A Lady of England 46

A Lady of England 46

‘I had a kind of intuitive feeling,’ she said, ‘that something might come

to prevent the Convert from openly confessing his Lord. I knew not how

great the danger was.’

 

One hour remained before the time fixed for the Baptism, when the young

man--Babu G. he may be called--came in, troubled and pale. His Mother had

somehow divined his intention, and was doing her utmost to prevent its

being carried out. She flung a brick at the head of one Christian Native,

who had had a hand in influencing the young Muhammadan; she raved and

beat her breast; she cursed and tore her hair; she declared to her son

that if he became a Christian she would die.

 

Babu G. believed all this, and was sorely shaken. His Mother was brought

to the Mission-house, and a vehement scene followed. The old lady sat

upon the ground, pouring out threats and curses, beating her breast and

tearing her hair anew,--only, as A. L. O. E. somewhat drily observed

afterwards, she very cleverly avoided hurting herself by her blows, and

none of her hair seemed to come out with all the apparent ‘tearing.’

But the young man could hardly be expected to see this as a stranger

would! He wavered--hesitated--and at last gave way. The Baptism did not

take place; and the unhappy young fellow, convinced of the truth of

Christianity, willing in heart to be a servant of Christ, had not courage

to take his own decision, but remained a Muhammadan. Bitter tears were

shed over his defection by gentle Mrs. Elmslie; the first that Miss

Tucker had ever seen her shed.

 

Such stories as this show conclusively that _the_ work which most of

all needs to be done in India is to transform the Mothers,--to educate

a generation of Christian Mothers. Their sons then will be Christian

too. No power in the world surpasses that of a mother over her children,

whether she be English or Hindu or Muhammadan.

 

Charlotte Tucker’s stern side seems to have come out in this stormy

interview with the furious old lady. ‘Are you not _afraid_,’ she

demanded, ‘that God’s anger is on you? You have been your son’s enemy.

When affliction comes, remember,--_remember_,--REMEMBER!’

 

Side by side, however, with this great disappointment, were other more

hopeful aspects of the work. Light and shade naturally go together. A few

days later she wrote:--

 

‘The mother still holds her unhappy son in bonds, and forbids

him even to breathe the air of our compound.... But even about

her we need not despair. I was reading the Gospel to-day with

the sweetest-looking elderly woman that I have seen in India.

All beauty generally departs with youth, but this woman is

really attractive still. She was in bitter grief at the baptism

of her eldest son; when the next was baptized she blessed him;

and now she is quite ready for baptism herself. Such a sweet

__EXPRESSION__ came over her face yesterday when I reminded her of

her former grief and her present joy!’

 

On August 8th she wrote:--

 

‘The old Chaukidar[44] made us laugh the other evening by his

earnest, emphatic warning against our ladies driving out at

night. He uses sometimes almost frantic gesticulations. He told

us that there is danger of meeting at night a dreadful being,

in appearance somewhat like Mr. H.--a tall, fair, blue-eyed

handsome young friend of ours!--whose object is to _cut off

English heads_. I have heard of a similar superstition in the

Hills; but there I fancy that Native heads, not English, were

in requisition. You can imagine from this what a funny fellow

the old Chaukidar is; but we look on him as true as steel.

One day Mrs. E. found him most good-naturedly pulling Iman’s

pankah for him. She was so much pleased that she gave him four

pomegranates. The old fellow was delighted, and at once gave

three of them away, keeping only one for himself. His friend,

our half-blind Iman, was one to benefit by his generosity.’

 

The name ‘Iman,’ meaning ‘Faith,’ was bestowed by Miss Tucker upon a poor

pankah-wala, whose affectionate disposition made a strong impression

upon her. The poor fellow, although half-blind, volunteered one day to

walk the whole twenty-four miles to Batala and back in three days, to

carry medicine to a sick woman there,--the wife of the young Muhammadan,

Babu G., above mentioned. Iman himself was, to say the least, disposed to

be a Christian. These little side facts all serve to show the manner of

influence which was acting gradually in all directions.

