One ^^ Hundred Girls of^ India e^^ t Mary J. Campbell tihraxy of t:he t:heolo0ical ^tminavy PRINCETON . NEW JERSEY FROM THE LIBRARY OF ROBERT ELLIOTT SPEER BV 3280 .P8 C35 1900 Campbell, Mary Jane, 1865- One hundred girls of India ,^K«^ OF Pff/.v^ ^ JAN 15 1959 ONE nUNDR^*''" ^'"^ GIRLS or INDIA BY MISS MARY cJ. CAMPBELL A Missionary of the United Presbyterian Churcl^ AN ACCOUNT Or INCIDENTS OCCURRING DURING n\SS CAMPBELL'S CONNECTION WITH THE GIRLS' BOARDING SCHOOL .^ AT SIALKOT, IN THE PUNcJAB, INDIA Press of Hann 6c Adair, Columbus, Ohio 1900 INTRODUCTION. A DISTINGUISHED missionary was announced to speak at a recent convention on '^The need for men and the men for the need," but in his speech he said not one word upon his sub- ject, the one part nor the other, nor so much as named it. Instead, with all the coloring and skill of word painting, he so pictured the actual work of saving souls in heathen lands that men saw the need and felt the stirring of the impulse that makes the men for the need. So the author of this little book has been delivering a great many- addresses on a variety of missionary subjects ; but whatever the subject, the effect is always the same: '' The blind see " who never before have seen any- thing in foreign missions, and the " lame walk,'' who never before showed the slightest disposition to bestir themselves in missionary interests. In short, wherever she speaks there is forthwith a missionary revival. To these pages Miss Campbell has transferred the impressive scenes which those who have heard her speak hold ineffaceably portrayed on their hearts. Her speeches were what our fathers well called *^ moving addresses.'' It will be a stubborn will that is not moved by her little book. May the melting power of the love of the Master go v,ith her words. j^ ^ ^^^^ Philadelphia, Nov. 2, 1899. ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. CHAPTER I. AN EVENING IN THE GIRIvS' SCHOOL. A HUSH had fallen on'that part of the compound where the Girls' Boarding School buildings stood. Inside the thick, high brick walls there had been noise and stir since the four o'clock morning bell had called the cooks to the kitchen. Laughter and song, alternating with sounds of weeping from some injured little girl, had floated out over the walls all day long. It had been a busy day in the school, as were all the days of the school year. Food had been prepared, and eaten by a hundred hungry girls. Sweeping, dusting, bathing, sewing, mending, had filled the hours when the girls were not in the school-room. From nine o'clock till four, the hum of the girls' voices reciting lessons could be heard in the school-house just outside the walls that surrounded the living apartments. b ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. It was evening now, and the girls had met in the long, narrow study for prayers. A look through the open door reveals a beautiful sight. There are the '' one hundred " seated in straight lines on the coarse matting that covers the brick floor. No furniture is in the room except a small stove that was given to the school the preceding winter by one of the missionaries, when he saw how severely the girls suffered from cold during the winter rains. An old-fashioned clock, high up on the wall, out of the reach of mischievous fingers, ticks solemnly, as Maryam, better known in the school as Bua, the eldest sister, arises and says, " Sisters, let us sing the fifty-first psalm this evening. I^et us sing it prayerfully, with every head bowed." The hearts of those who listen from the outside are deeply touched as they hear the sweat girlish voices singing this psalm that was penned by a truly penitent heart. How earnestly they sing : — " Wash me wholly from my sins, Cleanse me from my guilty stains." A sob bursts forth from one aching heart, as they sing on very softly now, — *' Cast me not away from Thee Nor Thy spirit take from me." Bua's voice has an exultant ring as they sing in closing, *' Freed from guilt my tongue shall raise Songs thy righteousness to praise. " '' Our evening lesson is found in the second chapter of Revelation, " one of the girls said to Bua, when the song was finished. One hundred pairs of bright, black eyes were fixed attentively on the sweet face of Bua as she read the whole chapter over carefully. At the close of the reading she said, *' Dear sisters, I want you to notice the word ' overcometh. ' I find it mentioned four times in this chapter. In verse 7, * To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life.' In verse 11, 'He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.' And, oh sisters, just listen to the precious promise in verse 17. 'To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna and will give him a white stone and in the stone a new name written which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. ' A new name on a white stone, a name so dear that none but my Lord and myself shall know it," Maryam said very softly to herself. Jesus was very pre- cious to her. Then in verse 26, " He that over- cometh to him will I give power over the nations." " Sisters, have you and I lived the overcoming life to-day? Our hearts are yearning to-night for all that is to be given to those who lead the over- coming life, the ' tree of life ' in the paradise of 8 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. God with its cool, refreshing shade, the * white stone ' and the ' new name ' thereon ; but are we willing to pay the price ? Let us bow our heads and ask God's Holy Spirit to show us very clearly wherein we have failed to overcome sin to-day." Every head was bowed as she led them in prayer. She talked with Jesus, believing him to be standing beside them in the plain, little study room. She told Him some of them desired very earnestly to overcome every sin, and yet how miserably they failed ; how that very day sev- eral of the girls had shown bad temper in the school-room when the teacher had reproved them for not having learned their geography lesson, and how the teacher had said, *' I thought Christians were not allowed to become angry." " Dear Jesus, " Bua pleaded, '' help us to so live that the heathen around us may know we are fol- lowing in Thy footsteps. We want to overcome every sin. Help us, for thy name's sake." Several little faces were damp with tears as they arose from prayer. Quietly they all stood now, each in her place, and one by one the younger children passed out into the open court yard after saying good-night to Bua. There was less noise than usual in the dor- mitories, as the sixty girls who belonged to the lower classes made ready for bed. The hearts of the two Miss Sahibas, who had AN EVENING IN THE GIRLS' SCHOOL. 9 charge of these one hundred brown-faced girls, who were gathered in from city and village homes all over the large mission field, rejoiced as they noted the prayerful spirit that was coming over the school. As they passed down the long verandas a little later, looking into the brightly lighted dormitories to see that all was as it should be, they were pleased to see child after child kneel beside the white cots. Sometimes a little form would be seen shaking with sobs as the sins of the day were confessed to to the loving Saviour. Two little girls were overheard discussing a theft they had committed in the morning. When no one was looking they had slipped into the store-room when the door had been left unlocked for a little while, and had filled their pockets with rice and red peppers. " Don't let us confess it to-night,'' said Bissee, the older girl, " we can do it just as well in the morning." '' No, Bissee,'' said Jiwan, '' I cannot rest until I have the burden off* my heart. Jesus saw us do it. Don't you remember the Little Miss Sahiba said yesterday, Jesus might come any time? What if He should come to-night? Let us go and speak to the Miss Sahibas now. I saw them pass down the veranda a few moments ago. There they are, over by the kitchen door bandaging Hannah IV's sore foot." 10 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. " I wouldn't like to wash that dreadful sore, would you?" said Bissee. ''Yet Miss Corbett Sahiba does it every day so lovingly.'' " It is because she loves Jesus,'' whispered Jiwan, for now the two girls had drawn near the place where Miss Corbett was tying up the ugly sore on poor, sufifering Hannah IV's foot. They waited until she had finished the task, then they told her of the sin they had committed. Forgive- ness was granted ; then the teacher, and two little girls, knelt down on the ground and prayed for hearts to be kept clean and pure. In the study, the older girls, of the upper classes, were busy with slates, pencils and books, prepar- ing the next day's lessons. When the clock struck nine, the girls stopped work and left the study, all except a few, who wished to have a little talk with Bua. Those who left the room said a loving good- night to Bua as they passed out. Crossing the court-yard they entered the dormitories, where the smaller girls were all fast asleep. Of those who lingered in the study one was Hannah, a slender girl, with delicate features. She nearly always had a pleasant smile, and her pretty way of looking up brightly, when any one addressed her, gave her an attractive appearance. To-night, there was a thoughtful look on her face, not at all sad, but as if she was thinking deeply. She came into the school when she was only two years old, AN EVENING IN THE GIRLS' SCHOOL. 