Chapter 2: My First Bible Expedition

I HAD only that day descended from my bedroom for the first time after a very severe attack of rheumatism, which left me in an extremely weak condition, when a letter arrived from the far-away coast city of Victoria, where two friends and I had lately opened up a Gospel work.
The news conveyed was very discouraging. Our colleague there, in direct-contradiction to our principles, had run into debt, just at a period when our general funds were low. There was nothing for it but to close down the work there, at least for a time, and recall him. There was a difficulty, however. We had at Victoria a troop of animals, in which we had invested a very large sum. They could be sold, but only at a sacrifice we would not contemplate; and it was quite dear that our fellow-worker could not bring a troop of six animals a journey of over four hundred miles overland without some assistance.
Who could go to help him? In the city where I was staying, the then capital of Ouro Preto, resided the only other member of our little band. He was a married man, and circumstances made it almost impossible for him, to leave. It was clear that my duty was to go; and though in my weak condition it seemed rash and presumptuous I could only leave the risk with my Heavenly Father.
That afternoon I packed my bag and managed, with some pain and difficulty, to reach the railway where I bought a ticket for Rio is Janeiro. I was too weak to sit upright but as I traveled third-class I was able to stretch out on the long, bare side seat, and to endure in this way the sixteen-hour journey to the capital of Brazil Arrived there, after a day or two I obtained a steerage passage on a coasting steamer which touched at Victoria, and there being no sleeping accommodation I passed the night on the top deck, very sick; so that the next day, on going ashore at my destination, I was in rather a limp condition.
I found things were in a bad shape, and after settling up all our accounts the balance we had in hand was only about ten dollars, with which to face the long journey across to Ouro Preto. But we had a good stock of Scriptures, to which we looked as a means of paying our expenses, and within a day or two we started.
My poor companion, Frank, if he erred in running into debt, certainly suffered for his sins on that journey; for at least the best part of the way he had to do all the heavy work—as I had no strength for it. To raise the heavy boxes of books and hitch thein to the pack saddles is exhausting work; and all could do after he had loaded one side was to lean against the box to preserve the balance until the other heavy box had been slung on the opposite side. For a considerable part of the journey he had almost to lift me into the saddle and off again whenever necessary, as I had not power to raise myself in the stirrup.
The first few days we had trouble with the mules, which were skittish and kicked off their loads, so that boxes and books were strewn by the wayside. At other times the whole troop would stampede into the forest, and it was a good thing that Frank was a soundly convicted man, or they would have been lost— mules, books, patience, and all!
After a few days, however, things settled down somewhat, and we also found that with the sales of our books we were able to meet all our expenses of lodging for ourselves, and accommodation and food for our troop, even though the rates, charged at some of these country hotels are very exorbitant. We had been traveling this way, due west, nearly a week, and were reaching a very thinly populated region when disaster overtook us. It was at the little town of St. Leopoldina, the last town we had to pass for a couple of hundred miles.
I was still new to Bible work, and lacked the tact and prudence that only comes with experience; so it happened that I had the great misfortune to have a misunderstanding with the local tax collector a strong Romanist; and, failing to explain matters to his satisfaction, I was unjustly fined twelve dollars for selling books without a license. After paying the fine and our hotel bill, I found that we only had half a dollar left and nearly 350 miles yet to be covered! That evening we bought a tau pot, two liters of beans, some rice, salt, and dried beef, which cost just the balance in hand.
Next morning we set out under the new arrangement, and when breakfast time came we halted and unloaded our animals; and while Frank found the firewood and kindled a flame, I cleaned the rice and chopped up some small pieces of dried beef to mix with it. We voted that breakfast a vast improvement on hotel menus, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
Proceeding on our way, we sold a few Gospels to passing travelers, which gave us a balance in hand of ten cents. Then the shades oi night drew on, and re felt less cheerful and wondered what would happen now.
