care. Nothing can be warmer than our welcome to this little city where we trust and pray the Lord's hidden ones may speedily come to light. Mr. Ament has had the editorial charge of a Chinese monthly newspaper, The North China News, which is printed at the mission press. A very considerable portion of the matter is prepared by himself. The circulation now numbers five hundred and fifty, and is mostly among Christians and those interested in Christianity. The monthly visits of this paper are all the more valuable inasmuch as to most it constitutes the only outlook upon the Christian world in what is constantly doing and suffering therein. TO SECRETARY SMITH: Peking, May 25, 1893. We have just closed one of the most profitable and harmonious annual meetings ever held by our mission. The number present was larger than in previous years and the general spirit was one of great good cheer and hopefulness. The reports all indicated marked progress and all are eagerly looking forward to a wide and distinct enlargement of evangelistic work. Tung-chow College (now called the North China College) received a large share of attention as it deserves, and its new location and hoped-for buildings filled us all with pride. Would that the needed funds might flow in for this great enterprise. The little memorial school flourishes. Sir Robert Hart sent us $100 and other friends gave differing sums so that we have a good nucleus towards purchasing premises for the school. Work for women has taken a great impulse therefrom and the numbers of women more than fill our cramped quarters in the old chapel. TO THE SAME: Peking, June 30, 1893. It is a long time since I have written you any special particulars of our work. This has been through no lack of desire on my part but because of a constant rush of work which seems to accumulate in my study. What with being treasurer of the station, postmaster for Kalgan, Tung-chow and Peking (including the Presbyterian Mission), in charge of the book room for the mission, also of the Bible bookstore on the great street, editor of our magazine, the care of three churches, etc., etc., you may imagine that the secularities which enter into my work are almost enough for the strength of one man, not to say enough to drown out his spiritual life and degrade him to a mere managing animal. But I thank God that strength has been granted so that my office of evangelist has not been wholly neglected and there are fruits of my ministry which are more precious to me than rubies. It grows upon me that the need of China is the living, warm-hearted preacher who will meet men face to face and tell them the gospel story rather than the litterateur or brilliant scholar. Western Hills, China, Aug. 29, 1893. MRS. AMENT to MRS. DARNLEY: I was much interested in all the news you wrote and could almost fancy myself in Medina again. Thursday being Emily's birthday we went to the cemetery, Mr. Ament, Willie and I, with a friend, and covered the grave with sprays of ivy like that which grows on the Medina church. We had brought wild flowers, also, from the hillside, bluebells and a kind of purple spike that grows freely there. These we strewed all about. Miss Russell met us, bringing from our home in the city verbenas and other flowers. We read the beautiful words of Whittier in the " Manual of Praise," the Resurrection chapter from Corinthians, and were comforted by the thought of Christ's resurrection and His promises of union through all eternity. The sky had begun to cloud over, so we gave up returning to the hills the same day. The cemetery is an hour and a half from our compound and four to six hours from the hills according to the speed of the bearers. We found our court covered with green things, the vines and shrubs all having grown so rank since the rains. The The next morning we got into our cart and rode to the Fifth Street School. Here are gathered some of the children whom Emily was interested in and who with others living near us are the nucleus of the memorial school we hope to have. little court we rented and fitted up with needful furniture and paper, has suffered much through the last seven days' rain, and the floor is still damp. The school meets in a large wooden shelter that is raised up by bricks to escape the dampness of the kang. We would buy a place that has better advantages, since we cannot afford repairs on such a place and the landlord is likely to do but little, Τ Oh, the wild joys of living How good is man's life, the mere living,—how fit to employ IX THE EXPANSION OF SERVICE -Browning. HE summer of 1894 found many of the Peking missionaries in their summer retreat in the Western Hills. Three of the missions had secured permanent places, as they thought, and had erected hill houses, some miles from the Buddhist temples hitherto rented. Our mission found such a resting spot on a high hill crest, overlooking the Hun River towards the south, and with a fine mountain view northward up the valley of the stream. From the healthful vantage-ground of this retreat Mr. Ament writes to Miss Schirmer. Western Hills, Aug. 4, 1894. Startling news comes to-day. War