11 an orphan, rescued by some of the missionaries. She was now eleven years old. Isri, a tall, loosely-built girl came up and threw herself down carelessly by the side of Hannah, whom she dearly loved and who was a classmate. Isri's mother had died when she was only a little girl. Her father was converted to Christianity by the preaching of the missionaries and was very earnest, until the Roman Catholics, by many fair promises and money inducements, persuaded him to join their Mission, and so gained hold of Isri's only brother as well. This was a great grief to her. Martha, a pretty girl of thirteen, also drew near. She belonged to the eighth grade. If she passed the next examination she would be ready to enter either the high school or normal department. She was an unusually thoughtful girl. Viro and Nasiban, her classmates, and Bhatto, the wag of the school, completed the group that gathered near the place where Bua was seated. They were silent a few moments. At last Hannah exclaimed, nervously, " Bua, what is wrong with us? Every time I open my Bible these days something says to me, * you are leading an incon- sistent life. You profess to want to do good, and you pray to be made good, yet you allow your ugly temper to control you at times, and oftentimes you are full of selfishness.' " 12 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. Hannah, if you are selfish, what about me," cried Isri. '' Why you are always thinking what you can do to help some one else, while I— Oh, sisters ! I don't believe it is possible for me to live the overcoming life." '' If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature ; old things are passed away ; behold, all things are become new," quoted Bua, very gently, as she took Isri's hand in hers. '' Yes, I know that is what the Bible says. It may be I'm not a new creature. I think I'm a Christian when I am in church or Endeavor meet- ing. I feel so good, but it is different when I go to the kitchen or play-yard. I forget all about It then, and think only of having plenty of fun, no matter what trouble it may give others." ''We all agree with you, Isri," now spoke Bhatto, ^^ since that night you went blanket hunt- ing." The girls on hearing this could not refrain from laughing again at poor Isri's expense. ^ One damp night, during the summer that had just passed, when the girls were all sound asleep on their cots, out in the court yard, Isri, who had carelessly lost her blanket, became thoroughly chilled by the damp air. She sprang from her bed and started on a tour among the cots, for the purpose of taking a blanket from some one of the sleeping girls. She soon came to the bed of a very small girl and decided to take her blanket, AN EVENING IN THE GIRLS' SCHOOL. 13^ as the little one could not hold it, even though she should struggle to keep it. She looked into the face of the sleeping child, and then down at the head of the cot saw, what she thought was a long^ black stick. The temptation to have some fun was too great to be resisted, so she stooped to pick up the stick and with it to tickle the ears and nose of the little sleeper. Just as she was about ready to clasp the stick, it began to move. It was a two-headed snake. She gave an awful scream that so frightened the Little Miss Sahiba, who had not yet retired, but had taken advantage of the quiet night-time to make out the monthly account, and write some long-unanswered letters to the home land, that she jumped from her chair and stood for a moment trembling. '* Where is that awful shriek coming from ? " she thought. Cries of *'Sap!'^ <' Sap !" '' A snake !" " A snake !" now filled the school yard. The Little Miss Sahiba was thor- oughly alarmed, for she thought " at last a child had been bitten by a snake." She rushed to the office door and found half a dozen girls frantically screaming, '^ Oh, do be careful, there is a snake !" while ninety or more were jumping wildly from one bed to another, some crying, some screaming, " A snake ! A snake !" At last she reached the spot where Gomti, the only girl in the school brave enough to do such a thing, was giving the final blow to a large shake, three feet in length and as thick as one of the smaller girls' wrists. 14 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. get it "^^^ "^^" ^"°wed to for- 5weet-faced Mott Mem Qo^k ' ^ "^^^ ^^^ I have come to is this ^. ^' conclusion for our own si r?;;]? "!^ '^^'"^ Bible study Oh, my dear sisL Te ^ ^""^ "'^'^ "^"'^ P^^y^r oueHi^Hol^TSupon^';^.^^"'^^^'^''^^-- tial bSi:;s%S\"?in'^ ""' ^''epentecos- " Girls I n-1 K """^ °^° school." I begin VSeYtherT"''" '^" ^°" -'''' "^ut ehurc'h in theSdays^V: do^^tt ""'''' ^" °"^ ^ vv e ao not experience what AN EVENING IN THE GIRLS' SCHOOL. 15 the early disciples did ! And nobody preaches about the Holy Ghost ! I never heard a sermon on that subject.'' " Neither do I want to hear one, " Nasiban now burst out, with a scornful smile on her face, '' if it makes me want to undergo all those early disciples and martyrs endured. Ugh ! Think of the trials they had ! Hungry, beaten, stoned, imprisoned, beheaded ! Here are Bua and Hannah longing for similar experiences. I think we have enough praying in this school now. Every morning and evening ! And as for Bible study, we have to learn it from Genesis to Revelation and back again, besides the catechism that I'm always forgetting! And the worst of all are those examinations we have every year. Enough to drive one crazy ! I^m sleepy ! Let's break up committee meet- ing and go oflf to bed ! " All the girls, except Hannah and Bua, now arose and crossed over the court yard into their places for the night. When these two were left alone, Bua said, speaking of Nasiban's outburst, ''When will our sister give her heart to Jesus? I know her mother well, and she so longs to have her daughter prepared for the Lord's work. Nasi- ban reminds me very much of her grandmother, who lived in our village. Hasty in temper, but a kind, generous heart withal. I remember that a 16 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. great change came over the grandmother in her last days. She became so loving and patient that all the village folk noticed it. When asked how it was, she would say, " The Little Miss Sahiba and the women of her Sabbath school class began praying for me and my heart became softer, and my temper less violent.' " *' Bua Jee, " said Hannah, " let us make Nasiban a special object of prayer.'' To this Bua readily agreed. Then the two girls parted for the night, Hannah saying as she left, "I do hope I'll not oversleep in the morning. You know it is the turn of the girls under my care to do the cooking this week, and we must be up by four o'clock.*' IN THE SCHOOL HOUSE. AT RECITATIONS. CHAPTER II. 'THE PRAYER CIRCIvES. MANY years ago, when Miss McCahon started the Girls' Boarding School in Sialkot, she very wisely conceived the plan of having the girls taught to do all their own work. No one was to enter the school in the capacity of servant. This plan has been strictly adhered to ever since. For convenience in performing the daily round of work, the school was divided into four groups. Twenty-five girls were now in each group. An older girl, or one who was trustworthy, had charge of a group. These groups, by turns, performed all the work of the school. One group would do the cooking for a week ; another the grinding of wheat and the washing and scrubbing on Satur- days ; another the sweeping of dormitories and making of beds, while the fourth group would sweep the court-yard and draw water. Hannah's group had charge of the cooking this week. This was considered the hardest work in the school. These girls had to arise at four o'clock,, while the others slept until six. They were always^ glad when their week was over. 17 2 G I 18 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. Before going to sleep Hannah asked the Ivord to waken her at four o'clock. One day when some one asked her how it hap- pened she always awakened just on time, when so many of the others overslept, she said, very mod- estly, '' I do not know how it is, unless Jesus wak- ens me. I always ask him to do it." Very early Hannah learned the power of prayer. By four o'clock the next morning she aroused her sleepy girls. Not many minutes needed to be spent on their simple toilets. They all took time to kneel in prayer, before beginning the day's work. Hannah remained in the dormitory long enough to take her Bible from the head of her bed, where she always kept it, and read a few verses. She found a precious promise that brightened all the day for her. It was a light-hearted band of girls that morn- ing that left the dormitory and tripped lightly across the dark court-yard to the opposite side, where the kitchen and store-rooms were located. They unlocked the kitchen door and soon had a bright wood fire burning in the mud fire place. A large, brass pan in which the dough for their unleavened cakes had been mixed the night before, was now uncovered and dragged over the uneven brick floor in front of the fire place. Three girls sat down beside this pan and began working the dough into round balls. These balls THE PRAYER CIRCLES. 19 were pressed and patted, until nice thin cakes had been formed ; they were turned over to a fourth girl who sat on a level with the great iron griddle which was over the fire. With a dexterous use of her hand the cake was flapped on the griddle. When sufficiently baked on one side, it was turned over with her fingers, where it remained a few moments, then was taken from the griddle and propped inside the fire-place near a bed of red hot coals. The girl left it here until it swelled out into a large puff. This was a sign that the cake was well done. It was now thrown into a flat basket, where it lost its puffiness and was soon buried under a great many of its kind. The girls usually baked four hundred of these cakes for one meal, and twice daily was bread pre- pared in this way. While the bread was baking, a large copper kettle, well coated with tin, was filled with water and set on the fire. Into this six or seven pounds of a small yellow grain were poured. Savory spices, salt and red peppers had been ground by some of the smaller girls, and were now thrown into the yellow broth. By and by breakfast was ready, and the hungry children were ready for it. They came running quickly to the tables at the first sound of the breakfast bell. Twenty-five sat down at each of the four long, low tables. They sat on matting that was spread beside the tables. The meal, though 20 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. homely and simple, looked very tempting, for the tables were scoured bright and clean, and the brass dishes fairly shone. Bach girl had a brass plate and a brass cup. '* No knives, forks or spoons ! " somebody ex- claims, " Why don't you teach them to eat in a civilized way?" They are taught to eat in a Christian way. The *' knife, fork and spoon '' money is used to support another child in the school, where she learns that Christianity is a change of heart, and not the adoption of English methods of living. Breakfast over, the girls all remained seated while Miss Corbett conducted morning worship. The Little Miss Sahiba was seated beside her. Very earnestly they sang a portion of the 103d psalm. All who could, now joined in reading the eleventh chapter of Luke. Miss Corbett said she would like them all to memorize the thirteenth verse. **Itwas this verse,'' she continued, that Mrs. Mott gave such an earnest talk on, at the Lucknow convention. You remember the Little Miss Sahiba spoke of it the other evening. Dear girls, how much, oh ! how much we do need the presence of the Holy Spirit ! '' Bua arose and asked if she might be allowed to speak. Permission being given, she gave an ac- count of the conversation that was held in the study the evening before. " I suggest now that THE PRAYER CIRCLE. 