The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-14
Leper Funeral.

a Leper Funeral.
The Allahabad Leper Asylum lies in
quiet spot near the village of Nynee, and
about a mile distant from the further end OF
the railway bridge over the indura river.
/ must confess 20 a little sinking of he art
when the message came TO me, one blazing
afternoon, that one of the Christian lepers
was lying very IN. 1t came az time when
We were not living, but eXsting-nghtiug
through that frightful two weeks which
prepares Tor the rains, that terrible roasting
of the air over the great Gangetic valley,
which makes 10 soar high and draw In the
mOisture-laden clouds from the ocean. lt ls
a useful season, no doubt; and 10 one Us in
health. and can sit still and drink ice-water,
aud can by means OF punkabs and wet
grass mats, and the like, keep the tempera-
ture down below ninety-eight degrees ian his
room, 30 rs also, perhaps, an endugaole one,
But obviously, journey anywhere away
from these comforts causes dismay ln the
very thought.
There was, however, but one thing 20 De
done. ANY one so I'M, ON such day. could
hardly last long. Even 90 wait tll tle
cool CD Of the early morning might very
likely cause ones journey 20 be made IN
vain so the messenger was told tndt /
would. If possible, be- over that evening.
For obvious reasons ] must not delay nm
darkness tell, still. it was well 10 let the
derceness of the afternoon sun aDate little.
so 1 waited awhile, then drove 30 the en-
trance of the railway bridge. / thought 10
better 10 walk across, partly because the
tolls were extreme, partly because one is
so apt 90 meet q train, and the experienced OF
being hemmed in with q frightened, plungiDg
horse between those iron bars, while the
lone train goes roaring and rafting over
head Is not one to be faced lightly.
II soon appeared, however, That heavy
tolls and frantic horse would have Deen
better than what came to me. The sun, at
temperature OF one hundred and siXty-nve
degrees, had been beating on that iron
lattice work all the afternoon, and 20 walk
through these eleven long girder5, IN That
furnace heat, wilted OHe's strength away
like am attack OF fever. AT last, dragging
one foot after the other the bridge head was
gained, and the worst of the journey was
over. A native conveyance was secured,
and the leper village was soon reached.
The village. with its Weu-bulit nuts, and
nice grove of fruit trees, is much more at
tractiye than the average hamlet outside,
Tor kind foreign friends. have been moved 10
do at least this much TO alleviate the sad
fate of those accomplishing sunerer5-leJ
them have az least "a cheerful, comfortable
nook i'm which 10 die their long, lingering,
l0athsOme death.
The sick man was advanced ln life, far
advanced, too, in his malady; and though L
did not see the physician, judged that ne
was then suffering from one of the cOmpll-
cations Of advanced leprosy, and that the
only service + could now render him would
be a spiritual one. If, however, had ian
cied that i must hasten TO sustain TIE
falling faith of an ignorant convert whose
Gathering calamities must be driving him
back 10 the trust Of his earlier and happier
DAYS. was soon rebuked. His faith seemed
as strong. his doubts as few, as my own; IN
evident bodily distress, his words were an
iu praise of Gods goodness and trust OF his
grace. NV visit was little needed, then'
except % show sympathy with the poor
sufferer and the kind companions IN auic-
ton who gathered about him, and 10 COM
mend these "litte ones 10 the great lleaiO
of Love. Weheld a short service anu sang
some inspiring hymns, and came away.
BY this time dusk was drawing ON, ana the
return tourney was more enduraDie.
Early the next day we were not surprised
10 hear that tue poor leper had passed away.
In that fierce heat the funeral must perlOrce
take place the same evening. so men must
be sent here and there, collin procured,
grave dug, and other arrangements MADE.
AN this was rendered more dltncult by the
fact that the manager of the asylum had
gone away on a few days leave. However
when evening came we went BACK 10 the
Quiet village: warned. however, we drove
over the bridge instead Of walking, ana
reached fl in more comfort. called IN the
AID of few native Christian friends for
there were not whole hands enough among
these leper men TO hold the ropes winch
ehould lower their brother into has last
resting place. Even with these helpers III
was found best to carry the corpse lald out
anon It's light bed and the heavy coihn sepa-
rately 20 the grayeside'
Here i found them, in quiet 00a's ACRE
lust outside the village wall-the sun,
straightened form, under its white sheet,
the quiet friends sitting about an around
tine silent fields beneath, and the silent hush
Of evening above. The grayediggeTs were
sin at work, but made almost no SOUND.
IL was a strange scene, time for thought
Presently the grave was pronounced READY
careful hands composed The weary limbs 10
rest. The voice Of prayer and song and eX-
hOrtation broke the stiffness. Ihen me
lind leper friends gathered thick about the
crave 10 cast in ''dust 10 dust with their
manned stumps Of hands, and thus poor
Ripot "afhcti0n." ceased from his allie
tion.2Rev. W. +. johnson, ID. d., Mis-
etonary of the Presbyterian Board OF FOR
eign Missions.