HUDSON TAYLOR The man who believed God by Marshall Broomhall

20 THE MAN WHO BELIEVED GOD
lmowledge of Chinese could be acquired in six months!
And it was by the early conversations of his fatherand
what a powerful conversationalist his father wasthat
young Hudson, when on]y four or five years of age,
became deeply impressed with the need of the heathen
world. At this youthful period he was often heard to say:
"When I am a man I will be a missionary, and go to
China".
James Taylor, who had read several books on China,
and especially The Tra'l)els of Captain Basil Hall, had for
long been deeply moved by the spiritual need of that
country. As his own way to definite missionary work
was closed, he frequently prayed that, if God gave him a
son, that son might devote his life to that vast and needy
land. Yet he never told his son of these prayers until
seven years after he had actually sailed for China. But
the information imparted, and the prayers offered, were
not in vain, and of James Taylor it might be said, as it
was said of David: "Thou didst well in that it was in
thine heart; nevertheless thou shalt not build the house;
but thy son." And young Hudson early inherited his
father's love of reading, and as reading aloud was encouraged
and became a habit in the home, he and other
inmates had their hearts and minds enlarged by many
a book of travel and of history. His father, too, was a
sociable man, and threw his home open to friends and
visitors. This was especially the case on market days, or
when the Methodist quarterly meetings were held in
Barnsley. Then, in the drawing-room over the shop,
many subjects were discussed, including theology, sermons,
politics, and the work of God at home and abroad.
And, as the young people were allowed to be present on
these occasions, ineffaceable impressions were received.
Though the regime of this home was strict and