/3/g 
 
 WHEN I TOLD A LITTLE 
 KANSAS TOWN OF 
 Ham- THE LEPERS 
 
 or 
 
 How Wilbur Set Pete to Work 
 
 Wilbur and Pete 
 
 THE MISSION TO LEPERS 
 
 AMERICAN COMMITTEE 
 
 WM. JAY SCHIEFFELIN, Chairman 
 170 William Street, New York 
 
 W. M. DANNER, Secretary 
 608 Tremont Temple, Boston, Mass. 
 
 FLEMING H. REVELL, Treasurer 
 158 Fifth Avenue, New York 
 
 Secretary’s New Addre§$ 
 156 Fiicli rive., N. Y. 
 
[ Courtesy of The Sunday School Times] 
 
 WILBUR AND PETE 
 
 HEN an invitation came to me to visit White 
 Cloud, Kansas, my first thought was to de¬ 
 cline. But when Mrs. Chapman indicated in her 
 letter that her husband would be home from South 
 America about the time she had proposed for me 
 to come, my imagination pictured him as perhaps 
 a mining magnate, or possibly a wealthy copper 
 king, and as Mrs. Chapman had indicated that 
 they would like to entertain me in their home, I 
 thought of the chance of securing from this com¬ 
 ing copper king a sum of money sufficient to do 
 great things for the lepers. To further testify my 
 indifference to the invitation when it first came, 
 one need only recall the fact that White Cloud is 
 a little town in the eastern portion of Kansas, very 
 difficult of access, only eleven hundred people in 
 it, while there are seven church buildings, with a 
 half dozen ministers, three of whom have settled 
 pastorates, the remainder of the churches being- 
 served by ministers who visit White Cloud as one 
 of their appointments. 
 
 In inviting me to come, Mrs. Chapman had ex¬ 
 plained that she and her husband had heard the 
 story of Dr. McKean’s work in Siam in behalf of 
 the lepers in ‘ ‘ The Land of the White Elephant. ’ ’ 
 Indeed, she had already forwarded some contribu¬ 
 tions direct to Dr. McKean. Her request was so 
 cordial and insistent that I decided to make the 
 visit during the time of the missionary exposition 
 known as 4 the World in Chicago,” in April, 1913. 
 
 N all-night ride took me to St. Joseph, Mo., 
 in time to catch a Saturday morning train to 
 a Junction point in Nebraska, where a branch line 
 railroad carried me to W T hite Cloud, Kansas, late 
 in the afternoon. Mr. Chapman met me at the 
 station, and I soon discovered that he was not a 
 
 mining magnate at all, but that Mr. and Mrs. 
 Chapman were self-supporting missionaries home 
 on furlough from South America. On looking at 
 his heavy boots, and the liberal supply of Kansas 
 mud affixed to them, my heart sank within me, 
 but I told him, with as pleasant a face as possible, 
 how glad I was to be in White Cloud, Kansas, 
 and started on the journey to the edge of the vil¬ 
 lage, walking by his side through the Kansas mud 
 with my own shoes unprotected even by rubbers. 
 
 When I reached the home I found there the son 
 of the family, a small boy named Wilbur, who had 
 been anticipating my coming with a long list of 
 questions, for he proceeded to ply me immediately. 
 To make my basis of relationship firm with the 
 home, I answered Wilbur’s questions gladly; in¬ 
 deed, I was able to establish myself in his good 
 graces so that before Saturday evening was gone 
 I was 4 4 Uncle Will” to Wilbur. 
 
 After a good night’s rest, a splendid breakfast, 
 and our Sabbath morning devotions, good Mrs. 
 Chapman said : 
 
 4 4 We have four services arranged for you today, 
 in which we suggest that you simply tell the story 
 of the great need of the lepers, but do not ask for 
 money. The people know that twenty-five dollars 
 will support a leper for a year in one of the mis¬ 
 sion stations, but we want them to become inter¬ 
 ested, as they doubtless will, in knowing how much 
 relief from suffering is given, and how the food, 
 and the clothing, and the shelter, and the Chris¬ 
 tian teaching, and the sympathy bring cheer and 
 comfort to the sick, poor, homeless outcasts.” 
 
 I COULD agree without question not to ask for 
 money, because I surmised that in the little 
 town, already overchurched, no one would take 
 any large interest in helping lepers so far away. 
 But I little realized how Mrs. Chapman and her 
 
 husband and Wilbur had been praying and work¬ 
 ing in advance of my coming. At the third serv¬ 
 ice, held in the afternoon, a small group of friends 
 were present, and a Local Auxiliary of the Mis¬ 
 sion to Lepers was organized, with Mrs. Chapman 
 as chairman. At each service I had done my best, 
 telling the leper story just as Mrs. Chapman had 
 suggested, and without asking for money. 
 
 After the close of the evening service Mrs. 
 Chapman said to me: 
 
 44 We are disappointed ; we have only been able 
 to get support for nine lepers today—$225—when 
 we had hoped to get $250, or complete support 
 for ten lepers.” 
 
