than that." Then the other arm was extended similarly, but the little fellow was not content, and demanded, "More than that." Then one after the other both arms were outstretched to the full, only the fingers remaining closed. But still the child insisted, "More than that." Then, in response to his repeated demands, as he playfully stamped his little foot and clapped his hands and cried, "No! No! It's more than that!" One finger after another on either hand was extended, until his father's arms were opened to their utmost reach, and to each was added the full hand-breadth. Then the child turned to me, and, gleefully clapping his hands, exclaimed, "See? That's how much papa loves me." Than he ran off to his play content.—C. C. Shields.
(1928)
LOVING ENEMIES
Here is one more illustration of a moral
power that occasionally came out of Confucianism.
Ieyasu, the founder of the
Shogunate, is regarded as perhaps the greatest
hero Japan has produced. In his wars,
his enemy, Mitsunari, was defeated, and fearing
the revenge of Ieyasu's seven generals,
he sent to Ieyasu for pardon. The desired
forgiveness was immediately granted, but the
seven generals were indignant that such an
enemy should escape death, and remonstrated
with Ieyasu. The proverb he quoted
to them shows how near the best hearts in
all ages are to Christ's "Love your enemies."
His reply was: "Even a hunter will have
pity on a distrest bird when it seeks refuge
in his bosom."—John H. De Forest, "Sunrise
in the Sunrise Kingdom."
(1929)
LOYALTY
On the deck of the Republic (January, 1909), when the passengers had all departed, when Captain Sealby was left alone with his men, with his ship, he stood before them. His voice shook a little. "Men of the Republic," he said, "I am proud of you. You have acquitted yourselves like men. I look upon no coward. The darkness is drawing on"—it was then four o'clock Saturday afternoon—"and the passengers are gone. You have now the right to leave this vessel. She may sink; she may not—I can not say. But you have done your duty; the boats are at your disposal—" "How about you, captain?" interrupted a voice. "I shall stand by the ship," was the reply. And then, in chorus, came a great shout: "And we'll stand by with you, captain." So they did, until, later in the evening, the captain compelled all but fifty men to leave the vessel.
(1930)
The story of a little Boer boy who refused to betray his friends even on the threat of death, is told by Major Seely, M.P., as an illustration of deeply-rooted love of freedom and of country. It happened during the Boer war: "I was asked," said Major Seely, "to get some volunteers and try to capture a commandant at a place some twenty miles away. I got the men readily, and we set out. It was a rather desperate enterprise, but we got there all right. The Boer general had got away, but where had he gone? It was even a question of the general catching us, and not we catching the general. We rode down to the farmhouse, and there we saw a good-looking Boer boy and some yeomen. I asked the boy if the commandant had been there, and he said in Dutch, taken by surprize, 'Yes.' 'Where has he gone?' I said, and the boy became suspicious. He answered, 'I will not say.' "I decided to do a thing for which I hope I may be forgiven, because my men's lives were in danger. I threatened the boy with death if he would not disclose the where-*abouts of the general. He still refused, and I put him against a wall, and said I would have him shot. At the same time I whispered to my men, 'For heaven's sake, don't shoot.' The boy still refused, altho I could see he believed I was going to have him shot. I ordered the men to 'Aim.' Every rifle was leveled at the boy. "'Now,' I said, 'before I give the word, which way has the general gone?' I remember the look in the boy's face—a look such as I have never seen but once. He was transfigured before me. Something greater almost than anything human shone from his eyes. He threw back his head, and said in Dutch, 'I will not say.' There was nothing for it but to shake hands with the boy and go away."—Singapore Straits Budget.
(1931)
I remember once taking a walk by the river near where the falls of Niagara are, and I noticed a remarkable figure walking along the river bank. When he came a little
