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FOR HEATHEN LANDS.

VOL. 6.

NOVEMBER , 187 4.

No. 6.

We rejoice to announce that, during this month, our dear
Miss Brittan returns to her loved field of labor accompanied fry-
three new representatives. Greatly do they need the prayers of
every heart, that they may not only be carried safely through
the perils of land and sea to their distant home, but may there
be strengthened for the great work and responsibilities await-
ing them. Surely, we can never forget one of God’s richest
promises, “And it shall come to pass, while they call I will
answer.”

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.

REPORTS FROM OUR MISSIONARIES.

END! A— Calcutta.

Extracts of Letters from Miss Lathrop.
a young mother.

Our whole work seems encouraging. I can but feel we have a
number of true Christians among the pupils. If we gave some
of them any encouragement to do so, they would come out and
be baptized ; but knowing that in all these cases it would separ-
ate them from their families, we can conscientiously tell them it

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is their duty to stay and show a Christian spirit in their own
homes. I was in a house a short time ago where a young woman
had been some time learning. I thought her not more than
thirteen years of age, although she is about eighteen ; but see-
ing a child with her, I asked if it were hers. She said “ Yes,”
and that she had lost two older ones, and added, “ I cannot tell
you how sad I was when my boy died ; but I know he has gone
to live with Jesus, and I am trying hard to live so that I can go
too.” I asked her if she would be afraid to die now. She re-
plied, “ No, for Jesus has promised to take our sins away if we
ask Him, and I do ask Him every day, and believe in Him alone
for salvation.” I talked with her some time, and her replies were
always quite satisfactory. She is never required to worship idols,
as her husband is a “ Brahmo.” Her sister-in-law, who has re-
ceived a fair education in one of our little schools, said she had
also learned to love J esus. She is just married and will be going
away. I gave them a Bible, which they seemed happy to have,
and promised to read it daily.

HOPES FOR A REVIVAL.

[Communicated by the Philadelphia Branch.]

All the evangelical churches in the city have held services in dif-
ferent places for the last few weeks, which have been largely at-
tended. Much interest has been shown, and we hope much good
done, as Christian people have certainly been brought nearer to-
gether. At some of the meetings the requests for prayer were as
many as twenty. Union services among Bengali churches are
now proposed. There is much need of a revival of God’s work
in the hearts of the natives, who are nominal Christians. A good
native woman told me that there were so many among them who
brought reproach upon God’s cause, that it was almost a shame
they acknowledged they were Christians.

STRUGGLING THROUGH DIFFICULTIES.

I was in a house the other day where a woman with grand-
children had begun learning, who had an impediment in her
speech, which made it very difficult for her to enunciate. But she
was fully determined to learn, and she will, as she has in a few

Miss Wards Letters.

3

weeks learned in the first reading-book, and begun the second.
I had a Bible, which excited her curiosity, and raised a little
alarm, I suppose, as she sent for her husband to come and see if
she should be taught from it. Learning what was wanted, he
said : “ By all means, convert the women at your will ; then they
will not continually be troubling me for pice for their offerings to
the gods.” After hearing him talk in a random way for a time,
I asked him if he were an idolater. He replied that he was, but
he understood what he worshipped ; and that it was not the im-
age but only what it represented. Once the spirit of God had
dwelt in it, but now it was inanimate only bringing God to his
mind and comprehension. He acknowledged that he thought the
women were too ignorant to know all he did, so he was quite wil-
ling they should be Christians.

CALL FOR AID.

A few days ago a native gentleman called here, who had come
from a city not far away. His wish was to get a Christian teacher
for the zenanas. He said the educated men were all deploring the
lack of knowledge among their women, and that a missionary who
would go there would meet with a hearty support in every way,
excepting that the majority would not be able to pay fees. An
English lady, he said, had begun a little work among them, and
he thought it strange that he could find no one in Calcutta to aid
her. He might have done so had he been able to promise some
remuneration. But this they are not ready for yet ; they think
that the teaching of women and girls should be mostly free.

Extracts of Letters from Miss W ard.

POWER OF THE SPIRIT.

When last I wrote you, the earth was parched and dry ; now
the rains have commenced, and the water stands in the streets in
pools ; vegetation has taken new life, and everything looks fresh
and green, as in Spring. I trust that Calcutta has taken a new
start in the spiritual life as well. God’s people are aroused, and
many of the English are being converted. Last night a series of
Union prayer-meetings was commenced in one of our largest

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churches. Scores went away because they could not find room;
even the aisles were filled ; and it is a proof of much earnestness
when people will stand, in a crowded place, in this hot country.
We have our two weeks’ holiday just now, and we feel that we
can give our hearts and hands to this work for a little while. It
is a pleasant change, to plead for Jesus in our own language, to
waiting people. If the Europeans and Eurasians can once be
truly converted, what a power there will be. W e are holding a
ladies’ meeting in our Home each morning, with a good at-
tendance.

A CASE OF MURDER.

The number of children in one of my schools has been greatly
lessened during the past few weeks, on account of a case of mur-
der which happened in the neighborhood. A young girl living in
one of the lanes near, was married a short time ago. A few days
afterwards, the people living in the house opposite, asked the
child to dress herself in her jewels, and come and show her wealth
to them. Very foolishly she did so. When it became late and
she did not return, her friends were anxious, and began a
search which lasted for some days. Finally, the police found her
body buried in a standing position, under the house where she
had gone for a visit. Evidently the hole had been prepared be-
fore she was invited, and she had been buried alive for the
sake of her jewels. This occurrence has so frightened some of the
children’s parents, that they feel afraid to allow the little ones out
of their sight. I hope it will abolish the custom of sending the
children to school loaded with jewels, as many of the rich people
do.

A bride’s trousseau.

One of our larger orphan girls is to be married the day
after to-morrow, to a catechist of the Church of England. She is
to go immediately to her new home, a village about six miles from
Calcutta, where her husband has a small farm. They seem much
pleased with each other, and anticipate great happiness. We have
the hope that she has truly given her heart to God, and that her
influence will be for good in her new home. Her outfit, which
would seem very small to you, is considered quite grand by the

Miss Seelye's Letters.

5

rest of the girls. We gave her nine dollars to spend on it. One
dollar and fifty cents she paid for her wedding dress, a saree of
crimson India silk ; and fifty cents for a swiss chnddah, to be worn
over it. Our girls all dress in English skirts and jackets, but 1 er
husband said he wished his wife to dress like the native ladies of
his village, so she thought it more economical to buy a saree and
chuddah for her wedding, than an English dress. She has also
four white sarees, some brass cups, a plate, and a large new tin
box, in which she can keep her clothes from insects. We feel
sorry to have her leave us, but I do not doubt it is much better
for her.

COMPOSING HYMNS.

There has been much interest among some of the zenana wo-
men. In one house, I am holding a little prayer-meeting every
Sunday morning, with ten or twelve in attendance. The Bengali
women usually think it a great disgrace to sing, as only the danc-
ing girls are supposed to understand the art ; but I think the
prejudice is gradually wearing away, and I am glad to know that
a few delight to hear and learn some of our Christian hymns.
One woman was so much pleased, that she thought she would try
and write a hymn. She had just arisen from a sick bed, and she
felt Christ had been very precious to her. I was glad to
know she was not ashamed to acknowledge her love before her
friends, as her verse ran something like this : “ I Sham a, Shun-
derie, do love Jesus. He has been very good to me,” etc. Many
of the women, sometimes ask us to sing for them, as a great favor,
and we are always glad to do so, hoping thus to impress the
words upon their minds. Lately I have made singing a reward
of good lessons.

Extracts of Letters from Miss Seelye, M.D.

[Communicated by the Philadelphia Branch.]

EFFECTS OF FAMINE.

Some one writing recently, from another part of India, says :
“ There is great anxiety felt by all classes at the want of rain,
which is needed for indigo and rice, as everything is at a stand in

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agriculture, and cultivators are now severely tried. Advances of
grain are beiug made to these people to help them for the next
month. It is hoped that when rain comes, and the winter crops
are promising well, these classes will be able to obtain advances
from the mahajins, and struggle through the trying season. I
have been struck with the increasing number of half-starved chil-
dren to be seen. This I take as a manifest proof that the famine
is slowly but surely extending.” Another writes from another
point : “ Being conversant with the native language, I am able to
find out what the people think, and there is not a single native I
have spoken to but believes that, without government assistance,
the deaths by this time would have been counted by thousands.
One of these men said to me, * You see this large iron bridge that
the engineers are making across the Gundeek — if we had not been
helped by the government, this bridge might have been made of
human bodies.’ ” A missionary writes, “ There is much distress
in our district from scarcity of food. The people are bearing it
very patiently ; great numbers fast every alternate day ; others
have a meal every third day. This information is perfectly au-
thentic. We have daily a number of poor starved creatures com-
ing to our compound begging. Fires, evidently the work of in-
cendiaries, are becoming common. Three nights ago a grain-
seller’s house was burnt, containing a good store. A week ago
there was a fire scarcely one hundred and fifty yards from here,
and we were in peril of our place being burnt down.”

INFLUENCE OF BOOKS.

Throughout the city there seems to be much religious interest
just now. The wife of a Hindoo came to me not long ago, who
was very timid, but had a very bright and prepossessing face.
She had learned to read a little, so, after talking with her, I gave
her two books to take away, telling her that if she would read
them carefully, and tell me what was in them another time, she
should have some more. The next visit she came with her books ;
one of which was the early life of Christ, and the other a little
story-book with a moral. Handing me the books, she said she
had done as I directed, but might not remember all the names, or

Mrs. Page s Letters.

7

tell it exactly, unless I would prompt her occasionally. I said I
did not wish to do that, but would like her to tell me in her own
words all she remembered and understood. She did so most ear-
nestly and beautifully, and, when she came to the crucifixion, she
paused and said, looking at me very soberly : “ Why did they do
so ? Why did they put such a good and holy man to death ?
They must have been very wicked.” When I told her that it was
through unbelief, and that if we did not believe in Jesus and ac-
cept Him as our Saviour we were just as wicked, she seemed to
understand at once, and accept the explanation with simple faith.
“ Ah, yes ! ” she said; “ I shall love Jesus and pray to Him, be-
cause the book says that, just as He healed the diseases of people,
so He will take away all our sins and make our souls well.” I
gave her another little story and the tract “Come to Jesus.” It
took her longer to understand and remember the whole of this,
but the simple truths found a ready lodgment in her heart. She
never tires of telling me what Jesus has done ; and, if writing a
prescription for her, she will stand at the desk and go on talking
— if doing something else, she will say, “ Come, sit down here by
me, and I will tell you about something else Christ did.”

Extracts of Letters from Mrs. Page.

A HOUSE-WARMING.

Hot long ago the family of two of my pupils moved into a new
house. I heard afterward that a grand poojah was celebrated on
the occasion ; offerings of rice, sweetmeats, and flour, being pre-
sented to the house itself, before any members of the family enter-
ed it. This was done to insure long life, and health, and prosper-
ity, to those who intended to dwell there. All offerings thus made
become the Brahmin’s perquisite.

A FOOLISH BELIEF.

In another zenana, where I had occasion to speak of the folly
of a belief in the transmigration of souls, one of the women called
out, “ Oh, it is indeed true, that the souls of those who die enter
into other bodies, and return to this world ! ” A few days ago, a
man died not far from here ; his friends bound him up in a mat,

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round which they tied some ropes. They then formed a proces-
sion, and began to walk towards the river, in order to bum the
body on the banks of the sacred stream. But they had only pro-
ceeded half way when the corpse began to struggle, and a voice
cried out, “ Loose me, and let me go.” Yery hastily, and with
much fear, the attendants cut the ropes, and the man who had
been dead arose and went home. He has the marks of the ropes
on his body still, so, of course, there can be no doubt at all about
this matter. All the other women chimed in here, “ It is quite
true.” So the Brahmins deceive these poor foolish creatures, and
make slaves of them.