 I did not share her disappointment; but Wilbur, 
 the little son, standing by her side as she made 
 the declaration, was apparently doing some think¬ 
 ing of his own. How much he was disappointed 
 did not then appear to me. We left the church 
 and went to Wilbur's home again. 
 
 As it was necessary for me to take a livery team 
 at three o’clock on the following Monday morn¬ 
 ing and drive fifteen miles across the country to 
 catch an early branch line train to St. Joseph for 
 my next appointment, 1 asked that I might quietly 
 slip out in the morning without disturbing anyone, 
 but Wilbur said : 
 
 ‘‘Uncle Will, you will call me in the morning 
 to say good-bye, won’t you?” 
 
 One can easily imagine that a boy would not be 
 much disturbed by being called at three A. M., so 
 I promised. S he lovely hospitality of the little 
 home had been freely and generously given of 
 course 1 could not pay for this hospitality; but I 
 wanted Wilbur to remember “ Uncle Willso in 
 the morning I took with me three silver dollars 
 (they have silver dollars out west), and slipped 
 them into Wilbur’s hand as I said good-bye, ask¬ 
 ing him not to show these to anyone till morning. 
 
 A cup of hot coffee, some good bread and butter, 
 a warm grasp of Mr. Chapman’s hand, and I was 
 off for my long ride. 
 
 W HEN I climbed into the buggy the indica¬ 
 tions were so certain for rain that I express¬ 
 ed my doubt to the livery man as to his making the 
 journey in time to catch the train. He assured 
 me that his team knew just how fast to go to make 
 the journey with the proper connection at the 
 other end of the line. Indeed he told me that it 
 might be necessary for the team to run for the 
 last mile or so, but if I would trust him and trust 
 the horses, all would come out well. His predic¬ 
 tion was true; we did find it necessary to run, 
 the mud flying in all directions, and we landed at 
 the depot platform while the bell was ringing for 
 the train to start; A vigorous yell from the livery 
 man saved the day. I caught the train, making 
 my appointments as planned. 
 
 A few days later a letter came to me at Chicago : 
 “Dear Uncle Will—I was very glad to get the 
 three dollars you gave me; I want to buy a pig. 
 The village ordinance will not permit me to keep 
 a pig during the summer, but the first of Novem¬ 
 ber I mean to buy a pig, and feed him, and see 
 if he will not grow big so I can sell him for enough 
 to support a leper for a year; or at least to care 
 for a child of leper parents. Mother's tenth leper ! 
 Do you see?” 
 
 Can you imagine any boy going around six 
 months with three silver dollars jingling in his 
 pocket, and saying to the music they make, In 
 six months from now I shall spend these three 
 dollars to buy a pig to help find support for moth¬ 
 er's tenth leper?” 
 
 I did not count this leper as supported. I waited. 
 On the fifth day of November another letter came : 
 “Dear Uncle Will—I have bought my pig, and 
 (Continued on other side) 
 
from the way in which he eats everything in sight 
 I feel sure he is all right, and I am confident that 
 he will grow big enough so that I can sell him for 
 money enough to support a leper or a leper’s child. ’ ’ 
 
 In the same mail came a letter from Mrs. Chap¬ 
 man, telling how Wilbur had told the story of his 
 purchase to the children at the day-school, as well 
 as the children at the Sunday-school, and they all 
 were interested in helping. Said she : I wish you 
 might have seen the procession of little children 
 coming out this very afternoon,—one little girl 
 with one ear of com in her hand, others with 
 more, and one small child bringing a parcel con¬ 
 taining the remnants from their school luncheons; 
 and all in chorus asking the privilege of helping 
 feed the leper pig.' Of course the privilege was 
 given them, and these little children are helping 
 Wilbur to make possible the success of his plan. ” 
 
 A later communication, addressed February 4, 
 of this year, indicates the interest the men are 
 taking, for it says: 
 
 “Dear Uncle Will—The men are getting inter¬ 
 ested ; a man carried a pail of swill three blocks 
 this morning, which he said he wanted to feed the 
 pig. I have named the pig‘Pete.’ Pete was asleep 
 this morning, and I slipped up beside him, and got 
 my hands on him, and his flesh feels good and 
 solid, and this means a heavy weight. I am sure 
 I shall soon be able to sell him for enough money 
 to support mother's tenth leper.” 
 
 This story was told in the Sunday School Times 
 Office prayer meeting in Philadelphia. Immedi¬ 
 ately an arrangement was made to secure a brand 
 of pigs that would sit on desks or tables. A mem¬ 
 ber of the Sunday School Times Office family pro¬ 
 cured a pig bank and this porker was labelled 
 ‘ ‘ Pete No. 2. ” 
 
 He was fed “coin in the back” instead of 
 “corn in the ear.” In due time Pete No. 2 was 
 
 so full that the complete support of a Leper was 
 secured for the whole year. In this way, Wilbur’s 
 contagious example began to provoke” to love 
 and good works. 
 
