第 50 节
作者:
知恩报恩 更新:2021-02-20 16:17 字数:9322
othes and boxes; and partitioned them。
We wrote the Company reporting this; and they promised to make enquiries and amends; but as too often happens; upon making report of the same to the family they took the matter into their own hands; dealt with the Company direct; and in all probability thereby lost a good sum in compensation which we should probably have obtained for them。
A LOST WIFE。
ENQUIRY。
F。 J。 L。 asked us to seek for his wife; who left him on November 4th; 1888。 He feared she had gone to live an immoral life; gave us two addresses at which she might possibly be heard of; and a description。 They had three children。
RESULT。
Enquiries at the addresses given elicited no information; but from observation in the neighbourhood the woman's whereabouts was discovered。
After some difficulty our Officer obtained an interview with the woman; who was greatly astonished at our having discovered her。 She was dealt with faithfully and firmly: the plain truth of God set before her; and was covered with shame and remorse; and promised to return。
We communicated with Mr。 L。 A few days after he wrote that he had been telegraphed for; had forgiven his wife; and that they were re…united。
Soon afterwards she wrote expressing her deep gratitude to Mrs。 Bramwell Booth for the trouble taken in her case。
A LOST CHILD。
ENQUIRY。
ALICE P。 was stolen away from home by Gypsies ten years ago; and now longs to find her parents to be restored to them。 She believes her home to be in Yorkshire。 The Police had this case in hand for some time; but failed entirely。
RESULT。
With these particulars we advertised in the 〃War Cry。〃 Captain Green; seeing the advertisement; wrote; April 3rd; from 3; C。 S。; M。 H。; that her Lieutenant knew a family of the name advertised for; living at Gomersal; Leeds。
We; on the 4th; wrote to this address for confirmation。
April 6th; we heard from Mr。 P…; that this lass is his child; and he writes full of gratitude and joy; saying he will send money for her to go home We; meanwhile; get from the Police; who had long sought this girl; a full description and photo; which we sent to Captain Cutmore; and on April 9th; she wrote us to the effect that the girl exactly answered the description。 We got from the parents 15/… for the fare; and Alice was once more restored to her parents。 Praise God。
A LOST DAUGHTER。
ENQUIRY。
E。 W。 Age 17。 Application from this girl's mother and brother; who had lost all trace of her since July; 1885; when she left for Canada。 Letters had been once or twice received; dated from Montreal; but they stopped。 A photo。; full description; and handwriting were supplied。
RESULT。
We discovered that some kind Church people here had helped E。 W。 to emigrate; but they had no information as to her movements after landing。
Full particulars; with photo。; were sent to our Officers in Canada。 The girl was not found in Montreal。 The information was then sent to Officers in other towns in that part of the Colony。
The enquiry was continued through some months; and; finally; through our Major of Division; the girl was reported to us as having been recognised in one of our Barracks and identified。 When suddenly called by her own name; she nearly fainted with agitation。
She was in a condition of terrible poverty and shame; but at once consented; on hearing of her mother's enquiries; to go into one of our Canadian Rescue Homes。 She is now doing well。 Her mother's joy may be imagined。
A LOST SERVANT。
ENQUIRY。
Mrs。 M。; Clevedon; one of Harriett P。's old mistresses; wrote us; in deep concern; about this girl。 She said she was a good servant; but was ruined by the young man who courted her; and had since had three children。 Occasionally; she would have a few bright and happy weeks; but would again lapse into the 〃vile path。〃
Mrs。 M。 tells us that Harriett had good parents; who are dead; but she still has a respectable brother in Hampshire。 The last she heard of her was that some weeks ago she was staying at a Girl's Shelter at Bristol; but had since left; and nothing more had been heard of her。
The enquirer requested us to find her; and in much faith added; 〃I believe you are the only people who; if successful in tracing her; can rescue and do her a permanent good。〃
RESULT。
We at once set enquiries on foot; and in the space of a few days found that she had started from Bristol on the road for Bath。 Following her up we found that at a little place called Bridlington; on the way to Bath; she had met a man; of whom she enquired her way。 He hearing a bit of her story; after taking her to a public…house; prevailed upon her to go home and live with him; as he had lost his wife。