EARNEST LISTENERS.

I went to teach in a new zenana to-day, and many women and
children came flocking to me. I made a simple address, taking
as my text Christ’s gracious invitation, “ Come unto me, all ye
that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” They
were a quiet, attentive audience, and it was very encouraging to
look down upon their eager, upturned faces, as they sat there
around me. Amongst others, there was an old woman almost
blind, who sat on the ground with her back against a pillar. On
one of her toes she had thrown a skein of yellow silk ; some of the
threads she had caught up on either hand, and there, in and out,
went those busy fingers ; the result being a thick braid, not un-
like what we sometimes see on soldiers’ uniforms. This braid the
women fasten around their waists, and use to support their sarees.
The lower classes use a piece of twine, or even a small rope. So
you see monks and friars are not quite unique in some of their
notions. I made the women promise to come again, and I would
tell them more of God and the religion of Christ. Several times
while I was speaking, one of the mat-screens of the house was
thrust aside, and a man’s face peered in. I cannot describe the
countenance, it was so full of scorn and derision. But I did not
stop talking. God helped me to raise my voice so that this man,
too, might be enabled to hear. When he found he could not
prevent my addressing the women, nor divert their attention, he
walked away, leaving me in undisturbed possession of the field.

Calcutta has been greatly awakened of late. God’s Spirit

Mrs. Page s Letters.

9

has come and breathed upon these slain, that they may live.
Many have been plucked as brands from the burning, and good,
earnest Christians are carrying to rich and poor, glad tidings of
salvation. Many Babus^have attended the evening meetings
some of whom have come forward as professed inquirers. Many
of them will tell you, “ I believe intellectually in your religion ;
but the belief of the heart is yet wanting.’’ Those who fear the
Lord speak often one to another, and we feel sure that He has
hearkened to them, for He has blessed many in this city. How it
warms one’s heart and fills one with gladness, to think that we
serve under the banner of such a glorious Captain !

APPLICATION FOR MARRIAGE.

I had a novel application not long ago. A young man, a pun-
dit whom I well know, came over to ask about a little girl, one of
my pupils : he said a friend of his wished to marry her, and was
anxious to know how far advanced she was in her studies. It gave
me great pleasure to be able to tell him what a bright little schol-
ar she is. Very few natives think of asking whether their future
wives can read or write, or even think a reasonable thought, so
long as they are laden with jewels and have a good dowry. May
we not hope much from a little incident like the above ? For my
part, I gladly welcome anything that throws a ray of light into the
manners and customs of our dusky heathen brethren. My little
girl’s mother is a very intelligent woman, and quite pleasant-look-
ing. She reads the Bible and admires its teachings. God grant
that His Holy Spirit’s work may be going on in her heart just
now.

RESPECT FOR AGE.

Living in this same house is a very aged and infirm grand-
mother. She is nearly bent double with the weight of years. At
first, this old woman used to go to her own room as soon as
she heard the sound of my footsteps ; her daughter-in-law said
she was afraid of the “ mem.” In her young days there had been
no zenana teaching, and she was quite nervous at the sight of me.
Yet I made it a point to address her every time I saw her. Now
she speaks to me of her own accord, though at times there is an

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unspoken protest in her voice. Once, when I found her sitting in
the yard sunning herself, and called out “ Good morning,” she
immediately hid her face in her saree, saying, “ Why do you care
to speak to a wretched creature like me ? I am no longer a woman,
hut have become an animal from sheer old age.” “ But we respect
gray hairs,” I answered, “ and I wish you well.” She seemed
more satisfied.

Extracts of Letters from Miss Harris.

MOTHER AND CHILD.

One of our pupils in a Hindoo school, always tries to be present
while I teach her mother, who was at first very inattentive and
prejudiced against religion. She said it was no use to tell her
anything about God, she could not remember ; but at last my
perseverance was rewarded ; her memory gradually improved, and
now she can tell me what I taught her the week previous. The
little girl is about eight years old, bright and loving, the delight of
her mother, whom she loves dearly in return. She always meets
me with a cheerful smile, and listens attentively to the Bible les-
son. Seeing she was so interested, I questioned her as well as her
mother, and the answers came readily, as though the instruction
was quite understood. At first I feared the mother would not
allow this, but she appeared quite pleased at my interest in the
child. A short time ago, I gave the Bo the catechism to learn.
The child took it up and commenced reading it ; then I said,
“ If you learn all this, I will give you a doll.” She was much
pleased, and has already committed to memory three or four
pages. The following was what she said last : “ Can you hide any-
thing from God ? ” “No; nothing. God is omniscient; there-
fore, whatever we do, say, or think, God knows all.” “ If you tell
a lie, does God know it % ” She answered with great emphasis,
“No.” I then explained God’s omniscience to her, which made
her thoughtful. There had evidently been a discussion on this
subject, for when I said, “ God knows everything ; if we only
think, and not say what is wrong, God knows it,” the Bo said,
“ You see, my child, what the Ma’am says ; ” and she smiled, as if

Miss Shurrs Letters .

i

meaning, “You were right, mother.” I trust God will hear my
prayers, and give light to these two. I do not give up hope,
though the progress is very, very slow.

a strange custom.

Many of the children are named Due-caurie, Tin-courie, Char-
courie — one, two, three, or four couries. A courie is a piece of
money. When parents are unfortunate and lose their children,
they go through the form of selling the next one. By this the
child no longer belongs to the parents, but to the one who bought
it. This, they think, changes their fate, and the children are
likely to live. The child stays with the parent, but in name be-
longs to others. Such is the superstition of these poor heathen.
Is it not indeed strange that they believe in such absurdities ?

Extracts of Letters from Miss Shurr.

CRUEL RITES TO THE DYING.

Several times I have visited relations of my Bos who were very
ill, but never before to-day have I seen one who was actually
dying. On entering one of the court-yards, I saw there a number
of people. A little girl came forward and said she would not
take her lesson, as her relation was very ill. I was turning away,
when I saw at one end of the verandah a woman lying very still,
with a few persons around her. I asked, “ What is the mat-
ter ? ” “ She is dying,” said a Babu, “ and we are just making
arrangements to take her down to the river, for our * shastras *
say if a person dies in the house, they cannot go to Heaven ; and
we must do all we can that she may get there. ” Then I said to
the Babu, “ The woman may not die for three or four days ; do
not take her away to-day.” “ Oh, yes,” he said, “ we will keep
persons watching by the river, where half of her body will be in
the water, and half out of it.” Saying this, he left the house, to
complete the cruel plans. I asked the woman who was sitting by
if her friend had any idea of her danger, and if she knew she
was dying ? “ And is she happy, do you think, and has she ever
heard that our sins can be forgiven ?” I then began to tell her
how ready and willing God is to forgive us our sins, for Christ’s

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sake ; but was grieved to see her eyes close immediately. Her son
said, “ "We don’t want this kind of talk here ; everything has been
done ; ” and then turned his back on me. I soon took my leave,
asking them once more not to take the poor woman to the Gan-
ges to-day. But it was all to no purpose, for in an hour and a
half after, I saw the procession. They carried the woman on a
low bed, made of bamboos. All the neighbors came to the doors
and window's. God grant a plenteous outpouring of His spirit
on these dark places of the earth !

MOURNING FOR THE DEAD.

I had to reprove some of the girls for coming to school in soiled
clothes. I had noticed that the teacher’s were no better, but did
not wish to speak to her before the girls. I was therefore pleased
and surprised — it being rather foreign to the native character —
by her apologizing and saying, “ I can’t help my saree being dirty,
as I am obliged to wear it for a month.” “ Why ? ” I asked, glad
to let the children know there was an excuse, however poor, for
her apparent want of respect. “ Because my mother-in-law is
dead.” After school I inquired into the custom, when she ex-
plained it in the following words : “ When a man relation dies,
we have to throw away all our earthen vessels and all the
food that has been cooked, if the person dies after it has been
made ready, and cook some more. We wear the clothes we had
on at the time of the death for a month, day and night ; but, as I
am not a strict Hindoo, I keep one for night wear and one for the
day, for in a week the saree becomes very disagreeable. They eat
one hearty meal a day, as the widows do, for a month ; but I, not
being strict, eat twice a day as usual, for I can't manage to do with
one meal of rice. After forty days the son, if it is his mother, or
the husband, if it is his wife who has died, gives a large dinner to
all his relatives and dearest friends.” I remarked their style of
mourning was both dirty and extravagant ; besides, to our ideas,
it seems a want of feeling to be feasting after such a sad occur-
rence as a break in the family, one person the less to love and be
loved by. “ But what can we do ? ” she said ; “ we have been told
to do all this, and if we don’t, people will talk against us and we-

Miss Hook's Letters.

13

shall lose our caste/’’ It makes one long for the time when they
will care as little for their false teachers, $he Brahmins, as at pres-
ent they do for our teaching, though within the last few years
many old customs have died away.

ALLAHABAD.

Extracts of Letters from Miss Hook.

GLIMPSES OF OTHER MISSION WORK.

June 23 d. As I was kindly invited to visit the Methodist Mission
in Lucknow, I very gladly accepted for a week, during our vaca-
tion. There are a large number of missionaries here, and their
houses and grounds are very comfortable. The school -house
and quarters for native children are large, airy, and clean, for
they have plenty of ground so that there is no crowding. I think
these good people here depend much upon direct prayer for es-
pecial objects, taking one after another, and also labor together to
advance each other in religious life, and keep their faith fresh and
strong. I have seen Keshuri the widow, who was once our teacher,
and is now married to a native preacher, every day since 1 came.
She has a pleasant home so near that I walked to it yesterday.
She looks very well and happy among a large family, as her hus-
band had three daughters and one son. The boy is so fond of
her that he is always by her side holding her hand. They have
at last succeeded in persuading her to wear Hindustani clothes,
consisting of a shirt, jacket, and chuddah over her head instead
of one saree of the Bengalese. Our little school will assemble
next Monday, and the new teacher will commence. I have just
had “ School for Bengali girls” printed on the gate ; the street is a
thoroughfare for the Babus going to their offices, and I think it
may, perhaps, bring more children.

A WORD TO THE WISE.

August 25th. This morning I had a little conversation with a
Pundit, who comes to teach one of our missionaries. He is a
Hindoo, but a few months ago took a Bible from us, and com-

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menced reading it with a great deal of eagerness. I inquired
what progress he was making, and he replied, that he was prepar-
ing for an examination, and was so busy with his law studies that
for a time he must give up his Bible-reading. I then spoke of
the Psalms as devotional, and asked if he could not read night
and morning. He replied that the Vedas contained moral precepts
similar to the Bible. I said : “ If you had such good religious pre-
cepts, why do you not teach them to your people as mothers teach
their little ones prayers as soon as they begin to talk ? But here I
find the women themselves are quite ignorant of your own re-
ligious books.” He replied, “ Our Shastres are in Sanscrit, besides
the women do not care for it, except the little ones who come
here to your school, who are full of the religion you teach them,
and are singing about it all the time.” Just then our conversation
was interrupted.

Three of our children five in the same house with this Pundit,
and he is a warm supporter of our school.

OUT OF DARKNESS, LIGHT.

