Taking two strings of flowers which her father had used for puja, she said, "One of these strings of red and white flowers, without any scent, is like Hinduism, attractive to look at"; then lifting up some white scented ones, she said, "These flowers are like Christianity, not much to look at, but when you come close to it, it is fragrant."

Some pupils learn entirely for the sake of getting education, and yet one never knows when or where the seed sown may spring up. Many friends in England are specially interested in a young widow called K.; she seems to have advanced a little more into the Light. The beginning of this year, when a special Hindu festival was held, she told her mother that she did not wish to partake of any food connected with it. At the time, her mother refused to eat unless the daughter did too, and poor K. said, "How could I refuse my own mother, and sit by and see her not eat? But I did not want to touch it." Her sad face still haunts me, and the growing conviction that Christianity is true only adds sorrow while she cannot bring herself to think of leaving her parents.

In February, when the Bishop of Travancore and Cochin came to hold confirmations in the district, we felt we might present a middle-aged widow, whose daughter had previously been confirmed, as a candidate; the day. before the confirmation she was ill, but she said she felt sure God would give her strength to get to church next day, and if she could only crawl she would go. The Bishop very kindly came to speak to our teachers before the service, so that there was no time to see how she was that morning. When we got to church we could not see her, but among the last row of women she came up for the laying on of hands, and we rejoiced over and with her. From all we can see, she has made progress in spirituality. Her daughter (also a widow) has come with us several times to Hindu houses, and talked to the women. One day I took her to see K., and never did the contrast between a Hindu and a Christian strike me more than when I saw them sitting side by side, telling each other of their joys and sorrows. Shai's face was all lighted with joy, K.'s sweet face was full of constant grief. Shai, though twenty-five or twenty-six, is still learning with young girls in the 4th Standard, so that she may fit herself for future work; but we always have cheering accounts of her kindness and helpfulness with the younger ones, who call her "elder sister." She is in the school under Mrs. Kember,

This year the pupils are all taught Scripture according to a little sketch of a lesson given to the teachers month by month, and they learn texts bearing on the subject. One girl's father gave her a note-book to write down all the texts. There are two pupils who, after learning their Scripture lessons, go and tell their parents what they have learnt, and even venture to argue with them, until they have been told,

who has taken the deepest interest in her. We are hoping soon to have a house with our converts on the compound, through the kindness of the Committee, so that we shall no longer be obliged to send all needing protection to school.

Another young woman Miss Swainson has kindly made mistress of an industrial class and paid her a small salary; by this means she is at present provided for.

On July 3rd a Heathen woman and her little child from Ervadi were baptized at Dohnavur (this is in our southern district). The husband had given his consent while still remaining a Heathen. But we know that for the wife the trials of the home, and persecutions from the neighbours, will not be slight, and that she will need our constant, earnest prayers that she may be kept faithful to her Captain.

Our teacher walks daily from Dohravur, and the only Christians living in Ervadi are the schoolmaster and mistress, and a woman who was deceptively married by her relations to a Heathen man many years ago, and who, through many years of trial, has tried to hold firmly to Christ, and to bring up her children as Christians.

The woman just baptized was named Pêtchi, but she changed it as it was connected with her foriner devilworship. She had heard the hymns sung in this other Christian woman's house, then her child was ill and she thought our God might cure it, and for a time performed no Heathen ceremonies for it. At last, through the persuasions of her neighbours, she

so;

did the child died. Now the child she has is about eighteen months old, and she has learnt to say, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him,' and to know that God will deal with her as He sees best in His great love. She has learnt from both schoolmistress and Bible-woman (or Zenana teacher): if we ask the schoolmistress if she has taught her, she says, "I have helped a little, but the Biblewoman has taught her." If we ask the Bible-woman, she says, "Oh, the other Christian woman has helped her," and so each humbly tries to pass the blessing over to another. The baptism, with that of others, took place at one of the harvest thanksgiving services held at Dohnavur (they take place at different times in different parts, according to the produce of the district), the schoolmaster and mistress and Bible-woman standing as sponsors for the little child; Miss Kember and I were witnesses for the mother. The church was full of people assembled to these services, and we know our Dohnavur Christian women were praying and are praying that Pêtchi may hold firmly to her solemn promises.

We must not close without thanking the kind friends who have helped us with presents for our pupils. We are so thankful for spectacles for weak sight (the stock I brought from England has been quickly exhausted), wools and canvas, little workboxes, and scissors for the pupils who have learnt for many years and who have already received dolls and bags. July 6th, 1894.

liberality paid Rs. ço, the rent of the hired schoolhouse for three months.

The Murajabom (“ Mura,” by turns, “jabom,” prayer) is a Hindu ceremony peculiar to Travancore, and was instituted many years ago by a Maharajah anxious to atone for his guilt in killing enemies in battle. He thought that if he could attract all the Namburis of Travancore to Trevandrum, and ensure their performing daily processional prayers round the principal temple, he should obtain not only forgiveness of his own sins, but should bring abundant prosperity for the country. Every sixth year since his reign, the invitation has been repeated, and some thousands of Malayalim Brahmans or Namburis are entertained here for six weeks at the

public expense. So liberally are they supplied with food, that I have seen them at the close of the day selling what remained over of their rations to eager buyers in the road. On their departure, the chief men amongst them are presented with silk and other cloths as well as with gifts in money. This time their visit was attended with disastrous consequences, for before its termination, cholera broke out and carried off thirty or forty of them. The terrible disease did not end here; it continued to rage for about two months longer, and hundreds were swept into eternity. I did not close either of our three schools, though I felt keenly the risks to which our teachers, and especially the Bible-women, were exposed.

Had we all left the Fort and retired

to our healthier suburb of Tycand, it might have been interpreted as a lack of sympathy on our part, whereas by staying all day amongst them, we were at hand to speak loving words to the survivors. Many were struck down in a few hours after seizure, before help of any sort could be procured.

Our school peon, now an aged man, lost his only son, a youth of about twenty, just married. He was taken ill on a Sunday night, and died early the next morning. The poor old father has now no one to work for him in his old age, nor to perform his funeral ceremonies, a terrible grief to a Hindu, while an engaging, clever child of eight is condemned to a lifelong widowhood.

One of our little Brahman girls asked leave to go home in the afternoon because her mother was ill, and early the next morning she was seen standing at her door crying because she was dead. One could but commit the poor lamb to the tender care of Him Who, when on earth, suffered the little ones to come to Him.

It is frequently a consolation to me to remember, when grieving over the impossibility of training these children for Him, that His heart of love yearns over them too, and that He is far more ready to hear our prayers than we are to pray for them. During the cholera, the attendance of scholars in the Fort School was much lower than usual, but in May and June it began to increase, and has now (August) nearly reached the same average as that of last year.