Having closely followed the progress of the work through these twenty-five years, and having paid my last visits to Wunchau since Mrs. Stott left, it was with special interest and pleasure that I snatched time to read most of her manuscript. It is emphatically a story of work-earnest, persevering work which God has blessed: an unvarnished account, it brings out clearly the lights and shades of missionary service.

I did not find one dull paragraph. Those who begin to read the book will want to finish it, and it cannot fail to be a blessing to the reader.

It is an unfinished record, and, since Mrs. Stott asked me to write a few lines of preface, a joyful letter from Miss Christabel Williams tells of the conversion of sixteen of the twenty-six girls in the boarding-school: four of the children were previously converted, and several of the remaining six-the little ones of the school-were seeking the Lord.

May many readers be led to pray for the work and workers in Wunchau!
J. HUDSON TAYLOR. CHINA INLAND MISSION,
NEWINGTON GREEN, LONDON, N.
January, 1897.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.
" Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."-MATT. iv. 19 ...1

CHAPTER II.
"In due season we shall reap, if we faint not."-GAL. vi. 9 ... 10

CHAPTER III.
" They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them."-PsA. cxv. 8 ... 20

CHAPTER IV.
"They imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform" PsA. xxi. 11 ... 35

CHAPTER V.
"Our Lord is above all gods."-PsA. cxxxv. 5 ... 52

CHAPTER VI.
" And He said unto them, Lacked ye anything ? And they said, Nothing."-LUKE xxii. 35 ... 68

CHAPTER XIII.
" He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when He shall hear it, He will answer thee."-IsA. xxx. 19 ... 76

CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER VII.
" If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."-LUKE ix. 23 ... 83

CHAPTER VIII.
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing ? "-PsA. ii. 1 ... 98

CHAPTER IX.M
"And ye shall be witnesses unto Me."-Acts i. 8 ... 114

CHAPTER X.
" How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things l "-Rom. x. 15 ... 129

CHAPTER XI.
" When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee." -ISA. xliii. 2 ... I45

CHAPTER XII.
" The memory of the just is blessed."-PRov. x. 7 ... 160

"And both Jesus was called, and His disciples, to the marriage." -JOHN ii. 2 ... 197

CHAPTER XV.
"And the common people heard Him gladly."-MARK xii. 37 ... 213

CHAPTER XVI.
ern the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good."-EccLEs. xi. 6 ... 226

CHAPTER XVII.
"Ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy."-JOHN xvi. 20 ... 241

CHAPTER XVIII.
"All Thy works shall praise Thee, 0 Lord; and Thy saints shall bless Thee."-PsA. cxlv. 10 ... 258

CHAPTER XIX
"The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you."-LUKE x, 9 ... 266

CHAPTER XX.
" In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence."-PRov. xiv. 26 ... 288 viii

CHAPTER XXI. PAGE
" Thy expectation shall not be cut off."-PROV. xxiv. 14 ... 300

CHAPTER XXII.
"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."-2 TIM. ii. 3 ... 314

CHAPTER XXIII.
" Both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together."-JOHN iv. 36 ... 330

CHAPTER XXIV.
" Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do."-Luxe xii. 4 ... 345

CHAPTER XXV. "I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because Thou did it." -PSA. xxxix. 9.

"As for God, His way is perfect."-2 SAM. xxii. 31 ... 355

"Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."-MATT. Iv ... 19

MY first interest in China began in the spring of 1865 when Mr. Hudson Taylor, accompanied by Mr. (now Dr.) Barchet and his companion, visited Glasgow. The two latter were en route for China, sailing in a few days, and Mr. Taylor had come to wish them good-bye and God-speed. They addressed a small meeting, and as I listened to Mr. Taylor's tale of the darkness of China and the terrible need of workers there, there came a question that would be answered, " Why may not you go to tell of a Saviour's love ? "

I had been converted four years, and had begun in a feeble way to serve the Lord who had bought me at first by tract distribution, then Sunday-school teaching. The Lord had often also graciously used me to lead many an anxious soul into the light, but up to this time I had never thought of mission work, never supposed I had any call beyond my native city of Glasgow.

2 MISSION WORK IN CHINA

For days this question kept ringing in my heart. I had no home ties, it was true; but was I fit ? Then, too, at that time I had never heard of a young girl going to a heathen land-was it practicable ? This latter question I decided to ask Mr. Taylor. He saw no reason why I should not go, even though but twenty years of age, if called of God, and if called, surely the fitness would be given by Him.

After much prayer and consideration, Mr. Taylor invited me to go to London, that by mutual prayer and knowledge of one another, God's way might be made clear. I arrived just the day before Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson's marriage. They and Mr. Stott, whom I then met for the first time, sailed three weeks afterwards for China.

Mr. Stott had been brought up to farm work, but when he was about nineteen years of age he slipped on the road and knocked his knee against a stone. This simple accident resulted in white swelling, which, two years later, necessitated the amputation of the left leg. For nine months he lay a helpless invalid, and it was during this time that the Lord graciously saved his soul. So far he had been careless and indifferent to the love of God in Christ Jesus, but now, in his helpless condition, and what seemed his ruined future, how precious that love became! After his recovery he began to teach in a school, and had been thus employed several years when he first heard of China's needs through a friend, who himself was going out.

In accepting Mr. Stott for mission work, Mr. Taylor manifested that faith which has so eminently characterised him, for surely no Society would have sent a lame man to such a country to pioneer work, and Mr. Stott often referred with gratitude to Mr. Taylor's acceptance of him. When asked why he, with only one leg, should think of going to China, his remark was, " I do not see those with two legs going, so I must." As I saw them slowly sail out of the docks a great hope welled up in my heart that I should soon follow, though at that time I little thought that my life and work would be blended with his.

I continued in London a few months, when it was definitely settled that I should accompany Mr. and Mrs. Taylor and party, who were to sail the following May. Almost as soon as that decision was arrived at my health began to give way, though up to that time I scarce remember one day of sickness. After trying several places, with the vain hope my illness might prove a temporary weakness, and that I might still be able to go forward, the doctors gave it as their definite decision that I ought not to go to China at present. Mr. Taylor reluctantly communicated this decision to me, but added, "I hope you will be able to follow us. in a year." This news was a great blow to me; I had thought I was willing, for God's will only, that I would be content to go or stay, just as He called; but when the word came "stay" I was bitterly disappointed. This led to much heart searching: for the first time I saw how easy it was to deceive one-self, and night after night I cried to God to save me from self deception.

One night, when on my knees, with tearful confession of self-will, it seemed as if I heard a voice saying, " If you still want to serve me go back to Glasgow, and take my messages to the Salt Market and the district round about." My heart almost stood still: the Salt Market was one of the vilest and most wicked places in Glasgow, inhabited almost exclusively by thieves and women of ill repute. It was hardly fit for a man to go into such a place-could it be God was sending a young girl there, uncalled by man, unprotected, and without means of support-could that be God's will for me? I knelt in silence; I dare not speak. I had had one lesson in self-will, and dared not say " No," while I feared to say "Yes." At last the answer came, " Yes Lord; if Thou wilt go with me every step of the way." I then told the Lord that as I could not go alone I should refuse to go any day I did not feel His presence and power with me. From that hour strength seemed slowly to return. Meantime arrangements were being made for the sailing of the 'Lammermuir party. I offered to remain a few weeks and help with the outfits.

About a fortnight before the ship sailed, one of the party withdrew through the illness of her mother. Passages had been paid, and unless another took her place the money would be lost. Mr. Taylor turned to me: I had been getting stronger was it not possible that God, having made me willing to stay, was now opening the way for me to go ? To Mr. Taylor it almost appeared so. I prayed, but could get no light; it seemed as if the Lord, having given me His orders, would hear nothing more on the subject, so I had to say, " I can't go," even though it almost broke my heart to say the word.

The Lammermuir sailed on May 26, 1866, and as I watched her towed slowly out from the docks I felt China must be left behind for the present. Mr. Taylor's home was broken up the day they left, but friends had kindly invited me to spend a few days with them previous to returning to Glasgow, and it was here I had my first lesson in faith. The friend who had been as a mother to me after my grandmother's death had died during my stay in London. I had, therefore, no home to return to. I had paid all my incidental personal expenses, and never having referred to money matters, friends must have supposed I had plenty, but in fact I only had just enough to take me by rail to Glasgow. Wishing to have a few shillings in my pocket, by which to obtain lodgings, I wanted to go by steamer, that being the cheaper way. Friends tried to dissuade me, not knowing my reason; the expenses were figured up and after removal of luggage, &c., &c., I found I would save but 4S. 6d., and they urged it was not worth taking so long a journey for that sum. I had been asked to visit a young lady on that day, and was about to write a note to say that, leaving by steamer, I could not keep my engagement, when the thought came to me, could I not give up that 4S. 6d. for the Lord's sake? Perhaps He had some service for me to do, or I might interest her in China, so I decided to go by the night train and keep my engagement. We had a time of sweet fellowship together, and, when leaving, she pressed a small packet into my hand, saying, "Take this as from Him." When I opened it there was exactly 4S. 6d. inside. Oh, how strengthened and helped I was by that simple act It seemed as if God had said, " Do not doubt; I will care for you."

I had never heard of living by faith, and if asked could hardly have told the meaning of the words; but I did know if an earthly master sent his servant to do some special work for him, he would at least see that he had enough to eat, and I dared not think my heavenly Father would treat His child worse than that, so I was " without carefulness " in this matter. I had learned to use my needle well, and thought I might help to support myself in that way. Having some warm Christian friends, I had no doubt that if I told them I wanted needlework they would be sure to let me have some, and for the rest the Lord would provide. My business was to do His will.

On my return to Glasgow I was still far from strong, but gave from ten till two daily in visiting the poor degraded outcasts of Salt Market district. No needlework offered, my Father seeing I was too weak to do anything more than the daily visiting. T soon learned why God had sent me in this way, for almost the first questions fiercely asked were: "What Church has sent you here?" " No Church.

"Who has sent you ? " "No one." "Are you not paid for coming?" "No." "Then why do you come ?" "Because I love you; I have been saved myself, and I want you to be saved too." And when they found that I was not only willing to read with and pray for them, but to nurse poor sick ones, kindle a fire, make beef tea, or sweep a hearth if need be, beside nursing their babies, both hearts and homes were opened to me at once. At first the elders of the Church to which I belonged were uneasy at so young a girl going into dens of such wretchedness, and one elderly man warned me of the dangers to which I was exposing myself, and feared that evil might befall me; but I felt that was God's business.

He had sent me, and He was responsible, and never during the three and a half years I laboured amongst them did I receive the least insult or hear unbecoming language if they knew I was present.

After three months, during which time God had provided for all my wants in a remarkable manner, sending money from whence I did not know, so that I had lacked nothing, I was one day asked to speak with a few of the elders. They said they thought perhaps God had called me, and they would like a share in the work-would I accept a small sum from them weekly ? I told them I could not be put under any rule what-ever; I had to feel my way to depend on God for wisdom by the hour, and must work just when and how I could; that if their money would mean being under their control, I must decline; but if they would like to help, no matter in how small a sum, leaving me quite free, I would rejoice in their fellowship. From that hour, until I left for China, three and a half years afterwards, they stood by me, helping me on, but never interfering. In this way the Lord supplied all my wants.

It was not long before I began to see that I was the one God wanted to train through these means. I had all my life had a hatred and dread of sin and sinners. A bad person filled me with disgust, and it was not till I was sent down there among the utterly lost that I began to separate between sin and the sinner, and while hating the one to love the other. They had human hearts, and readily responded to the touch of love, and I felt circumstances and God's grace alone had made me to differ. During that time, so far as I knew, only two had been converted, but God had put His child into His own school, and He was teaching her lessons that would have to be lived out when He gave her life's work. Never, never shall I cease to give God thanks for those years of contact with sin and for the faith lessons learned there, yet during all the time I never once lost the consciousness that my life's work lay in China, and I had but to wait His time.