21 we fix some time daily when we can all join in prayer for this blessing we so much need. The only dijSiculty in our way is to find time for this extra praying. We are busy every hour of the day ; some of us working from four in the morning until nine at night." '' I know what we can do, " said Martha, " we can spend from nine till half past nine every even- ing if the Miss Sahibas will give us permission to do so." After considering the matter carefully, the two teachers felt it would be well to allow the girls this half hour for united prayer every night, and told them of their decision that evening. Only those who so desired were to pray ; there was no compulsion in the matter. That evening as the clock struck nine, several of the girls followed Bua out from the brightly lighted study, into the court-yard, on down into a dark corner, where they stood and prayed one after another. This continued night after night. Finally, the circle became so large it was thought best to have it divided into ten or twelve small circles, so that each girl might have an opportun- ity to pray. Had you been there in those nights, dear readers, you would have seen group after group of girls passing from the study to the court- yard. One of the circles is standing under the delicate foliage of the acacia tree. The bright 22 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. moonlight is falling softly on their upturned faces. Their eyes are closed, their hands folded. A ten-year-old girl is praying : " Dear Jesus, we do want to be better girls. Please make us so we will not want to sin all the time. Help us to obey our teachers. Make them good, too. We need thy Holy Spirit." Another prays : " Take away, please, all desire to sin. The heathen laugh at us when we lose our tempers and say, * Oh, you are no better than we are.* Do please give us thy spirit. We are asking this just as we would ask our mother for a piece of bread, believing we shall receive it." Still another prays : " Bless the good people of America who have sent the Gospel of Jesus Christ to us. Give them thy Holy Spirit ! " And as we listen to these pleading voices of our little brown-faced sisters in the quiet Indian night, our eyes fill, and our hearts grow warm as we, too, pray very earnestly that God's Spirit may come and dwell in the heart of mission- ary, as well as native Christian, in America as well as India. *' Bless the good people of America ! " prayed the girls of India. Who knows how many of the blessings showered down upon America have come in answer to the prayers of these dear children ? Two months quickly passed away. A Sabbath morning in April had come. It was calm and THE PRAYER CIRCLES. 23 bright, as all such mornings in India are. The girls were early astir making preparations for church going. In the hot summer months the service began at seven o'clock. By half past six the girls had formed in line in front of the heavy court yard gate. Very neat and pretty they looked as they marched through it a moment later, each one clad in a clean suit of clothing with the soft white muslin veil draped gracefully over head and shoulders. Four abreast they marched on down past the garden with its hedge of roses, on out to the dusty highway, where thev had a mile to traverse before reaching the city church. This road was always full of people going to and from the city of Sialkot. Many times the passers-by would stop and exclaim in surprise : " What a family of girls ! '' " How neat and clean they are!'' "Who are they?'' ** Where are they going ? " Then from among them- selves some one would reply : '* Oh, those girls are being taught by the ' Padre lok ' (missionary people) to become Christians. The idea of taking so much pains with girls ; they can't learn any- thing. Why women and girls are nothing but cattle ! " The girls, if they heard these uncomplimentary remarks, were too accustomed to them to give any heed, and marched steadily on to church. On this particular morning they reached the 24 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. church only a few minutes before time for opening service. They always filled the front pews in the church. There was a little flutter of excitement in getting the girls seated. When this had died away, the minister arose and introduced to the congregation a stranger, a minister with an earn- est face, and clad in plain, white muslin garments, such as are worn by the common people. The girls looked up in surprise when this min- ister announced as his text Acts 1:8. *' Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.'' They whispered one to another, *' Is not God sending us this message today?" In solemn tones the minister began, *' The one great need in our church today in India, is the presence of the Holy Ghost. We have our churches and church services ; our membership roll and all the forms and ceremonies, but we do not have Holy Ghost power. Oh, that is what we need ! In order to receive this power we must be willing to separate from all known sin. We must yield ourselves entirely to the leadings of the Holy Spirit. To-day there is much preaching without this power. A water-carrier might just as well expect to quench the thirst of a multitude famish- ing for drink by carrying around and showing them an empty water skin, as for a preacher to expect to save souls by going out and preaching without the indwelling of God's Holy Spirit." THE PRAYER CIRCLES. 25 For an hour he talked, and the dear children, -as well as all in that well-filled church, listened with rapt attention. He closed with this prayer : "Oh, we do need the Holy Ghost! Give us thy Spirit, oh God !" Very quietly the girls left the church. A deep impression had been made on every heart ; even Nasiban was more touched than she cared to admit. As the Ivittle Miss Sahiba walked down the road beside the girls on the way home, she over- heard one saying : '' No one went to sleep to-day. Not even three-year-old baby Firoza." '' Who could sleep with a sermon like that knocking at one's heart?" said her companion. That afternoon there was more interest than usual taken in the Sabbath school lesson, when the girls met in the chapel. The prayer circles showed a decided increase in numbers that night ; almost every child in school had joined one of the praying bands. Nasiban still held aloof. CHAPTER III. SHOWERS OF BLESSING. MONDAY, Tuesday passed. The interest be- '** came intense. Wednesday evening more than the usual number of girls went down to the city church for prayer meeting. Only those remained behind who were on duty as cooks and nurses. The prayer meeting that evening differed in nothing from the former meetings. It was marked by the same dry talks and long prayers that had long ago killed all the spiritual life. The children grew restless, and there was a little sigh of relief when the benediction had been pronounced and they were at liberty to go. The men, as was the custom, passed out first. Then the Little Miss Sahiba arose to take the girls out one by one ; as she did so she heard the sound of weeping close beside her. Turning half round she saw Ruth, a former school girl, but now wife of one of the theological seminary students, weep- ing bitterly. Going up to her she said : 26 SHOWERS OF BLESSING. 27 " Ruth, won't you tell me why you are weeping in this way? " '' Oh, I have grieved God's Holy Spirit to-day," she sobbed. '* When the pastor gave the general invitation to all who would to pray, the Spirit said to me, * Ruth, pray ! ' I was afraid and refused. Now I'm afraid I've driven the Spirit away. ''Oh, what shall I do ! Only last night I prom- ised God to do just what He would have me to do, and now I've disobeyed." Putting her arms around Ruth, the Little Miss Sahiba tried to comfort her. She whispered to her, after a moment's prayer for help, ''Ruth, the school girls are still here. Won't you pray with them?" She began to pray with her voice trembling with sobs, but in the excitement that ensued no one knew what she said. After her first or second sentence every girl began weeping. Isri, who was sitting on one of the front benches, next the aisle, jumped up with a scream and rushed out through the open door into the church yard. The Little Miss Sahiba followed her and asked, "Isri, what is wrong with you?" " Pray for me,'' she gasped. Prayer was ofiered and God in His tender love sent quick relief to the bursting heart. 28 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. Afterwards when she could talk about it she said : " When Ruth began to pray all the sins of my past life arose before me like a great mountain. I felt if I did not get forgiveness quickly the mountain would fall on me and crush me. Then it was, not knowing what I did, that I screamed and ran outside the church.'^ Isri now came back into the church and helped the missionaries and some of the native workers in praying and talking with the other girls. After an hour or more spent in this way, the Miss Sahibas felt they must get the girls back to the school home. It was a touching scene, as the girls with tear-stained faces filed out of the church yard into the crowded thoroughfare. They tried very hard to keep back their sobs, so that they might not attract attention, but every now and then a sob would burst forth from an aching heart. When at last they were inside the school court- yard and the great heavy gates had closed upon them, shutting them from the outside world, the weeping began anew. The girls who were in the kitchen on hearing this came running out to inquire what was the matter. It was not long until their prayers and tears were mingled with the others. Supper, which was being placed on the table, was forgotten. The next few hours that passed inside those high brick w^lls will never be forgotten by the SHOWERS OF BLESSING. 29 Miss Sahibas, who labored with sin-burdened and sin-crushed hearts. God had answered the prayers and was leading young hearts that night to hate sin and to turn away from it with fear. The bur- den of sin seemed to be crushing every heart. Sins, that had been laughed at and passed over as little faults, now arose before the girls and seemed to shut them out from God's presence. Sins that had been unconfessed and hidden for months were acknowledged before God that night. A Miss Sahiba, on her way up and down the weeping groups of girls, would feel a pull on her dress, and turning around would have her heart melted at the sight of a tearful face looking up into hers and saying, " Please come over into this cor- ner and pray with me.