It was at this stage that we came upon the scene; and having dealt with them both upon the matter; got her to consent to come away if the man would not marry her; giving him two days to make up his mind。
The two days' respite having expired and; he being unwilling to undertake matrimony; we brought her away; and sent her to one of our Homes; where she is enjoying peace and penitence。
When we informed the mistress and brother of the success; they were greatly rejoiced and overwhelmed us with thanks。
A LOST HUSBAND。
In a seaside home last Christmas there was a sorrowing wife; who mourned over the basest desertion of her husband。 Wandering from place to place drinking; he had left her to struggle alone with four little ones dependent upon her exertions。
Knowing her distress; the captain of the corps wrote begging us to advertise for the man in the Cry。 We did this; but for some time heard nothing of the result。
Several weeks later a Salvationist entered a beer…house; where a group of men were drinking; and began to distribute War Crys amongst them; speaking here and there upon the eternity which faced everyone。
At the counter stood a man with a pint pot in hand; who took one of the papers passed to him; and glancing carelessly down its columns caught sight of his own name; and was so startled that the pot fell from his grasp to the floor。 〃Come home;〃 the paragraph ran; 〃and all will be forgiven。〃
His sin faced him; the thought of a broken…hearted wife and starving children conquered him completely; and there and then he left the public…house; and started to walk homea distance of many mile arriving there about midnight the same night; after an absence of eleven months。
The letter from his wife telling the good news of his return; spoke also of his determination by God's help to be a different man; and they are both attendants at the Salvation Army barracks。
A SEDUCER COMPELLED TO PAY。
Amongst the letters that came to the Inquiry Office one morning was one from a girl who asked us to help her to trace the father of her child who had for some time ceased to pay anything towards its support。 The case had been brought into the Police Court; and judgment given in her favour; but the guilty one had hidden; and his father refused to reveal his whereabouts。
We called upon the elder man and laid the matter before him; but failed to prevail upon him either to pay his son's liabilities or to put us into communication with him。 The answers to an advertisement in the War Cry; however; had brought the required in formation as to his son's whereabouts; and the same morning that our Inquiry Officer communicated with the police; and served a summons for the overdue money; the young man had also received a letter from his father advising him to leave the country at once。 He had given notice to his employers; and the #16 salary he received; with some help his father had sent him towards the journey; he was compelled to hand over to the mother of his child。
FOUND IN THE BUSH。
A year or two ago a respectable…looking Dutch girl might have been seem making her way quickly and stealthily across a stretch of long rank grass towards the shelter of some woods on the banks of a distant river。 Behind her lay the South African town from which she had come; betrayed; disgraced; ejected from her home with words of bitter scorn; having no longer a friend in the wide world who would hold out to her a hand of help。 What could there be better for her than to plunge into that river yonder; and end this lifeno matter what should come after the plunge? But Greetah feared the 〃future;〃 and turned aside to spend the night in darkness; wretched and alone。
Seven years had passed。 An English traveller making his way through Southern Africa halted for the Sabbath at a little village on his route。 A ramble through the woods brought him unexpectedly in front of a kraal; at the door of which squatted all old Hottentot; with a fair white…faced Child playing on the ground near by。 Glad to accept the proffered shelter of the hut from the burning sun; the traveller entered; and was greatly astonished to find within a young white girl; evidently the mother of the frolicsome child。 Full of pity for the strange pair; and especially for the girl; who wore an air of refinement little to be expected in this out…of…the…world spot; he sat down on the earthen floor; and told them of the wonderful Salvation of God。 This was Greetah; and the Englishman would