The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-04-10
A WANDERER RETURNED.
BY REV. A. HAzEN, NORWICH, VT.

There are times in life when the joy Of
an hour seems to overbalance years oi
toll. The servant of God has at times
waited long, and watched carefully, tor
some particular result. He has patiently
borne "the burden and heat of the day. y
he has not been weary" for he has ex.
pected the reward to come in due time.
When it comes, the Joy of harvest causes
the long-continued labor to be forgotten.
Sometimes a particular desired result
has been SO long delayed that the servant
has ceased to expect it. He has long
prayed for it, and the answer has not
come. He may feel that his prayer has
been answered in some other way. But
when at last the particular request is
granted it has come to him like life
from the dead" The joy he feels, as such
an abandoned hope has come to pass, is a
compensation for long labor and pam. for
much toll and sorrow. = is foretaste of
the Joy that awaits the faithful worker, as
he enters upon the eternal life, and learns
that no earnest work for the Master ever
fails of its accomplishment.
A boy was once for a time in mission
school in Western India. He had aquick, ,
active mind. His father was regarded as
a wise man, a poet and a religious teacher
among the Hindus. Under the fathers
thC oSSuAhS AoihAAh". "AsAA
the tenets of the sect to which the father
belonged, and also with the weak points
of the Brahmans.
The young man became a Christian and
was received to the church. After time
he went away to another mission and was
employed as an assistant. He developed
much skill as a contrOversialist, and was
held in high esteem by the missionary
under whose special care he was. AT
length he was assigned to sphere OF
labor in connection with a man who proved
unworthy of the name of Christian.
Unknown to the supervising missionary,
this man was given to drink. The native
preacher could not get on with him at all.
He fell into doubts; and gave up his ser;
vice; left all his Christian friends, and
wandered off as gosari, or religious
teacher of the Hindus of his fathers sect.
the missionary made all effort in his pow
er to trace him, and bring him back, but
in vain No one knew whittier he had
gone.
Years passed The missionary was
obliged to return home, with no expecta
tion of resuming his work in India, In
consequence of impaired health. But he
could not forget his former assistant and
friend. Meeting a brother missionary re
turning to India, one day in London, he
uculiOueu W ulul Tic CtSC VI man
and gave him messages 10 the wanderer, il
he should ever meet him.
Again years passed with no word from
the man. A few weeks since, the mission
ary who had received the messages was at
tending a meeting of the church to which
this man had first belonged. For the frs
time in many years he saw this mar
among the candidates for membership
He asked to be taken back 10 their fellow
ship. He told in simple words the lea
sons why he had gone of. and the story o
his wanderings. He had been afflicted
and told of his sorrows. All hearts were
moved at the recital. He said that he wa:
restful to get back again to the fold. Hi.
soul longed to taste again the body and
blood of his Saviour. He was gladly re
ceived. and now bids fair to be once more
useful man in the Masters service.
THE Lord knOweth them that are His,
even though they wander far. There is il
this little recital new ground for cOnfidenc,
in our work. THERE is fresh assurance
that God answers prayer. In the Language
of Mr.. Treat: "Nothing done for Christ ii
ever lost"