Fifteen Years with the Outcast | Page 9

Every one was busy and happy in
the Lord's service.
"Sister Shearer dear, what can I do to help this blessed work?" I
inquired.
"Sister Roberts, that washstand is all the furniture we have. Please go in
the name of Jesus and ask for donations," she replied.
Prayerfully I started on my errand, and soon had many promises from
hotel proprietors and others.
Shortly after this my son, having an ambition to see more of the world,
grew restless. All effort on my part failed to keep him near me. I simply

commended him to the One who has promised that if we are faithful
"our righteousness shall be for our children," and comforted myself
with this promise as I sorrowfully bade him farewell and returned to
my lonely lodgings. Did I say lonely? I made a mistake. To be sure, I
greatly missed my boy, but he was in our Father's keeping, and I was
dwelling in "the secret of his presence" who doeth all things well.
Soon afterward I returned to my home in Redding, taking the journey
as a singing evangelist with Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Thurston, an elderly
couple then in undenominational gospel-wagon work. It was on this
trip that, in answer to repeated prayer, I acquired my first autoharp,
which I shall frequently mention in connection with my work. "How
did I come by it?" I will tell you in the next chapter.

CHAPTER III
.
MY FIRST AUTOHARP--I FORSAKE ALL TO FOLLOW JESUS.
There it lay, all covered with dust, in that auctioneer's window in Chico.
We had just arrived from Sheridan, Sutter County, where we had
conducted a successful series of meetings.
In the latter place we had been able to borrow a small organ, and I had
a splendid choir of little children, who crowded our commodious
wagon an hour each evening before service, that time being devoted to
serenading the neighborhood with gospel song. There I saw the
drunkard and the saloon-keeper yield to the blessed influence of the
singing by these sweet, innocent little children of songs such as "Wash
me in the blood of the Lamb, and I shall be whiter than snow." But the
time soon came when we must part with the little organ as well as with
the dear children.
How I longed and prayed for an autoharp! At this time my pocket-book
was well-nigh empty, my husband having met with total loss in mining
enterprises. I possessed exactly $2.50 on the day when we reached
Chico.
As I looked in that auctioneer's window, somehow I felt that that
humble, little three-barred autoharp was to be mine. I stepped in, priced
it, and presently told the proprietor what use was to be made of it. He
had at the first asked $5.00; now he offered it, _for such a cause_, at

half price. Hallelujah! How gladly I parted with my last cent and
joyfully walked out with my precious little musical instrument,
destined to go with me on my visits to comfort and help save the lost. I
will tell you of my present one later on.
Leaving Chico that afternoon, we camped in the evening under some
beautiful live-oak trees, beside a clear, running creek. This was in
Tehama, Tehama County. There, before retiring, and following our
family devotions, I dedicated my little instrument to the Lord's work,
praying as I did so that he would use it absolutely, together with me
and my voice, in helping to win precious souls for his kingdom.
Soon afterwards I was once more in my Redding home and resuming
my former avocations in the church and Sunday-school. But what had
come over me? what had wrought such a change? For, strange to say, I
was no longer satisfied with simply the church work. I spent evening
after evening and all spare time in the humble little mission down-town
or amongst the outcasts, though never neglecting my home.
My husband, always a reserved, proud man, one day gave me an
unexpected shock. Without forewarning he quietly, coldly informed me
that I must decide between the rescue work and him.
"Do you mean it?" I inquired.
"I certainly do," was his reply.
Oh, how I agonized with my Lord in prayer as soon as I could have the
privilege! Then I opened his Word for comfort, and my answer was,
"Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men." 1 Cor. 7:23.
What did this mean? I was too young a child of the King to
comprehend, and therefore could only wait and pray. So troubled at
heart was I at my husband's pride and growing coldness that I at last
visited the pastor of the church where my name was enrolled. He tried
to persuade