70 In Great Waters

McBeath, Miss Jean Sheepy, Mrs. Borroughs, Mrs. McKemmie, Mr. W. J. Hogg, and Mr. W. C. Cranston.

Of course I preach and administer all the regular ordinances of the church. Last year I held twelve Communion services at as many small settlements. But besides the usual things that I am properly expected to do, there are a thousand other honourable ministries of mercy, helpfulness, and happiness that must not be overlooked no matter how humble, bizarre, or difficult they may be. What these are you will have to try to imagine after I tell you a story or two. Even then with all your imaginings there are many things that we find to do for our people that you would never think of, nor would I have guessed them if I had not actually stumbled upon them in my rounds. Of course you can do more for people who live in out-of-the-way places, far from stores, hospitals, and towns, than you can for folks who live where everything they can need or want is right at hand. On this mission field it is easier than anywhere else I have ever been to find hundreds of simple, homely ways to give people help that they actually need and for which they are very grateful.

Now let me weave some true incidents together, mixed in with the necessary small amount of de- scription of people and places so that you get the “‘atmosphere.’”’ I’ll call the yarns, ‘‘Ten Days of It.” I’ve had seven years of it and like it, so you ought to be able to stand ten days of it!