Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

exactly what part of the need could be met. There also were about 500 private packages; but there was considerable difficulty with these as the Govern- ment did not want to permit delivery, insisting it was contrary to contract and opened the way for profiteering. The only way the Government would consent to the de- livery was that one-fourth of the contents should be taken out of each package for general distribution to the most needy, and that was the way the matter was finally han- dled. Possibly that was the best way out of an unfortu- nate situation. With the invoice of goods complete and the data of need from each village in hand, we not only knew what per cent of the reported need we could meet, but we could also tell exactly how many articles of each kind should be sent to a volost and to each village to clear our ware- house. For example, we took men’s overcoats as the basis. There were 1545; but there were 5 times as many boys’ suits and two times as many men’s pants, etc. So with each overcoat we sent 5 boys’ suits and two men’s trousers, and so on through the whole list. “But,” you will say, “What about those 26 straw hats?” ‘““Well—we sent one for each 50 overcoats.” “But—how about that swallow-tail dress suit?” Now that story is a little longer. Bro. Unruh was: 268 FEEDING THE HUNGRY in a sore dilemma one time. A charming young woman, who had gotten her share of clothes from me before, came to him and asked for a pair of shoes. He asked if she had already gotten anything. She said she had. Well, why did she not ask for shoes then if she needed them so badly? Oh—something had happened since. But she would not say what, nor would she go. As he was just beginning the work he called me and we got the list and saw just what she did get. No shoes there. We said, there was so much need and so many had not gotten any- thing yet, that she should wait till all on the lists had received something and then come again. ‘That usually satisfied. Again and again we marveled at the patience of the Russian people; how they could be told by Govern- ment officials and others to wait, or to come again, and how they did it uncomplainingly. There seemed to be no end to their patience. But verily I believe patience works persistence; for they have that virtue also.—This time perseverance seemed to match patience; for the young woman would not leave. Evidently something had hap- pened. But what? Oh, if we men were only not so dense! There she sat—silent, weeping. Finally Bro. Unruh said: ‘‘Now do tell me, what is all this about?” And then through her tears she replied: ‘Oh, to-morrow is to be my wedding day and it’s so humiliating to be married without shoes!” An exception was made to the rule that day. After- wards I said, ‘““Now let’s do it this way; let’s take that swallow-tail suit, a pair of patent leather shoes, and all else that a groom needs; and let’s select, as well as men can,