CHAPTER XIX
A GREAT FIGHT
The next battle fought for King Jesus was in Louisville, Ky., August, 1888. Among the many from other States and cities who attended our meeting at Springfield, Illinois, were a number of prominent citizens from St. Louis, Missouri. Among these were Mr. R., a merchant of the Famous boot and shoe store, and his mother. They insistedon us visiting St. Louis and stopping with them. We did so and remained there several days. The people were very anxious for us to hold meetings in one of the parks. A number of the business men made quite an effort to have us stay, but we felt the Lord was calling us to Louisville. It was quite a cross to leave such a good opening and bear the expenses of the long journey. Not knowing a person in the city, no one to open the way, to board us, or help us, bearing all expenses ourselves, which were very heavy, we spent. nearly every cent we had, which was about four hundred dollars, before we received a penny. This was walking by faith.
There we were among strangers in one of the wickedest cities in the world. We never thought of being discouraged, but kept shouting "Victory!" knowing that Jesus was leading every step.
When we came to the city we were very tired after so much hard labor and the long journey, and went seven miles from the city and camped out on the bank of the Ohio river in a small grove to rest. While there we. realized that we were soldiers indeed, and, as Paul said to Timothy, we were "enduring hardness for Christ." We did all our cooking on a stove with one small hole. It stood outside the tent. We used a box for a table, benches for chairs, grass for a carpet, and made our beds on the soft side of the floor. We were far from the city and no way to go back and forth, as the cars did not run that way, so that we were deprived of many comforts. We had money, and we could have put up at @ good hotel; but we saved it to start the meeting, and spent several hundreds of dollars before we received any money. We did this in many places.
I find that the earnest followers of Christ have very little rest
here. Like our Master; we must be about our Father's business.
98