"In due season we shall reap, if we faint not."-GAL. vi. 9.

IN the meantime, Mr. Stott had, after eighteen months spent in the neighbourhood of Ning-po, acquiring that dialect, gone to Wenchow, arriving there in November, 1867. He met with but scant courtesy. For three months he and Mr. Jackson, who had accompanied him from Tai-chow, lived in an inn. All feared them, and no one would rent a house to the hated foreigner. Again and again negotiations were almost complete, when the money would be returned and the weary search begin again.

At last a man of some influence, who had brought himself to despair by opium smoking and gambling, offered a house, and was bold enough to brave all the consequences. Mr. Stott moved there as quietly as possible, but next day the news had spread, and a large angry crowd assembled, determined to turn him out. They battered in the gate, bent on mischief. Mr. Stott came out and stood before them, and said, " You see I am a lame man; if I wanted to run away from you I could not; if you kill me you will, perhaps, get into trouble; if you let me alone you will find I shall do no harm; anyhow, I have come and mean to stay." They were taken aback by his quiet, strong words, and contenting themselves by throwing a few stones they dispersed and left him in peace.

As soon as possible he tried to begin a boys' school, and thought to induce regular attendance by providing them with a midday meal. A fair number attended, and they seemed to have made a good start, when one day, going into the schoolroom, he found the teacher, but no boys. He asked the meaning of it all, and was told that a report had spread abroad that he was inveigling children in on purpose to take out their hearts and liver to compound into medicine, and their parents were afraid to expose their children to such terrible dangers. No respectable person would take the position of servant, and so weary months had to be passed alone, in the midst of many dangers and discomforts, before confidence was fairly won.

Over two years he laboured alone, and for more than a year of that time never saw an English face, or ever heard a word of the English language, for from the time he arrived in Wenchow, in November, 1867, until he left, in February, 1870, to meet me, he had never left the city for a single night.

By that time he had established his boys' boarding school and had twelve boys entirely under his care; but only two men in the city had been baptized, and they proved disappointments in after years.

How much of his time was spent during these two years is given in a letter to a friend, written in 1869. He says, "My household consists of twelve boys, schoolmaster, my own teacher, two servant men, and an old washerwoman: if I rule them as I ought, it is well, but that is an open question. I shall give you a short account of how I spend my time. Getting up in the morning at six o'clock, meditation, prayer, and breakfast over, I have a short lecture or exposition in the school,. and prayers; then the needs of the family have to be examined and provided for, such as buying rice, vegetables, fish and firewood, needles, buttons, shoes, &c., the size, number, quality of each having to be decided upon. Marketing done, I go to my study, and prepare discourses for Sundays and evenings, or attend to any important visitor, ever seeking an opportunity of telling him of the true God, of sin, and salvation. After dinner I resume study, receive visitors, or ride out in the country, taking with me a few tracts, and find an opportunity to speak a word for Christ Jesus, for I dare not yet venture to preach in the streets. By the time I get home the boys are out of school, and then I have to keep them busy and out of mischief till suppertime, which takes place after dark. This over we have some recreation, recital of some tale from memory, or exhibition of pictures, with some music until ` prayer time,' when a few friends join us, when all who can, read the Scriptures verse about, then a short address, and close with prayer. After comes the children's question time, then I try to stretch their intellect as soon as it offers to peep out, and to foster it where it does not exist. My health is perfect; the climate agrees with me very well; sometimes I am in good spirits, and sometimes I have the dumps, and think hard things of everything and everybody, myself included. You cannot understand my position till you have been two years and more tied to your post, eight days' journey from the nearest settlement; yet, if any one would give me my choice to-day of any position, I could only say ` Wenchow.' I would not change it, if I could, to rule a nation."

After three and a half years' labour in the slums of Glasgow, my health being restored, I felt the time had come for me to go forth to China, and having in the meantime become engaged to Mr. Stott, I was sent out by the C.I.M. to share his labours, to be as far as possible a helpmeet to him.

I sailed alone from London in the sailing ship Kai-sow, on December 4, 1869, and prepared for the usual four months' journey. A few days after, I laughingly said to the captain, "I want to get into Shanghai on the 12th of March." He thought a moment and answered, "Not likely; if we do, it will be one of the fastest voyages on record. But," he asked, " why on the 12th of March ?" I answered, " I had a fancy to get in on my birthday."

The captain was a kind and good man, and his influence was so felt over the ship that during that long voyage I never heard a word a lady might not hear from those sailors. He also encouraged me with meetings with the men, and as we had a pretty fair voyage, I was able to have one twice a week with them, nearly all the time. Two or three professed to receive blessing, but I do not know if they stood the test of after years. The captain and his dear wife became life-long friends. In the Chinese seas we had a terrific storm, and as I had often longed to witness a real storm at sea, the captain jokingly said that he was sure I had prayed for this; the only consolation he had was, that we could not now reach Shang-hai on the 12th of March. Nevertheless we anchored at Woo-sung on the eve of the 11th, and on the 12th, my twenty fifth birthday, we arrived in Shanghai. Mr. Stott met me there, and took me on to Ning-po, where I was kindly welcomed by Dr. Lord. According to Consular regulations then, I had to wait a month before we could be married, and on the 26th of April, 187o, we were made one in life, as we already were in heart. The day after our wedding, the cook Mr. Stott had brought with him from Wenchow was baptized on profession of his faith.

It was my husband's desire to return at once to Wenchow to his work, but nearly three weeks passed before he could find a junk to take us down. The coast was infested at that time with pirates, and junks were afraid to sail unless in fleets, under the protection of a war junk. At last we sailed, and as we had a fair wind, expected to reach Wenchow in three or four days; but alas! for our hopes, when we reached Chu-san, only one tide from Ning-po river, the war junk refused to proceed until other junks had joined the fleet; so there we had to stay for nine days, while the fairest of winds was blowing.

I was anxious to see my new home, and being fresh out from England, and unaccustomed to the slow ways of the Chinese, my active temperament was sorely tried, as day after day we were put off with the promise we should leave by the next tide. I bore the disappointment as well as I could, until the eighth day, when, woman like, I had a good cry, which relieved my pent up feelings. We were fifteen days between Ning-po and Wenchow, a distance of only 150 miles. Wenchow itself is "beautiful for situation," having fertile mountains all round, and as we sailed slowly for days in and out amongst the islands, and then up the beautiful river, with grand mountains on either side, I almost fancied myself in dear old Scotland. Indeed the similarity has been remarked by many, except that instead of the clear blue lakes of the latter, we had the thick muddy water of the river. At that time Wenchow was not an open port, and indeed it was not until seven years after this date that trading steamers were permitted to sail up her waters.

On reaching there we got a very hearty welcome from Mr. Jackson, who had come from Tai-chow to take charge of Mr. Stott's work during his absence, but left soon after for his own station. Never shall I forget the amount of excitement my presence daily crowds of women came to see the first foreign lady who had been in their midst, and when I ventured out, it seemed as if the whole city was gathered to see me. At first I only went out in a sedan chair, but the bearers were compelled to stand still while they looked at the strange object. Nor did they get easily over their curiosity. For a long time I was a strange thing to them, as if hardly human.

My first year in China was full of trial, being the ever memorable year of the "Tien-tsin Massacre." It was long after the event before we got details of that horrible crime. The natives seemed to know all about it before we did, and very soon the city was placarded with the vilest reports about us. They said that at Tien-tsin all the foreigners had been killed or driven out of the place, because they kidnapped and murdered children, taking out their eyes, heart, and liver to compound into medicine. The same evil deeds were being done in this city. "Was it not known that we pretended to keep a school?" " Was it not true that so many children were missing ?" "Had not some seen barrels in which were salted down babies ? " " What was hard at Tien-tsin, was easy here, for there were but two; drive out the pests and let the city be at rest." Such were some of the expressions of the placards. For about three months I hardly dared venture out of the house, and my husband was often met with stones and vile curses. For a few days there was a stream of people looking in every conceivable place for the said barrels; one of the school-boys was asked where the missing children were, and when he said it was all nonsense and lies, they said he had eaten the foreign medicine and would not tell. For a time my husband felt very anxious; if he had been alone he could have braved it, but the responsibility of another life seemed to weigh upon him.

One day he asked what I thought of a plan to leave for a few days in a junk, hoping when we returned all would be quiet. I saw it was on my account he made this suggestion, and when I answered that I feared if we left we might never get back again, and that I would rather stay and trust the Lord, he felt quite relieved. Through the Lord's mercy we weathered that and many another storm; indeed, we got so used to threatening placards and having the day of our death posted up, which passed by as quietly as other days, that we began to feel less anxious about their threats. But in the midst of this time of suffering we were not without encouragement. Mr. Stott wrote in September, 187o, to a dear friend " Since I wrote you last, we have met with a few cheering circumstances. One came at a time when I was feeling cast down a little about the work. Owing to the massacre at Tien-tsin, we were in trouble and could not get out, and very few were coming in. One day a man came from the neigh bouring prefecture, and said he wanted to see me. He told me he had been in company with a man who was a member here, and had heard him speak stories of Jesus Christ and of the God who created the heavens and the earth, and sent His Son to die for sinners; that they read the Bible every night together, and prayed to God to pardon and redeem them, and that he believed the `doctrine' of Jesus and trusted on His merits for salvation, and that three or four others also believed. These I have never seen, but the man, who was a pedlar, and was in the city a few days refilling his pack, attended our evening worship every night, but has now gone again to pursue his business; also two of the boys are taking an interest in the truth; their minds are expanding and they most readily understand the Scriptures. Thus often the Lord encourages us even in our darkest moments, though not always does the fruit, which seems so promising at the time, mature."

CHAPTER III

`They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them."-Psa. cxv. 8.

ANOTHER letter, dated March, 1871, describing idol worship and processions, gives some idea how excited the people get at such a time:-" It is difficult to give information of idol worship, although I witnessed it daily, and idol processions are legion.

"Idols in Wenchow are usually made of a cross piece of wood to represent the body and arms, other pieces being fixed for legs; then on the wood is twisted straw ropes to bring it as much as possible to the form required; on the straw is added clay, laid on in coats or layers, each having to dry before the next coat is added, the whole process taking some months if the idol is a large one; the outer layer of clay is put on with much skill and care, as this must give expression to the countenance, &c. When dry, the painter smooths the cracks with putty, and paints in the orthodox fashion of its class. When all is finished there is generally a dedication feast, according to the rank of the idol; then it is established. The idol is first worshipped at the feast of its dedication, and according to the merits it is said to possess. The worshipper brings two small candles and lights them on the altar with a few sticks of incense. After placing them on the altar, he kneels on the kneeboard (I have seen very many kneel, go through a course of bowing, and then turn round for their pipe, light it composedly at the burning candle, sit, and enjoy a smoke on the kneeboard); a few more prostrations, and the affair is over. Processions are generally got up in honour of some festival. There are shops where all the fixings are kept, and they usually contract for so many articles, according to the money they are able to raise, and only those streets get the procession through which can afford to contribute well. All the beauties in the neighbourhood wear their gala dresses, and come and sit in their doors, or at the street crossing, to see and be seen. The procession is usually preceded by a band of boys gaudily dressed, bearing banners of gay and fantastic shapes, then a band of musicians, making the most unmusical, hideous sounds. A kind of pipe is conspicuous, but the universal gong is the most prominent, and pours forth a torrent of sound almost deafening. Then comes the idol seated in an enormous sedan chair carried by many bearers, the people kneeling and worshipping as it passes. I have seen the bearers streaming with perspiration under a vertical sun, and when it was set down wiping their tanned faces and falling on their knees before the disgusting object that was wasting their strength."