In one of my zenanas I have two pupils whom I long to num-
ber among Christians, for I believe them to be such. One is only
fourteen years old, has a kind husband and mother, but has had
sorrows, for her elder sister committed suicide, and her baby
died when a few months old ; for both of which she has grieved
very deeply. She is exceedingly clever, and never forgets what
she reads. She has grasped the truths of Christianity so effectu-
ally that I am often surprised by the answers she makes. She
looks forward to meeting her little boy in Heaven, and speaks of
Jesus Christ as the only way. Her eyes always fill with tears as
if it were a tender subject. Of course, her lost baby is the strong-
est cord that draws her; but her belief in Christ is so firm that if
surrounded by Christian influence, she would be a consistent fol-
lower.

The other pupil is a sad, gentle little woman of twenty years.
Her family consists of her husband and his mother. The Babu
is handsome and intelligent, and is disposed to be very agreeable
to me. But to his poor little wife he has nothing to say, for

Miss Smith's Letters.

15

when she tries to talk to him he tells her he does not like to talk
to women. This makes her think he does not love her, and she
has been most unhappy about it. She used to look so desperate
when she would talk about its being such a sin to marry girls at
five years of age, and give them to husbands without their having
any choice in it, that I used to feel frightened lest she should do
herself some harm. But of late she has been growing more calm
and cheerful, and a short time ago, when the subject of the lesson
was upon going to Jesus with all our troubles, she manifested a
great deal of feeling, and said she was taking her sorrows to Him.
Her husband once told me, with a sad face, that domestic happi-
ness was unknown among the Bengali. But I believe this woman
is going to the true source for peace, and who knows but G-od in
His own way will unite husband and wife in Christianity. In
both of these houses idolatry is unknown, except as practiced by
the old mother-in-law, who cannot be persuaded to give up her
foolish belief. These old mothers-in-law cannot be easily influenced,
and if we say too much they will forbid the Bo learning. The mother
of this Bo has had a little plant in the court, and I have often
seen her go through her devotions before it. The other day I
saw that the leaves had all gone, and it looked quite dead, so I
called out, “ What has happened to the toolsee plant ?” She re-
plied, “ Oh, it is dried up, and is dying upon which affecting
great surprise, I said, “ Your god dry up and die. Oh, my God
can never die.” She laughed,and hastened away without a word.
I feel that God will, in His own good time, bring this nation un-
to Himself, but what a number of obstacles must first be overcome.
Yet, have we not the promise that faith can remove mountains ?
Then let us, both here and at home, pray on ; the answer is sure
to come some day.

Extracts of Letters from Miss Smith.

EAGER INTEREST.

A part of Allahabad, which is inhabited only by the native
population, is called the city. In this place I have a very bright,
intelligent pupil, who studies English with me. She reads “ Line
upon Line ” in Bengali, and pays particular attention to it. One

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day, before giving the Bible lesson, I wanted to have a little talk
with her, and asked a few questions about her family. She evi-
dently thought I had forgotten all about the Scripture, so after
a little while she said, “ Have you brought that Book? Will
you not let me read about God ?” She has just finished the his-
tory of Joseph ; and the other day, when she came to the part
where he was thrown into the pit, and knelt there crying to God,
she could no longer control herself, but gave vent to her feelings
in tears. Some weeks ago I gave her a text-book, and requested
her to have a text prepared for me every time I came. I was
agreeably surprised to find she had learned two, and since then,
regularly she has repeated -three or four verses a week. I have
another interesting pupil, who reads English, and has lately begun
her second book in Bengali. Although she has a child, who is
very troublesome throughout the lesson, she can repeat with-
out a mistake the Bible lesson of the week before. In February
I was asked to go to a new house in Artesnia, and found that
a very large, stout woman was to be my pupil. My first impres-
sion, that she was very dull, was soon put to flight, for after a
few weeks she began to advance rapidly, and when I inquired
how she was able to learn so fast, as I only went there once a
week, she said she studied every evening with her little daughter,
who attends our school.

TEACHING A BRIDE.

A few weeks ago I was informed by one of my women that a
very young Bo, who had just been married and come to her fa-
ther-in law’s house, was anxious to learn to read. After the
former had finished her studies I went out, and meeting Miss
Caddy, we both called to see the bride. The house is very
different from those in which we generally teach, being built of
brick, large, and with well-ventilated rooms. After a few minutes
the Bo, a timid little girl of eleven, covered with jewels, made her
appearance in a gay-colored saree, drawn down to veil her face.
She came up to us, dropped on her knees, and bent her head to
our feet before we could prevent her. We shook hands and spoke
to her ; but she would not answer our questions because the elder
members of the husband’s family were present. We asked to see

Miss Douw s Letters .

7

her face, and when the mother-in-law drew np the saree the child
leaned back, closed her eyes, and put her face up for inspection.

I am sure they must practice these and other little performances
before they are married, otherwise they could never go through
them all with such perfect grace. When I went to teach her the
following week, we were left alone, and I had a good opportunity
of making friends. She seemed much pleased to see me, an-
swered my questions well, and as she takes a great interest in
her studies, is improving very fast. She also tries to remem-
ber the Bible lessons, which at first she could not do. I was very,
much surprised once, when she asked me to teach her plain needle-
work. I always thought there was nothing a native woman liked
to learn so much as worsted work in the most brilliant colors. I
do not intend giving her any sort of work till she finishes her first
book, for I find the promised work is a great inducement for them
to progress rapidly with their studies ; but if given to them too
soon, it has a tendency to retard them.

H

GH IMA— Peking-

Extracts of Letters from Miss Douw.

LEAVES FROM A JOURNAL.

June 14 th. I have just had a delightful season of prayer with
Ch’on-ma and Phebe. The prayers seemed real and not as some-
times, repeated from memory. Chang-ma left us this week with
her old mother. It was sad to part with her, and feel that jealousy
was the cause. She has been faithful to us in many respects, and
we trust she is a sincere Christian, for the time only, following afar
off. Our prayer is that this providence may not harden her heart,
but lead her to see her error as in the sight of God. La-er, the
little day-scholar, drawn in through desire to play with Annie,
has attended regularly for a few days. Two Sabbaths ago seven
women from the neighborhood came into our afternoon service.
Last Sabbath none came, and La-er had been withdrawn ; so our
work fluctuates and would be altogether discouraging but for the
sure promises of God. Now La-er is back, but so undisciplined,

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we know not whether for the good of the others we will be able to
retain her. To-day her grandmother came in, and I told of
Christ’s birth and some of the fundamental doctrines, showing the
picture of the shepherds watching their flocks by night. She
seemed somewhat interested, and borrowed a volume of the Gos-
pels to take home for her son to read.

June 25th. La-er has attended steadily for the past week, except
one day. She is very bright, likes to come, and wishes she could
board with us. Her grandmother and a neighbor came in again
l$st Sabbath to our service. They did not appear much interested,
but we are glad to have them under the influences of the gospel,
and pray that their minds may be opened to understand and re-
ceive the saving truths which it teaches.

REPENTANT FEELINGS.

A few days since three of our girls had a serious quarrel about
their food. They eat in the Chinese style, and besides a bowl of
rice for each, vegetables and meat are served in small dishes, out
of which they help themselves with chop-sticks. One dish an-
swers for three girls, and usually they eat in peace and quietness.
But on this occasion they accused each other of taking more than
their share, and the dispute waxed hotter and hotter, till Phebe
sent all from the room and then called me over. Finding that
they had worked themselves into such a passion that a few words
would not mend matters, I took two of them to my room, and
waiting till they had calmed down, read to them the latter part of
the fifth chapter of Matthew, beginning with the* thirty -eighth verse.
“ Ye have heard that it hath been said, an eye for an eye, a tooth
for a tooth, hut I say unto you, resist not evil, etc.,” explaining as
I read. They finally acknowledged their error ; but I did not
know how thoroughly ashamed they were of their conduct till
afterwards. Every time I appeared that day they hid their faces,
and Miss North tells me they did the same with her, though she
knew nothing of the affair. Even the next day one of them
would scarcely look at me ; showing that the W ord of God is
indeed quick and powerful, a discerner of the thoughts and in-
tents of the heart.

Miss Douzu s Letters.

*9

GROWING INTEREST.

July 24 th. Two of our Chinese neighbors again attended onr
service on Sunday. Miss North says they gave good attention and
seemed interested. After service La-er’s sister came and sat down
by me, and told me she could repeat some of the Scripture primer,
and, at my request, she recited the first page, which she had
learned of her sister at home. I asked if she would not come and
let me teach her sometimes. She said she could not, as there was
no one else at home, but we could teach La-er, and she would
learn of her. So a little seed is here sown by the wayside — and,
may we not hope that some day it will be found in a broader field ?
The old lady (La-er’s grandmother) also asked me for some books
to lend to the men of the family. They had before had the “ Life
of Christ,” prepared in Scripture language from the four gospels ;
so Miss North gave her John’s gospel and Old Testament stories,
and histories prepared by Bishop Burdon. The gate keeper, one
of my pupils, is a slow scholar, but brings his book nearly every
day to learn a few characters. His reader is a text-book prepared
by Mrs. Collins. He has learned the first five characters, which
means he has memorized’them. Dr. Guthrie would have approved
of this book, as it is said his first reader was the book of proverbs,
which he claimed “ was vastly superior to the silly trash of mod-
em school-books for beginners.” The gate-keeper asked me the
other day to lend the man who brings us coal some books of Scrip-
ture, which he had seen lying in his room. I was but too glad to
lend the “ Life of Christ,” and offered other books when it was
returned. Our new school -woman has begun reading with me,
but is very slow. Our sewing-woman came in yesterday. She is
a member of the church, as are her husband, father, and mother-
, in-1 aw, and also her brother-in-law and wife. They now daily
worship together, and were obliged to move on account of the per-
secutions of the neighbors. I lent her a volume of “ Pilgrim’s
Progress,” which she had not seen, and which the family cannot
fail to enjoy. It was translated by William Burns, and is curi-
ously illustrated with Pilgrim in Chinese dress, with queue, etc.

MISSIONARY TESTIMONY.

I met with encouragement the other day in words written by

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Miss Fiske to a missionary sister. She says, “ You ask advice in
regal’d to teaching women. I fear with you they may never learn
to read, but, if they do not, your labor will not be lost. A wo-
man who knows her letters only, respects herself the more, and
feels an interest in her children’s reading, which you do not see
in others.” We have just finished reading aloud “ Faith working
by Love,” or Miss Fiske’s life. It is very interesting and instruc-
tive, particularly to us, as we see many resemblances in her work
to ours ; save that constant outpouring of the Spirit’s influence.
May not this be our fault, and the fault of our friends at home ?
Are wre and they praying as she and her friends did ?

Extracts of Letters from Miss North.

DULLNESS OF CHINESE WOMEN.

Our work is much the same as when I wrote to you, except that
our woman’s class has been given up. They came from the west
of us, where English missionaries now occupy the field, and it
seemed best to surrender the work to them. We occasionally have
visits from strangers, who are anxious to see us and our foreign
things, and to hear our doctrines. A Christian woman, who has
long been under instructions, told me that she wished to bring
some friends from a distant part of the city to see us, and hoped
I would talk to them of the truth. On the appointed day she
brought four friends. At first I talked of other things, but the
woman reminded me of my promise, anxious to have the time im-
proved. It is a harder task than might be supposed to tell the
simple story of salvation to a heathen woman whose mind is more
vacant than those who have been taught from infancy to under-
stand who God is, and that he is the only God. After talking to
them, as I thought, very simply, I asked a question or two,
and found they did not quite comprehend me. It must

be told over and over again, so, in a single visit, but a very
small beginning can be made. As I was telling these women what
would become of them after death, the Christian woman inter-
rupted me to explain to them that we did not believe in the trans-
migration of souls, as many of them do. They are always pleased

Miss North' s Letters .

