Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/399

Rh rejoice to tell you that I and my wife have been the fruit of your exertions. My wife longed to see you again, but she died happy in Christ. Through my poor efforts, several East Indians and natives have had their eyes enlightened, and are now living consistently as Christians.” Shunkuru, and the native Christians present, listened with joyful hearts to his narrative; at the close of which they parted from this newly-found brother with tears, commending him to God.

Shunkuru had left his distant home in Quilon an ignorant and depraved idolater; now, after twenty years, he resolves to go thither to see his relatives, not as a heathen man, but as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Preaching to the people from town to town, four months were spent by the way. At last he draws near the home of his youth; but we must let this converted idolater himself tell of his first interview with the friends of his early days: “Before I arrived at my parents' house, I sent a person forward with a Gospel, to tell them to make ready for a prayer-meeting. They all assembled and were waiting for me. Immediately on my arrival, and before we spoke to one another, I opened the Gospel and read out