^' Then the lie, or theft, or some other grievous fault, would be poured forth into the loving Father's open ear. A little heart would grow happy and teacher and child would then thank the Father for victory over sin and implore Him for purity of heart and life for the future. Till nearly midnight this continued. The girls were then pursuaded to lie down, but not all had rest. Some there were who felt that not all could be confessed. There was one sin that surely it were better if it never came to the light, how could they endure the shame of its exposure. So the troubled little one would turn over and try to 30 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. find rest on her bed, but no rest came. God kept knocking at the heart's door, and His voice seemed to say to the burdened one, ''Be clean, be clean. Let me wash away every stain.'' Oh, may it not be there are some among God's children in America who should allow the search- light to come in upon their souls and reveal to them everything that is pointing, unclean, defiling in the heart or habit of life. "Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord ! " The peace they so earnestly prayed for did not come until God's Spirit came in and took posses- sion of every corner of the heart; until every known sin was laid bare before God. Oh, the joy and peace that came sweeping into their hearts after the surrender! Sweet voices broke the stillness of the night hours in singing praises to God for His marvelous love and power. ''To think," Isri exclaimed once that memorable night, " that I almost doubted the existence of God's Holy Spirit. I know his power now. I feel it in my own soul. One heart remained untouched that precious night. No noticeable impression had been made on Nasiban. The next day, when the girls were met in groups telling each other of the wonderful new joy and love that had come into their lives, SHOWERS OF BLESSING. 31 Nasiban would turn away and seem not to listen to their conversation. In the evening as she was passing through one of the dormitories, she saw two girls seated side by side. One was saying, " Sister, my heart is so full of joy to-day, I cannot keep from weeping." This was more than Nasiban could stand, and coming up in front of the two girls she said mockingly," Girls, you are hypocrites ! What nonsense in all these performances ! If you are right," she then added a little more slowly, ** my heart must be made of stone, for I don't feel at all different from the way I've always felt. How can you get down on your knees and pray in this way ! I'm tired of all this excitement ! " Then turning abruptly, she left them. During one of those happy days, Hayat bibi, a girl about thirteen years of age, came up to the Little Miss Sahiba and said : — " Oh, that I might see Jesus ! I want to feel his presence ! I want to know that He is with me. I know you are present. I see you. I want to feel and see Jesus in the same way. My dear Saviour, I love Him more and more; yes, He is dearer to me than any one else." The next three or four days Hayat bibi was much in prayer. One evening she came with a radiant face to the place where the Little Miss Sahiba was seated. No need to ask whether prayer had been answered. 32 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. The answer was written on her face. She sat down beside the Miss Sahiba and exclaimed joyfully: " Oh, I've seen Him ! He is with me all the time. He used to be so far away. Now He is near, quite beside me. I'm so happy ! " The Little Miss Sahiba rejoiced with her ; while her memory went back to one radiantly beautiful night in Bombay, when, in company with a few other missionaries, she had gone into a Methodist chapel where Bishop Thoburn was preaching. Of the hour's sermon all she remembered were these words : " I know Jesus stands beside me in this pulpit. When I walk down the aisle, Jesus will go with me. As I pass out into the narrow streets, I will not be alone. Jesus will still be walking by my side." She could never forget the glad consciousness that came to her that night of the presence of Jesus with her. " Dear Hayat bibi," she said, *' let us live so Jesus will never have to depart from our side." " Amen," softly murmured the earnest girl. A spirit of love and helpfulness prevailed in the school. Selfishness had ruled to a great extent in the school heretofore, but now each girl seemed to desire above everything else to help a sister in need. Little Karim bibi, seven years of age, was so very small and delicate she was never called upon AT SUPPER. BEDS READY FOR THE NIGHT. SHOWERS OF BLESSING. 33 by the girls to take part in the work. They all loved her and found her very amusing as a plaything. She watched the older and stronger girls as they sought opportunity to show their love to Jesus by helping others, some of them now helping Miss Corbett Sahiba to dress the ugly sores on Hannah IV's feet. She became very anxious to do some- thing. One day she went over to the bedside of a sick girl and asked her if she would not like to have a drink of water. '^ Yes, indeed," said the fever patient, " but Karim bibi, you are too small to draw water in that heavy iron bucket." A happy thought came to little Karim. Away she ran to one of the older girls and said, *' Sister, won't you please let me help you draw a bucket of water ? " '' Help me," the big girl said laughingly. " Why you little midget, what makes you think I need your help ? " " Oh, it isn't that,'' Karim said, as the big tears chased each other over her little brown cheeks. " I know I'm little and not worth much, but I do want to help somebody. I thought you would not mind letting me help you draw water, so I could take a drink over there to our sick sister." She was allowed to take hold of the rope with her chubby little hands, and proudly did she help to draw the iron bucket filled with delicious water from the deep well. With a happy face, she carried SGI 34 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. a brass cupful over to the sick girl, who eagerly drank it. As she thanked the little helper for her love, Karim said, " Now I have done something for Jesus." After experiencing this blessed new life for a few days, the girls began to long for their friends and relations to receive similar blessings. Some of the more impulsive wanted to start right back to the village homes to tell their people of the good news. When they spoke to the Miss Sahibas about it, the reply they received was : " Girls, you cannot go back to your homes alone. Some of you live forty miles distant, and we cannot afford to send any one with you. We sympathize with you in this desire you have to help your dear ones. Here is something you may do. To-morrow we will give you a holiday, and if you like you may spend the whole day in writ- ing to your friends." This pleased the girls ex- ceedingly well. Early next morning the house work was finished. Matting was spread on the long veranda. Paper, ink, and reeds for pens were brought out, .and in a short time the one hundred girls were all busy, some making pens, some writing, while the little ones who could not yet write were seated by the older girls, dictating heart messages for the loved ones in the distant village home. SHOWERS OF BLESSING. 35 Never had such a pile of letters awaited the faithful Jassu, who carried the school mail, as he found the next morning. Never had letters from the school been so fraught with earnest messages as those that left the school that morning. Usually the girls wrote home once a month, briefly, something like the following : Dear and Respected Parents : By the grace of God I am well. I pray you may also be kept well. I am making good progress in my studies. (No matter how low the grades, this message always went home.) Please send me some spending money. I need hair oil and a pair of shoes. Pray for me. My salaams to all from the greatest to the least. The writer is your daughter , The change that had come in the hearts of the girls was plainly seen in the letters written that day. When one of these white missives reached a poor village home, a few days afterward, and was handed to the parents by the rural postman, they requested him to read the letter, as no one else in the village could. Good naturedly, he stopped long enough to do so. As he stood under the old banyan tree, with its air roots lightly touching his bright yellow turban, he was surrounded by most of the little girl's relations, all of whom were 36 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. deeply interested in her. The father sat upon the low mud wall that surrounded the one-roomed mud hut. The mother stood timidly, a little apart, holding a baby boy. " What a long letter," said the postman, as he took out two closely written sheets from the envelope. *'Are you sure my daughter wrote it," the mother inquired anxiously. " Is she well?" "Oh, yes ; her name is signed here all right." " Read it,'' said the father. No wonder they all listened so attentively, for the postman was now busy reading the burning words that had been penned by the little daughter : *'0h, my dear parents,'' she wrote, ''a great blessing has come to our school. Will you not pray and pray until God sends his Holy Spirit into your hearts? Don't live any longer in sin. We belong to Jesus. He is coming again. It may be very soon. Are you ready to meet Him ? Are you doing all you can to get the neighbors ready for His coming? Begin praying to-night. Ask God to show you what is wrong in your lives. I am praying for you. God bless you all.'' When the letter was finished the silence was broken by one of the men saying, ''Bhagan has been taught of God. Let us pray now." Standing and kneeling that band of poorly clad people poured out their hearts before God and asked that they, too, might receive the "showers of blessing.'* SHOWERS OF BLESSING. 