has actually been declared between China and Japan and hostilities have begun. It may be best for them to fight out their grudges. If there were not a Providence overruling the foolishness of men this world would certainly seem a bedlam. I wish you could look out with me on the lights and shadows playing on our beautiful hills. The different shades of green on the fields of the plain below, the hamlets with their clumps of trees, the threshing floors, all make a picture worth going far to see. We have a beautiful view from our hill crest, pure air, good water and fine mountain scenery. Our little peak has five cottages. The Hun River runs along the base of our hill. In the distance we can see the Lu Kou bridge, very famous in Chinese history, and just beyond the Liang Hsiang pagoda celebrated in history and song. Across the valley from us are Buddhist temples full of priests. To the east the road to Peking lies like a silver ribbon, and the yellow palaces of the Emperor loom up in the dim distance. You ask about my long continuance in China. Dr. Blodget, my colleague, is about retiring after forty years of faithful serv ice. I am greatly needed to keep our growing work in order, to train helpers and lead in the work. For the sake of my dear old mother I should love to return. says, "Stay out your time." To the secretaries he writes: She is brave and August 7, 1894. War is raging. We are promised protection by the city government. Rumors of the advance of the Japanese on Peking create ferment in all minds. The British minister has ordered all English women and children to leave the city. I am glad to say that not one of our board missionaries counsels a retreat. We all hope to remain unless it becomes manifestly rash to do so. In October he writes to his mother: We are having troublous times, but we are so far safe and have little fear. Mary and Miss Russell are cool and fearless and say, "Stay by all means. From the bottom of my heart I anticipate no trouble for us. There is rumor that peace may soon be brought about. The Japanese want a little glory at the expense of the lazy old empire. Our Chinese are a little fearful for us, but now is the time for us to illustrate the virtues we continually preach to them. Do not be anxious about us. December 4th.-The boy whom we have supported as a student for so many years, Wen Hsien, died ten days since, of tuberculosis. He would have graduated from the theological seminary next spring. God takes away our helpers, perhaps that we may rely more on Him. The autumn of the year had brought great changes to the station. Dr. and Mrs. Blodget, after eleven years of service, returned to the United States. Dr. Blodget had completed forty years in China, thirty of which had been spent at Peking. He had left a great record of work accomplished. In leaving he felt assured that the precious charge would be in capable and efficient hands. Mr. Ament had been associated with him for fourteen years. A new band of recruits were joining the station. Mr. John Mateer was to superintend the press. Mr. Charles Ewing and wife with Miss Hinman were assigned to the station. Thus supported, Mr. Ament took full charge of the preaching of the station, Sunday preaching at the South Church, and care of the boys' school. He was to magnify his office in effective service. DEAR DR. SMITH: Peking, China, Dec. 17, 1894. Dr. and Mrs. Blodget's return to the United States throws a great burden of work on my shoulders. The two regular preaching services have to be provided for, daily preaching kept up, country stations looked after and helpers instructed and directed, besides all the temporalities of a station like Peking. I thought I had been busy before in my life, but nothing has equalled the rush of the past two months. Mr. and Mrs. Mateer are comfortably settled. The press has started on a new career since their arrival, and turns off work in a way that bewilders the Chinamen. Already eight new men have been added to the force in the office, and orders are in hand enough to keep them busy for months to come. We have been greatly entertained by the announcements in the home papers of the massacre in Peking, also that all foreigners had been ordered out of the city. The British minister, from his safe retreat at Chefoo, ordered all English ladies to leave the city, and they obeyed his mandate with much reluctance, as they were liable to arrest if they refused. But the American minister has no such authority, and would not have used it if he had, as he said the missionaries were better informed about the people than he was, and, being people of sense, could leave the city or not as they chose. We have been very quiet, almost monotonously so, except when the papers arrived and told us what dangers we were in. Our work has gone as usual. The city authorities have been exceedingly anxious to see that we were not disturbed in our work and have posted up two or three strong proclamations which have allayed the minds of the people. Even the Emperor has seen fit to notice the missionaries and has issued two rescripts, enjoining the officials throughout the empire to give |