21

with our pictures, so I gave them each a “ Child’s World,” which
they said they should paste on the sides of their rooms at home.
Although unable to read, we gave them each a gospel, hoping their
husbands might read them. We trust the day is fast approach-
ing when the education of women will not be so lightly esteemed,
and boys and girls may have an equal standing.

LIFE-LONG PREJUDICES.

We have light in our school. The oldest child made a profes
sion of Christ this spring, and gives good evidence of being a
Christian. Her grandfather died a few days ago, and although a
church-member, had not wholly overcome his life-long prejudices.
In his last hours, he desired all his best clothes to be put on him,
according to the belief so common, that as one is dressed at death,
so he must ever be in another world.

DEATH OF A BELIEVER IN ANCESTRAL WORSHIP.

The teacher who has taught Miss Douw and myself, ever since
we have been here, has lately died. Having become very familiar
with Gospel truth, we hoped much that he would become a be-
liever. I went to see him a few days before his death, and thought
he might live two or three months. His disease was consump-
tion. I tallied to him of the necessity of trusting in Jesus for
salvation ; but he said he was not afraid to die ; it was the common
lot of man. He did not doubt the truth of our religion, but there
were some points in his religion which he could not give up, es-
pecially the worship of ancestors. He was a Confucionist, and
not a Buddhist ; that is, he did not worship idols so much as an-
cestors. Confucius was their great sage, who lived about five
hundred years before Christ, and whose books are the principal
study in all the Chinese schools. This teacher begged us to assist
him in getting a good coffin, which he considered an exceedingly
important matter, partly, perhaps, because of his expectation to be
worshipped by his descendants. He died a few days later, without
giving any evidence of a change, and sent us each a request again
about his coffin, as his dying message. We contributed all that
seemed advisable. We hope still to keep his wife, who of late
had come to us every Sabbath for instruction. Now while she wears

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deep mourning (white) for a hundred days, she must not leave
home. Her three sons, too, must not have their heads shaved for
that length of time. Dear friends, pray for this deluded people,
in faith, and in earnest, and it will avail much to bring down a
great blessing.

Ex tracts of Letters from Mrs. True.

“ A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM.”

A short time since, as I sat at my study table, I heard an
amusing conversation, partly in Chinese and partly in English.
A very bright, interesting-looking child, about eight years of age,
whose home is just across the street, had been tempted by the
sight of a foreigner to come into our court. Annie had been trying
to impress her by teaching her to sing in English, “ Jesus loves
me.” I at once thought if we could get her into the school, it
would be worth a great deal of time and trouble. Miss Douw
had some conversation with her, and asked her to invite her
mother to come and see us. In the afternoon, her grandmother
and elder sister came, and looked over the premises with evident
curiosity. The next day several from the neighborhood came, and
all promised to attend our Sabbath service. The little girl was to
come to school, and to have rice once a day. As they have no
clocks, our gate-keeper was to call them. We looked with no little
interest to the Sabbath, as irt has been the regret of the workers
here that no persons in the vicinity of the Mission could be reached.
The Sabbath came, and ten new women were present at the ser-
vice. For a few days the little girl was in school ; then her fa-
ther, who had been out to the “ hills to worship idols,” returned,
and refused to let her come again. The next Sabbath the women
did not come to the service. Afterwards they sent for medicine
for sore eyes, and with one excuse and another, some one of them
looked in upon us. Yesterday the grandmother came to say that
the little girl might come into the school again. This morning
she is here ; but very likely another day will bring another refusal.
There is nothing new or strange about all this ; but it illustrates
very well how slow and uncertain the progress of the work here

Mrs. Pruyn's Letters.

23

must be at present. Doubtless God has given many from among
this people “ to His Son for His inheritance.” Let us pray with
more faith for the presence of the all- conquering Spirit. It is not
at all strange that these people, who know nothing of the con-
straining love of Christ, refuse to believe that foreigners come Here
simply to teach them the way to heaven. It is not strange that
they should say, as my teacher said to me a few days since, “ You
believe in one man, I believe in another .” As we come in contact
with some of the difficulties and impossibilities, humanly speaking,
we are led to confess more emphatically than ever before, “ Thine
is the power.”

H

JAPAN— Yokohama.

Extracts of Letters from Mrs. Pruyn.

ENFANT BURIAL.

There has never been a death among the native Christians, and
it has been a question often mooted among them, but never de-
cided, how they would act in such a case, in view of the fact that
it is required that all bodies shall be taken to the temple for pray-
ers by the priest before burial, and can be buried only by the con-
sent of, and under the supervision of the, priest. God has now
caused death to come into our household, and made it incumbent
on us to test the power of this* law.

The infant child of one of our servants died, and we all felt at
once that we could not permit any heathen rites in connection
with our family. The parents are not Christians, but the father
certainly, and perhaps the mother, is no longer an idolater, so
they desired our wishes should be carried out. In making the
arrangements, some obstacles were raised and difficulties were
suggested, but I would not for a moment yield, and was quite de-
termined that the child should be buried on our own ground,
rather than obtain permission to bury it in a native burying-place
by going to the temple first. Rev. Mr. Ballagh and one of the native
Christians succeeded in purchasing a place for the body at our
expense, without any such requirement. We arranged the little
thing in a white slip, laid it in a lacquered box, which was as suit-

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able for a coffin as anything that could be made, lining it and
trimming it as usual with us, and putting in a profusion of flow-
ers, with a pretty cross on the lid which lay beside the coffin. The
whole appearance was entirely home-like and Christian-like. The
funeral was held in the school-room, and Mr. Ballagh took the
occasion to give some most important and profitable instruction.
A very large number of natives were present, and I think nothing
has ever occurred in this Home that has made so deep an impres-
sion. In the first place, the whole proceeding was so different
from their custom on such occasions, which is, to place the body
of the dead in a square box in a sitting posture and nail it up at
once, so that there is no opportunity to look upon it again ; and
then without any feeling, or ceremony, carry it to the temple and
give it over to the priest. Then our interest and kindness to-
wards one of our servants was something they felt very deeply,
and I think all our people will realize hereafter that we are indeed
one family. You can scarcely imagine the excitement, the won-
der, the curiosity, all this has caused. The little creature looked
as sweet and restful in its bed of flowers, as any home baby, and
our dear children all seemed to think that death was very pleas-
ant, rather than an awful thing to be feared and dreaded. We
have tried to teach all the lessons which such an event is designed
to inculcate, and we are quite sure the dear Lord had some wise
purpose in sending the death angel here.

PREPARATION FOR VACATION.

A little incident occurred the morning of oar “ breaking-up ”
for the vacation that was very touching, and, I am sure, brought
a blessing. W e were all assembled in the parlor after breakfast
for our morning prayers, the girls baskets were packed, and the
Gin-ri-sha’s were at the door to take a number of them to the
railroad, to go to their homes in Yedo. We ladies felt very sol-
emn, and our hearts were burdened with desires for the dear girls
who were going from the holy influences of our Home into the
degrading and polluting atmosphere of heathenism. Nine of them
professed to be disciples of Jesus, and, in their daily lives with us,
give most satisfactory evidence that it is not a vain profession ;
yet they are mere babes, and need daily nourishment and care.

Mrs. Pruyri s Letters.

25

There is a positive necessity for us to have this season of re-
laxation, and neither the girls nor their friends would be satisfied
without such opportunities for family intercourse ; otherwise we
could hardly consent to their leaving us, even for a season. Be-
sides, we know that it is good to have their principles tested, and
that the keeping power of Jesus is the only true dependence for
them wherever they may be.

Our prayers were very earnest for them that morning, and, I
think, very strong faith was brought into exercise, as we com-
mended them to the care of the Good Shepherd. As we closed
our service, and were just rising from our knees, we were startled
by a strange voice, and, looking round, discovered Okuno, the na-
tive pastor, who had come in so silently as not to be observed by
any one, and, with a heart full of Christian love and sympathy
for the dear girls, could not refrain from pouring out his desires
in their behalf. Though I cannot understand the language, I al-
ways feel, in a remarkable degree, when listening to any of the na-
tives pray, “ the eloquence of tones and never did I realize as I
did that morning, that the “ unity of the Spirit ” is far beyond
the region of words. It was to all of us a most impressive and
blessed little crowning of that morning’s devotions, and I cannot
doubt for one moment that the petitions then offered were ac-
cepted, and our family will be reunited, stronger and holier for
all the experiences of our separation.

HAKONE VILLAGE.

Aug. 2<2. I needed rest and change so much that I came here
among the glorious Hakone Mountains. This little village beside
the lake is merely a resting-place for Japanese travelers. Nearly
thirty foreigners from Yedo and Yokohama have invaded the place
and brought to it so many foreign innovations, that the simple-
minded people are like children frightened out of their sleep, and
look about with wonder and awe. The whole place is for the con-
venience of travelers, and, consequently, every house is a hotel.
But I wish I could describe one of the houses to you, for one is a
type of all. The exterior from the road presents a very unsightly
appearance: low, dark-looking buildings, with heavy thatched

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roofs projecting over the front of the house. As you enter, all the
domestic work of the house is the first thing that meets the eye.
Passing through a long, open place, where all the cooking is done,
over numerous little fires kept constantly burning, in little square
places made in the floor, and which fill everything with smoke and
soot, giving all the wood-work the appearance of ebony, you reach
the apartments of the house. These are all divided by sliding
paper-partitions, and can be made, by means of the numerous di-
visions, either large or small, as may be desired.

The accommodation furnished in this hotel, like all others, is
the amount of space you bargain for. You can have your rooms
large or small, many or few, as you wish ; but that is absolutely
all. Our rooms (four, by using the partitions,) are very nice and
pleasant, at the extreme back part of the house, and look into a
pretty little place filled with an artificial lake and shrubbery. The
lake is supplied with the most glorious water I ever saw, running
profusely down from the mountains. This water is constantly
pouring into various large tubs, both in and around the house, and
is used most lavishly by every one. This, with the pure, bracing
air, are luxuries that compensate for the absence of many or-
dinary comforts.

traveler’s mission work.

I brought with me Toki-chi, who is now preparing to preach,
and is supported by two ladies in Albany. He has studied very
hard, and was feeling the effects of such confinement, and I knew
the mountain air would be of benefit to him as well as to me. He
is able to do some things to relieve me, yet, for a reason that I
rejoice in more than I can tell you, his time is occupied in a far
different and more honorable way. The young men of the native
church, especially the class of ten, who are studying for the min-
istry, desiring to do all in their power to scatter the seeds of Gos-
pel-truth, determined to spend the vacation season in evangelistic
labors. The church, after prayer and conference, sent out twelve,
and authorized several others, like our Toki-chi, to go in the name
of -the church, but did not assume their support. All these
young men are now going from place to place telling of Jesus,
and it is delightful to see and hear how God has answered the

Mrs. Pruyri s Letters.