37 This was the beginning of the work of grace in that village, and in many others where the chil- dren's letters were received. " I thank God for my little daughter," said a big brown man to the Miss Sahibas one day. " I have been brought to God through her prayers. " CHAPTER IV. THE LOT OF HEATHEN WOMAN. MAD anyone asked the two Miss Sahibas, who had charge of the girls' school, which day of the week was the fullest of work, they would have found it difi&cult to answer. Every day was full and often the length of their day was eighteen hours. Had the school girls been asked this question, undoubtedly they would have replied unanimously, " Saturday.'^ There were no lessons recited on Saturday ; but on that day everything received a thorough clean- ing. The brick floors were swept and scrubbed. The mud fire-place received a fresh coat of clay. The washing was done, beds aired, heads washed, and at evening time, when all the girls had put on clean clothing and braided their black hair neatly, the Miss Sahibas felt, as they looked into the clean, bright faces, that it was good to spend their lives with these girls of India. An extra dinner was prepared on Saturday. Once a week only did the girls have meat and this was for Saturday's dinner. 38 THE LOT OF HEATHEN WOMEN. 39 One Saturday afternoon, when the girls were busy in kitchen and wash house, a sound of women's voices and the tinkling of their silver anklets came to the ears of the Little Miss Sahiba, who was pouring over the monthly school account. She went to the sitting-room door and on opening it saw three muffled figures standing just outside on the veranda. A closed carriage stood in front of the veranda. Evidently these sheeted figures were high caste women from the city, who had slipped away from their homes ; but why had they come out to the Christian girls' school ? They were invited to come inside, but they hesitated until they were assured that not a man would see them. After this they came stumbling in. They could scarcely see, so heavily veiled were their faces. Once inside and the door closed, they threw off their outer wrappings. Three nice- looking, well-dressed women, covered with gold and silver jewelry, stood facing the Miss Sahiba. The eldest one said: *' We learned from Mrs. Shahbaz (she was the pastor's wife) that you have a school here where girls are taught, and we wanted to see you and these girls. So to-day while our husbands were away at court we hiired a carriage and came out to see you." "We want to see everything." Straightway they began to examine with interest the pictures on the wall. " Who is this ? " asked one of the 40 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. women pointing to a photograph. '^That is a picture of my sister,'' the Little Miss Sahiba replied. All three now looked at it intently. Then one, shaking her head sadly, said, "If I was thousands of miles away from my sister I wouldn't want her picture. You can see her features clearly, her eyes, but they do not see you; her mouth, but it cannot speak to you. How can you bear to be thus reminded of one you cannot see for so long a time ? '' Then they must know all about both the Miss Sahiba's relations. Why had they left them to come to India ; did they not long to see them, etc. By and by they were ready to go out into the school buildings. When the office door was opened and they had stepped down two steps into the great walled-in yard, a busy scene met their eyes. Girls seated by the wash tubs, their hands white with suds, girls hanging clothing on the wire line, girls with wet hair hanging down their backs, girls everywhere, thought these heathen women. "What a family!" exclaimed one. " Come girls,'' called the Miss Sahiba, " drop your work for a few min- utes and come over and sing for our sisters who have come out from the city to see us." No sec- ond invitation was needed. They came running across the well-tramped yard and gathered around the Miss Sahiba, waiting for the signal to sing. When it was given the girlish voices all joined in THE LOT OF HEATHEN WOMAN. 41 singing psalm after psalm. The heathen women stood spell-bound. Finally one whispered, " Am I not in heaven? " After thanking the girls for their singing, the eldest woman said so earnestly, with tears flowing fast, "Dear daughters, never be ungrateful for what you are learning here. Some of us would have been glad to have your opportunities. You have much freedom. You will be loved and respected when you go out into homes of your own. You will never know what it is to be shut inside four walls and never to get away, unless you steal away, as we did to-day. The blessing of God rest upon those who teach you." ^'Peace be with you,'' said the girls, as the three sad-faced heathen women turned away and passed through the office door. They said it was now time for them to return to their homes, for they must be back before their husbands. " What would you do,'' asked the Miss Sahiba, *4f your husband should learn of your visit to us to-day?" ''Oh, they will never know of it," one con- fidently declared. "But suppose they should ask if you had ever been away from home." " I would say, 'Of course I have not been away from home ; would you expect me to do as those 42 ONE HUNDRED GIRI^ OF INDIA. ears of our husbands thaVlvtri '°'"' '° ^^^ would mean instant divorcTdT T ""^'y' »* very least, and probab IT 'i ^'^'^ for life at the Oh, yes; there are ^at ^a ^T '^ ^^^ -«3- women in our count" -a S;' ^'"'"^ ""^ «f <5«ing a plague of' cSo^i ' Wh" " *'^ '°°^ vestigate? Only a choleT . '^""^'^ ^°- corpse and burn L'' '''^'''°- ^^ke the ;^;"\*^"^^^'««I"^sbandsknow?» to make life a liftle bw!;,. /' "^""^"^ "^^^one sisters? True it wis '"^f i "^""^ '^' ''^^then gWs were being tr"?nedfn."b''.°''"'^'^'^''"le God-fearing homes °w ' ''^°°^ ''^ ^'ve in freedom ; but Xtwl 2 TT '^^^ ^°- -^ tbe mission fieldfeW n/t"o tf n "'° ^^^ ^ terian church ! ^ ^ '° '^^ ^^^'ed Presby- -ftlVMiriahtrs r"-' ? ^^^'« ^rew Saturday evening, fta talk "'"' '^''' ^"^'°" <»» was near to their heartl ^"^ ^"^^ ^"bject that than^ftefknew'' bT" ''' *°"^^^<^ '^em more --^eatlovinghe^rtwrtedT^S- THE LOT OF HEATHEN WOMAN. 43 for every one. She told the girls a pitiful story that evening that none who hear can forget : " Several summers ago when I was in my father's home in Zafarwal, the Miss Sahibas lived there, too, with our beloved Dr. and Mrs. Barr. One morning they took me out to a village on the border of Jammu territory. We had never visited the people of that village, and as they are very superstitious and afraid of the white people, we entered the village very carefully. We left our cart a short distance outside, and the three of us walked in. We passed several closed doors and walked on until we came to an open door in which a Hindu woman was standing. She beckoned us to enter and this we gladly did. The old bedstead was brought out for us to sit on. A bright, pretty girl eleven years of age, perhaps, stood near by. I was at once interested in her, she looked so pleasant. The woman seeing me look at the girl, seemed pleased and said, *'She is my daughter. You may think it strange to see a daughter in my house." ''Why strange?" I inquired. "Don't you know," said this Hindu woman, " that it is against the religion of the caste I belong to, to allow a girl to live. This is my seventh daughter ; six I killed, but with the seventh such great love came I spared her." '^ Oh ! oh ! " groaned the girls, and they shuddered as Bua continued. '' I never knew till that day there was such a caste, 44 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. neither did the Miss Sahibas know of it. The way she killed the babies was heart-rending. A little grave was dug in one of the inner rooms in which the baby girl was placed, and a few sticks placed over the hole. There the little thing would be left to die alone." " Oh Bua," sobbed Hannah, " how could her mother-heart be so cruel? " '' She did it, Hannah, in the name of religion. She said to us, I remember : * Perhaps I've done wrong to allow this daughter to live, it is against our religion. She is to be married to-day, and I'm in disgrace among my people because a bride goes from my house ; but oh ! I loved her so !' " " Doesn't the British government punish such crimes severely?" now inquired Viro of Miss Corbett. *' Yes, it does," said Miss Corbett, *' when it can find evidence against one who has killed a girl baby he is dealt with as a murderer, but this village of which Bua has told you is on the border of native territory. You know what a bad, lawless set of people dwell on the border. Good laws do not always prohibit!" '' Oh, I'm so thankful I'm a Christian !" Hannah said to herself, " I must spend my life in teaching these poor women of Jesus, who came to set us free from this bondage of fear and superstition." "Girls,'' now said the Little Miss Sahiba, THE LOT OF HEATHEN WOMAN. 45 "would you like to hear about a woman I met in our city last Saturday?" '* Oh, yes," chimed a chorus of voices, "tell us all about it." " I was very tired that afternoon and thought it would rest me, perhaps, to go into the city and see some of the women. I visited only one house. It belonged to a Hindu family. I climbed the nar- row, dirty stairway to the second floor where the living apartments were and found an elderly woman seated on a low stool doing nothing. She had an unusually attractive face. I felt drawn to her at once. After the usual salutations and greetings were over, she said to me, ' Are there any flowers in your garden now? ' " " Beautiful roses," I said, " an abundance of them ; crimson, pink, yellow, white, sweet and fragrant." " Oh, I wish you had brought me one ; I would like to see a rose." " You poor thing," I said pityingly, " come out to our place and I will give you all you can carry." " Do you know what you are asking me ? " "Yes, I am asking you to come out and visit our home, and see our lovely flowers." " My hair, you see, is white. I'm old. I came to this house when I was eight years old, a bride. I've never been outside since. I'll never go out until I am carried out dead." 46 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. An awful pity came into my heart for this sad woman. I told her of the green wheat fields stretching out in every direction ; of the snow-capped moun- tains in the north, that gladden our eyes these days ; of the flowers blooming in our gardens. " Didn't God give you eyes as well as your husband that you might enjoy all this," I asked. "Sometimes," she said, " at night when every one is asleep I climb up on the house top, and I see a bit of blue sky above me, the stars shining down on me. I hear blowing in the soft night wind, the branches of trees, the tops of which I've seen." " Oh, girls, she had seen the tops of trees, but never a whole tree." I couldnH bear to have her tell me more, for my heart was just breaking over the sadness of her shutin life, and I burst out with : "It isn't just, it isn't right, that woman, whom God made, should be treated in this way." " I've felt that way myself," she said, oh so patiently, " I've thought it all over time after time ; until I've feared my reason would go. What is the use of talking in this strain ? I long for freedom, but I cannot have it, unless the men grant it. Go and persuade the men to let us have it. Cannot the sarkar — British government — in some way compel the men to give us freedom? " THE LOT OF HEATHEN WOMAN. 