Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt

Our little home in NottinghamshireThe months rolled by, and the day came when Marj informedme we were going to have a baby. When I told Mrs. Fentiman,she declared, “We are not going to have any babies here. If youand Marj are going to have a baby, you can move out.”I didn’t know where to go, as I had no money to go anywhere.I had given it all out in the mission. I told everyone, “Marj and Iare looking for rooms somewhere. If any of you know of somesuitable rooms, I’d be grateful if you would let me know.”Then Mrs. Fentiman, who had been almost like a mother to Marjfor years, came to us and apologized, “Look, I am sorry. I was allwrong when I told you to go. I didn’t want babies squealingaround this house, or nappies (diapers) drying around the fireplace.I admit that I lacked grace and was wrong. Now I want toask you to stay.”“When you told us to go,” I answered, “I heard the voice of Godtelling me to go. Now, when you tell us to stay, I don’t hear Godtelling us to stay.” God knew what He was doing. He was preparinga home for us.A lady in the mission church, a widow, had given her furnishedhouse to her newly married son to live in, but because of a conflictbetween mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, he had giventhe house back to his mother. Unknown to me, Mrs. Fentimenmade arrangements for Marj and I to live in it.The house was completely furnished, down to cutlery, dishes,blankets and sheets, so we didn’t need to buy anything. Therewas even a fire laid in the grate and food in the pantry. While itwasn’t brand new, the grace of God had provided it, and wedeeply appreciated it. That was our first little home, and that iswhere seven of our children were born, there in the village ofStanton Hill in Nottinghamshire.Grandpa Jolly and AlbertGrandpa Jolly, as we called Mrs. Fentiman’s father, didn’t getsaved until he was in his 60’s. He owned a drinking saloon andwas a full-blown sinner, but when he got saved, he sold his businessand turned his life completely over to God.71