 In the meantime, Wilbur continued feeding his 
 pig. The pig went to market with the result that 
 sufficient money was secured to care for another 
 Leper for a year. Wilbur’s pig money was for¬ 
 warded to Siam, and a little Leper boy Ai Sam 
 became “Mother’s Tenth Leper.” His name is 
 “Mr. Three,” meaning probably that he was 
 born in the third month of the year. 
 
 Pete No. 2 was quickly followed by other pig 
 banks and now there are more than 6,000 of these 
 little banks being “fed” in different parts of the 
 country by interested friends. 
 
 FEEDING THE PIG 
 
 You may have one of these “Pete Pigs,” and 
 this intensely human little folder telling how the 
 idea originated, by sending fifteen cents to the 
 address given below. Contributions direct may be 
 sent to the same address. 
 
 Any person or.group of persons may join The 
 Golden Pete Bank Brigade.” 
 
 Send 15 cents for a Golden Pig Bank and the 
 story of “Pete,” and write today to 
 
 THE MISSION TO LEPERS 
 W. M. Danner, American Secretary 
 608 Tremont Temple Boston, Mass. 
 
THE MISSION TO LEPERS 
 
 LIST OF STATIONS 
 
 INDIAN EMPIRE AND CEYLON 
 
 ♦Alleppey 
 f Almora, U. P. 
 j Ambala, Punjab 
 
 f Attingal, Travancorc 
 ♦Baba Lakhan, Punjab 
 ♦fBankura, Bengal 
 ♦Belgaum, Bombay Pres, 
 ♦f Bhagalpur, Bihar 
 Calcutta 
 *f Calicut 
 
 Chamba, Punjab 
 ♦f Champa, C. P. 
 
 ♦Chandag, U. P. 
 
 *f Chandkuri, C. P. 
 
 Dehra Dun, U. P. 
 •fDhamtari, c. P. 
 
 *Dhar,C.I. 
 
 Dharmsala, Punjab 
 Hendala, Colombo 
 jeypore, Madras Pres. 
 
 Kodur, Madras Pres. 
 ♦fKothara, C. P. 
 
 ♦Lch, Kashmir 
 ♦tLohardugga, Bihar 
 M ad ras 
 
 ♦Madura, S. India 
 ♦fMandalay, Burma 
 ♦fMangaiore 
 
 Matunga, Bombay 
 ♦fMaulmain, Lr. Burma 
 ♦fMeerut, U. P. 
 ♦fMiraj, Bombay P. 
 Moradabad, U. P. 
 Mourbhanj, Orissa 
 *tMungcli,C. P. 
 
 ♦f Muzaffarpur, Bihar 
 *tNaini, Allahabad 
 ♦jNasik 
 ♦jNeyoor 
 Nizamabad 
 
 *t Patpara, C. P. 
 fPithora, U. P. 
 ♦fPoladpur 
 ♦fPoona 
 
 ♦fPui, Kolaba Dist. 
 
 ♦jPurulia, Bengal 
 Raipur, C. P. 
 
 Raj Nandgaon 
 *»t Ramachandrapuram 
 *t Raniganj, Bengal 
 ♦Rawal Pindi, Punjab 
 ♦fRurki, U. P. 
 ♦fSabathu,Punjab 
 Saharanpur, U. P. 
 ♦fSalur, Vizagapatam 
 Sehore, Bhopal 
 ♦fShoIapur, Bombay P 
 ♦fTarn 1 aran, Punjab 
 Trevandrum 
 Ujjain, C. i. 
 ♦Vizianagram 
 
 At these 92 Stations upwards of 
 11,000 Lepers and Children are 
 supported, relieved or evangelised 
 
 SIAM 
 
 Chicngmal 
 
 STRAITS SETTLEMENTS 
 
 Pulo Jerejak, Penang 
 
 SUMATRA 
 
 Situmba 
 
 CHINA 
 
 tCanton 
 
 Chaotung, Yunnan 
 Foochow, Fuh Kien 
 Hangchow, Che-Kiang 
 Kien Ning Fu, Fuh Kien 
 ♦Kucheng, Fuh Kien 
 Loyuan, Fuh Kien 
 ♦fSlao Kan, Hankow 
 
 CHINA—continued 
 Sieng lu, Foochow 
 Tungkun, Canton 
 ♦Wuchow, West River 
 j-Yen Ping, Foochow 
 
 JAPAN 
 
 Osaka 
 
 ♦Tokio 
 
 KOREA 
 
 ♦Fusan 
 
 ♦Kwangju 
 
 ♦Taiku 
 
 THE PHILIPPINES 
 
 Culion 
 
 Manila 
 
 PERSIA 
 
 Tabriz 
 
 PALESTINE 
 
 Valley of Siloam 
 
 AFRICA 
 
 Mbereshi 
 
 Pretoria 
 
 GUIANA 
 
 Mahaica (Brit. Gu.) 
 Surinam (Dutch Gu.) 
 
 UNITED STATES 
 
 Carville, La. 
 Penikese, Mass. 
 
 San Francisco, Cal. 
 
 * The Asylums for which ihe Mission is entirely respans ble 
 1 Stations where ihe Mission is supporting untainted children