47 " Oh, my poor sisters ! My poor suflfering sisters ! Is there nothing we can do to lift this burden of sorrow from their hearts?" said Bua, while the other girls all remained seated quietly, after hearing these sad recitals of India's women. CHAPTER V. nasiban's conversion. THE summer months had done their work well, with their hot, withering blasts. The plains of the Punjab, lay stretched out bare and quivering under the awful blaze of the sun, all through the months of April, May and June. July came at last ; July with its welcome clouds and copious showers. The earth revived. The people rejoiced as they looked out upon the new green robe that now covered the nakedness of the land. The flowers in the garden tried feebly to add color to the greenness of earth's attire, but the scorching winds had done their work so eflfectually that the result was only a few, poor little rose buds, almost devoid of fragrance. The grass grew everyw^here. It grew tall and rank. It grew in tufts in the corners of the flat, mud roofs. It even tried to spring up in the hard ground of the girls' court- yard. Malaria filled the land. Its poison was wafted on the damp night breezes. It was detected in the steamy atmosphere of mid-day. August brought the visit of this intruder. It always came, 48 BABYj^FIROZA, nasiban's conversion. 49 Teachers and girls now felt the need of a rest. About the middle of the month school was closed. All the girls except the five orphans went to their homes for the six weeks' vacation. Some were able to reach home after a few hours' travel by railway. The larger number, however, who came from villages, had to trudge many miles of muddy road and path before reaching home. They had swollen streams to ford. Tired and hungry they would sit down by the roadside under the shade of a shisham tree at the midday hour, and eat the lunch of unleavened cakes and spiced mangoes that they carried tied in a bandana. If home was not reached the first day, the night would be spent on some friendly villager's roof or in his crowded court-yard. Only a very few of the girls had parents who could afford to pay pony or carriage hire. Fever and cholera raged through the months of August and September out in the rural districts. The Christians remained untouched by these dread diseases. They thanked God for their good health. In India God receives the credit when life is spared. While the heathen were dying by the hundreds in and around the village of Chimma, the Christians of that place used to meet three times daily in the little mud church for prayer. ^* We prayed and kept our houses clean and well sprinkled with lime," said the native minister naively, ** and all our lives were spared." 4GI 50 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. The children all came back to school in the beginning of October. Happy they were to be once more in the "dua ki jagah" — place of prayer — as they lovingly termed the school in those days. The days glided quickly by. The last day of the old year had come, the evening of that last day. It was nine o'clock. The girls were met in the dear old study room. Every one was present except Bua, who lay sick with fever in the adjoin- ing room. It was a chilly night outside. Frost was in the air. Inside a fire burned brightly in the small stove. *' To-night God will close His great account book, girls," said one of the Miss Sahibas, " and will open another whose every page will be v^hite and pure." ''What has gone on record concerning our school ? Much, I know, that we would gladly have erased, much that causes rejoicing. Have you not given your hearts to Jesus this year, every one except our dear Nasiban?'' Here she turned toward Nasiban, who sat alone in one cor- ner of the room, looking as though she had no lieart or interest in this meeting. ''Nasiban," she •said gently, "won't you come to Jesus to-night? Oh, dear child, give your heart to Him before the year closes! Let us enter upon the new year an unbroken band in our Master's presence. Won't you come?" nasiban's conversion. 51 An intense silence filled the room as all the girls waited for Nasiban's answer. She gave none, but her face showed her utter indiflference to the pleading of the Little Miss Sahiba. "Girls, let us pray for Nasiban to-night, pray as we have never prayed before.'' Every head was instantly bowed to the floor except Nasiban's, and praying began that contin- ued for two hours. " How could she remain so obdurate," thought the Miss Sahibas, as they lis- tened to the earnest prayers. " Was it true that her heart was stone ? Was there no way to touch her, to remove this unconcern from her face, and to melt her heart? " Weeping, the children now prayed and Nasi- ban still sat bolt upright. A mocking smile that passed over her face seemed to say, " Pray on if you like, girls, it will not hurt me ; neither will it do any good.'' Solemnly the clock ticked away the last min- utes of the old year. It was now fifteen minutes to twelve. The Little Miss Sahiba moved closer to Nasi- ban and looking into her face, said: '' Nasiban, do you know what we are doing here to-night? We are praying for your soul's salvation. Have you no concern yourself? For nine months or more you have been prayed for. God's spirit has pleaded with you. Do not dare to resist longer. Fifteen 52 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. minutes left in which to make peace with God be- fore the beginning of another year. This may be the last time Jesus will pass your way. Oh, come to him now, Nasiban.'' Sobs arose from the praying girls. Slowly the clock ticked on. *'Ten minutes now left for you, Nasiban." Her head began to droop and her face had a drawn, frightened appearance. '' Eight min- utes only.'^ Her eyes had now a beseeching look. " Seven — six — soon the year will be gone and Nas- iban not saved.'' With a scream she now jumped up and said, " I cannot endure this any longer ! Where is Bua? I've sinned against her, and must ask her forgive- ness. Do take me to Bua ! '' She rushed out of the door and finding Bua's bedside, threw herself beside it in a wild fashion, calling out, " Bua, for Jesus' sake, forgive me the great wrong I did you. Ask God to save me.'' Then she began praying for herself: ''Oh, God, save me. I've been so stubborn and wicked. I do come now and give my heart to Thee. Save me now, save me lest I die." Bua, out of the depths of her heart's love for this wayward child prayed. The hard heart was melted now, the stubborn will had yielded and Nasiban arose with a bright light or her face. With a sweet smile she said to Bua. " It was hard to give up, but I'm happy now. I must go back nasiban's conversion. 53 and tell the girls." She entered the room just as the clock began striking the midnight hour. " Sisters, rejoice with me, your prayers are an- swered," was her greeting. " I've given my heart to Jesus.'' Great joy had we experienced in that school in past days, but nothing equaled what we felt that night. The battle was a hard one. Victory was sweet to the dear girls. Nasiban had struggled hard not to be brought in. The girls realized that night that the kingdom of heaven is taken by violence. Nasiban was fairly overwhelmed by the affection showered upon her in the next few minutes by the happy girls. A thanksgiving meeting was held in which earnest hearts poured forth thanks, praise and gratitude to God for all He had done for them that wonderful year. Three years later and ten thousand miles dis- tant from that place are these experiences being written, but neither time nor distance can efface from the memory the joy of that blessed year. Its sweet influences are felt over North India to-day. Some hearts in the home land are thanking God for those days of spiritual awakening. CHAPTER VI. SELF-SUPPORT. ON a sandy bank of the river Ben stood the vil- lage of Nidala. In appearance it resembled the thousands of other villages in the Zafar- wal Mission district. Its one thousand inhabitants lived in tiny mud houses that were joined one to another. A few narrow streets ran through the village. A boy, with only a slight amount of agility, could easily jump across them from one house top to another, and so run over the top of the whole village. When a boy is sent to a neighbor's house on an errand in one of these vil- lages, he usually prefers climbing the mud stair- way and scampering across the expanse of mud roofs, to the dusty streets below. In one corner of the village, down in the poorest, meanest quarter, lived a handful of Christians — a dozen or more families. This is the reason we are interested in Nidala. They were a poor people, poor even for India. Some of them, at times, bemoaned their fate. They worked early and late for the farmers and received so little in return. The children, with 64 SELF-SUPPORT. 55 pinched faces, would often cry for " roti, roti '' — " bread, bread " — and there would be no roti to give. The parents wondered at such times if life was worth living. When this despondent spirit would take hold of the hearts of the Christians, the blind wife of the leading Christian in the village would call them into her home and repeat to them promise after promise from God's word. She had suffered too ; but her faith was so strong and her hope for the future so bright, that soon the wail of despair^would give place to psalms of triumph, and the Christians would go back to their places of labor with new courage. About a quarter of a mile up the stream, on its north bank, the Mission had erected a comfortable cottage of sun-dried brick for the Rev. Ganda Mall and his family. They had been assigned to this place a few years previous to the one in which the work of grace began in Sialkot. Rev. Ganda Mall was pastor of the Nidala congregation. He also had charge of the work in the surrounding villages. He will be better known to those who are acquainted with the history of the India Mission as the son of Kanaya. Dr. Andrew Gordon, it will be remembered, wrote a graphic account of Kanaya's conversion. Ganda Mall was the second son. He found his wife in the Sialkot girl's school when Miss McCahon had charge of that work. He married Khajji, a beautiful young girl, whose native land was Kashmir. 