Page 799 - Neglected Arabia (1916-1920)

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NEGLECTED ARABIA 13

and came out again. When it came my turn to enter what was my
surprise to find, within, the lady whom I had met on the street. It
had never occurred to me to connect her with the Inglais' hospital.
All the fear left me when she talked to me, and it was then that I
began to love her. She told me to have my children’s heads shaved.
They had long beautiful hair, but I went right home and followed her
advice, much to the astonishment of my neighbors. After that I took
my girls regularly to the hospital and they got well.
“It wasn't long before the Happy Lady said she would like to call
on me. I was much pleased, and when she delayed, I feared she
couldn’t find the house and went to meet her. After that I visited
her, and, little by little, our friendship grew. Later the rest of you
ladies came, and now I love you all and cannot do without you.”
Upon Umm Mohammed's home and family the missionaries’ friend­
ship has not failed to leave its influence. You would hardly recognize
her neat and orderly house as the same in which she lived five years
ago, and her children from being sickly, unattractive, and shy little
wild things, have become normal, winsome youngsters, full of fun
and play. As to her husband, he has had his sight restored by the
missionary doctor, for soon after the beginning of this story he had
become totally blind from cataract.
There is another friend of ours in another station to whom God
Himself has spoken. She has confessed her faith in Christ, and today
her life is in very grave danger. Verily, “a man's foes shall be they
of his own household.”
“Umm Mohammed, what can our friend do?” asked one of the li
missionary ladies. “Can you think of any way by which she can
escape the cruelty of her family?”
“Let her stop going to your religious sendees,” answered Umm
Mohammed. “I used to attend vour meetings, but I had to stop it.
Let this other woman keep your friendship but stay away from your
meetings.”
“But Umm Mohammed, she cannot do that. God has spoken to
her, and she cannot deny Him. She says that no matter if it costs her
life she cannot stay away from the services. And listen to her letter:
But I have joy in my Lord and strength in my heart though I am
not able or allowed to show it. > t> i
“I know,” said Umm Mohammed, “that you have the Truth, I !
witness that you Christians have purity of heart and that the Moslems
are full of evil, hatred, envy, greed, and uncleanness. But, as for me,
I must remain a Moslem. If I should become one of you, I should
suffer just as this other woman does. All the world would come !
down upon my head. I cannot give up your friendship, but I dare
not have anything to do with your religion. Consider, dear friend, i
have a family of daughters to be married. Even now, the arrangements
we have made for the marriage of our eldest daughter to my brot er s
son seem about to fall through. And why? Because I insist upon
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