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EFORE beginning an account of the year's work, I must tell of the changes among the workers at this station. After the summer holidays last year, Miss Maude Newcombe moved on from Sa-Yong to Sang-Yong, a large town some ten miles further east; so Miss Burroughs and I were alone at Sa Yong till February, when, after passing her first examination, Miss Burroughs went to join Miss Newcombe at Sang-Yong, and Miss Tolley was appointed to work with me. God's guidance was unmistakable in every step, and He has marvellously blessed the work of our two dear sisters at Sang-Yong, while at SaYong He has also given us the joy of seeing souls brought into the Kingdom.

Work in Sa-Yong itself.

On our return, after rest last summer, Miss Burroughs and I were sur

prised and delighted at the welcome given us by the people as our chairs passed through the streets, many voices joined in expressing ther pleasure at seeing us back, and a troop of little children ran beside us, shouting, to the house. This friendly spirit has been shown to us all along, and it is a pleasure to visit the houses and see the women's faces light up to welcome us. Very frequently they will invite us into their bedrooms, and, bringing their work, will gather into a circle, to listen, while we talk and sing to them for more than an hour at a time. We are sure many have thus learnt to know and trust in Jesus, though they may be only secret believers. If our hearts grow sad because some who have heard often refuse His love, we know the seed sown must bring in its harvest-it may be only after "patient waiting."

We visit in Sa-Yong itself generally twice a week, Monday and Tuesday

afternoons. We have over thirty houses on the list of those frequently visited, and there are others we have been to only once or twice, as the case may be. On Sunday afternoons I have a class of women, usually well attended, but the numbers vary, according to the time of year. During the teapacking season and harvests, when the women are kept busily employed, we may only have ten or twenty; at other times we have from twenty to thirty.

Those who are interested in the girl, Hiong-Leng, and her aunt, whom I wrote of last year, must go on praying for both. We have seen little of either. Hiong-Leng was away on a six months' visit, and now is kept busy weaving cloth for her trousseau; she is to be married at the end of the year, poor child. The aunt has not been allowed to come to our house more than once or twice; but she is always eager to learn. I feel with this as with all our work, we need not fear, knowing it is God that worketh, and He that hath begun . . . will continue.

Village Work.

Wednesday and Thursday afternoon I devote to village work, visiting regularly four villages, distant about three to four and a half miles, and occasionally others. One of the saddest things in our work is the number of villages we must refuse to go to for want of time and strength. Invitations come to us, saying, "Our women have no one to teach them, will you come?" and we have to answer, sadly

But now for the villages that are visited :

(a) Hok-Dong.-This village lies about three miles away, and has several Christian families. go there every Thursday afternoon, and have a very encouraging class of women and girls; average attendance, fifteen.

(b) Uong-Bah, distant four and a half miles. On my way through this village, when returning from one more distant, the women begged earnestly for teaching. Since then I have held a class there every alternate Wednesday, and quite a little group of inquirers are interested. Three women entered the station class held in the spring.

(c) Dang Yong, distant three miles. In this place interest was awakened through an earnest Christian man, who invited us to his house to teach the women. On my first visit the women were so afraid of me that they hid behind the bedroom doors and peeped; at first only one old woman had the temerity to approach me with tea. Before leaving, however, some ventured on a closer acquaintance, and in a very short time there was always an orderly class of eight or ten waiting my fortnightly visits. Now they have prayers every evening in this Christian's house, with an attendance of over thirty. Last June, with Mrs. Stewart's consent, I sent a Bible

woman there for the three summer months, and I hear several women have been coming to her to learn.

(d) Lain-Yong.-The work here is still so new I cannot say much about it; crowds come to listen, but whether from curiosity or interest, only time will tell.

A Christian Woman's Welcome.

