younger women, who two months ago did not know a letter, can now read Bible stories very well, and another tells us that she has quite left off sleeping in the middle of the day, since she has been able to read." But the work has not been carried on entirely without difficulties, for though the women are willing to be taught, they often meet with a good deal of opposition from the male members of their family. At one house, where lessons had been commenced, they were suddenly put an end to by the arrival of an old uncle— a bigoted Hindoo-who came home one day, and finding how they were engaged went into a rage, and exclaimed, "What new thing is this? Are you going to make Christians of all the women? This shall never be." His nephew, who had consented to it, tried to reason with him, but to no purpose, and for a time the work was stopped. Happily all Hindoos are not like this old uncle. One day a young man presented himself to a missionary's wife, and made the following speech to her in English, using all the fine words he could think of:-" Madam, you approve of female education, and endeavour to promote it. Madam, my opinion coincides with yours, therefore I entreat that you will give me a first spelling book—the dawn of knowledge -that I may begin to instruct my wife in the recesses of her private apartments." So Another also came and asked whether she would consent to visit and examine his three wives every week, if he engaged a native teacher to give them daily instruction. that, notwithstanding all obstacles, one zenana after another has been thrown open, and the work increases rapidly. Here is part of a letter written by a young lady who was engaged in it. She says:"The zenana work continues more delightful than ever. I have just got a set of new houses at a village about ten miles from Calcutta, called Rajpore. The women are quite wild to learn, and three or four are reading the Bible earnestly. I wish you could go with us one day. Caroline, the native Christian teacher, and I start at ten o'clock, in a garry" (carriage) not remarkable for elegance, but with capital ponies, and then we have a long and lovely drive, though it is in flat Bengal. The palms always look beautiful, and the bamboos and mango trees; and then the great rice fields, which are now in their greatest beauty, are one sea of waving light green. At the first house I go to, twenty women collect; they are most eager, and wont hear of anything till the lessons are given and heard. The other day, when it was fearfully hot, one of the women, who was puzzling over some knitting, called out to another, who was groaning at the heat, 'Oh, bother the heat! why don't you learn when you have the chance ? I have four houses to visit at this place, and we have seldom finished before evening." All these facts show us how the women of India value the advantages which have come to them so late; and should not we be still more thankful that we live in a land where we have so many opportunities of gaining useful knowledge, and above all the knowledge of Jesus Christ," whom to know is eternal life." Chelmsford. R. W.. said to her mother and elder sister, who remained in the house, 66 Why did not you come to chapel, mother? It is better to go there than to stay at home." Her father taught her to repeat a short prayer, which she would on no account neglect saying before she went to sleep; it was "O Jesus, keep me from sin, and save my soul." One evening when at her aunt's she observed that a little cousin, older than herself, did not say any prayer, so she said to her aunt, "Does not Sam pray? he should do so. Will you tell him my prayer, "O Jesus, keep me from sin, and save my soul"? At Her reverence for the Sabbath was a pattern to others. chapel she sat so quietly, as though she felt she was in the house of God, and was always glad when it was time to go there. On the Saturday evening she was most careful that her little petticoat and jacket were ready for Sabbath morning, saying, "I must take care of that, it is what my father brought me from Pastor Moni." Her attention to her father's comfort was wonderful for such a little child. When he had been out preaching (he is our Native Pastor) or at the Mission house, she would say to her mother, "Is my father's food ready? Do make it ready soon, mother, he will be very hungry;" and then would busy her little self in bringing the chomboo (or drinking vessel) and ask that water might be ready for him. She suffered much from fever the last two months of her life, but so patient and good, it was a pleasure to be with her; her little face, though expressive of suffering, had such a sweet smile, particularly when her father was near her, but her little form wasted under the fever and at last sunk under it. Dear little Ruth, she loved the house of God here-she is in the higher temple now; her little prayer is answered, she is saved; and although very young, she has fulfilled her mission, she has borne a testimony to the truth of the Saviour's words, "Of such is the kingdom of heaven." "On earth she sought the Saviour's grace, On earth she loved His name; And now she sees His blessed face, And stands before the Lamb, Singing, Glory, glory, glory." |