27

prayers that were so earnestly offered before they started, and
has prepared the way before them and given them access to
the hearts of the people. Some of these young men are won-
derfully gifted, and their power to convince is surely from on high.
One of the most remarkable features of the work among this peo-
ple is the simple readiness with which they receive all these new
and wonderful ideas. Unlike the Chinese or Hindoos, they have
no disposition to cavil or argue about them ; their only difficulty
seems to be the inability to comprehend them. As an illustration:
Dr. Brown, going out about ten o’clock the other evening for a
little exercise before retiring, was accosted by a man, who asked
him if he could tell him how he could get the Holy Spirit. Hav-
ing heard at the young men’s meeting, that the Spirit was like the
air, invisible, but everywhere, he said he had been walking a long
time breathing in all the air he could, in hopes that in that way
he would get the Holy Spirit in his heart. Are we not in this
land repeating, in a remarkable manner, the early gospel history %
The narratives of the early church history seem to me now to
have a meaning and significance that I never realized before.
That man, and his son, nearly forty years old, have both become
true believers in Jesus, and the elder one told Dr. Brown, a day
or two ago, that since he had believed in Jesus as his Saviour, he
had no fears or anxiety. He wishes Dr. Brown to baptize him at
once, but he thinks it is best to wait, as both father and
son desire to go quite soon to Yokohama and visit the native
Christians there. These men are among the most prominent in-
habitants of this place, and yet they have literally sat day and
night at the feet of those young men to learn of Jesus. Several
nights there have been travelers here in this house with whom
these Evangelists have labored, who have sat up all night to read
the Bible and talk about it.

The other morning, while we were singing at our morning
worship, some Buddhist Priests who had lodged here last night
came to our door to listen. I told Toki-chi to invite them in, so
eight of these shaven-headed fellows came in. Mr. Ku-me no ex-
plained to them our object in the service, and then both he and
Toki-chi prayed. This was the first time these darkened creatures

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ever heard the sound of Christian singing or the voice of true
prayer. You cannot imagine the peculiar inspiration it gives to come
in contact with those to whom our faith is so utterly unknown. At
first they seemed inclined to make sport of our religion, but it
ended in their staying here over one day and night to learn more
about it. Some of them sat up all night to read the Bible, and
they tried very hard to induce the young men to go to the place
where they live ; and, failing in that, some of them say that they
will surely go to Yokohama to see the Christians there and see how
they live.

Toki-chi has had some one in his room all day, reading, talking,
and praying. I should think the dear boy would be tired out ;
but now (nearly ten o’clock) he has five new ones, with whom he
is just as earnestly engaged. It seems to be truly his meat and
drink thus to do the will of his heavenly Father. No one who
could hear these young men pray in their rooms over God’s word,
in preparation for their evening services, would doubt that God
would bless their labors ; for all their hope is in the power of the
Spirit. „

Extracts of Letters from Miss Crosby.

TEMPLES IN YEDO.

I have been spending a short time at Yedo and feel much
refreshed by the rest and change, for it was the first time that I
have spent a Sabbath, or more than three days together, away from
the “ Home.” This is such a strange city that it will be no easy
task to describe it. The first characteristic which claims our
attention is the great temples. The city is full of temples and
shrines, but there are only three grand ones with extensive
grounds. In fact there is but one great temple now, for though
the grounds of the other two are still kept up, and are the daily
resort of thousands of the natives, and are always visited by for-
eigners, the temples themselves have been destroyed by fire. The
one that still stands is that of A-sak-sa. This is very popular, and
always presents the appearance of a special festival occasion. The
road from the gateway and the steps is lined on either side with
all manner of booths, while around the temple itself are little tea-

Miss Crosby s Letters .

29

houses, gardens, and shows of different kinds. Among tha shows
is a collection of most curious wax figures, many of them repre-
senting scenes connected with Japanese mythology. The figures
are life-size, and are wonderfully true to nature.

Now let us pass to the silent, solemn shade of old Shiba. Of
this I will speak as it was when I last saw it — a few months be-
fore the large temple was destroyed by fire. We enter through
an immense wooden gateway, upon an open space about half an
acre in its area, with a broad pavement leading up to the curious old
temple. The people do not appear to have any feeling of sacred-
ness associated with these places of worship, and never object to
foreigners entering, looking at and even handling everything, if
they will only remove their shoes, so that they will not soil the
clean, white mats, or mar the bright and beautiful lacquered steps
and sills. Shiba is the burial-place for the Taikuns, for each of
whom a separate tomb has been erected. Before several of these
are small temples which are perfect gems in beauty, though not at
all grand, for there are no elements of grandeur in the architecture
of Japan. The beauty consists in the highly-finished inlaid work
and the exquisitely-carved wood cornices and pillars. The effect
of the whole is heightened by the “ dim, religious light,” produced
by the dense foliage around them. Shiba is, in fact, a magnificent
forest of old trees, in which a solemn quiet seems to reign, except
as the huge bell, which hangs under a roof of its own at the
entrance to the grounds, sounds forth its deep, sonorous tones. It
is said that this bell was made several hundred years ago from the
metal mirrors contributed by the women, and they believed that
whenever it rang, their prayers ascended with its notes to Heaven.
The painful feeling produced by witnessing these proofs of the
blindness and ignorance of the religion of this poor people, is more
easily imagined than- described.

TASTE FOR NATURE.

Nor do we lose this impression of their sad condition when we
turn to scenes not connected with their religion.

The Japanese are peculiarly simple in their tastes and pleasures.
Flowers are one of the chief sources of enjoyment to all classes,
and the first question a Japanese asks, is : “Have you seen the

The Missionary Link.

30

cherry blossoms ?” meaning to inquire thereby if you have seen
and visited one of the particular points where they may be found
in special perfection, such as one road by the river, lined on either
side with cherry trees. This road is sixteen miles long, and for
the greater part of the distance is a dyke, made by the first Tai-
kun some three hundred years ago. We only drove about five
miles, but quite far enough to have a fine view of the river, the
blossoms, the rice fields, the comfortable-looking homes of some
of the more wealthy farmers, and of the throngs of people enjoy-
ing the flowers or resting in the tea-houses.

PALACE GKOUNDS.

The most important place to which I must take you is the pal-
ace and grounds of the Mikado. They occupy an immense area
in the centre of the city, including what was formerly the Taikun’s
palace-grounds. They are irregular in shape, and entirely sur-
rounded by a broad, deep moat, which is walled up on each side.
This wall is surrounded by fine trees, and there are many bridges
across the moat. Of course every bridge is carefully guarded,
and no one can enter the grounds without special permission. We
visited the ruins of the Taikun’s palace, which commanded a fine
view of the city, being situated on very high ground. Through
some special favor we were permitted to cross the third moat and
drive around the inmost enclosure, but could see nothing of the
palace, as it was hidden by the trees. The palace — a very insig-
nificant building — has been burned since my first visit to Yedo,
and there is to be a new one built, on a foreign plan, when one
can be decided upon. In the meantime the emperor is residing
in a still smaller house, that was formerly used by some official .
Formerly only two or three foreigners had been permitted to view
the so-called sacred person of the emperor ; but a wonderful
change has occurred in these two short years. The emperor has
received all the foreign ministers, and many others who are in the
service of the Government, and goes about visiting the places of
interest with as little hesitation as any European monarch.

THOUGHTS OF THE PEOPLE.

I would like to describe the museum, which has been recently

Mrs. Pierson s Letters .

3i

opened, and consists chiefly of Japanese workmanship ; also of
the new public buildings connected with the various departments
of education, if I had time, but even were I minutely to write of
all these, you would still have no idea of this quaint, old city. In
Yedo, more than in Yokohama, do I feel as Paul did in Athens,
my spirit stirred within me when I see the city wholly given to
idolatry. The latter is so much smaller, and there is so much that
is foreign about it, that the pall of darkness never seems to hang so
heavily upon it, as upon this vast city. Yet faith laying hold of
God’s “ sure word of promise,” can look forward -with unwavering
confidence to the time when the millions of this city not only, but
all these “Fair Isles of the Sea,” “ shall cast their idols to the moles
and to the bats,” and turn unto the “ living and true God,” the
Lord of heaven and earth. He has said that the abundance of
the sea shall be converted unto Christ. Especially would I urge
you to unceasing, believing prayer for God’s blessing upon the
work and the workers in these heathen lands, that we may each
have a fresh baptism of the Spirit, to fit us more abundantly for
the great mission that is set before us by the Master.

Extracts of Letters from Mrs. Pierson.

“she hath done what she could.”

The work in which we are engaged is steadily gaining in num-
bers and influence. God’s transforming and sanctifying power is
manifested daily in the lives of the dear girls consecrated to His
service. Filled with love for His Holy Book, rejoicing in prayer
and praise, desiring to teach others the heavenly way, they are
growing in grace day by day. It is a sweet and precious testi-
mony to his faithfulness, that these little tender plants of grace
are nurtured by the sunshine and the dews of heaven. Oh ! that
they may become strong and powerful, and bear rich, golden fruit-
age, is the constant prayer of my heart. Our Friday afternoon
prayer-meetings are full of interest and spiritual profit. As often
as we assemble in that consecrated room for worship, the unseen
Spiritual Presence is in our midst and in our hearts. I have de-
sired the girls to speak freely of their inner life, and some are be-

Ike Missionary Link.

3 2

ginning to express their thoughts and feelings. One dear little
girl, who has never made a profession of faith, said, with much
timidity, at a late meeting, “ I want to work for Jesus, but can’t
find anything to do. The other day 1 went home and found some
Shinto priests at my father’s house. They asked me if I was a
Christian. I said, ‘I love Jesus very much, but do not know a
great deal now ; by and by I hope to be a Christian.’ "When I
told them what I could, they promised to come to church.” We
believe this dear child is a Christian.

a girls’ prayer-meeting.

I came home one Friday evening very weary, and retired early.
A light tap at my door informed me that one of the Christian
girls wished to come in, so I gave the desired assent. On
seeing that I had retired, she knelt by my bed, and said : “We
have been having a little prayer-meeting in my room, for we love
to pray ! ” Dear girls ! may they be kept unspotted from the
world, and be bright and shining lights in this dark land. Four
more members of our school are candidates for baptism ; giving
evidence that they do belong to Jesus.

SCHOOL EXAMINATION.

Our school closed for the summer vacation on Wednesday,
July 15th. On Monday the scholars were examined in translation.
Three native Christians, known as the best scholars, were appoint-
ed the examining committee ; among them our translator. The
Bible was chosen as the text-book ; in this, I have for the
past year been their teacher, both in English and Japan-
ese. The examination in that department occupied two hours
and a half. At first the scholars were very much embarrassed,
and could not do themselves justice. The girl who won the prize
was my first scholar, who excels in every department. She is
a Christian, about sixteen years of age, bright, intelligent, affec-
tionate, faithful, and true as steel. Xext year she hopes, under
my direction, to open a school for young gills in a little village
near by. The next best was a beautiful girl, with really
classical features, and a graceful, winning address. But her lovely
Christian spirit is her most priceless possession. The coming year

Mrs. Benton s Letters.

33

she will, with God’s help, engage in domiciliary visiting, for which
she is most thoroughly adapted and furnished. The Master is richly
blessing us in every branch of our extensive establishment. The
new buildings are nearly completed, and, when school re-opens,
we shall have larger accommodations for J apanese girls and Eura-
sian children. We know that you will bear us and our work on
your strong, loving hearts to the Father’s throne, that we may
have grace and wisdom day by day.

It may be pleasant for you to know that the translation teacher
is one of five young men chosen by the native church to go on an
evangelistic tour for the preseut vacation. He was converted
while studying with me, so that our school is his spiritual birth-
place. His heart is full of desires to teach and preach the gospel
of the Lord Jesus, and he is going forth at the Master’s bidding
to' scatter the seeds of truth in human hearts. The girls whom
I have mentioned, go -with me to the mountains for the same
purpose. We trust that we may be useful during this vaca-
tion. I could not be happy only to rest, when there are hungry,
thirsty, and dying souls everywhere in this heathen land, and
where it is our highest privilege and joy to be co-workers with
Jesus. We rejoice that in our dear home-land there are so many
faithful hearts in sympathy with us, and that you are among the
number.