 

In another letter, belonging to August, are the words: ‘We are rather

on the tiptoe of expectation about our Bishop that is to be. There is a

rumour that good Mr. ---- is the man; but surely it is impossible that

such a shy, boy-like Missionary should be turned into a Right Reverend

Father!’ The appointment when made proved to be that of Bishop French,

well known in Mutiny days as Mr. French of Agra, who utterly refused to

allow the Christian Natives to be banished from the town, as was proposed

by some faint-hearted people there. If they went, Mr. French said, he

would go with them; and he undertook to answer for their faithfulness.

His resolution prevailed; and the little band of Indian Christians were

faithful to the end of the Siege.

 

About this time a change took place, which A. L. O. E. ‘quite approved,’

but which she did not ‘like.’ Mrs. Elmslie left the Mission Bungalow,

to live at the neighbouring Orphan House, taking charge of the orphans.

A superintendent under her had hitherto done the work, but had proved

inefficient; and the new plan was not only better in itself, but promised

to save money--always a prime consideration where Missionary funds have

to be considered.

 

On August 23rd comes a letter of some importance, respecting the kind of

Missionaries wanted out there. This subject will recur from time to time

in the course of the correspondence; but even at so early a stage as

this Miss Tucker seems to have clearly grasped what was and what was not

required.

 

‘It is very kind in you to send me the _Illustrated_. After

it has been seen here, and at the Orphanage, and by the dear,

good Germans, off it starts for Dalhousie, and Florrie probably

makes it over to the soldiers after she has done with it; so

you see that you benefit many by your kindness.

 

‘I do not think that my Margaret at all enjoys being away from

us in the schoolhouse, though she keeps bright and brave. “The

Mother is as home-sick as can be,” was the description given

by one of our ladies, this house being the “home” meant. Of

course, we go over and pet her, and get her here when we can.

I hear that her room was leaking so last night; that must be

looked to at once. But rooms had a fair excuse for leaking; we

had such a storm!...

 

‘It was amusing when Emily, Ada, and I were talking over our

youth the other day. Dashing, energetic games had been the

delight of my companions; and I begin to imagine that cricket,

rounders, and bolstering form no bad preparation for Missionary

life. Dash and energy and physical strength are very desirable.

We want ladies who fear nothing, grumble at nothing, and are

ready to carry the Holy War into the enemy’s camp. One of

Emily’s many advantages is that she is a fearless rider. I am

rather alarmed at hearing that an extremely delicate lady is

coming out to us. We want hearty, strong ladies, not sickly

ones. The Missionaries are too short of hands to be able to

undertake much sick-nursing. If I were to require to be nursed

at night--which, thank God, I have not done--I should feel

inclined to run off somewhere or other, so as not to tax the

strength of my nieces.’

 

Only two days later we have mention of the first Baptism in Batala, her

future home during so many years. She writes: ‘A deeply interesting event

took place yesterday at Batala; the baptism of a Brahmin, a man in a

very influential position, and in Government employ. Dear Sadiq[45] and

I believe other Christians went to Batala on Wednesday for the Baptism,

which was to be as public as possible--in a tank.’ This was written

August 25; and on the 29th she gave more particulars.

 

‘The jackals treated us to their varied music last night; but

one does not mind them a bit, for they never seem to attack

people, or intrude into houses. I wish that they would teach

their good manners to the sparrows. The cheetah also is a

modest creature. There was an account very lately of a cheetah

going into a verandah at Dalhousie; nothing between it and the

interior of the house but a chick blind; but it was too polite

to intrude. It would be rather exciting to look at a cheetah

through a chick blind; you can see through it quite well, as

the light is outside.

 

‘But, O Laura, I ought not to waste my space on cheetahs or

jackals, when I can write of things so _much_ more interesting.

I had such an interesting account of the Baptism of B--n,

the Brahmin at Batala, from Mr. Beutel,[46] supplemented by

one from Sadiq. They were both present.... Mr. Beutel observed

that he (B--n) had had to go through more than many do in

a campaign. Why, except the Catechist and his wife, he is

the only Christian that we know of in that fierce, bigoted

Batala. As the Muhammadans did not know of the time fixed for

the baptism, at the beginning of the Service by the tank not

many people gathered; but seeing that something was going on,

gradually a crowd collected. At last the crowd grew large--and

excited also--and the police authority had to be called in for

protection.

 

‘Perhaps the worst of all was the Christian’s reception at his