I have only once been able to leave home for a night, but on that occasion an interesting incident occurred. Our way led up a steep mountain, and on reaching the top my chair was put down to rest; in about a minute a little old woman came running out of a house near by, and almost dragged me out of the chair, saying, “I am so glad you have come. I am a Christian; I love your Jesus, and I love you." She had never seen a foreigner before, so her absence of all fear was wonderful; but she had been taught by the catechist's wife at the place where I was going, about two miles further on, and used to walk that distance every Sunday, when fine, to church. She was admitted to baptism here last June, and had unbound her feet of her own accord. On my re-· turn, the next day, she had collected quite a little congregation from the scattered houses round, to listen to the "Old, Old Story," and I never had a more attentive audience.

Educational Work.-This consists of a station class for Heathen women, and a day-school for little girls.

the surrounding villages, for a three months' course of teaching in the elements of Christian truth, hoping, by God's help, to send them back to their villages to be lights in the darkness. In this way twelve women have been under instruction last winter and spring, and very humbly and gratefully we acknowledge God's manifest blessing on this effort.

I believe all were led to utterly reject their idols, and to know the only true living God. Eight professed conversion, and, we believe, were sincere. Of these, two have died, three were baptized last June, and the remaining three are candidates for baptism. Out of the twelve, nine unbound their feet, and this is no small token of sincerity, especially in those cases where they have been bound till their foot only measures two and a half inches in length. The loosening of the bandages is, of necessity, a painful pro-cess. It has been much joy to find that, since leaving the school, some of these women have been doing real work in their villages, and it has gladdened my heart to hear just now encouraging reports of two out of the four, of whose profession I was a little doubtful.

One of the two women who died was our catechist's wife. According to Chinese custom they had been betrothed as babies, and he brought her, when married, straight from a Heathen home. Before school opened I taught her, and afterwards she came to the classes every day. On the very day, early in April, that our first class broke up she died. She

Last December we started a plan of inviting the women, who seemed really interested, to come here from

had not much knowledge, but I believe she was trusting in Jesus only for salvation, and she was a candidate for baptism at the time of her death. This death seemed the beginning of sorrowful times: two days after I was taken ill myself, and had to be carried into Ku-cheng for medical advice. Returning to my work was prohibited till after the summer; but Miss Nisbet most unselfishly left her own work and went to Sa-Yong to finish the course of teaching with the second class of women for six weeks. It was important that the station should not be closed, as rumours were started that we were running away on account of the death that had just taken place. These reports soon died away, however, and did not seriously affect the work.

Three or four weeks later, Miss Nisbet wrote to tell me of the death of our brightest Christian, a dear old woman of fifty-four. She was our first-fruits in Sa-Yong, and from the first had given earnest attention to all that was taught her. In spite of her age and very tiny feet, she was one of the first to unbind them. Her bright face, child-like faith, simple testimony, and her holy life impressed all -Heathen or Christians-who knew her. Her death was as beautiful as her life; she spoke only of Jesus Christ and Heaven. When her husband told her she was dying, and asked for her last injunctions, she said, "I only want this one thing-for you to stand firm and follow Jesus, so that we may meet in heaven." Her husband needs our prayers; his charac

ter is an uncertain one, and now that he no longer has his wife's holy in. fluence he often seems to falter. Will you pray for him and all her relations?

Lastly, I must mention our little day-school; it numbers thirteen. The Native teacher has managed it admirably, both in maintaining discipline. and in teaching; indeed, the efficiency of our two Native helpers has been a constant source of thankfulness. Our Bible-woman is earnest and spiritual, so also is the children's school teacher, and to them I must give the credit of a great deal of the work that has been done, both among the women and girls.

I was very sorry not to be present at the baptisms in June. Mr. Stewart reported very favourably of the women; there were four and a little girl bap. tized. Two ofthe interesting candidates were missing from the group on earth, but present with the Lord in heaven, and I love to think that Sa-Yong is already represented there. We take it as a seal of blessing in the future.

I am finishing this on our return to Sa-Yong, after an absence of nearly five months, and I must just add a note of thanksgiving for the way in which God has been working in our absence; distinct progress has been made. We praise for the faithfulness of our two dear Chinese sisters left in charge. The loving welcome home accorded us was even warmer than last year. With hearts full of hope we take up the threads of work again. September, 1894.