About a hundred and twenty years ago a young man named Robert Moffat, settled in a lonely part of South Africa. During his work of telling the story of the Bible to the people had many strange adventures and narrow escapes. This story is told in one of his books. day after day, month after month, the sun had shone from a sky of deep blue. In some parts of the world-in
England, for example- people would have been grateful for the splendid weather; but here, in this lonely corner of South Africa, the endless sunshine brought nothiing but sadness. The
seed which the African woman had sown in the ground lay withoout growing and the grass had long since withered. The oxen, sheep and goats were thin and hungry-looking; and the
people feared that they themselves would, before long, die of hunger and thirst. One day someone said, Let us send over the hills for the great Rain-maker whom we have heard so much.
In his country, he commands the clouds to pour forth their rain and the rivers to come down in floods.'
'Yes!' cried a hundred voices. 'Let us send at once for the Rain-maker.' So a band of messengers went over the hills to the country where the Rain-maker dwelt. When they had found him,
they gave him their messege. 'Come over to our lannd,' they said, 'and if you bring rain in plenty, your riches shall be beyond counting. Your fllocks shall cover the hills; you shall wash your
hands in milk and you shall be blessed by all.' ' These are good promises,' answered the Rain-maker. 'I shall go.' At once the party set off on their return journey. As they come near the chief
village, a great crowd came to welcome the Rain-maker. Just then, as if by magic, a flash of lightning lit up the sky, a peal of thunder was heard and rain begann to fall. Those are my fiery
spears in the heavens,' boasted the Rain-maker to the excited people, 'and that is my voice in the clouds. Let the woman sow their seeds thid year on the hillsides for the rivers shall food
the valleys.' 'Long live the Rain-maker!' cried the people with one voice. The rain that fell soon disappeared in the hot, sandy soil and before long the sun was shining as brightly as ever.
Soon the people complained that the Rain-maker had not brought enough rain. 'How can you expect heavy rains when I receive only sheep and goats as presents,' said the Rain-maker.
'Give me a good fat ox and I shall make the clouds give forth their rain.' The people gave him a fat ox, but the rain did not fall and soon they were complaning as loudly as ever. Then one day
raindrops were felt again. How the people shouted for joy! ' It is a miracle! It is the Rain-maker's doing,' they cried. ' Let us hasten to his hut watch him at this magic work.' In a crowd, they
rushed to the Rain-maker's hut to praise him for his work- but the Rain-maker was fast asleep! ' So the rain is not his doing after all !' they exclaimed in such angry tones that the man was
roused from his slumber. At once the Rain-maker saw what had happened. He pointed to a woman who was at work outside his hut. 'See, what is my wife doing there?' he asked. 'She is
churning butter in a skin,' said several of the crowd. 'Foolish chidren,' said the Rain-maker in a voice of deep scorn. 'Know you not that she is churning rain at my command?' It is I who
have made the rain. It is I who have ended the drought!' At once the anger of the people was turned to wonder. 'Long live the Rain-maker!' they cried again and again.
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