We lived at first in a small three-roomed Chinese house, having only the three upper rooms for our selves a bedroom, my husband's study, and the centre our living room. The rooms below were the bedrooms of the schoolboys. We had then a fairly decent man for a cook, but utterly untaught; my husband had existed on any kind of food they could provide, and suffered much from indigestion as the result. An amusing incident could be related of his experiences during this time; once being tired of rice three times a day, he asked his cook if he could not make him some cakes for breakfast. He beamed encouragingly, and next morning there were hot cak1es; but, oh! so solid and hard and with a lump of fat pork in the centre. Not relishing this, and yet not willing to discourage budding genius, he waited till all had gone to bed that night, and abstracted from the tiny larder all the pork that could be found. Next morning the hot cakes came as before. What could be in the centre this time? There was no pork in the house; the very suspiciously white mass was found to be nothing more hurtful than a piece of turnip. After that cakes were given up.

Instead of sitting down quietly and learning the language, as I would have liked, I had to put my house in order, which was not to be done in a day; the cook had to be taught how to cook, and the coolie had to be taught how to wash and iron clothes, clean, scrub, &c. Thanks to the early training of a careful grandmother, these things were not much of a trouble to me, except in the matter of bread making; time after time I tried to produce bread without yeast, following the recipes of cookery books, with the result that the bread might have done for hearthstones, but not for food. My husband encouraged me by saying it had a good taste, though it was a little hard; but for his patience I would probably have given up long before success crowned my efforts.

Some of my experiences in those early days were both trying and amusing. I remember one day, after having spent the morning teaching the coolie how to wash clothes, I had put a boilerful on to boil, and telling him not to touch them till I came back, I retired for an hour's rest. On returning I lifted the lid of the boiler, when to my horror I saw dark blue water and my clothes dyed dark; the coolie thought it a good opportunity of putting in his blue calico shirt, which was more lively than comfortable. Of course my work had to be done all over again.

I found not only the school children's clothing but my husband's claimed my attention. He had been put to some queer straits in his efforts to keep his stockings mended. Of course no native knew how to mend such things, and he had nearly as little idea himself. One day, while looking in his box for something to fill up a large hole, he spied a dress coat which he had brought from England with him. It was useless as it was, so he thought it would do for mending; cutting off one of the tails and spreading it on the floor, he put his foot on the top, made a chalk mark all round, leaving a good flap to turn over. It was a good evening's work, and when I ruthlessly cut off the feet of the said stockings he boasted they had lasted two years. The coat after-wards was given to his teacher, and, though minus a tail, kept him warm for several years under his Chinese garment. Flannels, too, were in a sad condition; of course they did not know how to wash such things. When I asked how they came to be this peculiar colour (a greenish yellow), he explained that the first time they were washed the coolie had put them into a tub, and poured the thick muddy water of the river over them, thus leaving them for a day or two; when washed and returned to Mr. Stott the hardness suggested a shaking, when the clouds of dust almost blinded him.

With so many other duties it was not to be expected that I could learn the language very fast. I was distressed after nearly two years to find, though able to speak enough for household matters, I was unable to teach the gospel to the women who almost daily visited me. My husband had engaged a Christian woman at Ning-po to help me in caring for the schoolboys; she loved to go with her hymn-book and New Testament visiting among the women. I was too ignorant at the time to know how little her Ning-po dialect was understood by our Wenchow women; perhaps it was well I did not know, for it comforted me greatly to do her work, while I sent her out daily to teach the poorer women around of the Saviour's love.

My health, too, suffered much from the climate; the second year I had a very severe illness, which nearly cost me my life. One day, while in a very low condition, my husband was called away to save a man who had eaten opium; he was 10th to leave me, too weak to make my wants known to others, but I urged him to go, for I was sorely tried by the thought that I was hindering instead of helping him, as I so longed to do. He had been gone, perhaps, about an hour. It was a hot day in July, and I suppose partly from the heat and partly from my weakness I fainted; when I recovered conscious-ness my bed was surrounded on all sides by school-boys, teachers, and servants who had come to wail thinking I was dead. One had run off for Mr. Stott, and meeting him on the way back, cried: " Oh, master, come back; mistress is dead!" Hoping it might be only a faint, he hurried home and found me restored to consciousness. I remember so well, when able to sit up a little, how I longed for two things, either of which I thought would make me well-the sight of one of my countrywomen, or a little beef-tea, neither of which were within my reach.

In those days we were not well off in the matter of food; we had but little communication with the out-side world except by letter. Once in two years we took a holiday, when we brought in necessary stores to last us the next two years, for in the city of Wenchow we could neither get beef or mutton, milk, potatoes, or butter.

But these were by no means our greatest hardships; the indifference of the people affected us more than our surroundings. After the second year I had the servants trained, so that I could give most of my time to missionary work. I began first by visiting in their homes, and everywhere I was well received, being a curiosity to be looked and wondered at. They thought it strange I should speak their language, but they had little heart for my message. Alas! they did not know they needed a Saviour.

About this time my husband and Mr. Jackson, who had joined us about the end of my first year, rented a large shop in the busy part of the city for a chapel; they fitted up one part of it as a bookshop, and a native preacher sat daily selling books and preaching to all who might come in, and in the afternoon the large chapel was thrown open, when either my husband or Mr. Jackson preached. At first crowds came to hear, but after a time they dropped off, and the ones and the twos who really wanted to be taught came to listen. An extract from Mr. Stott's letter describes the kind of crowd he often had to deal with:

"When the gates are opened, in rushes every one near-street strollers and loungers, rowdies, travelling tradesmen of all kinds, hawkers crying out their wares, conjurors, fortune-tellers, musicians, thieves and beggars; the shaven pate of a Buddhist priest, the cowl of the Taoist priest may also be seen, and the noise is almost beyond description. I assure you it is no easy task to arrest or keep the attention of such a crowd, and it is a great strain upon the lungs and intellect, as I have proved yesterday by experience. In the forenoon I kept nearly every eye fixed, every mouth open, and every tongue quiet for more than three quarters of an hour, while I told them of the origin of sin, its effects, and salvation through our Redeemer. Many listened attentively all the time; the greater portion flit about, go and come, and never sit down. My daily prayer is that our chapel may be the birthplace of many souls. Yesterday far more than a thousand people heard; it takes long for them to understand, but by God's blessing we are giving ` line upon line ' as they are able to receive it."

About the same time he refers to the conversion of the two eldest boys in the school; they, with two other boys, were baptized soon after. A letter written by these boys to the same friend, who had shown them much kindness, is here inserted, and may be interesting as a specimen of Chinese composition:

" Honoured and respected Sir,-We, the under-mentioned boys, in the tenth moon and twenty-seventh day received a letter from you, which our teacher, Mr. Stott, translated for us. You have for a long time shown us much kindness, and your kind exhortations to us are very good.

"We Wenchow boys, although the road is very long, seem so near as almost to eat with you at the same table; we cannot thank you enough for the interest you take in us.

"In the first place, we want to thank you for the beautiful pictures you sent us, although in themselves not of infinite value, yet they manifest a loving heart. Also you continually pray for us ignorant boys, that in school we may increase knowledge and continue in good bodily condition; also that in reading the Bible we may understand and know about God. We also do a little at the books of the native sages, and are able to understand somewhat, because you pray for us, but your very humble servants know but little of propriety; we also forget your grace, and have no grace to give you in return; our faces are like brass, and our necks stiff as iron-forgive us.

"By the grace of God in the former part of this year a chapel was opened in the Five Horse Street, and very many have heard the gospel. At first they were very noisy and understood but little, now there is a great difference for the better; they are willing to sit quietly and listen. To preach is also far less difficult. Also, before we removed, our sleeping rooms were much hampered; but we are better here the rooms are large and can accommodate five or six easily: no matter how many come, there is room.

"At worship we every morning and evening read the Scriptures and pray to God. At present in the mornings we are reading the Book of Jeremiah the prophet of God, how the Lord sent him to the King of Judah with a message; but the king would not listen to him, but hardened his heart, and disgraced the prophet by putting him into a dungeon; but the Lord vindicated His servant, and manifested His power by punishing that king and his people. At evening worship we are reading the fifth book of the New Testament, the Acts of the Apostles; we are at the ninth chapter, where Saul persecuted the disciples of Jesus. He was fierce as a lion, and intended to eat up the disciples, by means of a letter from the authorities at Jerusalem; but on the way to Damascus he met the Lord, who changed his heart, and from that day till the day of his death he served the Lord. The mystery of God we are unable to understand, but we are sincere in our worship. We pray that the grace of God may be abundantly to you, and yours, to all generations.

" P.S.-When you see errors in our writing or our composition, pass lightly over, and don't laugh at us, for we are already ashamed of ourselves.

"Written at the school house of Wenchow, tenth moon, twenty-seventh day.

"SENG SI NYU,

"Tsiu DIE CHENG,

"For all the rest."

Mr. Stott writes:-" There are many things to give trouble and anxiety; it is not all smooth sailing, nor yet all success. If we were to sum up our defeats, I am sure it would be easy for me to show ten failures for one success." In writing of the difficulties of sustained teaching, he adds: " When the novelty of reading or speaking God's Word wears off, it needs a strong hold within the veil to sustain us; only close living and walking with God can do this, and my experience leads me to the conclusion that it can only be got or maintained by living, active faith and prayer-real prayer, the soul grappling like Jacob, getting strength, not weakness, from the struggle."

In November, 187I, we had an interesting case of conversion that of a Buddhist priest. After he had believed the truth he left his monastery, returned to his native village, and began farm work. He was most earnest in telling all whom he met of the God who had saved him, and we had hoped for fresh openings through his efforts; but only a few months after his baptism, while on his way to join us in a communion service, his boat was overturned in a storm, and our brother, with twenty eight others, found a watery grave. It is to this man Mr. Stott refers in the following:

"Last night three elderly men from the country remained to inquire further about the `doctrine,' and seemed in earnest. Our friend, the Buddhist priest, has come, and begs not to be sent away again with-out baptism. He says that in and round his village twenty-eight people believe the gospel, and have turned from idolatry. That statement must be modified, and perhaps really means that about that number acquiesce in what he says about worshipping idols, and of the only living and true God; but allowing it to be modified, there is still a good margin in his favour. If he has faithfully told twenty eight persons all he knows, that is something. He says he is known for ten miles round as the turncoat priest."

Two years later there was another interesting case of a man who had been a priest all his life, and was over seventy when he first heard the gospel ' attended more or less regularly for two or three years, and then asked to be baptized; but was told he could not be a follower of Christ while wearing the priestly garb, and living on the gains of idolatry. This was a sore disappointment; he was an old man, unable to work, and had no means but feared the This was a case we longed to help, result upon the young church. He continued in the temple, but got others to perform his priestly duties; he was troubled at not being baptized, so one day, putting on clean garments, he went to a mountain stream near by, prayed on the bank, then plunged in and baptized himself. A few days afterwards he met with one of the Christians, and asked d the whether the thought that baptism would do was unable to give him any information, never having heard of such a case before.

