“Why did they do this to you, Ipke?” she asked.

“It is because I helped the white Ma.  The people say I do not follow the old ways.  It is bad to follow new ways.  I must be punished.  The bad spirit must be burned out.”

“O God,” prayed Mary, “heal this boy and help me to change the wicked heathen ways.”

#6#

A Brave Nurse

It was strangely quiet in the village of Chief Okurike.  The chief was sick.  All the magic of the witch doctors could not make him better.  If he died, many of his wives, slaves and soldiers would be killed to go with him into the spirit-world.

A woman from a neighboring village came to the house of Chief Okurike’s wives.

“You are sad because Chief Okurike is dying,” said the woman.  “I know someone who can help him.  Far away through the jungle at Ekenge lives the white Ma.  With her magic she can make devils go out of your chief.  My son’s child was dying.  The white Ma saved her.  She is well today.  The white Ma has done many wonderful things by the power of her juju.  Let your chief send for her.  Then he will not die.”

The wives talked it over.

“We must tell the chief,” said the head wife.  “He must send for the white Ma.  If he dies, many of us must die too.  We do not want to die.”

They told the chief about the strange white Ma at Ekenge.

“Let her be sent for,” said the chief.  “Send swift runners to ask her to come.”

All day long the men hurried through the jungle along the narrow paths.  They went through many villages but they did not stop.  At last after eight hours, they came to the village of Ekenge.

“We are the men of Chief Okurike,” said the men to Chief Edem.  “Chief Okurike is very sick.  We want the white Ala who lives in your village to come and heal him.”

“She will say for herself what she will do,” said Chief Edem.  He sent a man to tell Mary some men from Chief Okurike wanted to see her.  Mary came at once to see what was wanted.

“Ma,” said the men, “Chief Okurike sent us.  He is very sick.  Come and bring your magic medicines and make him well.”

“What kind of sickness does your chief have?” asked Mary.  “Maybe I can send the medicine with you.”

They shook their heads.  They did not know what the sickness was.

“I must help,” said Mary to herself.  “If the chief dies, then according to their heathen way the tribe will kill all his wives and slaves so he will have company on the long trip to the spirit-world.  I must go and teach them about the Good Shepherd who is with us even in the valley of the shadow of death.  If the chief should die and the tribe think that it is because of witchcraft it will be even worse.  Many people will be killed because the tribe will think they used witchcraft to kill the chief.”

“I will go with you,” said Mary.

“There are warriors out in the jungle and you will be killed.  You must not go,” said Chief Edem.