Extracts of Letters from Mrs. Benton.

" VACATION WORK.

We have much, very much, to praise God for. The desire of
our gii*ls to tell others of the precious Saviour they have found, is
a great comfort. Some of them do this very acceptably in the
meetings for women, and at the houses where they call. Three
of the girls in our Home were baptized last Sunday ; also three
of my class in Sunday-school, making in all sixteen Japanese bap-
tized, the largest number I have seen in one day. We praise the
Lord for all ; but especially for bringing those for whom we labor ;
it is such encouragement to us. God is also blessing all the ef-
forts among foreigners at our meetings, and in the hospitals.
N ext week the larger paid of the girls go to their homes for the

34

The Missionary Link.

part or whole of the vacation, and we are praying that they may
be witnesses for Christ among all them friends, that God may ful-
fill His promise, “That out of the mouths of babes and sucklings
He will ordain strength ; ” thus making every little one, through
the hymns she sings, and the Bible verses she repeats, a power
for good. Every one goes with a desire to do so, and we know
if the Holy Spirit accompany the Truth, however, or by whomever
spoken, it shall be a power.

“ FISHERS OF MEN.”

My class in Sunday-school has increased, till I have asked for
assistance from the Theological class to teach a part of them who
cannot read or speak English. Four of them come alternately,
and they are both a blessing and blessed in the, work. Two young
men of my class, who are brothers, and were baptized, are of the
Samourai family. They are very earnest and thoughtful, though
diffident and quiet ; they give promise of usefulness, and are very
anxious for the conversion of parents and friends. Another is a
bright boy, the son of a fisherman. We hope through the power
of Jesus, that he also will be made a “ fisher of men.” One exceed-
ingly intelligent and interesting young man of the class was deeply
moved by seeing the baptisms, as he has become a most interested
student of the Bible. He is very near the kingdom of Heaven, if
not already in it. Since the Sabbath he has bought all the Gos-
pels in Japanese, and sent them to his mother, and is recommend-
ing the Bible to all his friends as a most interesting and holy
book.

miss guthrie’s meeting.

I attended Miss Guthrie’s meeting last Saturday, and must tell
you how I was impressed. It is held in the upper part of a large
Japanese house, in a terribly wicked village. There is a temple
for the worship of foxes in tfie rear, also one to the goddess “ Ben-
ten,” besides many shrines. Yet there were at least fifty of these
people who came to the meeting. The young men of Miss Guth-
rie’s class offered the prayers and addressed them. We had seve-
ral of our Christian girls with us to assist in singing, which, by the
way, attracts many. It was very touching to witness the earnest-
ness with which these young men talked to them of the vanity of

Miss Kyle s Letters.

35

their idols compared with the true God, and exhorted them to
believe and serve the most high God ; and also to see how they
drank in this new truth. I am sure we shall see the fruit of this
seed-sowing ; besides, it is putting these young Christians to
work and guiding their efforts.

* H

GREECE— Athens.

Extracts of Letters from Miss Kyle.

CULTIVATION OF TASTE.

Sevekal of the girls are progressing in drawing, and one is be-
ginning to draw and color flowers from nature. I encourage this
all I can, as I think it is elevating and refining in its influence. I
give a two hours’ lesson twice a week to the larger girls, and one
hour twice a week to a younger class, and find it gives me a great
many pleasant opportunities for conversation. I wish you could
see the boarding scholars on feast days, when there is no school,
all busy with pencil or brush ; that is their recreation. The last
two holidays one of the mothers sent for her daughters, but she
excused herself, saying a long vacation was coming, when she
would have no one to encourage her to draw, so she wanted to
make the most of her time.

SCHOOL EXAMINATION.

July 3, 1874. — We have closed another year of school work, and
have again gratefully to acknowledge God’s goodness in giving us
such a measure of success. We have had four days of public ex-
amination, which seemed to give much satisfaction to the parents
and friends. Professor Constantineids called my attention to-night
to a pleasant notice of it in one of the Greek papers. It has been
a year of varied anxieties, but God’s promise has been sure, and
He has wonderfully opened the way before us. Not only are
people disposed to look on us with favor, but there is a deeper
interest in the study of the Bible, and a manifest waking of thought
on the part of many. I receive a great many assurances of con-
fidence where least expected. A member of the Examining Com-
mittee made a few remarks to the children, encouraging them to

36

The Missionary Link.

go on as they had begun, and thanked me for my efforts in their
behalf. The Greek class was greatly praised. Of course, every-
thing is not just as I could wish it. No one sees that so plainly
as I do myself, but 1 hope gradually to improve the things which
trouble me. The truth is, my work has grown faster than I was
ready for it. I must have help or I cannot lay the foundations
deep and strong. Professor Constantineids’ classes were greatly
praised at the examination. The children were taken by surprise,
for he had never commended them, so that they supposed they
did not know half as much as they ought. It was a pleasure to
see them gather round him the next morning, and thank him for
his scolding. “ Now we know what it meant,” they said. I had
myself been deceived by it, and supposing the girls were really
indolent, had added all my pressure, requiring him at the close of
each lesson to hand me the names of all who failed, and I followed
them up. Examination day found me as much surprised and
gratified as the children. All the examination was conducted by
lot. I either drew the names myself or handed the box to some
one near, after the subject was announced. I want people to
know we mean to work truly, and not for show. I intended to
conduct the recitation in Sacred History myself, but I called on
one of the Examining Committee to question them. They were
well enough prepared, so that it made no difference who questioned
them. Our school has no great reputation for handiwork yet,
but the drawings were much admired. I feel God has protected
us wonderfully, and hope you will keep your faith strong and
help to buoy mine up.

Reports from Schools and Bible Readers . 37

fforq $dl\oo]$ ki\d Bible

SMYRNA-

Extracts of Letters from the Misses Siraganian.

July , 1874. — About a week ago, the hot weather having come
upon us in earnest, our school closed with brief Examination Ex-
ercises. The girls recited in a most satisfactory manner, those
even who had barely learned to read, repeating the Ten Command-
ments perfectly. Equally fluent were the classes examined in the
facts of the Old and New Testaments and the Catechism, as well
as other branches. Several, we are persuaded, have not only
learned to recite perfectly these sacred passages, but have received
into their hearts, and are trying to practice the heavenly precepts.
Of this we have touching proofs from time to time. The other
day, being interrupted in conducting a recitation by some one
talking, I looked up, and addressing the girl I suspected (a child
of some thirteen years), I said, “ Was it you whispering.” With
a gesture of the head and an upward glance of the eyes, she re-
sponded negatively. “ Who can testify ?” I continued, looking
around the school-room, “ whether she did or did not whisper V*
Two little girls, who evidently had not perceived the disturbance,
rose at once, and said, “ She did not whisper.” On looking up
again a few moments later, however, I noticed the girl quietly
weeping, which convinced me she had just, with eyes and head,
expressed a falsehood, and that now her conscience was upbraid-
ing her. Immediately I said, “ Dear children, if like Peter we
are led into sin, like him with penitent tears we should seek God’s
forgiveness for our dear Redeemer’s sake.”

The number of our pupils during the last year rose to eighty-
seven, but a great accession of quite young scholars proving a
hindrance to the progress and advance of the older girls, we may
think it advisable not to admit so many the coming year. The
ordinary or average daily attendance has been, owing to various
causes heretofore enumerated, from fifty to sixty. Our girls of
the household are very well, and have been making unusual pro-
gress this year. Our dear orphans are already a great help to
us in our work, as well as a great comfort.

38

The Missionary Link.

BURf¥! AH— Maul main.

Extract of a Letter from Miss Haswell.

How much I thank your Society for the prompt help they
have sent me, I cannot tell. After three months of great anxiety
as to ways and means, my distress was more than relieved by
donations and aid from different sources, and thus I am able to
receive many who are anxious to enter the school. I have pro-
posed to the girls to work two evenings in the month each for
the Women’s Union Missionary Society and the Women’s Baptist
Missionary Society. It will stimulate them to give ; and, as sting-
iness is one of the ruling characteristics of Burmese women, it will
be a blessing to have anything that will tend to open their hearts ;
and it will cultivate in them a livelier feeling of gratitude to those
who are educating them. Moreover, I hope it may do good in
strengthening interest in missions on your side of the water. I
will send home the things that they make as I have opportunity.

The picture-books that wrere sent to Kate have been kept very
choicely. She is growing very tall, and is womanly in her ways.
She is still the same sweet-tempered, winning child she used to
be, and maintains her Christian character. I think she will prove
a useful woman. Her mother took her away to help her in the
care of the family. The whole burden of cooking for a family of
ten or eleven and all the housework came upon her, and it has
been too much for her. She is very thin, but I have no doubt will
soon be stronger. She is bound to me now for two years.

I give a literal translation of a letter from Kate Gardiner, one
of the scholars you support.

“ I, Ewah Sao, or Kate Gardiner, of Miss Haswell’s school, send
greeting. I left school a few months ago, and so now am in the
second class (she would have been in the first class had she re-
mained in school) ; but I am trying to learn. While I was at
home I had to do all the cooking and all the housework. My
oldest sister, having obtained an education, is now a teacher. She
is now in Tavoy, teaching in the school there. Two of my little
sisters are in school with me, so that now there are three girls and
one boy from our family that are in school. Our father has a
boat, and goes on trading expeditions up and down the rivers. I
do want to see you very much.”

39

Reports from Schools and Bible Readers.

CH A— Shanghai-

Extract of a Letter from Mrs. Jenkins.

I have had charge of the school for one year, and it has never
been in so encouraging a condition as at present. There are twelve
girls who attend every day, and most of them are those who came
at its commencement ; so that now they are very creditably ad-
vanced in their studies. When I was sitting with. them yester-
day morning, teaching them to sing the “ Sweet By and By,”
which a friend has just translated into Chinese, I thought it
would be difficult to find twelve more interesting children.
They sing remarkably well, many of the beautiful hymns and
tunes so familiar to us all, and some of them crotchet and make
patch-work equal to our own children. Mrs. Ling, the native
teacher, is a very superior woman, and the success of the school
is almost wholly owing to her good sense, energy, and faithfulness.
I have never known a Chinese woman that I have thought so well
adapted for the position she occupies ; and I have never met one
who could enter so fully into my feelings when I talk with
her about the love of Jesus, and what He can be to us. She is
just beginning to seem more like her former self, having been
for the past few months bowed down with sorrow at the death
of her husband.

Extract of letters from Mrs. E. H. Thomson, Shanghai.

Yan-Yung, one of your beneficiaries, is the daughter of the Bi-
ble-reader supported by your Philadelphia Branch. Her father
was a Christian man, and was one of my first scholars when I
came to China in 1854. Her old grandmother lives with us as a
nurse for my children. Yan-Yung is a bright, pretty child, and
we think she improves every day. Another of the scholars sup-
ported by you, “ Yung- Yung,” is a good, faithful girl. She was
baptized by Mr. Thomson last year, and has since been confirmed
by Bishop Williams. Mrs. De, the Bible-reader * ‘ In Memoriam ”
of Capt. Robert Townsend, U. S. N., is a very valuable person and
a real worker. Her health is rather feeble, and she has had a great
deal of sorrow in her family. Pray for her ! The other reader, sup-
ported by Philadelphia Branch, seems willing to work, but has not
the life and zeal of the reader belonging to the Band ‘ In Memoriam.’

40

The Missionary Link .

|jome p e|jartmcLnt.

m

!Ati0act froni a horqbciy Graijette.

