Topsy-Turvy Land Part 8

[Ill.u.s.tration: MUSCAT HARBOUR.]

The last mission station in Arabia we mention, is the first that people generally visit. Aden is a coaling station as well as a missionary centre and pa.s.sengers travelling to the Orient nearly always stop here on the way. There are Christian churches and hospitals and government schools. At Sheikh Ottoman, a short distance from Aden, Ion Keith Falconer, the first modern missionary to this land, began his work. He died here also, but his life was so full of love and sacrifice that his _work_ is still going on.

The Free Church of Scotland mission has medical work, an industrial school for waifs and a memorial chapel. From a great distance patients come to be cured, and Moslems to buy the Bible.

The great lighthouse on the island of Perim, near Aden, throws its light for ten miles out on the dark sea and saves s.h.i.+ps from the breakers. But the light of the gospel in the Bible depot at Aden, s.h.i.+nes two hundred miles to the north as far as Sanaa, and three hundred miles east to Makalla on the coast. Yet I dare say it costs more to keep up the lighthouse at Perim (not to speak of building it) than it does to keep open all the Bible lighthouses of all Arabia. Perhaps Keith Falconer thought of this when he said in his farewell address:

_"We Christians have a great and imposing war office, but a very small army. While vast continents are shrouded in almost utter darkness and hundreds of millions suffer the horrors of heathenism and Islam, the burden of proof lies upon you to show that the circ.u.mstances in which G.o.d has placed you, were meant by Him to keep you out of the foreign mission field."_

_Before you lay aside this book, will you not ask yourself why you should not go out to Arabia, or to some other land yet shrouded in darkness, and s.h.i.+ne for Jesus?_

An Old Friend in a New Dress.

ARABIC. LITERAL TRANSLATION.

Seyyidi-'l-Fadi-'l Gani, Our Lord, the rich Saviour, Kalbehoo yuhibbooni, His heart loves me, Fa lahoo kooloo saghier. And to Him all little ones belong.

Yaltajee wahoo'l kadeer. He protects us and is strong.

Kad faaka hubban. Yes His love exceeds all.

Kad faaka hubban. Yes His love exceeds all.

Kad faaka hubban. Yes His love exceeds all.

Yuhibbuna Yasooa. Jesus loves you.

[Ill.u.s.tration: musical score]

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[Sidenote: _THE OLD TESTAMENT ADAPTED FOR LITTLE CHILDREN_]

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