It was not long ere we heard of the fruit of this man's labour. Mr. Stott, writing to a friend a few months afterwards, says:

"During the last ten days three new inquirers have come; one, an old man near seventy, has been a vegetarian for nearly forty years, and has been to all the temples in the district worshipping. Lately, he went to a temple some distance from his home to burn candles, &c.; while worshipping, the priest saw him, and after making sure there was no one to hear, said, ` Elder brother, I have been a priest for sixty years, and worshipped these things until two years ago; but they never did me any good, and never will. You, like myself, are an old man, and must soon die. Come inside and I will tell you who, and how, to worship.' He then took him into his room and preached Jesus to him. The question naturally arose, `Where did you hear such things ?' `From the foreigners in the city.' `From the foreigners! ' he exclaimed; `why, there is no crime under heaven but the foreigners have committed, and they are going to be beheaded one of these days, if indeed it be not already done.' The priest assured him that was untrue, and told him he had been to Wenchow only three days before, and had listened to the true words of God. The priest informed him that some tens of good men had entered the religion, and were going to eternal happiness in heaven; he, too, would have joined them, but he was too old to earn his rice, and had nothing to depend on but the temple, and the missionary had said he could not be a disciple of Jesus and eat the rice of idols. All this and much more the poor old priest told him; also of pardon and peace through Jesus, God's Son. He died in the temple, but, we believe, a true disciple."

About this time a man from Dong-ling dropped in to hear the foreigner. He was interested, and had a good a long talk with the native preacher. He had a good many questions to ask, and returned home to think. He came again and again, and, after a while, truly received the truth. He had been told that opium growing was nearly as bad as opium smoking. He had some growing in his fields, and his became troubled. One night he was trying to argue with himself: he was poor; it paid better than anything else; it was too late in the season to grow wheat; he would let it alone this year, but give it up the following. He could not sleep, however; the question troubled him more than he liked. and cut At own he rose by dawn, took his scythe, every root of opium. He was baptized soon after, and, when we visited him two years later, we found his wife and mother true Christians; he also con ducted morning and evening prayers, when eleven of his neighbours joined him.

Surely this was an instance of what a sincere heart and simple eye to God can do. He had but little ability, but what he had he used for God.

CHAPTER IV

"They imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform."-PsA. xxi. II.

IN April, 1873, Mr. Stott paid his first visit into the Dong-ling district, and thus writes:-"Last week I made a journey into the country, to a place distant about twenty miles from here. Two days before I went to a village about six miles off, and when I returned I found my pony's back sadly hurt by the saddle. There was nothing for it but to rest him for two days and re-stuff my saddle, which was a difficult job for me. At the time appointed, accompanied by one of the members, and a man to carry my bed, I got off pretty early. It was a lovely spring morning, and the road we had to travel was beautiful in the extreme. I heard the frogs croaking for the first time this season; the oil plant was in full bloom, filling the air with fragrance; farmers were sowing the early rice, and the bamboo groves were full of the melody of singing birds; the snakes also were out sunning themselves, and wriggling their ugly forms on the sides of the path. After riding about five miles or so, we struck the foot of the hills, and after dinner we came to the district we had in view, and I rode from hamlet to hamlet, preaching view, and I rode from has and selling books. The whole there district never been a out to see and hear, for foreigner in that place before. We could see men in the fields a mile off throw down their humble servant. As if for life, and all to see your gathered more...tick and we advanced the crowds of the noise of a Chinese noisy. One cannot judge listens, but crowd till they have heard one; nobody and such everybody shouts at the top of his voice, piercing sounds, no Saxon throat could produce anything like them.

"I continued preaching until nearly sundown when went to the house where livelier pen t but the scene there would need of it. At last, almost in mine to give even an I took my crutch and gave a knock on the. despair, wooden partition, and ordered every tongue to be still and listen to me. To my surprise I succeeded in getting them quieted pretty well, and then preached salvation Jesus Christ till my throat was sore. Then the man who carried my bed took up the subject and showed them that made of wood and clay could not do any one good, and exhorted them all to worship the only living and true God, who had sent Jesus Christ, His dear Son, to open the way of heaven for them, and who is now there interceding for those who trust Him. Most of the people left to get their evening rice, but soon returned in greater force than ever; and, though tired and weary, I had to begin again and preach to a late hour. Then I asked all to leave and return in the morning, but just as I was going to bed a deputation from the elders of the village came, saying that all the wisest of the old men were in a house near by and wanted a quiet interview, to hear and see for themselves, for the youngsters had brought strange news. This was a rare good chance of speaking for, our blessed Saviour, and lifting up my heart to Him for guidance, He gave it, and enabled me to speak of His Holy Name.

"I continued for nearly an hour to address four-teen men, who listened most attentively all the time. One asked `how to worship this true God.' I told him, and knelt on the wet mud floor and prayed for them all, thanked God for His goodness in giving them life and food, and asked Him to send the Holy Spirit to teach them and open their hearts. When I got up they all were surprised; some looking at me with amazement, not knowing what to make of it. One asked, ` But will God hear you?' I answered, `Your own books tell you that heaven has eyes, which is true; would it not be strange if heaven had eyes and no ears ?' They all replied, `True, true.'

"At a very late hour they left, and I could not help thanking God for such a golden opportunity of setting His Name before so many people."

These preaching tours were continued as often as possible. Sometimes I would accompany him to the nearer places, but more often I had to remain to look after home affairs.

Referring to another of these tours, Mr. Stott writes:

"Some three weeks ago I had an interesting preaching tour. We visited a good many towns and villages, and had often over a thousand listeners; sometimes we preached from the theatre stand, or in the village temple, or again, when no good situation was obtainable, from my horse's back. I had two Christian natives with me, who also preached in turn. One, however, lost his voice after the second day, but the other continued to speak. He could be heard a quarter of a mile off. I have seldom listened to a voice equal to his; perhaps the late lamented Duncan Matheson's was as good, but Duncan's was a deep bass, and the native I refer to was a shrill tenor, and anything but pleasing. However, he preached Jesus Christ plainly and fully. These stayed about ten days after I left, and preached in a few other places.

"I did not feel comfortable in staying away too long, with Mrs. Stott all alone, and so many people to look after; but she can get along much better now, can speak pretty well, and is making good progress in the Chinese character. She goes out to visit twice a week, and has a daily class of the smaller boys, and an advanced Bible class on Sunday afternoons. Besides, she takes the entire charge of the food and clothing of the school; that, with the addition of our own affairs and her Chinese studies, keeps her busy, so that she seldom has an hour to spare; but I am thankful to say she is in good health.

"I wish I had time to refer in greater detail to the many places visited at this time. One, in particular, struck me as being the most lovely I have ever seen; but the people seemed sadly degraded. The village was situated in a glen of almost horse shoe shape; at the back and sides the hills rose high and abrupt, assuming almost the aspect of mountains, while on in front was a long plain, widening as it went. A beautiful stream ran past the village, which we crossed; the gardens seemed full of fruit, oranges, pomeloes, and pomegranates, all ripening on the trees. The head family of the village took us in for the night and treated us well. After supper the people came crowding in, and I preached to them to a late hour, while the natives who were with me had a still larger audience in the reception hall. They treated me thus kindly because 1 had formerly cured one of the ladies when ill with fever.

"Next morning I was up, had breakfast, and in the saddle again at sunrise, and made our way to another village, when the whole population turned out to the temple yard. I climbed on to the theatre stand and preached in turn with the native assistant. By and by the head priest raised some objection to our preaching in front of the gods. I said if the people objected I would go somewhere else; but most cried, `No, no, stop where you are.' One of the crowd called out, `If the priest is not quiet, we will carry him to the top of the hill and make him fast to a tree.' That remark caused a good deal of merriment at the expense of the poor priest, who remained quiet for the rest of the time. As I wanted to push on I did not accept the kind hospitality of the village schoolmaster, who wished to detain me to dinner."

After this quite a number in Dong-ling became interested, and my husband was invited to go and preach to them. He did so, with the result that a little church was formed in the house of one of the members.

One day Mr. Stott had gone to Dong-ling in the hope of finding a house he could rent as a chapel. On the day I expected him home a man came from there bringing me a large fish as a present, and saying Mr. Stott had found a place for a chapel, and had sent him for money to settle the matter. The present of the fish was a little suspicious. I asked whether he had not a letter for me, and he said he had, but on stepping out of the boat it had dropped into the canal and was lost. A few more questions revealed the rogue, and as I spoke of sending for Yamen runners, he ran off, leaving the fish behind him. A little later my husband returned, and as we discussed the fish at tea we laughed over the clumsy attempt at fraud.

I think it was in 1873 or 1874 we were surprised one morning by a strange man coming in with a small bundle of bedding on his back. Almost his first words were, "I have come to stay and be taught the doctrine." We did not receive people in that easy fashion, but when my husband sat down to talk with him he heard a strange story. The man had been a soldier during the Taiping rebellion. He left father, mother, and a young wife to serve his country, and was absent two or three years. During his absence his wife had died, though his father and mother were still alive. He had become disgusted with what he had seen of the world, and had deter mined to give himself up to a religious life. What money he had he spent in purchasing coffins for his father and mother, and making their graves. Having fulfilled this filial duty he retired to the hills to lead a holy life. He built himself a very small hut, with bed and bedding too short to lie down in, compelling himself to rest in a sitting posture. He soon got a name for sanctity, and the people of the neighbouring villages brought him presents of food in return for his prayers. One day a man was passing the house of a Christian, and on being asked by him where he was going, replied, "To the hermit with a present." " Oh," said the Christian; " wait a moment, I, too, have a present for him." He brought out a Gospel, and asking the young man to give it to the holy man on the hill, went on with his work, probably thinking no more of the matter. Some days after this the hermit saw the young man again, and asked where that book came from. He answered, "I suppose from the foreigner in Wenchow, but I know little about it. My neighbour talks about a true God, and one Jesus Christ; but I don't understand." The poor hermit became restless to know something more about this strange doctrine, and for the first time in three years he came down the hill and walked to Wenchow to inquire after the true God. After hearing his story, my husband invited him to stay with us for a week, and seeing his diligent study of the Bible and eagerness to learn, asked him to stay on a few weeks longer.

One morning, while I was having a Bible-class with the schoolboys and others who had joined, the subject being John iii., I saw this man weeping. My husband took him aside and asked him what was the matter. He only answered, " My sins, my sins 1 "

It was the first time we had seen a Chinaman weep because of sin, and it thrilled us through and through. He never returned to the hill again, but in his home he found too much opposition to contend with, and, strange to say, though we sent time after time, and prayed much for him, he never entered into the truth. After a year or so he led us to understand he did not care for us to send to him any more, as his parents did not want him to become a Christian.

But the young man who had carried the book to him, and of whom we had never thought, began to wonder what was in that book, to cause the man to come down from the hill and break his vow of sanctity. He inquired further into the truth, and, after a time, was converted, and through him his father, mother, and aunt became Christians, and are still in the church.

We had often trials and disappointments through the duplicity and love of gain, which is so common in the Chinese character; a man would profess a most earnest desire for the truth, and seem to hold it very precious, while all the time his hope was that he would get employment of some kind. A case in point was a school teacher, who seemed to be converted, and almost daily would, of his own accord, stop the boys in their studies to read the Bible and pray with them. He had been an opium smoker, but professed to have given it up when he became a Christian; but later on he went back to his opium and gave up all profession of faith in Christ. He had two boys in school, who, after the usual term of education, were apprenticed to trades; for a long while we lost sight of them, but a few years ago the eldest of them was truly converted, and is now one of our volunteer unpaid preachers.

There was another who deceived us for years; he had been a fortune-teller, but when he professed to receive the gospel he gave up everything of the kind, and seemed to be very earnest in telling his friends and neighbours the good news. This brought some persecution upon him, which he bore bravely. At last they trumped up a case against him; he was taken to the Yamen and accused of crimes he had never committed. The mandarin told him plainly that if he would renounce this foreign religion he might be set free; but he answered, "You may cut my head off, but I will never renounce the Christian religion." He was kept in prison for nearly three months, and we were powerless to help him.