“ Mr. Mahadev Moreshwur Kunte, B.A., delivered in the hall
of the Free General Assembly’s Institution, an excellent lecture
on reform and widow re-marriage. There was a large atten-
dance of educated natives. The lecturer, who was received with
applause, began by saying that last year, when he came here
from Kolapoor, he addressed them on Kshetras, etc., and now
he had the pleasure of addressing them on a subject of much
more importance. He stated a few propositions, which he
wished to establish in order to do full justice to the subject.
The propositions were that the moral progress of a nation
always preceded its intellectual and material progress, and that
the former and the latter were related to each other as cause and
effect. After dwelling on these propositions, he said he would
analyze the conditions under which reform was possible, and
lastly, would seek to show whether the Widow Re-Marriage As-
sociation had or had not observed these conditions. He proceeded
to say that civilization was nothing more than the sum of a na-
tion’s moral, intellectual, and material progress. Whether a na-
tion was materially advancing or not, was not very difficult to ascer-
tain. One might know it by consulting the statistics of that na-
tion. The same was the case with intellectual progress. But how
was one to know, he asked, whether a nation was morally pro-
gressing? It was, he said, by seeing whether that nation pos-
sessed any energy which proceeded from strong moral convictions.
The energy might manifest itself in either peace or war. The want
of this principle in a nation was the paralysis of that nation. In-
dia had been suffering from the want of this principle, and many
other countries also. The lecturer then illustrated, with numerous
examples from history, how moral progress preceded intellectual
and material progress, and was tlie cause of each.”

Home Department.

41

fWrqe^e

Marriage among the Burmese is a most peculiar institution, and
the marriage-lmot is very easily undone. If two persons are tired
of each other’s society, they dissolve partnership in the following
simple and touching, but conclusive manner : They respectively
light two candles, and, shutting up their hut, sit down, and wait
quietly until they are burned out. The one whose candle burns
out first, gets up at once and leaves the house forever ; taking
nothing but the clothes he or she may have on at the time — all
else then becomes the property of the other party.

Burmese laws are, on the whole, just and wise, and evidently
framed with a view to advance the interests of justice and moral-
ity; but they very often prove futile, owing to the tyranny and
rapacity of the king, and the venality of many of his officers.
Theoretically, false swearing is particularly obnoxious among the
Burmese. A witness in court is compelled to take a fearful oath,
which might well strike terror into simple minds. It invokes the
most direful penalties, for not speaking the truth, upon the wit-
ness and all his relatives. For instance : “ Let the calamity occa-
sioned by fire, water, rulers, thieves, and enemies oppress and de-
stroy us, till we perish and come to utter destruction. Let us be
subject to all the calamities that are within the body, and all that
are without the body. May we be seized with madness, dumb-
ness, blindness, deafness, leprosy, and hydrophobia. May we be
struck with thunder-bolt and lightning, and come to sudden death.
When I am going by water, may the water- gnats assault me, the
boat be upset and the property lost, and may alligators, porpoises,
sharks, and other sea-monsters seize and crush me to death.
When I change worlds, may I not arise among men or gnats, but
suffer unmixed punishment and regret, in the utmost wretched-
ness, among the four states of punishment — hell, prota, beasts,
and althurakai ! ”

Imagine the effect of such an oath on a New York police court.
Yet, notwithstanding these fearful imprecations, the Burmese wit-
ness is quite as uncertain as his civilized brother. — Land of the
White Elephant.

42

The Missionary Link.

Wl-iere theiV^ k Will a Way-”

To many a one there comes the thought that they would like to
do something for the Master, hut they know not what to do as there
seems no way open to them. To such we would recommend the
following extract from a letter from Miss North, which plainly
shows that it needs only the earnest will to find the open way :

“ A Mrs. S., of Princeton, Illinois, writes to me that she and her
husband set apart a pig for the Lord’s work, and that it has grown
faster than all their pigs, and is so large, they wish me to say what
is to be done with it. As I know that some one definite object
directly’connected with my work would be most acceptable to her,
I have suggested that when it is sold the money be sent to the
Society to be used for printing some of the little allegories in
Chinese. Probably it would print an edition of at least five hun-
dred or more.”

n

J^otide^,

All Branches, Auxiliaries, or Bands who desire their Re-
ports published in the regular Annual Report of the Society,
will greatly oblige the officers by sending them to 47 East
21st Street, New York, before December 15th.

According to a new postal regulation for printed material,
we regret to announce to our subscribers that the postage on
the Missionary Link must be paid before the papers are
mailed. This law is carried into effect January 1st, 1875, and
from that date the cost of postage must be added to the sub-
scription.

Mission-Band Department.

43

eprfment.

Youthful j^oldief of tl\e

Yesterday a little native girl was baptized before tbe Sun-
day-school of the Free Church of Scotland by its pastor. The
occasion was a very interesting one, especially as the child was
only about eight years old, and all her relatives were Hindoos.
The family came from Burmah about two years ago. The
father is dead. The mother and brother are seeking to know
the Truth, but have not been able to grasp it so quickly as this
child. Although of a very respectable family, the mother was
obliged to go out to service in the house of an English gen-
tleman. The family of this gentleman took great interest in
her child, and his little daughter took her to Sunday-school,
wdiere she learned to know and love Jesus. Seeking her pas-
tor one day, she told him she wanted to be baptized. “ Why ? ”
he asked. “ Because Jesus commands it,” she replied ; and
then repeated that little hymn, “ I Want to be an Angel,” to
show her heart’s desire. She seemed so anxious and so ready,
that, after talking with her several times, he could not think
it best to delay any longer. She looked very lovely as she
came into the Sunday-school room with her brother and pas-
ter yesterday, dressed in white muslin made after the English
fashion, and white ribbon in her hair, which fell down over
her shoulders. She was calm and happy, and without the
slightest sign of fear or excitement. She spoke English, too,
very sweetly ; and her answers were made in a clear, earnest
voice. After giving to the school some account of her history,
the pastor turned to her, and said : “ In whom do you be-
lieve?” Her reply was: “In the Father, Son, and Holy

44

The Missionary Link.

Ghost.” “ Who is the Father ? ” “ God.” “ Who is the

Son ? ” “ Jesus.” “ Who is the Holy Ghost ? ” “ The Holy

Spirit.” Several questions were asked and answered very cor-
rectly, until she was asked of what baptizing with water was
symbolical. She did not quite catch the meaning, and was
asked again if water did not make us clean, and if, when we
were baptized, we w^ere not cleansed from sin. Looking up
very earnestly in her minister’s face, she said : “ The blood of
Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.”

M. F. Seel ye,

{Com. by PhUa. Branch.)

H

S I<ittle Oi\e’$ I^e^oq.

We have a little missionary here in Yokohama, only six
years old. Coming to the table late one morning, her mother
asked the cause. She said, “ After I had said, 4 Our Father,
who art in heaven,’ I had to explain to the servant all about
the English God, and told her the Japanese gods were no
good.”

She was also overheard teaching her man-servant, saying to
him, u You have been making a great mistake ; you think the
gods can hear you ; but they cannot even see you. The English
God has been taking care of you all the time.” The servant
listened attentively to all she said, then made a low bow,
saying, “ Thank you ; you are right.” Cannot every one do
something to lead others to love and honor the precious
Saviour ? L. E. Bexton.

H

Ylie -Paw.

A little boy in England heard that a gentleman, whom he
loved very much, was going to British America as a mission-
ary.

Mission-Band Department. 45

One day lie met his friend on the street. He flung his arms
around him and declared, “ You shan’t be a missionary ! ”

u Why not ? ” asked the gentleman.

“ Because the bears will kill you. Oh, you mustn’t go ! ’’

“ But I must go. God calls me to the work ; and I must
do my duty. I shall trust in Him, and He will keep me safe,
and I shall not be afraid. But you must pray for me ; will
you not ? ”

“ Yes, I will,” said the little boy.

And he faithfully kept his promise. Every night and morn-
ing when he knelt down, before he finished his prayers, he
would say, “ Please, God Almighty, keep the missionary from
the bears.”

One time the missionary, with a party of others, went out
on a pleasure trip. They fell in with a large and savage bear.
One of the party fired at him and. wounded him. This made
him fierce, and he turned and attacked the missionary, and
would have killed him, no doubt, if some one just then had
not shot the bear dead.

The missionary immediately remembered about the little
boy at home who had been praying for him. So he cut off
one of the bear’s paws, and sent it to his little friend in Eng-
land, as a present, in token of his gratitude, and of his confi-
dence in the boy’s prayers. The paw was very carefully
saved, and a silver plate was fastened to it, giving the circum-
stances of this story. And I believe it is still preserved in
England, as a strange and curious trophy of a child’s pre-
vailing prayer.

My dear child, do you pray for your absent loved ones ? You
have a kind heavenly Father who delights to listen to the
requests of all good children, and who is willing to give them
whatever they ask for. Will you pray to Him ? — Child's World.

46

The Missionary Link,

NEW LIFE MEMBERS.

Miss Sarah Oliphant, Lewiston, New York.

Mrs. Cyrus Barbour, by “ Calcutta Band, South Norwalk, Conn.

Miss Harriet Bouton, “ “ “ “

Miss Eliza G. Platt “ “ “ •*

Miss Juliet Hogan “ “ “ “

Mrs. Harriet A. Foote, by Miss. Bd. of Throop Av. Pres. Church, Brooklyn.

NEW LIFE MEMBERS BY KENTUCKY BRANCH.

O. Beatty, LL.D., by “ Wm. Bassett Mem. Band,” Danville, Ky.

Mr. Isaac Tate McElroy, by “Ray of Promise M. B.,” Springfield, Ky.

Mrs. Lizzie Bayless, by “Bright Hope M. B.,” Springfield, Ky.

Rev. James P. McMillan, by “ Hugh McElroy M. B.,” Springfield, Ky.

Receipts of the Woman’s Union Missionary Society , from Aug. ls£
to Oct. 1st, 1874.

Branch Societies & Mission Bands.

MASSACHUSETTS.

Boston, “Boston Branch,” Mrs. H.
Johnson, Treas. (See items be-
low) $453 30

CONNECTICUT.

Norwich Town, “ Lathrop Memorial
Band,” per Miss S. L. Hunting-

ton, 9, Mrs. D. W. Coit, 5 14 00

Redding, “ Luann Band,” per Miss

J. A. Wilson 20 00

South Norwalk, “Calcutta Band,”
per Miss Eliza G. Platt, of which
75 for sup. of Bible-reader in Cal-
cutta, for Life Membership of
Mrs. Cyrtj3 Barbour, Miss Ju-
liet Hogan, Miss Harriet Bou-
ton, and Miss E. G. Platt 200 00

$234 00

NEW YORK.

Sherburne, “Willing Hands,” per
Miss C. E. Pratt, for sup. of

“Faith” 25 00

Sing Sing, “Ossining Band,” per
Miss S. M. Van Yleck, for Miss

Taylor’s school, Beirut 20^20

Syracuse, “ Scattergood Band,” per

Mr. H. C. Hooker 25 00

$231 04

NEW JERSEY.

Allentown, “ C. L. Beatty Band,” per

Mrs. H. N. Vanderbeck 38 50

Centre Moriches, “ Free Will Offering

Band,” per Miss Addie Terry 13 50

Chatham, “Oak Ridge Band,” per

Miss S. "Wallace 50 00

Metuchin, Aux. soc., Mrs. J. E. Bart-
lett, Treas 14 05

New Brunswick, North Mission S. S.,

per Miss C. Yoorhees 20 00

Princeton, “ Princeton Branch,” Miss
Ellen L. A. Brown, Treas., for
Miss Ghose ..100 00

$236 05

Brooklyn, Band of Throop Avenue
Presb. Ch., Miss Elsie Cook,

Treas., to cons. Mrs. Harriet A.

