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LIKE THE BREATH OF A CLAM. 345
aries who had no trade, and neither bought nor sold,
were to the yakunin, mysterious beings and objects
of constant suspicion and espionage.
"Our object in coming to Japan is to give the
people the message of good news of love and mercy
in Christ Jesus from God our Father. Japanese and
Americans are alike his children, and we want the
people to give up their idols and honor the Creator
who made this beautiful country, and to put away
their low ideas and immorality. There are many
beautiful things and customs we want them to
keep," said Dr. Grey.
Honda Jiro found difficulty in understanding some
of the missionary's Japanese, but not so much as he
had expected, for Doctor Grey had once been a missionary
in China and chose phrases that were familiar
to samurai, while Honda was somewhat prepared by
his private reading of the Bible in Chinese. During
the turmoil of the past two years he had not been
able to do this frequently or carefully. When well
assured that the spy was not looking or overhearing
he informed Doctor Grey of his possession, and they
talked until dinner-time about the great truths into
which he was inquiring.
Doctor Grey insisted on Honda's sitting down to
the meal with his family, which consisted of Mrs.
Grey, two sons, and two daughters, all bright and
merry children ;
for this was the sunny home of a
sunny missionary. Only Honda's strong desire to
learn about foreigners and to explore the mysteries
of foreign civilization overcame his feelings of fear,