We were much touched by his steadfastness, and began to think that after all we must be wrong in our want of confidence in him, for somehow we never could quite trust him. He farmed his own land, but spent much of his time in volunteer preaching, so that through his efforts the work began to grow much in the Dong-ling district. The question of employing him often came up in our minds, for we were sorely in need of teachers in those early days, but this feeling we had, of not being quite sure of our man, kept my husband from doing so. He grew tired of waiting, and, after a little agitation, boldly went over to the Roman Catholics, saying that he had waited for seven years in the hope of employment, and that if we would not pay him he would have nothing to do with us. The Roman Catholics employed him, and the true character came out in his determined efforts to upset our work; he had brought many of these men into the church, and meant to take them out if he could, but happily he had been the means of bringing in better men than himself, and only a very few halting ones followed him; but he was a thorn in our flesh for many years.

About the year 1874 we passed through a series of difficulties through evil reports; if there was evil in the city the foreigner must be at the bottom of it, A secret society, called the " ring " society, had sprung up; Mr. Stott was said to be the head and moving spirit; all who chose to join would receive a gold ring and four dollars, but they would be pledged to do all in their power to upset the present government. Mr. Stott was pestered for gold rings and dollars, and one day, making sure that an applicant knew what he was doing, and was ready for any villainy, he felt the time had come to put a stop to it. Sending his card to the Yamen, he asked them to take charge of the man and to inquire into the case. Two Yamen runners were at once sent, and before they had taken him outside the gate they had possessed themselves of his best garments and hat. After a few days my husband requested the man might be set at liberty, and we were no more troubled with the " ring "society.

An uneasy feeling was all over the city at this time. A band had been organised amongst the hills for a raid upon the city. They were known to be strong, and of course the foreigner was said to be at the head. It had been working for months. The authorities took alarm, and sent to Tai-chow for troops. Cannons were placed upon the city walls, the gates closed each night at sunset, and a mandarin placed upon guard until daybreak. We knew our name was connected with this uprising, but we had passed through so many storms of the kind that my husband and Mr. Jackson left me, as usual, to visit the out-stations, and expected to be away nearly a fortnight. They had only been gone a few days, when the school teacher came to me in great alarm, and said the city was posted with violent placards. Mr. Stott, they said, had gone to train and organise the band, while I was taking in large quantities of rice in order to feed them when they came. The teacher said there was great danger of an attack upon us, and urged me to write to the mandarin and request protection. I thought and prayed over the matter, and finally decided to wait patiently the return of my husband. In answer to prayer they came home four or five days earlier than expected. Mr. Stott at once wrote the authorities denying these statements, stating we were quiet and peaceable people, bent only on preaching peace to all men, and that we had nothing to do with any kind of society, and asking for a proclamation to this effect. This the mandarin granted, but his proclamations were no sooner up than they were torn down, or bespattered with mud. The people seemed bent on mischief, and we were warned by friendly neighbours we had better leave. But how could we leave the few sheep we had gathered in from the wilderness ? They did not know the heart of the Shepherd.

At last things got so threatening that our servants were warned to leave us; an attack, they said, had been decided upon for the following Tuesday, and if they did not go they would probably share our fate. So on the Saturday our two servants, and the woman who looked after the boys, said they must leave us that day. My husband called me downstairs to tell me the sorrowful news. It was evident the servants were frightened, and I thought we should be better without timid people about us. Our coolie had recently professed conversion, and it was a bitter disappointment that he should leave us in our hour of need. We had expected the hatred of the heathen, but not the desertion of the Christian. Without expressing any regret we offered him his wages with the others, but he refused to take them, saying he would be back in a week. " Yes, after we are killed, or the danger over," were the words that arose in my heart. But I was soon to be ashamed of such unkind thoughts, for in about an hour he returned and begged to be allowed to stay. The others returned a week later, when they saw we were still alive.

This coolie had rather a hasty temper, which sometimes brought him into trouble. One evening, while we were at prayer, we could hardly hear our own voices for the noise of quarrelling downstairs. Mr. Stott went to see what was the matter, and found the coolie and one of the elder boys had quarrelled. He spoke seriously to them, remarking that it was very sad, after all the teaching, that we should be disturbed while in prayer by their quarrels. The coolie hastily produced the horsewhip; putting it in front of Mr. Stott, and himself in position for whipping, he remarked, "I am the one most to blame, whip me." He was told he must go to God to seek and find forgiveness; and this, I have no doubt, he did, but he seemed disappointed that he was not whipped also.

Of course I had all the housework to do in the meantime. We were not, however, without real anxiety, for there was no doubt that an attack upon the city was intended, and we knew if the robbers came we should suffer both at their hands and at the hands of the enraged people, who looked upon us as the cause of all their suffering. So we made a few private plans. A long rope was secured and kept in a convenient place; this was to let us over the city wall, where we could fly towards the sea. But we hardly knew what to do with a few of our school boys who had no homes. A friendly neighbour promised that he would give us the first alarm, so that we might have time to escape. One midnight a terrific knocking at the gate aroused us from our first sleep. In a moment we were on the verandah listening breathlessly to know what it could be. The man who had promised to tell us of the first danger rushed in crying, "Mr. Stott, get away as soon as you can; the insurgents have broken in the west gate, trampled upon the mandarin, and are now making their way through the city." My husband went down to gather our people together, to see who would go with us to share our uncertain fate, but first he despatched a messenger to find out if the news were really true. Downstairs they were having prayer, commending us all to God, while I was upstairs preparing for flight. It was warm weather, so I only had to roll a tinsel coat for my husband and a thin gown for myself, which made a very small parcel, tying twenty dollars round my waist, and putting the rest into a bag tied to the neck of a bottle in which were secured the title-deeds of the house, intending to sink them into the well. These few preparations being completed I went downstairs, rope in one hand and small bundle in the other. Even to this sad picture there was a ludicrous side, for we were gravely asked by one of the elder boys "what were we going to do with the furniture ? " The messenger returned saying the news was true, and we had better get off as soon as possible; but I knew from the short time I had been upstairs it was impossible for him to have been to the west gate and back: I suggested to Mr. Stott to ask him, and he acknowledged that he had not, but all the city was talking about it. He was again despatched, with orders to run all the way, and, if true, to run back with all haste, and we might still have time to escape. Oh, what a long, long time it seemed; every moment was precious, and might mean life to us. At last he returned, only to say it was a false alarm; a band of thieves had spread the report, and when the poor people, panic-stricken, ran from their houses, they went in and helped themselves. We thanked God, went to bed, and slept soundly till morning.

During those early years it seemed impossible to live without offence before the people. For instance, my husband built a chimney, and though not very high, immediately it was conjectured to be a signalling apparatus to communicate with steamers; a neighbour's child took ill and died, and the unfortunate chimney was found to be the cause. A deputation waited upon us to request that the chimney should be pulled down; this was done, but soon afterwards some one else in the neighbourhood took ill, and the cause this time was found to be my husband's stable -that, too, must come down. My husband explained that he could not afford the expense, but as it was for their own benefit they were at liberty to pull down the obnoxious thing and rebuild any shape they approved at their own expense. This settled the question, and the poor horse's stable was left untouched. Another time, while Mr. Stott was preaching in the chapel to a large and seemingly attentive audience, he happened to look at his watch, when a man asked, "What is that he is looking at? " The reply was, "A kind of hocus-pocus instrument whereby he can tell how many are to be hocussed by his preaching, and when they are hocussed to the desired number and extent he will stop." Mr. Stott knew nothing of this till some time afterwards when, going into the country, he found the whole place full of the absurd story.

CHAPTER V

"Our Lord is above all gods."-PSA. cxxxv. 5.

I was about this time my husband sent a preacher j to open up work in the city of Bing-yie. As usual, crowds came to listen at first, but soon dropped off, and he, feeling rather lonely, asked that some one might be sent to help him. We had no one to send, so my husband sent a Christian schoolboy, named Z-niie, thirteen years of age, for a few months to keep him company. One day the lad entered into a heathen temple; he could not see worshippers, but at every shrine there were lighted candles and incense, showing some one had been there. Turning round, he saw an old man just finishing his obeisance to the last of the numerous gods, and as he sat down to rest the lad addressed him. " Venerable grand-father," said he, "why do you worship these idols? They are made of clay, and can neither see, hear, or help you. Indeed they cannot help themselves, for see, some of their fingers are broken off, and others have had the hair of their moustachios stolen by rats. Rats do not steal the hair of your moustache: why? Because you are a living man. How foolish, then, to worship these things which even the rats may rob with impunity. Not only so; do not the rats make their nests inside these very idols? " The old man sighed, and said, "What am I to do? " The lad then told him of the God in heaven, and of Jesus Christ His Son, and the way of salvation that had been provided for "whosoever will."

The old man listened with great astonishment, he had never heard such wisdom. As he was deeply interested, he was invited to the chapel to hear more from the preacher. He not only came himself, but brought his old wife; and after a time they both became truly converted, and for years led godly, consistent lives. The aged couple are now in glory.

This young lad, who was converted when he was about twelve, afterwards became an earnest and successful preacher in this very city of Bing-yie. I remember Mr. Stott, in speaking, before sending him out on his first mission, told him he was to preach Christ, and to leave idolatry and their idols and idol customs alone; for as soon as truth entered into their heart the other would soon go out. After talking for some time he asked the boy if he understood what he meant. He said," Yes; you mean like this: the people are now living in an old tumbled down hut, and you don't want me to pull this down about their ears. I am, as it were, to build a beautiful house, furnished with all good things, and then invite them to leave their old broken down hut and enter into their new possession." That young man laboured earnestly, preaching often in the open air; by and by consumption manifested itself, and in spite of all our efforts, so precious, and as it seemed to us so necessary, a life in the early stage of our work, ended. He died, twenty five years of age. That was a great loss to the young church, for he had been well taught and trained by Mr. Stott.

In 1872, our cook, who was baptized the day after our marriage, married a heathen girl. We were grieved, yet what could we do? To insist that the Christians should marry " only in the Lord v was practically to forbid marriage, seeing there were no Christian women within seven days' journey of them. The influence of the heathen wife was soon apparent, first in coldness of heart, then in utter indifference to spiritual things, and before two years were over we had to dismiss him from the church. This led us to see something must be done to supply the great need of Christian wives for our Christian young men, if we would have a strong and healthy church. So after much prayer and thought on the subject we decided to commence a girls' boarding school. There were many difficulties in the way; we had no suitable accommodation for girls; then we determined we would have no bound feet, and that we knew would probably prevent our getting the kind of girls we wanted. Some other schools had felt it necessary to continue this evil practice, because of this very difficulty; and one school that I knew of had found it very hard to contend against this almost universal custom. But we felt the importance of being pioneers, and were anxious to begin on a solid basis, that others could build upon. It was better we should fight these questions at first, rather than start on easier lines and have the battle to face later on. We therefore gave out that we were prepared to take in a few girls under ten years of age, that we should feed, clothe and educate them free of expense to their parents, but we should require that their feet be unbound, and that we should have the right to betroth them to those whom we thought fit persons, and that the parents should have no power to betroth them without our consent.

At this time we only had one old woman in the church, and she was the first to bring me her grand daughter. I explained clearly that her feet would be unbound. To this and the other rules she cheer-fully consented. The child was a dear little thing, nine years of age, and being the only one, I had her with me a good deal and of course became very fond of her. When the parents saw this, they thought the time had come to make a fuss about her feet. They seemed to think I should be sure to give way rather than lose the pretty little thing that was so winning; so one day a message was brought to me that the child's mother had been crying night and day, for some time; that she was then tearing her hair, be-moaning the fate of her child who should grow up with feet like a man; she would never get a husband, for who would care for a girl with large feet ? She therefore requested me to send her home, as she would rather beg from door to door than see her daughter so disgraced. I told the messenger they had brought her of their own free will; they understood our terms, and had agreed to them; that if they wanted her back they must come and fetch her: but first they must pay me the expenses of food and clothing, the amount which I had expended upon her. Of course they were unable to do this, and as I was firm they unwillingly gave in, and so our first battle. against foot binding was fought and won.

