At last she settled down here [in Nagercoil] so that she might go monthly to Cape Comorin to bathe in its sacred waters.* But neither did this bring the desired forgiveness. It was a long and sad tale of disappointed hope that she told to Santhyai and Ambudial, the two zenana teachers visiting in that district. But they were able to tell her of a more excellent way* — the Way of Life, which is Jesus Christ.* She said she had sought salvation through her own gods until she despaired of their ever giving it; she would now willingly make a trial of this new way. The Bible-women taught her a short prayer, “Jesus, my God, my Life, I am a poor sinner, save me!”* She has a different tale to tell now, for she is filled with joy and peace. She delights to speak of the great blessing that has come to her, and says that when she communes with God she seems to be lifted up and surrounded by light, so that she is able to understand many truths hitherto hidden from her.
* Cape Cormorin (Comorin), a corruption via Portuguese of the Indian name Kanyakumari, is sometimes dubbed India’s ‘Land’s End’ as it lies right on the southernmost tip of the subcontinent, in the waters of the Laccadive or Lakshadweep Sea, where the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean all converge. Nagercoil is just a few miles away. Hindu legend says that the goddess Kanya Devi (Shakti) was jilted by Shiva on her wedding day, and ever afterwards remained a virgin and patroness of the unwedded.
* See 1 Corinthians 12:31.
* See John 14:6.
* An expanded form of the Prayer of the Publican (tax-gatherer) in Luke 18:13: “God be merciful to me, a sinner!”. It is closely related to the Prayer of the Heart or Jesus Prayer widely used in the Eastern churches since the fifth century or earlier, which may take several forms but in its most common runs “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me [a sinner]”. See The Prayer of the Heart.
Précis
After visiting many of India’s holy places, said Mullens, this particular woman had settled near Cape Comorin’s sacred waters. Still she had found no spiritual solace, until two Indian women in Mullens’s team had taught her a prayer of the Name of Jesus, and at last all that the woman had been seeking came to her, and remained with her. (60 / 60 words)
After visiting many of India’s holy places, said Mullens, this particular woman had settled near Cape Comorin’s sacred waters. Still she had found no spiritual solace, until two Indian women in Mullens’s team had taught her a prayer of the Name of Jesus, and at last all that the woman had been seeking came to her, and remained with her.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, because, besides, must, not, otherwise, unless, who.
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Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Blessing. Not. Tale.
2 Far. Make. Work.
3 Adherent. Monthly. Sinner.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Prepositions Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below may be followed by one or more prepositions. Compose your own sentences to show which they might be. Some prepositions are given underneath.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Indifferent. 2. Write. 3. Different.
Selected Prepositions
About. Against. Among. At. By. For. From. In. Into. Of. On. Out. Over. Through. To. Towards. Upon. With.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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