56 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. They were very happy in their Nidala home ; their six children, three boys and three girls, still at home with them. Their eldest child, Khalil, was a boy of thirteen. One sultry afternoon in July, when the sun had burst forth in all his hot fury after a week's heavy downpour of rain, the minister and his wife were seated in the long, narrow room that was used as church, sitting-room and guest chamber. The minister was preparing a sermon, while his wife was busily employed in making a dress for the baby girl, Sosan. In the English tongue she would have been called Lily, for that is the meaning of Sosan. After a long silence between them Ganda Mall looked toward his wife and addressing her as the oriental custom is, '' Mother of Khalil, what do you think of Maryam's letter, I have been reading it over again." Maryam, better known as Bua in the school, was Ganda's youngest sister. '* I hardly know what to say," his wife replied, carefully. '' I have not been pleased with the stories that have come to us lately of the great religious excitement in Sialkot, but Maryam is a good girl, and her letter puts a diflferent light on some of the stories told us." " Still we need to be careful," the minister now said, '* lest our sister be led too far in this new way SELF-SUPPORT. 57 of thinking. It was all very, well for the disciples and early Christians to practice self-denial in everything. I do not think it is required in this age. Maryam has always been a devoted Christian. She always has lived in close touch with the next world. While I am not in sympathy with this new movement, still I cannot but be impressed by her letter. No preacher could have written a better one.*' The letter under discussion that afternoon had been written by Bua after much prayer. One day she came to the lyittle Miss Sahiba and said, *' Oh, that my brother Ganda Mall might be filled with God's Spirit for service. What a power for good he would be among our countrymen !" From that day she began praying definitely for this brother, and during that time wrote a letter urging him to a more consecrated life. Many rumors reached the minister and his wife in their country home, forty miles from Sialkot, during that eventful summer. They heard that women were praying in public; that Christians wept over their sins and oftentimes made public confession. '' If the Christians confess that they are sinners, what will the heathen think of them?" said the " Mother of Khalil " one day. She seemed to forget that if there were sins in the lives of the Christians, the heathen knew them whether confessed or not. 58 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. They pondered much on the strange reports from Sialkot. When vacation came in the girls' school, the Little Miss Sahiba accompanied Bua out to old Zafarwal, where she had spent several of the happiest years of her life. They left Sialkot early one morning. The journey of twenty-six miles was made in a two-wheeled, seatless, springless cart. No wonder they were glad at evening time to catch the gleam of white minarets through the foliage of pipal, banyan and palm trees. They knew they were near Zafarwal city and its many Hindu temples. Rest awaited them half a mile beyond the city in the little Christian village of Scott Garh. Here Kanaya still lived. Kalu, his cousin and half a dozen other families also had homes in this village. Bua's youngest brother Joseph walked out a mile to meet the two weary travelers. A glad welcome awaited them in the village. After a little rest the Little Miss Sahiba looked across an open space of freshly plowed ground to the Mission premises, where stood the red brick house that had been erected by Dr. Barr for the missionaries' home. A glimpse of the dear old home, with its setting of fragrant eucalyptus trees, brought to her mind so many memories of joy and sadness that her heart was full. Eleven years ago she first came to Zafarwal at the time of the annual meeting, where SELF-SUPPORT. 6^ she received her first appointment to work, and her appointment was made to Zafarwal. Well she remembered the days that followed. The help she received from Mrs. Martin in acquiring the Punjabi language, in conducting meetings, in caring for health, in things spiritual. She could never forget what Mrs. Martin had been to her. Then came that day when Dr. Martin's family and she had set forth on a winter's camping tour and those who said good-bye to the *' light of the home,'' said it for the last time. In a week's time Mrs. Martin was stricken with pneumonia and died in a distant home. Memories of a glad day came when she first met Dr. and Mrs. Barr and Kate Corbett. She smiled as she remembered the old brown satteen dress she wore on that occasion and how strange it must have looked to those fresh from America's fashions, as they greeted her on the wide front veranda. Then memories of the next six years, of the deepest happiness she had ever experienced, filled her mind ; those precious days when they had worked together with one heart and one mind for the Master they loved. Many times since have the other three doubt- less exclaimed with the Little Miss Sahiba, "Thank God for the six years spent in Zafarwal ! " As she now sat wrapt in retrospective thought, far from those so dear to her in days past, some of 60 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. the Christians came to her and said, *' We are going over to the church for prayer meeting. Won't you come with us? " No second invitation was needed to be given for attending prayer meeting in the Zafarwal church. It stood only a few rods in front of Kanaya's home. What a homely building it was ! Made of mud, four mud walls, a mud floor and mud roof! The outer walls were plastered with clay, the inner had a coating of white wash. The mud roof leaked during the rainy season and left great black streaks on the walls. There was matting on the floor. Only a few pieces of furniture were in the church. A few old benches and chairs, a table that filled the place of pulpit, a bright red cover with a text embroidered in silk covered the table. This had been made and given to the church by Kanaya's third daughter, Rukko, who died a few years after completing the course in a medical college. " No, the church was not beautiful ; " but the Little Miss Sahiba thought it the dearest church building in all the world. Its associations made it dear to her. She remembered the sermons she had heard in it, the prayers ofi*ered, the souls saved in it, the blessed communion seasons when, side by side, these brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ had sat and partaken of the emblems of His broken body and shed blood. The prayer meeting that evening was but a SELF-SUPPORT. 61 foretaste of what was to come. Rev. W. T. Ander- son, an earnest missonary, who had charge of Zafarwal at that time, said during the evening : *' I would like to have Bro. Ganda Mall come over for a few days and help us in a series of meetings. I will write him a note asking him over." The next morning a messenger was dispatched across country with a note. In a few hours' time he reached the Nidala parsonage. Rev. Ganda Mall opened the note and read : — " Dear Brother: — Some of the Christian work- ers have come to Zafarwal for a few days. This seems an opportune time for holding a series of meetings. Won't you and your wife come over and help us? *' Your brother in Christ, '' W. T. Andkrson." *'Just as I expected,'' muttered Ganda Mall, " the religious excitement has reached Zafarwal and it will soon spread all over the country.'' He showed the letter to his wife, then said, '* Mother of Khalil, what shall we do ? '' Ordinarily, her reply would have been, '* Do? you know what we will do ! You go to Zafarwal while I stay at home with the children. You know I cannot leave them ; then there is the cow to be cared for, too." But this was not an ordinary occasion. Her reply was, ''We will go." Her husband looked at 62 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. her in surprise, while she continued, ^' Go and call in that neighbour woman who will take care of the four older children. I will get the two babies ready while you saddle the horse; then we will start for Zafarwal.'' Now Ganda Mall was an extraordinary man for India. He loved and respected his wife. Several years ago he had said to the I^ittle Miss Sahiba when they were one day talking about what Chris- tianity had done for India's women, " I do thank God for my Christian wife. She has been such a help to me. I nearly always take her advice. In fact, I may just as well tell you that I always take it. She is so wise." So on that day he immediately proceeded to carry out his wife's wishes; though he could not understand how a motive could be strong enough to persuade her to leave the four children. The neighbour woman came in and received instruc- tions as to the care of the children and cow. The pony was saddled and brought to the door of the court-yard, where Gandu helped his wife to mount. She held Sosan in her arms, while little Israel was happily seated back of her on the quiet pony. The minister, after getting his Bible and a cane, was ready to start. He walked beside the pony, now guiding it with his voice, now using the cane when necessity demanded. Some threatening clouds came rolling up from the west as they set forth on SELF-SUPPORT. 