the way in which an ordinary man would look on it. Had I been able to pay this lawyer well, he would no doubt have come quite willingly scores of times. As the proverb says: "Even Hell yields to money."

What about my lawyer in the appeal trial? Without caring that he got nothing for his trouble, Mr. Suzuki thoroughly investigated my case for more than a year; and took infinite pains not only to prevent an innocent man from being hanged, but also to save my soul through getting the facts revealed. On this account I received a perfectly fair trial and sentence in the appeal court, which was the only thing I desired.

It is unnecessary to speak here of the joy that must have come to Komori and his family on account of his acquittal, which was made possible through my condemnation.

This is all due to the fact that God dwelt in this lawyer's heart, which was filled with love. The difference between these lawyers simply shows the contrast between the hearts in which the love of God dwells and the hearts of others. Where God's love has not entered, an ordinary man hates bad people. I suppose that was the case with my first lawyer. Where Christ's love is, there men will be kind to others. His love does not turn away from the deeper sin, but only yearns the more over it,

The lawyer to whom Ishii refers constantly, who conducted his defence during the Appeal Court, and who was so unfailingly kind to Ishii while he was in prison.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM SUFFERING

June 3.

V.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM SUFFERING.

I am quite recovered from my illness, and today the first thing I did was to read over the hymn I like so well, "Just as I am, without one plea," and then give thanks to God.

I have learned so much from my recent illness that I wish to write down some of my impressions. Since I have been able to remember anything, I do not recall ever having been ill in bed as long as three days at a time, and I have known nothing of suffering due to illness. On this account I have been very unkind to sick persons, not only to those who had no connection with me, but even to my own wife. Sometimes when she had a headache and said she could not get up, I thought it was nonsense to stay in bed for such a little thing, and would pull the bedclothes away from her and compel her to rise. This I have done over and over again. She often wept at my cruelty, but I had not the slightest sympathy. I had never been ill myself and could not sympathise with the suffering of others.

However, through God's discipline I have myself felt what suffering means; and I count this sickness of mine one of God's mercies towards me, so that I have nothing but thankfulness in my heart.

June 9.

VI.

A SPARROW TEACHES A LESSON.

Today being Sunday we were obliged to clean up our cells, and as I was working away at mine I heard outside my window a loud "chirp, chirp, chirp!" of a bird; and looking out, I saw a whole flock of sparrows gathered together on the limb of a tree. They stretched out their little necks as if looking at something below them, and were making a great chatter. I thought this was rather strange, and looked out to see what could be the matter. Apparently a cat or a dog had appeared beneath the tree, and the first little bird to see it had instantly chirped a warning to his comrades. Then I understood that the sparrow had called out, "An enemy, an enemy, an enemy!"

I was greatly impressed with this. The little sparrow put me to shame, as I saw that even the birds warn one another of impending danger, and mutually protect themselves. What have I ever done to care for my kind?

It is said that man is the crown of creation, but what have I ever done in all my life to be so regarded? To be sure I have the face and shape of a man, and I am clothed with the skin of a human being, but in reality I am inferior to a sparrow. The sparrow seeks to protect his kind, but I have done nothing but cause