GRANDMOTHER's 008A Ti
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Daughter Was Away at College Preparing for the Lord's Work, and Not " a Thought of Financial Difficulties at Home Entered Her Mind bold figures glared up at her from the white paper, and she quickly folded it and returned it to the envelope. Then she walked slowly but with determination into the yard, and her eyes fell on a shrub by the front steps. Its full leaf buds pop- ping, from its still-brown branches re- minded her of God's care for things, even such little things as leaves. It was spring, and the earth was damp. Grandmother wanted to begin cultivating the flower beds in preparation for set- ting out new plants, since the ground was just right; but there was a bit of housework waiting for her. That must be done first. Before washing the dishes grandmother carried the tall kitchen stool to the dish cupboard, climbed onto it, opened the very top cupboard door, and carefully lifted out the old white sugar bowl. "Could there possibly be any money in here?" she thought. She shook it vigor- ous', as she stepped back to the floor. "There's something to rattle at least." n. Si ncr STAR The sound was comforting. She drew a chair up by the kitchen table, where the sun shone brightly through the window, turning streaks of her rich brown hair to gold, as it had been when she was a child. The edges of her rounded glasses GRANDMOTHER'S reflected the light in rainbow shadows around her gray-blue eyes. Her oval face with its smooth features was turned to- ward the sunlight, and again to the sugar bowl she held in her unadorned hands. 008a ti Her wedding ring she had given for mis- sions as willingly as she would now have sent all she had to meet this statement. Grandmother had never had much By BARBARA BABCOCK money. She had always liked to sing, "Lord, I care not for riches, neither silver nor gold." Now here she was wishing for money—silver money, gold money, paper RANDMOTHER stood beside the it, until I can be sure of having enough money—any kind of money to add to her . mailbox, unable to move for a to pay it?" grandmother queried in her little store and make enough to pay the Gmoment. She could not call grand- mind. "No," she said half aloud, "I bill that at the moment seemed more im- father and she could not weep. Her eyes might as well open it right here and portant to her than any other. Just now were fastened on the small white envelope now." She drew a hairpin from her hair, there came to her also the words of a she held in her hand. For days she had and with it she ripped open the envelope. song: "My Father is rich in houses and been expecting it, and she had been "That looks like a lot of money!" lands; He holdeth the wealth of the world dreading its arrival, for she knew the sav- grandmother thought. "But haven't I in His hands!" ings were dwindling in spite of her hav- tried, and hasn't Frank tried, to save? Into her lap she emptied the contents ing spent only for necessities. She had Haven't we done everything we could to of the old sugar bowl. "Ten, twenty, hoped desperately that there would be save?" What more could she have done? twenty-five, thirty, thirty-five." She laid money enough left to pay her daughter's grandmother wondered as she stood in each coin separately on the table as she college expenses when the statement came. the bright morning sunlight, looking at counted. "It looks like so little. If only "Shall I put it away without opening that statement of the bill to be paid. The —Please turn to page 19 VOL. 96, NO. 35 AUGUST 31, 1948 BELL shattered the early morning jesting, and careless conduct of any kind. news of Christ's soon coming to her, and A stillness. Startled wide awake, I won- The opening session of the congress the pledged her life to service for her own dered for a moment where I was, but a previous evening, which featured the people. glance out the window where wide- Voice of Prophecy and the King's Heralds The three afternoon workshops, fea- spreading ferns and rhododendrons ran Quartet, had sounded the keynote—"The turing colporteur evangelism, public evan- riot down a hillside among tall, stately Time Is Now!" And as I looked over the gelism, and personal evangelism, were Douglas firs, brought my mind back into program just before that first devotional well attended, and the discussions evi- focus. This was the permanent camp- hour, it seemed that each service had been denced a keen interest in each of these ground of the Oregon Conference, located planned to add emphasis to the thought lines of soul-winning endeavor. The a few miles out of Portland, and the that Seventh-day Adventist youth "have a young people who actually had been North Pacific Youth's Congress had story to tell to the nations," and that the carrying on these activities told how they opened last night. I had just heard the hour to tell it has struck. did it, and the audience asked questions. six o'clock rising bell. If you could have sat with me in the Two Junior boys who live in the vi- But hark! What was that? Music? Yes, large pavilion and watched the young cinity of Yakima, Washington, told how a rich baritone voice was singing: people gather to hear a special message their hearts were filled with a great long- on the need of keeping in personal touch ing to share their faith. They talked it "In the morning I see His face, with God, you would have been impressed over with their church pastor, and then In the evening His form I trace, by the quietness with which they entered went out and visited a number of homes, In the darkness His voice I know; and took their places behind their own searching for those interested in Bible I see Jesus everywhere I go." conference standards. There were dele-. study. In almost no time at all they Oh, yes! I remembered again. We had gates from societies in Alaska, Idaho, Mon- were holding cottage , meetings in six been asked to stay in our quarters for the tana, Oregon, Upper Columbia, and homes. Their testimony was: "Not a thing Morning Watch, which would be broad- Washington. They all had come to listen in the world gives you more fun or real cast over a public-address system, and and to learn, so every meeting found them joy than giving the third angel's message carried by loud-speakers to every pars of in their places with Bibles and notebooks to others." And there was nothing "sissy" this great camp, where more than a thou- at hand. about these lads! They were real boys. sand cabins and comfortable boxed-in On such an occasion as this, one has But I must say something about what tents housed those in attendance at the opportunity to widen the circle of friend- to me was the most thrilling service of the congress. ship, and one of the most interesting per- whole congress, when "Trophies of the The music, played from records, con- sons whose acquaintance I made was Cross" were Firesented. M.V. Secretary tinued for fully fifteen minutes. Such se- Gracie Kulukhon, an Eskimo from Saint Cree Sandefur was moderator, and he lections as "Jesus Never Fails," as a Lawrence Island, which is "way up brought before the microphone a num- soprano solo; the lovely harmonies of north," and only thirty-five miles from ber of young people who have been en- "The Holy City," from the pipe organ; Siberia.. She had come by air to attend gaged in soul-winning endeavor, together a male quartet voicing the martial chal- the congress, and was continually amazed with those they had won to Christ. A lenge of "Onward, Christian Soldiers"; by the new things she saw and heard on girl brought her father, a boy his grand- and a mixed quartet singing "Have Thine all sides. But she is a well-poised little father, another a neighbor, and so on. Own Way, Lord," served as a wonderful lady, and quick at adapting herself to Again and again, at one service after wake-up tonic, and brought every heart circumstances. She left her native heath another, this testimony was given: "The into tune with the spirit of the gather- for the first time some years ago when she most thrilling, absorbing, satisfying activ- ing. Then came the pleasant, friendly went tb work in the Seventh-day Advent- ity in which any young person can engage voice of E. G. Fresk, Missionary Volun- ist hospital at Palmer, in the famed Mat- is soul winning. Ordinary amusements teer secretary for the Montana Confer- anuska Valley. While there she heard and recreations don't mean a thing after ence, as he offered prayer and led us in the truths of the third angel's message, ac- you have experienced the joy of winning morning devotions. cepted them, and was baptized. someone to Christ." Almost as his last words were spoken, When she returned to her home she So the congress closed after a Sabbath music took the air again, and as the met severe persecution, and learned to of high inspiration and deep consecra- young people made their way to the show- endure, as did the apostle Paul, "stripes tion.