somewhat refreshed and able to partake of it, some food. I then took my shoes and stockings off and eased my feet, the boatmen kindly providing me with hot water to bathe them. When they heard my story, and saw the blisters on my feet, they evidently pitied me, and hailed every boat that passed to see if it was going my way. Not getting one, by and bye, after a few hours' sleep, I went ashore with the captain, intending to preach in the temple of Kwanti.
"Before leaving the boat, I had told the captain and those on board that I was now unable to help myself. That I had not strength to walk to Kia-hing Fu, and having been disappointed in getting a passage to-day, I should no longer have sufficient means to take me there by letter-boat (an expensive mode of travelling). That I knew not how the God whom I served would help me, but that I had no doubt He would do so; and that my business now was to serve Him where I was. I also told them that the relief which I knew would come, ought to be an evidence to them of the truth of the religion which I and the other missionaries at Shanghai preached.
"On our way to the town, while the captain and I were engaged in conversation together, we saw a letter-boat coming up. The captain drew my attention to it; but I reminded him that I had no longer the means of paying my passage by it. He hailed it, nevertheless, and found that it was going to a place about nine English miles from Shanghai, whence one of the boatmen would carry the mails over-land to Shanghai. He then said, 'This gentleman is a foreigner from Shanghai, who has been robbed and has no longer the means of returning. If you will take him with you as far as you go, and then engage a sedan chair to take him the rest of the way, he will pay you in Shanghai. You see my boat is lying aground yonder for want of water, and cannot get away. Now, I will stand surety, and if this gentleman does not pay you when you get to Shanghai, I will do so on your return.' This unsolicited kindness on the part of a Chinaman, a perfect stranger, will appear the more remarkable to anyone acquainted with the character of the Chinese, who are generally most reluctant to part with their money.
"Those on the letter-boat agreeing to the terms, I was taken on board as a passenger. Oh! how thankful I felt for this providential interposition, and to be once more on my way to Shanghai. These letter-boats are very small inside, being long and narrow; one has to lie down all the time they are going, as a very little thing would upset them. This was no objection to me; on the contrary, I was but too glad to lie down. They are the quickest Chinese boats I have seen. Each one has two men, who work in turns, night and day: they row with their feet and paddle with their hands; or if the wind is quite fair, row with their feet, with one hand manage a small sail, and steer with the other. After a pleasant and speedy journey, I reached Shanghai in safety, on the 9th of August, through the help of Him who has said, 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee;' 'Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.'"
Many other incidents might be given, all tending to prove that in the absence of ordinary means, God can and does help His servants in their difficulties. Let but devoted labourers be found, who will prove faithful to God, and there is no reason to fear that God will not prove faithful to them. He will set before them an open door; and will esteem them of more value than the sparrows and the lilies which He feeds and clothes. He will be with them in danger, in difficulty, in perplexity; and while they may be perfect weakness, He will work in them mightily. They may cast their bread upon the waters, but His word shall not return unto Him void, but shall accomplish that which He pleases, and shall prosper in the thing whereto He sends it.