Foote, L. M 60 00

“Scudder Memorial,” Miss Lottie
E. Chapin, Treas., for bed in
Child’s Hospital, 24, gold— prem-
ium, 2.46 26 46

Catskill, “ Porter Memorial,” Miss
Lizzie Fitch, Sec., for Miss Tay-
lor’s school, Beirut 74 38 ;

PENNSYLVANIA.

Philadelphia, “ Philadelphia Branch,”
Mrs. Chas. B. Keen, Treas. :
Salary and expenses of Miss Lath-

rop 195 96

Salary of Miss Hook 150 00

Two-thirds salary of Miss Guthrie . 100 U0

[Premium on the above 44 60

Donation for Miss Haswell 25 00

From Miss Longstreth, for Bible-

Treasurer s Statement .

47

reader under Mrs. Bennett, 50, for

child, 25 75 00 ,

For Bible-reader in Calcutta 50 00

For “ Missionary Link,” from July

No., 1873, to May No., 1S74 468 36 ,

[Total from Philo. Br., $1,108.02.]

Pittsburg. “St. Andrew's Woman's
Miss. Soc.,” Mrs. E. S. Wade,

Sec., for Miss Brittan’s traveling
expenses $15 CO

$1,123 92

OHIO.

Black Crook, “Persevering Union

Band,” per Miss F. Shields $15 00

ILLINOIS.

Chicago, “ Chicago Branch,” Mrs. P.

A. Avery, Sec. and Treas. (See
items below) $134 25 j

Total from Branch Societies and Mis-
sion Bands $2,427 56

Other Contributions.

RHODE ISLAND.

Newport, Miss Olivia E. P. Stokes, of

which from Mrs. Jas. Stokes, 10. .$20 00

CONNECTICUT.

Guilford, Miss Brown, per Miss Brittan 20 00
NEW YORK.

Binghamton, Mrs. R. A. Lester 20 00

Le Roy, Miss Carrie B. Williams 20 00

Miss Nellie R. Sandford 10 00

Lewiston, Miss Sarah Oliphajmt, for

Life Membership 130 00

New York, Mrs. M. N. Slocum 5 00

Tableaux, per Miss Brittan 50 00

Osceola, Mrs. C. Cranford 50

Sing Sing, proceeds of Fair by Laura
BrowD, Emma Gorton, Mamie
Johnson and their little friends,

for India 45 00

Syracuse, Mrs. F. D. Vann, coll’r 20 50

Yonkers, Mrs. H. M. Schieffelin, for

Mrs. Pruyn’s Home in Japan 25 00

$326 00

NEW JERSEY.

Trenton, Miss A. R. Stephenson,
coll’r, viz. : Mrs. Wm. Pearson, 5,

Mrs. E. J. Hunt, 3, Mrs. L. Moyer,

3, Mrs. McIntosh, 2, Mrs. C.
Smith, 1, Mrs. J. Moser, 1, Miss

5. therman. 10, Miss M. Abbott,

6, Miss Lilly Brace, 1, Miss Lulu
Brace, 75c., Miss A. R. Stephen-

son, 2 $34 75

PENNSYLVANIA.

Easton, Mrs. Mary P. Davis, per Mr.

R. I. Jones, for zenana work 50 00

Lewisberg, Mr. G. N. Le Fevre, for

personal use of Miss Le Fevre. . .350 00

$400 00

MARYLAND.

Calverton, Mrs. B. S. Rogers, contri-
butions of Charles Stephen Rog-
ers and little Kate Rogers toward
sup. of “Kate Rogers,” India... .$10 00

ILLINOIS.

Princeton, Mrs. Oscar Stoutenburgh,
for expenses of printing tracts
translated by Miss North, Pe-

king $11 00

WISCONSIN.

Geneva, Mrs. C. A. Williams $20 00

Subscriptions to Missionary Link.

Miss Sutton, 2.50. Mrs. Le Roy, 1.75,

Miss Scott, 1.50, “C. L. Beatty
Land,” 6.50, Miss Stephenson,

2.50, Miss Marston, for Kardoo,

19, smaller subscriptions, 28.35 62 10

Total other contributions $903 85

Total Br.Soc. and Miss. Bands. .$2,427 56

Total from Aug. 1 to Oct. 1 $3,331 41

Treasures 'Report of the Boston Branch.

From the Lawrence Auxiliary, for the
“ Little Widows’ ” Home.
Collections from Elliot Ch. :

Mrs. T. T. Munger, 5, Mrs. F. M,
Richardson, 1.00, Mrs. C. A. Poor,

1, Mrs. Samuel NewhaU, 1, Mrs.
E. D. Kendall, 1, Mrs. Chas. A.
Browne, 5.50, Mrs. Geo. E. Davis,

2, Mrs. E. H. Burbank, 1, Mrs. Jas.
Bailey, 1, Mrs. Riddell, 2, Mrs.
Jos. Walworth, 2, Mrs. Foss, 1,
Mrs. Scott, 1, Mrs. C. A. Cham-

berlain, 1, Mrs. Wm. Moore, 1,
Mrs. Geo. A. Fuller, 1, Mrs. C. T.
V ilcox, 1, Mrs. E. E. Foster, 1,
Mrs. Geo. W. Horne, 50c., Mrs.
Philip Yeaton. 1, Mrs. John Cook,
2, Mrs. Milton Bonney, 1.50,
Mrs. Samuel Largmaid, 1.50, Mrs.
Wm. A. Russell, 12, Mrs. T. W.
Huse, 5, Mrs. L. Huntoon, 50c.,
Mrs. Edward Woodford, cOc., Miss
E. A. Browne, 2, Miss A. J. Ladd,
1, Miss Mary Newell, 50c., Miss

48

The Missionary Link .

Mary Russell, 1, Miss Annie Rus-
sell,1. This Soc. make Mrs. Fran-
ces M. Richardson, L. M 59 50

South Congregational Church :

Mrs. Mary P. Elliott, 1. Mrs. A.

W. Harriman, 50c., Mrs. Benj.

C. Lovejoy, 50c., Mrs. Wm. Gowi-
ny, 50c., Mrs. Abbie Ridley, 50c.,

Mrs. L. B. Flint, 50c., Mrs. R. ( ur-
rier, 50c., Mrs. A. C. Tapley, 50c.,

Mrs? J. R. Cole, 1.50, Mrs. M. T.
White, 1, Mrs. H. Lovett, 50c.,

Mrs. John Rusby, 50c., Mr3. H.

G. Richardson, 1, Mrs. H. Alex-
ander, 50c., Miss F. M. Smith,

50c., Miss F. Maddox, 50c., Miss
A. P. Tompkins, 50c., Miss M. A.
Doyle, 1, Miss M. Rogers, 50c.,

Mrs. J. Weber, 50c., Mrs. J. Love-
joy, 50c., Mrs. W. W. Fowler, 50c.,

Mrs. A. G. Hervey, 50c., Mrs. F.
Pearson, 50c., Miss P. M. Abbott,

50c 15 50

First Baptist Church :

Mrs. G. Merrill, 2, Mrs. Wilder, 2,

Mrs. Soule, 1, Mrs. Coburn, 1,

Mrs. Dr. French, 5.50, a friend, 1. 12 50
Grace Episcopal Church :

Mrs. J. Cogswell, 1, Mrs. A. P.

Clark, 1, Mrs. J. H. Kidder, 1,

Mrs. J. C. Hoadley, 1.50, Mrs. D.
Saunders, Jr., 1, Mrs. G. R. Rowe,

1, Mrs. L. Rancliffe, 1, Mrs. O.
Wickers, 1.59, Mrs. Dr. Dana, 1.50,

Mrs. P. Armington, 2, Mrs. H.
Barton, 2, Mrs. W. M. Hall, 2,

Mrs. J. Payne, 1, Mrs. H. C. Ames,

1, Mrs. T. Leyland, 1.50, Miss F.

Reed, 1, Miss A. Morrison, 50c.,

Miss M. Packard, 1.50, 23 00

Laurence St. Congregational Ch. :

Mrs. C. K. Pillsbury, 5, Mrs. C.

M. Cordley, 1, Mrs. O. C. Closson,

1, Mrs. J. M. Currier, 1, Mrs. C. T.
Briggs, 1, Mrs. C. W. Shattuck, 2. 11 00
Central Congregational < h. :

Mrs. B. Bartlett, 1, Mrs. Dr. C. G.
Carlton, 1, Mrs. J. J. Doland, 1,

Mrs. E. P. Boardman, 75c Mrs.

S. Cummings, 50c., Mrs. A. C.
Jisher, 1, Mrs. S. F. Bailey, 1,

Mrs. R. Reed, 50c., Mrs. A. Briggs,

50c., Miss J. Cummings, 1, Miss
C. Hawley, 50c., Rev. W. E. Park,

I, G. E. Hood, Esq., 50c., Mr. G.
Wilson, 1, Mr. F. N. Victor, 50c.,

Mr. J. Craven, 1, Mrs. Fallon, 1. . . 13 75
From St. Paul’s Ch., through Miss E.

B. Barrett, for sup. of Miss Brit,
tan :

Mr. Wm. Peters, 20, Miss E. P.

Beal, 3, coll, from St. Paul’s Ch.,

65.05 88 05

Through Mrs. Wm. Appleton. St.

Paul’s Ch., for sup. of Miss Brit-
tan :

From Mrs. Wm. Appleton, 200, Mrs.

J. A. Beebe, 25, Miss Everett, 5 . .230 00

$453 30

MARIA N. JOHNSON, Treas.

Receipts of the Philadelphia Branch from Aug. 1st to Oct. 1st , 1874.

Through Miss Mary R. Welsh : Bishop
Tuttle Bible Class, of St. Mark’s

Ch., Frankford $ 40 00

Mrs. Dickson, an. subs’n 10 00

Through Mrs. Breed : Mrs. M. M.
Murray and family, for child
named Margaret Murray in Miss

Has veil's school, Maulmain 30 00

Through Mrs. Whittaker : Mrs.

CheesemaD, 2, do. for “ Link,”

50c., Mrs. Kelley, 2, Mrs. Field,

2, Mrs. Wm. M. Whittaker, 14 20 50

Through Miss M. A. Longstreth : Su-
san Longstreth, 10 Elizabeth
Morris, 10, Mrs. Theo. H. Morris,

10, Mrs.. Fred. W. Morris, 10, Mrs.

Wm. H. Morris, 5, Anna Morris,

5, for Bible-reader under Miss
Brittan ; Miss M. A. Longstreth,
for Bible-reader under Miss Ben-
nett, 50, Miss M. A. Longstreth’s
pupils for “ Links,” 4.50, Caroline
W. Lawrence, for "Link,” 50c.. .105 00
Six months’ interest from “ Holland

estate” 490 00

$695 50

MRS. CHAS. B. KEEN, Treas.

Receipts of Chicago Branch for Aug. and Sept., 1874.

“Forest City Band,” Rockford, HI., I Mrs. H. Reed 10 00

per Miss Spaulding 52 00 1 A friend to complete sup of “Mary

Mrs. John Forsyth, lor girl in Mrs. Grant” in Calcutta 20 00

Pierson's school, Yokohama 15 00 | Sales of Kardoo 5 25

Mrs. J. V. Dunlevy 25 00 | “Link” subscriptions 2 00

Helen Dunlevy 2 50

Master Hubbird Dunlevy 2 50 | $134 25

•y.

For use in Library only

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