Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

if it were not as I say, I would never have come to you.” “What we shall do with the American doesn’t con- cern you. We do what we must. Do you understand?” “But I should like very much to know where you have taken him.” “That also is none of your business. Cease making any further inquiries about him, or it may go badly for you. Now get out!” And so it went on for some time. At last I asked him, “Is your mother still living?” After he had sworn an awful oath, he said, ‘“‘What has my mother to do with this?” I replied, ‘““The American has a mother, too, who loves him, and who with a heavy heart saw him drawn SEW FEEDING THE HUNGRY into this work; who prays for him, that the Lord may shield him from the many dangers with which he is sur- rounded. As soon as Russia has dealings with America again and you certainly believe that that time will come —then that old mother will demand an accounting for her son, from those who stood nearest to him—also from me—do you understand something of this? And now he seemed quieter and more gentle. His last words were, ‘Yes, do not worry. I can tell you this much about it. We shall not kill the American. That might be too severe, in spite of the fact that we do not especially fear America. We can also not free him. Frankly, I do not believe that he is a spy. The situation in which we find ourselves makes it necessary for us to act as we do. We shall send the prisoner to the chief of staff in Bachmut, from whence he will probably be sent by way of Kharkow to Moscow, and from there perhaps to Finland. Then he is free.” Then his face darkened as he proceeded, “But there is nothing better for you than to go home.” Then to the soldier, ‘‘Conduct him out.” I was dismissed, and proceeded sadly homeward, with my purpose unattained. When I again reached Halbstadt my friends rejoiced to see me. But the absence of Brother Kratz was deeply felt. Some weeks later a Mennonite of Wernersdorf, a village through which Kratz had passed, told us that he had exchanged a few words with the prisoner. That was the next day after the arrest. My friend said that Brother Kratz was entirely quiet and composed in spirit. I do not believe that Brother Kratz was killed. It is possible that he died of one of the numerous diseases which at that time carried away thousands, especially among prisoners. Brother Kratz lost his life in the service of suffering ; BISSNY UT eee yee Cab UU lod ees, PHPPY I UOUUSTT UVdLIeULyW 94} JO AOJeIIG ‘Auvuldoy, ‘souvry ur Apsou oy poAres af WOTIIN “£ NIATY UHNddwOH “YH ‘ad oUIBAYLY, 9G} UL WOT{NAIASIG sulyyOT) PUe eure iaeus aL sat) FUrpaoz-PUUO Ul WOLUTISIP YIM peasos off puw ‘aoayo poos ‘yaxofuro0d Jo JOINQLUSUT : TIMIDPHOAMS “HO BUAWSUNAL 1B “cal PERSONAL REMINISCENCES Sao humanity. Serving suffering humanity is serving God. And to give one’s life for suffering humanity is doing so for Jesus’ sake. And that is gain. Eternal ga