Page 87 - Living Epistles

Hudson Taylor began looking for an opportunity to receive training, and was
engaged by Dr. Hardey, a Christian man with a large practice in the city of
Hull. Of this period of Hudson Taylor’s life we read the following.

Here then in what was called the Surgery Hudson Taylor found himself at
home. Mrs. Hardey's supervision had not extended apparently to this branch
of the establishment, but the new assistant was equal to the occasion and
soon had everything in apple-pie order, after the fashion to which he had
been accustomed at home. His knowledge of book-keeping also proved of
value to Dr. Hardey, who had much work of that sort on hand and was glad
to leave it to so competent a helper. Thus the doctor's relations with the
Barnsley lad soon came to be of a cordial character. He was so bright and
eager to learn, so willing and good-tempered, that to work with him was a
pleasure, and before long the busy doctor found that it was a help to pray
with him too. Many were the quiet times, after that, from which the older
man came away refreshed and strengthened. Needless to say there was no
familiarity or presuming on these relations. The young assistant respected
himself and his employer far too much for that. He did his work faithfully, as
in the sight of God, and Dr. Hardey showed his appreciation by giving him
opportunities for study and by directing his reading as much as possible.

But there were drawbacks to the life at Charlotte Street, of which Hudson
Taylor himself was largely unconscious. For one thing it was too
comfortable, too easy-going in certain ways, and failed on that account to
afford some elements needed in a missionary's training. Quite in another
part of Hull amid very different surroundings was a little "prophet's
chamber," bare in its furnishings and affording neither companionship nor
luxury, where a stronger if a sterner life could be lived, apart with God.
Moses at the backside of the wilderness, Joseph in Pharaoh's prison, Paul in
the silence of the Arabian desert lived that sort of life, and came out to do
great things for men in the power of God. That was the life Hudson Taylor
needed and to which he was being led. He did not choose it for himself, at any
rate not at first or consciously. The Lord chose it for him, and so ordered
circumstances that he was brought to see and to embrace it, finding in
self-denial and the daily cross a fellowship with his Master nothing else can
yield.

So there came a day, providentially, when the young assistant could no
longer be domiciled at Dr. Hardey's. His room was needed for a member of
the family, and as the Surgery was not provided with sleeping