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They went in, Thomaz not knowing what sort of place it was. Dr. Bagby, the first missionary of our board to Brazil, was conducting a service and soon began a sermon which impressed Thomaz very greatly. The sermon drew such a picture of his life that he accused the woman of having told Dr. Bagby about him. She had not done so, she declared, and this fact impressed Thomaz even more.
All of the laundry work is done by hand. Sometimes there is quite a considerable firm which employs many laundresses. Thomaz, after declining the good woman's invitation many times, finally one day decided he would accept it. On Sunday he appeared at her house for dinner.
Years ago he was converted in Rio through the agency of his washerwoman. This faithful woman is a member of the First Baptist Church. She decided she would attempt to lead Thomaz to Christ. So on Saturday when she would bring his laundry she would invite him to come to her house on the following day for dinner. I might say by way of parenthesis, that there is not a steam laundry in Brazil.
Oh, I see what ye mean! I done that meself while I was gittin' to bed." "Waves must have been running high on the ocean last night. Better drink some coffee. Thomaz, another cup big and black." "Thanks, Looey. 'Twas kind of an active night, at that." "I heard you come in," vouchsafed McKay. "Were you trying some high diving in your room?"
It's the little things that count, as the feller said when his wife give him his fourteenth baby." He downed the thick coffee brought by Thomaz, demanded another cup, accepted cigarette and light from Knowlton, and sighed heavily. "Who tried to hit you?" Knowlton persisted. "Aw, I dunno. Two-three fellers took swipes at me with bottles and things.
One of the greatest laymen in Brazil is our Brother Thomaz L. da Costa. He is the Superintendent of a very considerable business firm in Bahia. He is a deacon in the First Baptist Church, one of the moving spirits upon the Brazilian Foreign Mission Board and practically superintends the work of the State Mission Board of Bahia.
"Keep out of it," was the stubborn reply. The Americans rose. "We are not going to keep out of it," Knowlton declared, coldly. "We are going straight into it. Thank you for your assistance." "Not so fast," Schwandorf protested. "If you are determined to go I will help you if I can. Shall we sit on the piazza with a small bottle to aid digestion? So! Thomaz! Bring from my stock the kümmel.
"Even here at the end of the world one can't get away from those beastly instruments." A throaty chuckle from the doorway followed the words. Schwandorf emerged, carrying a big bottle. "Yet there is one thing to be thankful for, gentlemen," he said. "In all this town there is not one man who attempts to play a trombone." The others laughed. Thomaz appeared with bottles and thick cups.
Immediately following their departure, in came a youth carrying three new hammocks. "Our beds," McKay explained. "I sent this lad to a trader's store for them. He's the proprietor's son. Thank you, Thomaz. Tell your father to put these on our bill, and take for yourself this small token of our appreciation." More reis changed hands.
"They were taken out at dawn. Do not be alarmed. It was the swamp fever, which is not what you say? catching." "Humph! Sort of a reg'lar thing to die of fever here, hey?" Thomaz shrugged as if hearing a foolish question. "Si. Swamp fever, yellow fever, smallpox, beriberi to-day we live, to-morrow we are dead." "True for ye.
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