Still there was a great difficulty in getting girls, owing to this question, and for several years we had to be content with four, two of whom we certainly would not have received later on when our position was established and the benefits of the school manifested.

The girls' school has now been in existence twenty two years, and has proved a great blessing to the church. The girls have had a thoroughly practical training, and most of them become Christian workers after they leave school. During the last ten years, twenty two girls have been married, three only of whom have left school unconverted. There are seven or eight of our married girls who take regular classes among women and children. For nearly ten years we saw but little spiritual fruit, two or three professed to believe on Jesus, but there was no corresponding power or change in their lives. Our Bible-readings seemed the most wearisome part of the day to them, and they appeared to have no spiritual perception. For the first few years, while the children were young, I did not feel the burden, perhaps, as heavily as I ought to have done; but as years passed on I became almost desperate. Many a time I have gone from the school to my room with literal tears, sobbing, " Will these girls never be saved ? " But in 1884 the Lord -was pleased to visit us with a very gracious revival.

There was no indication of the coming blessing, save that the elder girls were more attentive than usual with the Bible lessons. One morning in June we were sitting as usual at our work, the elder girls a little apart with their needlework, while I was surrounded by a group of little ones whom I was teaching to sew and knit. The quiet was suddenly disturbed by the eldest girl saying:" Teacher, do you think if I came to Christ now, He would save me ? " I looked at the girl, there was an expression of earnestness on her face I never had seen before. She continued, " You have often urged me to come to Christ, but I have never been willing; will He take me now ? " I could hardly speak for the joy that welled up in my heart. I answered, " Oh, yes," and began to tell her of my own conversion when I was two years younger than she. While I spoke, she burst into tears, and with a cry and sob ran from the room. I could contain myself no longer, but with tears of joy I ran into my husband's study, and cried: " Blessing is coming at last; Ah-mai is seeking the Lord." We knelt together to pour out our thanksgiving, after which I returned to the girls. I found Ah-mai in her room. We knelt together by her bed while I asked God to have mercy upon her soul, to save her then and there; and thinking it best to leave her alone for a time, I returned to the schoolroom. Two other girls were sobbing, and when I asked what was the matter they answered, " We are such sinners." I called them upstairs, that I might quietly point them to the Saviour, but their distress was so great they could hardly listen.

One sobbed, "You don't know how bad I have been," and going to her cupboard she took out pieces of calico and little odds and ends I had given them to mend their clothes with, also one hundred cash (about fourpence); she put these into my hand and said: " Take them away; they are not mine, I stole them." She explained that she had purloined little bits of material, &c., and with them had made little stomachers, and the hundred cash was the money she had received for them. The whole thing was of very little value, yet I did not wish her to think lightly of sin. I reminded her that Christ had saved a thief once.

The other girl said: "I have been worse than that. Do you remember, years ago, losing your silver brooch ? Search was made, and it was found under Ah-yung's pillow; everybody thought she had taken it, but I stole it, and fearing to be found out, I put it there."I did feel indignant, and asked how she could stand by and see me punish an innocent child. I was so grieved I scarce knew what to say, but felt the first thing was to put this right with the one who had suffered. Assembling the whole school, and calling the little one to me, I asked if she remembered my having punished her a few years before for stealing a brooch ? The child did not remember anything about it. I tried to refresh her memory, but it was no use, she had completely forgotten the circumstance. I told her how grieved I was I had accused her, but had done so ignorantly; it was nevertheless a wrong, and in presence of the school I asked her to forgive me.

Quite a number of little eyes twinkled that morning; it was the first time their teacher had to confess to them her wrong doing, and they rather enjoyed it. I then told the guilty girl that I had made all the reparation I could, and it was for her to find out in what way she could repair her fault. I was pleased afterwards to hear that she had given the little girl the whole of her month's money in compensation, but that the child generously returned half.

In a few days those three were clearly and distinctly converted, and in three weeks afterwards three more. One girl had already left the school to be married, and was still unsaved. As soon as the others were converted themselves they began in earnest to pray for this one; I was delighted when they asked me to join them in prayer. The following Sunday one of the newly converted girls took the opportunity to speak to her, and told her how we were praying she might be saved. She answered carelessly, " It is no use, my heart is cold and hard; I do not seem even to care to be saved." The following Saturday they asked if, in company with another Christian, they might visit her; and on their return they almost rushed into my study, calling out breathlessly, " Sy-mo, our eldest sister is saved." My husband just coming in, and hearing only the last word, called, " Wait, I want to hear too." They then told us that the Sunday before, after the services, she had gone home in such heaviness of heart, and asked the Lord why she, the eldest of the number, should be so hard of heart? She said, while she prayed, light broke upon her, and she believed her sins were washed away. She was baptized some months after-wards, but I am sorry to say she has not turned out a satisfactory Christian. Her husband, though a believer, is somewhat trying in temper, and want of harmony at home has led to coldness on the part of both.

Since then there have been periodical revivals, at which time three, four, or five have been converted; and only three have left the school unsaved-for these we still pray.

During the second gracious revival amongst the girls, which took place in about two or three years after the first, when four more were converted, our coolie's wife was also saved. He had come to us almost destitute, but with diligent work and careful-ness he saved enough to get a wife, and as he had no home for her, he asked if she might live in his room for a few months, to which I consented. She was a young girl, only fifteen, quiet and diligent, and the six months turned into many years, for they are still here with their five children, the three eldest in our schools. For about three years this young woman seemed very indifferent to the gospel; she attended the services because she lived inside, and all were expected to do so; but at this time she became deeply concerned about sin, and one day, while in the act of washing clothes, it seemed as though a horror of darkness came over her. She left her work, went to Mrs. Liu, and begged her to pray that God would forgive her sins. For two or three days she continued in an anxious state of soul, and then, yielding herself to Christ, she rejoiced in the knowledge of salvation.

In 1873 Mr. Jackson was married in Ning-po, and in due time brought his young wife to of the three We had by that time got possession lower rooms as well as the three upper, and for some months they lived with us. Mrs. Jackson's ill-health, however, called them away to Tai-chow, and later on to Ning-po, and when they returned, nearly a year after, they were able to rent a house in another part of the city. It was a great comfort to lady here, and we had no small fellowship one with another. They had to leave again and again for ill-health, but when it became necessary for us to take a furlough they willingly took the responsibility of the boys' and girls' school, and the little church which had been formed. Mrs. Jackson September, 1878, leaving a little girl only nine days old.

The boys' school had given a good deal of encouragement, not so much in the numbers converted as the character of the converts; and at this time Die-chang and two others were preachers. Mr. Stott, writing a little earlier, says, " Si-nue is now nineteen years of age, and is at present acting teacher, as I have lent the school-teacher to Mr. Jackson to assist him in his difficulties in Chu-chow. Si-niie is a smart lad, a good scholar, and understands the Scriptures well, but I hardly expect him to equal Tsiu-die-chang (who is now in charge of the station at Bing-yie as a preacher); he speaks at times with almost burning earnestness, enough to persuade any one of the truth. Si-nue is bashful and proud, and needs very careful treatment, but there is a good deal of capital material in him. I have heard him several times in hot discussions with literary men; he can patter off the native classics glibly, and turn many passages against their silly notions with biting power. A younger boy, Z-nue, is nearly sixteen years of age, has been a member of the church about three years, and has all through behaved in a Christ-like manner. He is highly esteemed by the members for his consistent life; he is very quiet, but ever ready, and seldom fails to establish himself in the good graces of the people he speaks to. I expect him to be a successful evangelist; often when school is over, instead of going to amuse himself with the others, he has gone out with a bundle of books and tracts to the crowded thoroughfares to sell. Would that they were more deeply taught by the Spirit of God, and lived nearer to the fountain of all heat and light and love."

A letter from Si-niie written to a friend mentioned before may prove interesting. Translated by Mr.

Stott.

"In the year of grace 1874, first moon: Because I have formerly heard that for a long time you have been writing letters to Wenchow to inquire about the welfare of the boys; but we have hardly courage to receive your messages, for we are unworthy of them, but your kindness and love abound, it is beyond our understanding. Not only this, but many beautiful pictures you have sent for us. All who have seen them admire them; your kindness [lit. grace] is deep as the sea and heavy as the hills. The boys would like to go to your place and thank you personally before your face, but the way is long, seas and hills and impassable barriers intervene, therefore we are unable to come. Also we are so unworthy, that it would be presumption in us to appear before you.

" To speak of the pictures, some of them are hung in the schoolroom, some in the dining-hall, and some new ones are in the hands of a paper-hanger being done. Also there is hanging up a map of the world.

" At present there are in the school sixteen boys, and we read various books, including the native classics; but the Scriptures are the text-book for morning and evening worship. We are born with stupid minds, and our bodies are very lazy, therefore we do not know much; in our daily habits we are not diligent, we ought to hang down our heads and feel ashamed.

"To speak of the church, there have not been many added for a long time, but there are a few inquiring. At present, although there is little fruit, if the Holy Spirit were only in the heart of every one who believes, the time might soon come when we should see a great increase, thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold.

"I have used this small piece of paper to thank you, and pay our respects to yourself, your brothers, and all your father's house. Many things I have not made plain to you, for my composition is despicable; I only ask you not to despise it. At present let this suffice, I will write you longer at another time. May the glory of the Triune God be upon you, world without end.

"P.S.-This is the new year, so I will add a word more. We have heard that you have a Sunday school; how many scholars have you ? We know that if you teach them anything it will be the Word of God, which is incomparably the best. I ask if you would, instead of me, salute all your scholars and convey to them a message. ` You have been born in a country where there are no idols; you have not been defiled by them like us, their defilement has gone into us like dye into the fabric.' Although you are free of that sin, do not forget that you are the seed of Adam, in that you are the same as us; if you do not trust in the precious blood of Jesus Christ, our middle man, all is vain and useless. The Holy Book says, ` Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved,' but ` he that believeth not shall be condemned.' Do lay these words to heart. Would that all of you would earnestly pray God to interest the minds of many of your countrymen to come to China and point out the way to heaven. Revered master, no more, but all the boys in the school join in salutations to you.

"SI-NLJE."

Up to that time much seed had been sown, but little fruit gathered in; we had evangelised in nearly all the villages around the city. Frequently we would start in the morning, taking lunch with us, preaching in various villages; my husband gathering the men, and I the women, under some spreading tree. Many heard, but, alas, few believed that Jesus was the only Saviour. But is it not always so ? We need constantly to remember the promise that " He that goeth forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." It is for us to observe the conditions "precious seed," the Word of God; "weeping hearts " longing for souls, that will not be satisfied without fruit. As the result of our first ten years' labour a little church of only eighteen or twenty was formed; how meagre apparently the return for so much labour: we had often in those days to assure ourselves of His faithfulness, who has said, " In due season ye shall reap if ye faint not." But besides this mere handful of Christians there were many hopeful inquirers, and during our absence of eighteen months thirty-seven were baptized on profession of their faith.

CHAPTER VI

"And He said unto them, Lacked ye anything ? And they said, Nothing:'-Luke xxii. 35.

On the 1st of April, 1877, Wenchow became an O open port. It was a new thing for us to see a steamer in the river, and on had the hill and met other intrusion when we went health in that year foreigners there. The state of my land, rendered it necessary first trading steameh that E came to and we left by the Wenchow. Mr. Stott had been over eleven years in China, and his health being good, he at first thought of sending me home while he remained at his post. He should, Mr. Taylor, however, was suggested out me, and that suggestion was carried out.