Arriving at a wayside farm I was told that we could turn our animals into the enclosed pasture for the sum of ten cents, but nothing was said about our own accommodation, except that we could put our saddles and baggage in the loft of a dirty neighboring hen roost. Our dinner of beans was far from being satisfactory, as they had not been soaked overnight, and then arose the question of our sleeping quarters. We felt too proud to ask for what we were not prepared to pay for, even though it was almost certain nothing would have been expected, for the Brazilians generally are a hospitable people, so finishing our repast we pushed our saddles and boxes up into the rickety chicken loft, and, climbing up ourselves Afterward, passed the night in these unsavory quarters. We had not a blanket between us, so, removing our spurs for mutual protection, we lay down as we were on a raw ox hide, not a bad experience for a man just off a bed of sickness! We passed an uneasy night, as the poles of which the loft was constructed were so loose that we were in constant fear of slipping through on the top of the chickens!
The whole of that distance we traveled without once enjoying the luxury of a bed, or even removing our clothes, except for a daily bath in some convenient river; and the chicken loft was by no means the worst accommodation of the journey.
Finally, when some weeks later we rode into Ouro Preto, we found we had sold nearly all our books by the way, or, what was more general, had exchanged them for food. I was also in perfect health, and as sunburnt and strong as a brigand, and we had actually more money in hand than when we started out from Victoria a month before.
There was a sequel to this experience, as follows: About two years later I again found myself in the city of Victoria, and resolved to take advantage of the opportunity to revisit the scene of my encounter with the tax collector and “get my own back” in a truly evangelical manner.
By this time I was an experienced and fairly successful colporteur, and thoroughly enjoyed the work. At times the thought crossed my mind that I ought to start preaching the Gospel, but I shrank back with a nervous dislike of the idea, as I had never spoken in public, even in my mother tongue. “It will be time enough when I can speak good Portuguese,” thought I, “and that will not be yet awhile.”
After canvassing Victoria I canoed on to Leopoldina. Quickly taking in the lie of the streets, I systematically started work at once. God’s good hand rested upon me, and, visiting house after house, I sold a copy of the Scriptures in nearly every one. By the end of two days I had all but sold my huge stock of books, and very few homes were without some portion of the Word of God. Emboldened by my success, I went to the authorities and claimed a refund of the unjust fine, with such effect that they agreed to return the money.
That evening I was visited by one of my customers, a farmer, living about twenty miles away. He urged me to visit his district as, he affirmed, many of the people there could read and would gladly purchase my books. I hesitated, as the next day was Sunday; but the man grew insistent., offering to return that night and send back an animal next morning, so finally I agreed
Early next day the man himself was there with a spare animal, so loading up my remaining Scriptures away we went. After riding several hours my companion exclaimed, “Do you see that house up there? That’s my place; that’s where we are going,” pointing to a distant hillside where a little house with red tiles was visible on the fringe of a virgin forest, and for another hour I had that house in view. As we drew near I noticed that there was a large crowd of people round the place, and after a while I remarked on it to my guide. “What are all those people there for?” I asked.
“Why,” said he in rather a surprised tone, “don’t you know? They have come to hear you preach.” I almost fell of the horse with the shock, and I had a serious thought of turning round and riding hack again, but did not do so. I felt it was of God, and so made no reply until we reached the house. I then begged for the use of a quiet room for a few minutes. My mind was all in a whirl, and I felt horribly nervons. At last I got down before God and told Him that if He really wanted me to make a fool of myself I was quite willing, and cast myself on Him. Then, instead of leaving there, I nervously tried to find an easy passage of the Bible to read, though I had never read publicly before, and I could cot sing or pray in Portuguese.
Finally I selected a passage, and entered the big room now crowded with men and women who had come to hear me preach. I arose to read, hesitated, fumbled, and then ventured to make a few introductory remarks, My introductory remarks were extensive, and I was surprised to see that the folks looked interested, I continued to speak until, to my surprise, I found I had been talking for a whole hour. I would give a great deal for some idea of what that first address was about, but all I can remember was the feeling of mingled astonishment, relief, and self-satisfaction which pervaded me when I had concluded.
But my elation was soon dispelled when the farmer came up. He shook me by the hand heartily, and expressed his thanks. “But,” added he, “you cannot leave tomorrow, for they want you to preach again in the evening.” This dashed my joy at once, but tomorrow came and went and the Lord did not fail me, nor has since; and besides, I sold all my books and received prepayment for many more to be mailed to them from Rio.
Some time later a missionary visited this spot and found a community ripe for the harvest, some being already converted, and now there is a prosperous Gospel work established there, which might not have been had I not ventured to trust God where duty indicated a difficult course to follow.