Page:Village life in Korea (1911).djvu/179

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The Village Merchant.
149

throughout the day, and in the afternoon there is much loud talking and quarreling, with a little topknot-pulling thrown in.

In many of these markets there is still another man with his wares spread on a mat, while he stands and talks to the people about him as if he had something to say and knew how to say it. He is not a merchant who is there for the sake of gain. It is true that he has something to sell, but not for the sake of profit. He is a colporteur or a missionary with his stock of Scriptures and tracts, which he offers for sale at such a low price that the people are astonished at him. Then, too, he is saying such strange things about people loving one another — yes, even their enemies. And, even more, he is telling them of a wonderful Person who died to save all men from sin and is now willing to save all who will believe on him. This all sounds very strange in the market place where every man's hand is against that of his fellow, hoping if possible to seize the long end of the rope in every pull. It is in these markets that many thousands of people have heard the gospel for the first time.