At that time the little girls were beginning to grow up, and we felt keenly the need of a separate house for them. The state of the mission funds did not encourage us to look to them for the rat school house. that would be needed to build a girls'.

We took our need to the Lord, told Him if that work had to be carried on a home must be provided for them. We decided to make no appeal of any kind, not even to mention our need publicly, but that we should tell our private friends of our desire, and leave the rest to God.

We told Mr. Taylor of our plan, and said we thought L250 would be needed; he said he thought not less than ?¨º300 would suffice. We had asked the Lord for ?¨º250, but we told Him about the ?¨º300, and if it was needed to send us that sum. When we returned to China in the autumn of the following year we had received unsolicited ?¨º304, besides having spent ?¨º10 upon school materials; it was another of the " exceeding abundantly " which the Lord has ever loved to give us. We had decided together that we should limit our own expenses to the sums received from the mission for our own support, and whatever gifts were given to us should be put to the school fund.

During this time we had some very singular experiences. When in Ireland my husband was asked to address a few Christians who lived in a quiet out of the way village; the people were poor, they had nothing to give but their prayers; but Mr. Stott felt prayer was a mightier power than money, so he went seeking to interest these godly people. The meeting was held in a farmhouse; not more than twenty were present, but they were deeply interested in all they heard. When the meeting was over, one and another pressed up to shake hands with the missionary, and one woman, with tears in her eyes, pressed a coin in his hand, he putting it into a pocket where there was no other money. When he retired to his room he looked to see what the coin might be, and was deeply touched to find it one " halfpenny." He felt it was like the " widow's mite," and at once knelt down to ask God to bless her gift. He then entered in his book, " A poor woman unknown, a halfpenny." Next day when he returned to me he said, " I was deeply humbled, and had to confess to God that if I had had only a halfpenny to give I should have been too much ashamed to have put it into the hand; she had much more faith and love than I." Then he added, " Do you know God seems to have shown me that He is going to send ?¨º50" I answered, " Oh, I have not faith for that, but according to your faith be it unto you." We then knelt down together and asked God again to bless that woman who had so nobly given all she could, and was not ashamed of the smallness of the sum.

The next day we went to spend a few days with a friend in another part of the country. The day after, while the lady and I were out for a drive, our host came to the room where my husband was writing, and said, " God has told me to give you this money for your work." He put down a bundle of notes and left the room. On counting them Mr. Stott found there were just 45o! It was entered as the next donation to the halfpenny, and up to this time we had never received more than ?¨º5 in a single gift.

We then went on to Dublin, where we were hospitably entertained by a dear Christian couple, and while sitting by the fire recounting the Lord's wonderful dealings with us, my husband mentioned the incident of the halfpenny and ?¨º5o. He then added, much to my confusion, " And I have the same strong conviction, that God is sending me ?¨º5." When we retired to rest I asked why he had said such a thing. " It was as good as asking, and no doubt next day when we are leaving ?¨º5 will be given." He answered, " Oh, I never thought of that, but of course I can explain and refuse." Next day, as I expected, a cheque for ?¨º5 was handed; my husband refused to touch it, expressed his regret for having mentioned his conviction in the way he did: it was all right to tell of what God had done, but what He was going to do seemed too like a hint, and if he wished to spare his feelings he must not ask him to accept this. Our host replied, " That ?¨º5 was given to me two days ago by another; it is not my money at all. My wife and I laughed when we went upstairs; it is no use trying to cheat you, for God evidently tells you beforehand."

These are a few of the remarkable ways in which God supplied all our need very abundantly. Our visit home was productive of much interest and prayer; I had specially asked that friends would plead that some suitable woman might be converted who would be a real help in work amongst others, for up to that time we had only one Christian woman, and she was over seventy. I felt the drawback of being alone, and longed for such a helper. Little did we think that, while they prayed, God was working out His own plans in that direction.

We arrived back in Wenchow on the last day of 1878; two days afterwards I was asked to visit two women who were interested in the truth and wanted to see me. Oh! what good news! two women interested in the grand story of the Cross. Of course I went without delay, and was delighted to find them not only interested, but truly converted. They told me that one of our members, a firewood seller, had every time he brought their wood, sat down to tell them of God and His Christ. At first they were indifferent, but by and by they began to long for his coming, that they might hear more and more. After-wards they were visited by schoolboys, and others who could teach them. One of these women mentioned how in former years she had closed her door when she saw me coming up the street, lest I should try to get into her house as I did others; but added, "Now I am longing for you to teach me the Bible."

This lady, Mrs. Liu, was of a refined literary family, and when young was married to a man of wealth; but alas, he, his father, and two brothers were opium smokers, and as they had no business of any kind, the property grew less and less each year, until the death of her husband. After paying his debts she had but a remnant of property left, not enough to keep herself and son at that time a lad of seven or eight. After her husband's death she gave herself up very largely to the worship of idols, but in that she found no comfort for her weary spirit.

The other woman was a working man's wife, Mrs. Oae, very bright and earnest. Her husband was bitterly opposed to her being a Christian, and would not allow her to attend any services, nor would he consent to any Christian visiting her in her home; but as these two women lived in opposite sides of the same house, he could not prevent our going to Mrs. Liu's, nor his wife from listening.

I at once began a Bible class each Wednesday afternoon in Mrs. Liu's house. Neither had ever attended a Christian service one prevented by her husband, the other too much ashamed to be seen outside. Now I look back with great joy to the time spent teaching those women. Their hearts were indeed opened, and eagerly they drank in the Drecious words of life; week by week they repeated almost word by word the lesson of the week before, and it was wonderful to see their rapid growth in grace.

One Wednesday I went as usual, but found Mrs. Liu was not at home. Mrs. Oae told me that her mother in law had died two days before, and that she had been called to the funeral ceremonies: she left a message that we were to pray for her, as she did not know what to do under such circumstances. So that afternoon, instead of our Bible lesson, we spent the time in prayer, that God would keep His child in the midst of difficulty and sore temptation.

The next two or three days I was very anxious and much in prayer for her. I feared the effect of all the deadening influences of idolatry; wondered if she would have courage to confess Christ before her proud literary relations.

Three days afterwards she came to see me, and the first glance of her told all was well, for her face fairly beamed. Her first words were, " It is wonderful, wonderful! God stood by me all the time." She then told me that when being carried in her chair she was greatly perplexed what to do, and could only cry, " God, help me to glorify Thee." When she arrived and saw all her relatives going through the idolatrous ceremonies, her heart smote her, and she felt she must confess Christ. She called them together and told them how that, since they had last met, a wonderful change had come over her: she had heard of a true and living God, who could wash away her sins and make her more happy than any earthly treasure could; that the knowledge of an everlasting home in heaven was more than earthly gain, and that though she and her son were the nearest relatives, and had a right to most of the property of the deceased, yet she could not offend God by performing the necessary ancestral rights. Her son was young, but she hoped he, too, would become a Christian by and by, and that he must not undertake those rites either. She therefore gave up all claim to the property, and would leave it with themselves to give what they thought right, on the understanding that she and her son would be for ever free from ancestral worship. She also added that they began to ask what kind of a religion it was that could make her do such a thing, and so, she said, "for three days I have been doing little else but telling them of Jesus, and just before coming away God let me know I had glorified Him, for I heard one of my relatives say, `That must be a good religion, for if you searched the city through you could not find another who would give up property like that.'

I am ashamed to say that they only gave her the sixteenth part of what she ought to have had, but with that she got a written statement that at her decease none of them were to interfere with her funeral, or perform idolatrous rites. For many years she has been a faithful and valuable helper in the work here. Her son was trained for several years under Dr. Douthwaite, and there converted. He is now doing medical work in the city of Tai-chow.

Mrs. Oae, who had been prevented by her husband from making any public confession of her faith, began to feel an earnest desire to be baptized: I counselled waiting upon the Lord in the matter, hoping that her husband might give consent. One day on going to the class she told me, with a beaming face, that her husband was going away next day to do some work in the country, and would be away till the following Monday or Tuesday. She said, " For three days I have been praying that God would open up my way to be baptized, and this is His answer."I reminded her that it was very cold weather (we baptized by immersion, and the baptistry was an open one in our courtyard), and asked if she was not afraid. She answered, " Oh, no; God has given me this oppor-tunity, and if I do not take it He may never give me another."

I was a little doubtful about her taking this step without the knowledge and consent of her husband; but she seemed so certain that God had given her a chance not to be thrown away, that I could but be silent.

On Saturday evening she came out for the first time in her life to a Christian service, and gave such a testimony to the power and preciousness of the blood of Jesus Christ as quite astonished the little group of Christians. She was unanimously accepted by them for baptism the following morning, after which she joined in our communion service. How strange it must all have seemed to her; she had never seen memorials of Christ's broken body before, but her Spirit taught soul greatly rejoiced at being able to join with others in thus publicly remembering her Lord.

After the afternoon service she returned home, and had only just laid aside her outdoor garments, when to her astonishment in walked her husband. He saw from her appearance she had been out, and questioned her, when she boldly acknowledged she had been to the chapel. He grumbled some-thing about being disgraced in the eyes of his fellow-workmen by his wife going after a foreign religion, but on the whole took it very quietly, much to her relief.

This dear woman led a bright, earnest, consistent life for some years. She was one from whom I had hoped much, but one Sunday morning in 1888, while we were in England, she died quite suddenly just as she was preparing to go out to the service.

About this time (1879) another bright woman was converted. She impressed me so much by her intelligence and ability to receive the truth, that for about two years I went regularly to her house one afternoon each week to teach her. Work in China in the earlier years had to be done among the ones and twos. For two years I carried on two classes a week, one com-posed of two women, the other only of one, but it was well repaid labour, for the lives of these three were bright and shining witnesses for Christ. This woman, Ah Chang na, was very poor, yet had a joy in giving to the Lord that surprised us all; for when we began our native women's missionary band, she was one of the most regular contributors. Day by day, from her housekeeping money, she would put aside one cash for God, and often in the middle of the month she would bring the money to me to keep for her, lest in her extreme poverty she might be tempted to use it. She had a young family, and could do little beyond her household duties; but if she earned a little money with her own hands, she always gave onehalf of it to God as a thank offering.

I remember, one New Year's time, at our native missionary meeting, telling the women God would be no man's debtor, and that whenever we from a true heart desired to spread the knowledge of His name and gave what we could ill afford, He would be sure to reward. I looked to this woman for confirmation, and said, "Ah-Chang-na, you are one of the poorest of us, yet you have given to God this year more than ever before, and more than any of the others; will you tell us how God has dealt with you has it been harder for you to pass this year than formerly ? "I asked this in faith, yet tremblingly, not knowing what the answer would be. With a beaming face she declared, before all, that at the end of the year, after paying off her little debts, she had one dollar left upon which to enter a new year, and, she said, " never in my whole life have I had one dollar to begin the New Year with before." We did praise God for that blessed testimony, and often has it been quoted since. This dear woman, too, passed away in 1888, while we were at home in England.

It seemed to us so sad, that two out of our three brightest and best Christians should be called away so near each other, and at a time when they seemed more than ever needed. Before they were called home, however, they saw a goodly band of women gathered out of darkness into God's wondrous light. I must say, Ah-Chang-na was a Christian who never gave me an hour's anxiety, so consistent and bright was her life throughout. She had much power in prayer, and literally prayed her husband and mother into the kingdom. We had a meeting amongst the women every Thursday afternoon, especially to pray for unsaved relatives, and this dear woman often broke down while pleading for others. It will be interesting to note that during the first few years of its existence, no fewer than four husbands, and seven children, of our praying women were brought to the Lord.

