Janette Oke - Woman Named Damaris, A

A Woman Named Damaris

Books by Janette Oke

Return to Harmony Another Homecoming
Tomorrows Dream

A CTS OF F AITH

The Centurions Wife The Hidden Flame
The Damascus Way

C ANADIAN W EST

When Calls the Heart When Comes the Spring
When Breaks the Dawn When Hope Springs New
Beyond the Gathering Storm
When Tomorrow Comes

L OVE C OMES S OFTLY

Love Comes Softly Loves Enduring Promise
Loves Long Journey Loves Abiding Joy
Loves Unending Legacy Loves Unfolding Dream
Love Takes Wing Love Finds a Home

A P RAIRIE L EGACY

The Tender Years A Searching Heart

A Quiet Strength Like Gold Refined

S EASONS OF THE H EART

Once Upon a Summer The Winds of Autumn
Winter Is Not Forever Springs Gentle Promise

S ONG OF A CADIA

The Meeting Place The Sacred Shore The Birthright
The Distant Beacon The Beloved Land

W OMEN OF THE W EST

The Calling of Emily Evans Julias Last Hope
Roses for Mama A Woman Named Damaris
They Called Her Mrs. Doc The Measure of a Heart
A Bride for Donnigan Heart of the Wilderness
Too Long a Stranger The Bluebird and the Sparrow
A Gown of Spanish Lace Drums of Change

www.janetteoke.com

with Davis Bunn

1991 by Janette Oke

Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com

Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Ebook edition created 2011

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwisewithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

ISBN 978-1-5855-8728-5

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Cover design by Lookout Design, Inc.

To Josue and Judith,
my Compassion kids.
May God bless your lives and help you
to be all He wants you to be.

I began supporting Josue when he was quite young. He is now sixteen and a fine-looking young man. He lives in Mexico with his family and enjoys sportsespecially soccer. He writes me short notes and draws me pictures. It has been interesting to share his growing up.

I met Judith when I traveled with Compassion to Haiti in January 1989. We visited some of the schools where Compassion children were scattered among the students.

The Haitian children were so open and loving, running to us to say hello, shake our hand, or to get a hug. I wondered how they could smile when they showed how hungry they were, lifting their simple shirts and showing us gaunt tummies. It was so sad. In that extremely needy country it was wonderful to see Compassion-sponsored children receiving schooling, health care, a daily meal, and most of all, the opportunity to hear about our Lord Jesus.

But there are not enough funds to meet all the needs. Many children are still without sponsorship.

Judith was one of the needy children. She lived with her widowed grandmother, her mother having gone to Port au Prince in hope of finding some kind of work. Compassion decided to take on the care of Judith, and I was given the opportunity to provide her support.

Judith was shybut sweet. We could not communicate with words, but I will never forget the little arm that wrapped around me. I fell in love with her then and hope that one day I will have the privilege of visiting her again.

Helping children through Compassion is a wonderful opportunity to share love. It amazes me that the organization is able to do so much with so little. Having seen the many other children in Haiti who have no such support, no proper meal to fill hungry tummies, no medical care when they are ill, no education to help them through life, no chance to hear the Gospel that will free them from the terrible fear of voodoo worship, I thank God that there are Compassion people who really care and give their lives to reaching out.

I am also thankful to be a small part of such a rewarding program. A few dollars makes it possible to turn a life around. I also have the privilege of remembering my children in prayer and communicating through letters. Compassion sends pictures and keeps me well informed of their welfare and growth.

God bless your work, Compassion!

Should you have an interest in being a part of the wonderful family of Compassion, you may write to them for information at one of the following addresses:

Compassion International
3955 Cragwood Dr., Dept. A
PO Box 7000
Colorado Springs, CO
80933-0001 Compassion of Canada
Box 5591
London, Ontario
N6A 9Z9

Im sure you wont be disappointed.

JANETTE OKE was born in Champion, Alberta, to a Canadian prairie farmer and his wife, and she grew up in a large family full of laughter and love. She is a graduate of Mountain View Bible College in Alberta, where she met her husband, Edward, and they were married in May of 1957. After pastoring churches in Indiana and Canada, the Okes spent some years in Calgary, where Edward served in several positions on college faculties while Janette continued her writing. She has written forty-eight novels for adults and another sixteen for children, and her book sales total nearly thirty million copies.

The Okes have three sons and one daughter, all married, and are enjoying their fifteen grandchildren. Edward and Janette are active in their local church and make their home near Didsbury, Alberta.

Contents

Damaris! Damaris!

Damaris Withers shrank back against the hard boards of the attic wall that supported her back. Pa was home, and she knew by his voice that he had been drinking. She wondered where he had found the money. She wished there was no such thing as money. It brought nothing but woe to the household.

Damaris! the man hollered again. Where is thet girl? he demanded, a nasty string of profanity following his second outburst.

Damaris shivered. She knew her pa would never find her in her attic retreat, but she never considered staying there. If she didnt go when called, things would not go well for her mother. Her pa would become angry and abusive. If she hurried, he might do no more than lash out with words, but if he became angryThe thought made Damaris shiver again.

She laid aside her book, worn from reading, and crawled from her hiding place. Silently she lowered herself to the beat-up chest that stood against the wall in her room and quietly replaced the trapdoor leading up to her hiding place. Then she stepped carefully onto the sagging cot that was her bed and down to the rag rug that covered the broken floorboard beside it. She slipped her feet into worn shoes, brushed at her mended dress to get rid of any cobwebs, and hastened toward the creaking stairs.

Here I am, she said, trying hard to keep her voice from trembling.

Her father had settled himself in a chair by the table. One glance told Damaris that he had spent a good deal of his afternoon at the saloon. Fear gripped at her, but then a thought flashed through her mind. If hes had plenty to drink, then maybemaybe he will soon take to bed and leave Mama and me alone.

Get in here, girl! roared her father. Give yer poor ma a hand. Dont ya care atall thet shes got all the work to do?

The man shook his head and began to curse again. No respect atall, he ended his tirade.

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