did his work well. One day when Dr. Clark pre pared to make another trip to the bush country, Joseph begged to go to see his people. “No Joseph — not this time. Later when you have learned more and grown a little stronger, I’ll take you.” While the jeep was being load ed, Joseph packed some food and his big knife. He sneaked down the path and into the jungle after Dr. Clark left. The thorns didn’t cut his feet this time. He wore the new shoes Dr. Clark gave him. He was sure he could get back to the clinic! He slept safely in a tree that night and the next day he started his trek early. He hadn’t gone very far when his head began to spin around and around like a top! The dizziness from malaria had come back! Only halfway through the bush country, he knew he couldn’t make it to the clinic or back to the hospital! Joseph buried himself in some leaves and went to sleep. The sound of crackling bushes awak ened him suddenly! He saw a wild animal lurking in the shadows of the jungle. Shivering, he squirmed deeper into his leafy bed. He prayed just before he slipped into unconsciousness. After Dr. Clark left the hospi tal, Miss Jan searched all over for Joseph but couldn’t find him. “Missy Jan, I saw Joseph leave early this morning toward his home!” Samuel said. “Quickly — pack food, a flash light and bow and arrows and fol low him!” Miss Jan was worried. Samuel and Moses followed Joseph’s path carefully. When it became too dark to travel safe ly, they climbed a tree and went to sleep. The fo llow in g day, they searched more than half way th rough the woods. Joseph couldn’t have gone farther! They were afraid to stay longer in the
the boy to see the missionary again. “Bwana, I remember a verse you taught me from the Bible. It says I can live in God’s house for ever if I believe in His Son, Jesus Christ.” “Do you remember where this verse is found in the Bible?” Dr. Clark smiled. “ I remember, Bwana — it is John 3:16!” Dr. Clark and Joseph knelt to pray on the grass rug. Joseph accepted Jesus as his Saviour. When Joseph got back to his father’s hut, he could hardly keep from singing out loud! He crawled into his threadbare blanket and even his cow-skin mat seemed more comfortable. Secretly, from then on, Joseph read his Bible and prayed every day, but he was afraid to let anyone know he was a Christian. “Bwana, come quickly!” Joseph heard someone say. He opened one eye and then the other. He felt bandages on his face and rubbed his hands over nice, clean sheets. “ The quinine has stopped the fever. The boy is much better. I see an eye open and close/’ Dr. Clark smiled at Samuel his helper and started to leave. “ Bwana, please don’t go yet! Where am I?” Joseph asked. “ You’re at the mission hospi tal.” Dr. Clark put a reassuring hand on the boy’s shoulder. Joseph went back to sleep, re lieved. In a few days, when he became stronger, Dr. Clark talked with him about going back to his father. “Bwana, I accepted your God as my own. I have suffered many beatings from the hand o f my father. He has hate f o r me. Please, Bwana, I want to stay here at the hospital and work. I want to learn more about Jesus.” Dr. Clark rubbed his chin, “The hospital could use another house- boy. You will have to obey orders and see many hurt and sick peo ple. Do you still want to stay?” “Oh yes, Bwana — I want to! This will make me most happy!
JUNIOR K ING S BU S IN E SS
ARUNAWAY NATIVE
by Evelyn Carlisle L a t e o n e night Dr. Clark, a mis sionary stationed in the bush country of Africa, awakened at the sound of clapping of hands at the doorway of his grass hut. “Who’s there?” He called. “ It is I, Joseph.” Someone whispered. “ Joseph—come back tomorrow. It’s late and I’m very tired.” “ Please, Bwana, I have much to ask of you! I must see you to night!” The native boy was im patient. “ It must be very important!” Dr. Clark thought. He jumped out o f bed. Quickly he pulled on his clothes. As always, he turned his shoes upside down and tapped them to dislodge any scorpions that might be hiding there. “ Come in, Joseph.” Dr. Clark lit his lantern. He looked at Joseph’s raw bleeding back and knew he had been beaten. He was badly hurt. Dr. Clark cleansed the wounds the best he could in the clinic of his hut. Since Joseph might re ceive more beatings from his fa ther, the missionary didn’t ban dage the wounds. Then the missionary asked: “Now what is this urgent need?” “ I want to become a Christian!” Dr. Clark recalled Joseph’s de light when he first heard the Gos pel phonograph records. Joseph called it the “magic box” and listened to stories from the Bible many times in his own language. One day he had slipped away from taking care of his father’s sheep to learn to read the Bible and to speak the missionary’s lan guage. Joseph’s father became very angry and had forbidden
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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