It was out of this prayer meeting grew our Missionary Band. I was a little perplexed to know how to get them out of the narrow groove of themselves and circumstances, into interest in and sympathy for others. I knew it would be a benefit to their own souls to do something for those around. We began in a very simple way, contributing what we could once a month, to enable one of their own number to go out as a Bible-woman. Mrs. Liu was chosen, and, as long as health permitted, faithfully represented them. This Missionary Band was a great blessing to the women themselves; the missionary information I was able to give them, month by month, stirred up their hearts and interest and stimulated prayer, besides producing a self-denying spirit in the matter of giving. This Missionary Band has now (1895) been in existence for ten years. Of course it has grown with our Christian women, and for some years they have almost entirely supported their own Bible women. Our schoolgirls, though having no money of their own, were most desirous of helping in this effort; a barber had to be called twice a month to shave the heads of the little girls according to the Chinese custom, and one day the elder girls asked if I would allow them to do the head shaving. I asked why; they replied, " We do want to help with the Bible women, and we thought if we could do the work instead of the barber, the money might go to the missionary fund." I was only too glad to accede to their wish, and the effort has been continued ever since by those, who in turn, become the elder girls of the school.

In the summer of 1879, we began building the girls school for which God had so graciously supplied the funds. At first we intended only to build a house large enough for a school, but felt led to build instead a double house, where the school could be at one end and our rooms at the other, so that I might be in a better position to superintend them; and also that the native house we had lived in for ten years might be available for a married couple whom we hoped would soon join us. With our enlarged plans we knew we should need more money, but as this seemed the right thing, and God had proved Himself so faithful in the past, we felt sure He would supply unasked all that was needed.

The house was to be built by piecework, and we determined to go on only as far as we had money in hand. We paid men and materials week by week; twice we thought we should have to tell the head workmen to withdraw their men for a time, and twice fresh supplies came before that was necessary. The whole was finished without a single day's stoppage for want of funds, and of course without one penny of debt. We had to wait a little time before we could put up the necessary outhouses; but they, too, were provided in answer to believing prayer.

These buildings, native houses, chapel, &c., were all destroyed in the riot of 1884.

CHAPTER VII

"If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."-LuxE ix. 23.

AS soon as building operations were finished, regular itinerations were again commenced, mostly by Mr. Stott alone, as the girls' and women's work occupied my time more and more. He had to make occasional visits to Chu-chow, which was then an out-station from Wenchow, as well as to Bing-yie and Dong-ling, where the work was growing steadily. Referring to a few of these journeys, Mr. Stott writes:

"Jan., 1880. My dear Mr. A.,--When yours came to hand I felt conscience-stricken; there was no time to reply, as I was just starting for Chu-chow. I had to go up the river ninety miles in a small miserable boat; the weather was very cold, a bleak north wind, sleet and hail driving in our teeth. The boat cover was in such bad condition that I had to compel the boatman to get a new one; and by urging and coaxing I reached my destination in a little less than three days.

"On both sides of the river there are many villages and small towns which have not yet been visited by any Christian. I trust I may be able to give them the offer of salvation ere long. Every one travelling in China and seeing the countless towns and villages, with their thousands of inhabitants, could not remain unmoved; they are born, live, and die, generation after generation, seeking nothing higher than to have enough to eat and wear, and leave a small portion for their children.

"On arriving there, it was no better than the boat for comfort-the hail came through the roof and left no place dry; the room where my bed was had only two sides to it, and I can assure you the ventilation was perfect! However, the day following, I got some boards and a carpenter and closed it in a bit, but then all the light I had was through the tiles. The silver lining in my cloud was a small stove, which I had brought with me, and I assure you the warmth from was grateful to a degree. I remained there four days, and tried to strengthen the hearts of those who are looking forward to the house of many mansions in the skies.

"More recently I have been to Bing-yie, south of Wenchow, and spent a very happy time, having met thirty persons all interested and more or less instructed in the truth. There are ten or twelve more in the same country, but as they live a long way off I did not see them. Ten of the best out of the thirty were invited to come to the city and spend a little time with us in Bible study. There are a good many inquirers in the district where I go to-morrow, and perhaps three or four may be accepted. Last Lord's day, a woman came about sixteen miles, and got one of the Christians to introduce her to us. She wanted to be `baptized and made a disciple of Jesus.' After talking to her some time, we found that she and her husband had been taught by one of the native Christians, who sometimes visit their village on business. Their idols were thrown away some months ago, and the husband had been to the chapel a good many times, but never made himself known.

"We expect Mr. and Mrs. Douthwaite, of our Mission, soon. They have been six or seven years in China and he has practised medicine, I believe very successfully. We hope that blessing may follow his medical work here; but he is far from strong, and it is doubtful whether the damp climate of this district will suit his health. Mrs. Stott and I do a little in the practice of homeopathy. Mrs. Stott got a nice chest from Mr. R., whom we met in your brother's house at Pinner. Mr. R. also gave me a small bottle of a special preparation called ` Neuraline,' said to be an instant cure for sciatica. I tried it once when an attack was coming on, and in half an hour the pain was gone. I left the bottle in the bedroom, and when the old woman went to make the bed she was attracted by its fragrant, pleasing smell; afterwards, on meeting the old withered beauty, I could not make out what she had been anointing herself with, as she really distilled fragrance at every step, and, as the cook remarked, ` You could hear the fragrance of her all over the yard.' But when I discovered my loss, I felt as an Irishman at Limerick once expressed himself, ` An' shure it was a little riled that I was, sur.'

"I hope you are not thinking too highly of the C.I.M. It is not perfect, nor ever will be as long as I am connected with it; but it is as near perfection as any mission I know of. I am glad you are no enemy to system and order in connection with service for our Master; if there was no organisation or system I do not think the C.I.M. could do as good or as much work as it does, and instead of less, I think we need more of it. Did it ever strike you that some of these good men who are so afraid of system in the Lord's work are yet very systematic in their habits? Take, for instance, their systematic reading and study of God's Word, meeting with kindred spirits for prayer, &c., at stated hours and places, which many of them would not forego for any worldly gain. To give an illustration of this kind of inconsistency, I met in a good man and pillar of the church of --, and we talked about missions in general and the C.I.M. in particular. He liked the mission very well, but was afraid it was running too much into system; he complained that a council was now formed in London, Hudson Taylor was Bishop in China, and every member was under his thumb: that he used his power rather unsparingly, and perhaps it was a mis-take that he should have so much power over the brethren. My part, of course, was to defend as best I could; then the conversation turned upon our own work in particular. I told him much of what had been done, and more that was still undone, and the conclusion he came to was, that one man could not do well the work on hand. To ease his mind I informed him that Hudson Taylor had promised me help as soon as circumstances would allow; a young man, or perhaps two, would join me soon. So far, so good; did I know either of the young men ? I could not say that I did. Then he said, ` It was most important that a proper understanding should exist, to begin with; the work was already established, and if some young man or men were to join who would not work willingly on the lines already laid down, but upset here and overturn there, they would do more harm than good, and damage the work of the Lord by unskilled hands.' I told him it was understood by all parties that the new-corners must work on the lines already laid down, and were not at liberty to tear up old or lay down new ones. He felt relieved and happy then, and said, `That was just as it should be,' but the dear man did not see that he had cut away the foundation from his own remarks about Hudson Taylor having control over the members. I think it is a scriptural thing for the younger to be in submission to the elder. Yea, more than that, if it is not put into practice, confusion will be the result, as is often but too plainly seen.

"Two Sundays ago we had eight persons baptized here, who gave us much comfort and hope, which I pray may not be disappointed. Others, by God's grace seem to be pressing forward. For some time past, I think the Spirit of God has been helping me in making the way of salvation through Christ clear; for oh, it is hard for them to understand the precious truths, their minds are so dark. Yesterday was the Lord's day, and I think His Spirit was with us in power. At evening prayer the word spoken seemed to touch every heart, and at the close I asked two of the brethren to lead us in prayer. One of the Christians prayed first; then an inquirer began for the first time. Inquirers are not expected to pray, but I did not like to stop him; he is an elderly, grey haired man, venerable in appearance and highly esteemed by all who know him. At first I feared his attempt would cause an explosion among the young folk, but to their credit be it said they behaved better than your scholars would have done. I think his simple earnestness overawed every one, and at the end there was such a hearty ` Amen' from all present as if they really meant to thank God for opening another mouth to worship Him. This old gentleman and two of his neighbours had been constant attendants for about a year. There is no doubt that they like the gospel, but whether they are all subjects of the saving grace of God it would be hard to say; but I think the one who prayed last night is.

"It is very good of the Lord to give us even a little success. We are so unworthy of it, but He saves in spite of our unworthiness. Thirty-four in all have been gathered in since our return a year ago. It is much to thank God for, but what are they among the many thousands who hear as though they heard not ? Many listen for a long time before they ever dream that any object of worship can or ought to exist besides what they already possess."

A little later he writes:-" Since writing you last we have accepted and baptized ten persons; most have been coming to the services one, two, or three years. Last Lord's day the chapel was full, and in the after-noon Mrs. Stott had thirty women in her class; she calls this a class for teaching them the Scriptures, but I fancy there is some preaching goes on as well. I have not been there to see, but I think most of her meetings contain more or less of the preaching element; but as long as souls are saved and God's blessing rests on them, I think it would be a mistake for her to stop, even if the Archbishop of Canterbury were to condemn her. The Lord has given His seal, and that is what we look, long, pray, and give thanks for. This year, 1881, more have been gathered into the church than any one year since the work began; but during this time a few have been put under discipline: one man long in fellowship, and who had a good deal of influence and had been the means of bringing a goodly number under the sound of the Word, has departed from the faith and godliness, and since his suspension has been behaving in a very unbecoming manner. These things are our trials, but the work is the Lord's, not ours, and He will bring into His kingdom all that are His. Satan seems to have greater power than ever in hurting the saints of God, by causing many to turn from the faith and accept unsound doctrine. It all points to the fact that the Lord is at hand. I sometimes so long for His appearing, because our whole hope for the Church and the world is centred in His coming to take the government of the world into His own hands; the sadness and suffering all around is great indeed, the misery day by day is appalling.

"As an instance, only last month a poor man, in a country village, whose daughter was ill and supposed to be dying, had, according to custom, lighted two candles, put them in paper lanterns and hung one at the head and the other at the foot of the bed. He then fastened both door and window and went on to the top of the house to call back his daughter's spirit. He stood and called long, and during the time one of the candles fell down and set the bed on fire before the people of the house knew it, and then they could not get in; by the time they reached the fire it had taken such a hold that six houses were destroyed before it could be conquered. The man's daughter was burnt to death, as well as a woman in another house; and a young man was so severely injured in trying to save his family and property that he died the next day. More than half the fires that take place in China result from idolatry or from opium smoking.

"I have lately come in from the Dong-ling station. I had a good time on the whole, but a shake of ague prevented me from extending my journey. Concerning four persons baptized, one or two things were a little remarkable. One lad was about fourteen years of age; I have only once baptized one so young (Z-ntie), and he is now twenty-two years of age, and went into the water with them and performed the rite. I only hope this lad may turn out as well. Two others were husband and wife; the fourth, a very nice young woman, daughter of two of our Christians, is married into a family who are opposed to the truth, and has a great deal to bear for Christ's sake, and seems to bear it cheerfully. She was engaged to be married into this family before she or her parents heard the gospel."

(In after years this young woman led her husband to the truth, and gained the goodwill of her other relatives, so that her mother-in-law, though never a Christian, was changed from a persecutor into a friend. I remember when visiting there, the mother-in-law spoke gratefully of her daughter's goodness.) " I thank God and take courage, but must confess that every time there is a baptism I am filled