The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-09-20
BY CONDO.

l must stop was not a doctor.
I might give the wrong thing aud
"But it was too late. Each day
they came to my yeranda begging.
for relief until at last / naG t.
promsie to write down their al.
ments and 60 to the nearest doctor
and get a supply Of medicine with
proper rules and regulations. AZ.
ter that my patients increased
steadily. They came covered with
the long white sheet with merely
Sits for eyes. They came on COW
cred cots. They walked. They
crawled. Sometimes l had to get
under the tent which covered them
and after a long hot ride this was
anything but pleasant. So ar.
ranged an outside room whore
persuaded them to uncover as
much as possible 80 | could inter
view them. Sometimes % a day
came to me for help and It meant
l must think quick and oftentimes
directions / gave were not under
stood, Once q woman complained
she was no better after taking her
medicine but when we discovered
she had thrown away the white
powder and chewed up the paper
around 1t, we did not wonder"
Mrs. Higgenbotham told Of some
of the customs in India touching
for a moment on the girls who were
not allowed to see their 2ister'S
husbands. The missionary called
to see a girl and was told the
young lady could not come into the
room as she would have TO come
through her sisters husbands
room where he lay Ill. After awhile
the girl however came to the room
where the visitor was. Both she
and her sister were laughing. The
mans wife had covered her hus.
banda face and slipped the girl
through the room.
An Indian came to the door one
morning bearing q small bundle
which he explained was his small
son, a baby 80 very ugly and Ill
that It was torture to look at 1t.
Ho said his wife had died and the
child had an evil spirit and he had
no work and no one to care for
it and was most unhappy. He beg
ged that the missionary do some
thing as everyone else had turned
from him.
Mrs. Higgenbotham placed the
child on the YeTanda floor on 4
blanket and assumed her new task
at once. The man she allowed TO
work In the garden for his keeY
SO that he might be near his child.
Almost instantly her little IL year
old daughter had the ugly mite in
her arms rocking him and calling
him q cute little thinS-just right
size for her doll" Between them
the baby was nuraed back to health
and the evil spirit routed IN spite
of all manner OF threats from In
dian folk who wished the mission
airy to get rid OF the child. When
we'll they were much surprised and
did not know your God was strong
enough to cure Spirits
Most touching OF all the stories
told Saturday were those OF the
untainted leper children Of hope
lessly diseased parents. Several
times all eyes were dim with tears
when Mrs. Higgenbotham told how
the mothers gave up their children
often their only child, never to see
them again close, never to claim
them, never to know the care Of
them again. Because babies do
not thrive on the bottle in hot In.
dia they are not taken from the
l9p9T ulOlndTb LnuCA ublOLG IVY
years OF 0ge. Always 1t is the
mother who gives them up. The
missionary will come for the child
and the mother will plead with
tears in her eyes to BIO allowed to
keep him Just one week more.
VERY well-jtust one week." the
missionary in all compassion prom.
ises. At the end OF tho time the
mother asks for lust two days
more" "All right-just two days"
Then comes the beseeching plea
for only one day and ut last the
child Is pushed into the arms of
the missionary while the wretched
mother runs 30 sho can't SEQ her
baby go.
homo and soon forget but on Sun.
days when they are brought to the
Sunday school room and placed on
the platform and tho, parents are
allowed to sit in tho rear of the
room where they can see but nov
or touch, ones heart goes, out, to
these mothers. Not q mother has
ever touched her child after once
giving It up. Sometimes little
children Will run after a mother
and only the great Master Himself
can understand the love which
prompts the mother to turn and
run from her precious little one.
The Christian lepers are very won
derful.
Mrs, Hlggenbotham says leprosy
Is not on the increase in India and
Is believed will save many but Il
r.