The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-07-26
All HOI.
A TRUE STORY.

A TRUE STORY.
He was Just twelve years old ragged
little fellow, curled behind big coil OF
rope on the deck of ship
The great, beautiful vessel, laden with
silks and teas and spices, had just set sail
from the harbor of Shanghai
The boy was leaving home and friends,
yet there was not tear in his eye. He
was glad to GO. In fact, All Hoi had
put himself on board that ship without
leave from anybody, not even the cap
tain, and now he kept still as a mouse,
fearing lest somebody should come and
put him ashore.
Nothing good, as general thing, can
come of boys running away from home
but All Hoi's home was such dreary,
filthy hut, and his father and mother
were such wretched people, who cared
not so much for him as your father and
mother care for Ponto and Bose.
He was cufed and kicked around from
morning till night, and it was no wonder
that when he found himself sailing away
over the blue sea his heart gave a great
bound of Joy.
He soon made friends with the cap
tain, and the sailors were kind to him
they amused themselves in teaching him
to speak English, and trying to pro-
nounce the funny sounding words he
taught them of his own language.
In the cabin on the table was Bible,
and All Hoi picked out the letters and
learned them. 1t was not long before
he could read words of three or four let
ters. One of the old sailors took great
deal Of pains with him, and was con-
stantly giving him words to spell so that
he learned very fast, and began to read
by slowly spelling out the words. He
read in the Gospel of John, because the
sailor said that was good easy reading"
In the third chapter he found wonder
full verse, and it was this For God so
loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believetb
on him should not perish, but have ever
lasting life.
For long time back something had
stirred within the heart of this boy over
the sea, and made him long for some
thing better and different. 1t had be-
gun to seem foolish to him to pray to pa
per gods, and his father had to whip him
to get him to do it,
The words Of that verse took hold of
him, and he read more about the Son Of
God, and then he began to pray that God
would teach him.
The dear Lord heard him, for he always
hears and answers such prayer. He
sent the Holy Spirit to his heart, and he
understood what he read and then he
believed that the Lord would save him
just because that verse said that he would
save whosoever would believe on him.
Whosoever," said All Hoi, means me.
| do believe that means me, too; then
am saved now, because he said So
And now all the day long his heart
sang for JOY; he read eagerly every word
about Jesus, and he was the only one on
board the great ship who prayed.
By and by they arrived in Boston, and
the captain went to report the ship to its
owner.
When the business was finished the
captain said 1 have brought back with
me little Chinese boy that you will be
interested in he is smart as steel, and a
good little fellow as well.
Send him up to me, said the gentle
man
1t would make too long a story to tell
all he said to All Hoi, but it was soon
arranged that he would take care Of him,
and send him to school at once
And now All Hoi was happy. He
was hungry for knowledge He proved
to be faithful student and loyal SOL
der Of Christ The same kind friend sent
him to college and then to the Theology
cal Seminary, for there was nothing in all
the world All Hoi wanted so much to do,
as to be fitted to tell his own people about
how God loved the world, and the won
derful thing that he didfor them because
he loved them
Just as he had nearly finished his
studies, grand embassy arrived from his
own country. They wanted him to ira