Page 787 - Neglected Arabia (1916-1920)

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NEGLECTED ARAB/A 7

“Bokahara quarter/' The father and two sons were my constant visitors
and patients as they all suffered severely from the Jidda fever. When
they left for Mecca some days before the Feast they came to say
“good-bye" and to get their quinine and whatsoever they might need
at Mecca, shaking hands in a most friendly way with the woman who
wore on her white hospital apron the sign of Christ, the “Red Cross."
When the Feast was over, the family returned to Jidda. I shall always
remember the following scene: On passing their store and exchanging
greetings with them, I noticed a new Meccan coat, an “A-ba," which the
father had thrown over his shoulders. It was exquisite in cut and
blending of colors and I expressed my admiration. In the most
unexpected way I saw the man's eyes flame up and he exclaimed,
“Repeat the Kalima, repeat the Kalima just only once, and I will take
you to Mecca and get you the most beautiful A-ba that can be had
there!” I felt the blood leave my face at these words. My eyes
flamed up too. “Repeat the Kalima—I repeat the Kalima? never! I
love my Lord, I am here for my Lord's sake. Praise the Lord, I am
a Christian." His face'grew dark and menacing, as he echoed with
a sneer, “A Christian! She's a Christian! Praise the Lord indeed!
Ha, ha!" We looked into each other's eye, none found what to say
more, but the banners were unfurled. “Here Christ, here Mohamme­
dan." I him and went homeward, my whole being trembling.
I, deny my precious Lord, like Esau for a dish of red pottage!" The
outrage of the man’s proposal cut me like a dagger, yet there was
\°YJJ} mX heart to have confessed my Lord openly and to have gloried
th' 1S ^\ame u*hich, here, meant shame! But alas, the entrance to
t is man s heart, for which I had worked many weeks, seemed
now closed forever. This grieved me much and I prayed earnestly
at Lord would make me meet the man once more and give me
e grace to say the right word to him before parting; and so He did.
I H CW ^a^s before I had to leave Jidda, I met him on the Bazaar.
o not know whose hand went out first—we instantly drew near to
eac other and clasped hands like friends. I told him that I was
a. 0lJtj Ieav*e Jidda till next year, and asked him whether he
f'* accePt a parting gift from me—some tracts in Arabic—on my
\yl * 1Xj ^ord Jesus. He accepted my offer in the most cordial
, aJ a, ueven asked me to send some to his father at Alexandria, whose
th ffiSS *ave me’ and then we parted. I had been, to all likelihood,
e rSj .ancf only Christian with whom he ever had had intercourse
* n*^ to . ls time, and if he did not take away anything else, he knew
'
°\V thlS‘ t^lat a Christian' is willing to be a friend to Mohammedans
• t(? serve them—but above all glories in lifting up the “blood-
stained banner” of the Son of God, her Lord.
hou r0rnp very beginning of my work I had been called to the I
houSe °* t* ^eccan family, who like many of them, owned a
gjj Se ,a^ Jidda, and spent the summer months here, it being con-
re cooler than Mecca. The house was typical of a well-to-do
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