the child was suffering from smallpox! For weeks
I watched Mary's temperature, but nothing developed.

Through repeated instances of this kind I came to see that Mr. Goforth
was right when he said, "The safest place for yourself and the children
is in the path of duty."

As I recall those years of touring life with our children, words fail me
to tell of all the Lord's goodness to them and to me. Though there were
many hard, hard places, these were but opportunities for special grace
and help. Many times, when discouraged almost to the point of never
going out again with the children, there would come evidence that the
Lord was using our family life, lived among the people, to win them to
Christ. Then I would take new courage, and go again. Oh, it is so true
that

"We may trust him fully
All for us to do;
Those who trust him wholly
Find him wholly true."

VII

THE STORY OF ONE FURLOUGH (1908-1910)

"Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will
deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me" (Psa.
50:15).

IN THE summer of 1908 I was obliged to return to Canada with five of our
children, leaving Mr. Goforth in China for the revival work.

Reaching Toronto, I learned that my eldest son was at death's door from
repeated attacks of rheumatic fever. He was then almost a day's journey
away. On my way there, as I recalled the times in which he had been
given back to us from the very gates of death, my faith was strengthened
to believe for his recovery again. But, as I prayed, it became very
clear that the answer to my petition depended on myself; in other words,
that I must yield myself and my will to God.

I had been planning to take no meetings during that furlough, but to
devote myself wholly to my children. I confessed the sin of planning my
own life, and definitely covenanted with the Lord that if he would
raise my son for his service I would take meetings, or do anything, as
he opened the way for the care of the children.

There were six difficult doors, however, that would have to be
opened--not one, but all--before I could possibly go out and speak for
Christ and China, as God seemed to be asking. First, the Lord would need
to restore my son to complete health, as I could never feel justified in
leaving a sick child. Second, he would need to restore my own health,
for I had been ordered to the hospital for an operation. Third, he w