LIFE AND LETTERS OF JOSEPH HARDY NEESIMA
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DECIDES TO RETURN TO ANDOVER. 155 TO MR. AND MRS. HARDY. BERLIN, Octvber 20, 1872. Your fatherly kindness and deepest sympathy with me did move me to many tears. I have been prayer­fully and more deeply thinking upon the question I did propose to you in my last letter, and am earnestly seeking for a better light not to plan my future affairs worldly, but to yield myself to the whispering voice "follow me." Yes, I may possibly render some good service to our people by going home with Mr. Tanaka and as­sisting him in establishing a new school system in Japan. If I do engage to such a work I would not give it up in a half way, and if I do wish to accom­plish it, it could not be done at least within two or three years. Mr. Tanaka does not think that the work would take much time, and as soon as an edu­cational sy,stem is established in the country he would send me back to resume my theological study. He does think our work no less easy than his traveling through a large part of Europe within four months. But I must not take what he says without careful con­sideration. It is well for me to exercise the Bible teaching: "Be wise as serpent and harmless as dove." If I go home now without looking afar off I may probably be fallen into a snare and find a considerable difficulty to get out again. If I am fastened by such a way, what shall I do with the voice "follow me" ? As our lives are too brief I must not take too much of my time for the worldly affairs. In order to work for my Master it is necessary for me to make a due preparation; in order to qualify myself to the work it is also necessary to breathe once more in the pious

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