63 their journey, but they heeded them not. Their hearts were set on carrying out a purpose that had been forming for some time. Was not God calling them to Zafarwal to help counteract this strange, new teaching? They pushed on very bravely through muddy roads and swollen streams, while the rain fell upon them in torrents, drenching them again and again. Nothing dampened their ardor. On the way Ganda Mall said to his wife, '' Let us prepare a sermon that will put a stop to this revival movement that has reached Zafarwal at last." "Let us do it," his wife responded heartily. He began thinking out the main points of his sermon, speaking of them occasionally to his wife, who was busy suggesting suitable references from the Bible. It was growing late when they finally reached the Christian village, wet, muddy and tired. The congregation had met in the church again for prayer. Some of the people saw Gandu and his wife pass by the open church door in the deepening gloom. They went over to his father's home for the night. ISMAT. LIZZIE. DAUGHTERS OP REV. GANDA MALL. CHAPTER VII. SKLF-SUPPORT — Continued, CIGHT o'clock the next morning the Christians ^ met again in the church. The women, as they came into the church through one of the side doors, crossed over the room and sat on the opposite side, while the men sat near the door. Brother Ganda Mall and his wife came in. She came across the room and sat down beside the Little Miss Sahiba, while he joined the men on their side of the room. Mr. Anderson presided over the conference that was held that morning. The subject was " Self- support." How could the native church of India become a self-sustaining church. This was a burning question in the Mission in those days. Indeed, it is one of the most important questions to-day. The meeting opened with a season of prayer. When the subject was first presented to the people they had little to say. They did not understand it. They did not think they could do more than they were already doing. But as they thought upon it the interest grew, and one after another, Kanaya, 66 5 GI 66 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. Kalu and some of the younger men arose and gave suggestions as to how the churches could gradually become self-supporting. Ganda Mall remained silent. He sat quite still, leaning against the wall listening to all that was said, but saying nothing himself. The morning meeting closed about 11 o'clock. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon the Christians met again in the church, where the morning's subject was resumed. Ganda Mall still remained silent. Toward the close of the afternoon session, Mr. Anderson, looking over where he sat,said : ^'Brother Gandu, have you nothing to say on this important subject?" Gandu arose and looking about him in a dazed sort of way, said in a hesitating manner : *' I believe I agree with all that has been said," and sat down again. The Little Miss Sahiba wondered why it -was Gandu did not show more interest in the meeting. Usually he was first on the floor to speak in conventions. He always seemed to enjoy speak- ing. She did not know the struggle he was passing through. The sermon he had so zealously prepared had passed away from his mind and God was dealing with his soul. To him the question of self-support came as a personal question. A voice seemed to say to him : " You know it is right, what will you do to help it on ?" SELF-SUPPORT — CoH. 67 In the evening a consecration service was held. Hearts were touched as one after another of the brothers and sisters arose and gave themselves anew to God's service. Ganda Mall's head during this impressive serv- ice began dropping lower and lower. He seemed filled with troubled thoughts. When the meeting was almost ready to close he arose and stood lean- ing against the wall for support. " Brothers," he cried out, " pray for me ! A heavy burden is on my heart. God wants me to do something and I do not know what it is. Oh, pray for me ! " Mr. Anderson and another native minister went over and standing one on either side of him prayed. The hour being late the meeting was dismissed and the congregation passed out quietly. A few remained for more prayer, Ganda and his wife, Maryam and the Little Miss Sahiba and two or three others. They came over in front of the table and knelt down in prayer. By this time Ganda Mall was groaning in anguish of spirit, " Oh, what shall I do?'' *' Brother," said the native minister, *' will you not yield yourself to God. Will you not give up whatever God wants you to give up ? " With sobs this strong man prayed, *' Dear Lord, I do not know what it is Thou wouldst have me to do. If Thou wouldst take my dearest and best I 68 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. give them now to Thee. All is Thine. I want to please Thee in everything." The little circle prayed one after another, pour- ing out their hearts before God. When they arose Ganda Mall called his wife to the back part of the church and talked quietly with her a few minutes. Then he called the Little Miss Sahiba to join them. When she came near he said, *' Sister, I know now what it is God wants me to do.'' '* Brother, what is it?" '* God wants me to give up the eight dollars a month salary I have been receiving from America and to take just what my own poor people can give me, in order that our people may learn to support their own work.'' Tears of joy flowed down the cheeks of the Little Miss Sahiba as she heard this. Was not this an answer to prayer? The missionaries had long felt that this matter must come from the natives themselves, that the native ministers must lenounce willingly foreign support and take the little the poor people could give them before self- support could be a fact. Here was a beginning. The Spirit of God alone could persuade men to endure the sufiering that would surely follow one who adopted this course. Suffering there would be. The poorest people of the land were the church members. Yet God had said to the very poor as well as to the rich, '* It is more blessed to SELF-SUPPORT — Cofl. 69 give than to receive.'' A native minister stated it in this way, " Are the poor to be debarred from the blessings of giving ? " '* But what would Gandu's wife say to all this?" thought the Little Miss Sahiba. The little woman stood there with eyes downcast for a few moment's then said touchingly to her husband : *' Father of Khalil, don't do anything hastily. Think of me and think of the six children." Gandu thought about them. All night long he walked up and down his father's fields thinking it all over again and again. He prayed over it in the silent night hours. He did not want to make a mistake. The next morning the pony was saddled and the family started home. Very little was said as they journeyed. The day passed quietly after they reached home. Night came — ten o'clock — the children were fast asleep in bed. Gandu's wife then came up to him and said earnestly: '* I am willing now. I knew yesterday God wanted you to give up your salary, but I was afraid to consent. I felt we would suffer, perhaps starve. I am willing now for you to take this step, for," she added sweetly, " if God wants you to do it, will He not provide?" Ganda Mall was so overjoyed that he exclaimed " Hallelujah ! Praise the Lord !" *' Oh, don't you think I thanked God then for my Christian wife," he told a friend the next day. 70 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. So great was his joy that he awakened the four older children, Khalil and Jamil, the boys, and Lizzie and Minnie, and told them what he and their mother had been led to do for Jesus Christ^s sake. They listened wonderingly to what their father told them. When he had finished Khalil said: " Thank God for such parents. We cannot do much to help you, but if the time should come when there is not much to eat and we are hungry, we will not cry nor trouble you in any way." Then the family knelt down and thanked God for victory won. It was a greater victory than they knew. A victory not only over their own hearts and lives, but a victory for the church of Christ in India. It was the beginning of a self- sustaining, self-supporting India church. The next day some of the Zafarwal Christians went over to Nidala. The road was muddy and the river Ben in such high waters that it was well nigh impassable. A big flood had come down that morning and was sweeping from bank to bank. The ford was a quarter of a mile wide. An hour was spent in crossing this treacherous stream that was so full of quicksands. The Rev. Ganda Mall saw the party coming, and hastened down to the river's brink to welcome them as they came up out of the stream. The first words that could be heard above the din of the raging flood were, '* Praise God for victory won. SELF-SUPPORT — CoH. 71 Come right up to the house and we will have a thanksgiving meeting." The little company, tired and splashed with mud and water, hurried up the sandy bank as well as they could. The warm welcome that met them as they entered the mud cottage, soon caused them to forget the fatigues of the journey and they entered into the next hour's thanksgiving meeting with grateful hearts. It was good to be there and to hear what God is willing to do to those who yield themselves wholly unto Him. Gandu related the experience he had passed through. One duty yet remained for him. He must tell his congregation of his action. How would his people receive this news? That afternoon he sent word over to the village for all the Christians to come over in the evening. He had something important to tell them. During the day the minister, his wife and the lyittle Miss Sahiba had a few minutes for a little quiet talk. Gandu told them about the sermon he had prepared that was to check the religious fervor that was beginning to burn brightly in many hearts. " We went to Zafarwal," he said, *' to strike a blow at this work. What could I do against it? I saw it was of the Lord, and I was perhaps more deeply touched by it than any other. Such a change has come into my life. I hardly know that I am the same person." 72 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. At nine o'clock that night the Christians in Gandu's home seated themselves on matting that was spread out in the damp court-yard, and there, under the bright light of the full moon, awaited the coming of the village congregation. The men worked late in the evenings, and by the time supper was over it was nine o'clock before they could get started to the meetings. It was a little past nine when the court-yard gate opened and Gandu's congregation began filing in. The Little Miss Sahiba, who knew all the people well, watched them with interest as they came in, one by one. First came the wealthiest man of the congre- gation, a leading member, who received five cents a day for his work. His wife followed him. Then another man and his family, and others, until fifteen or twenty were seated. All were now ready for the service to begin. The minister opened the meeting with praise and prayer. A portion of Scripture was read and explained. The fourteenth verse of the fourth chapter of Esther was his text. " Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" He felt this was a message God had sent to his own heart. With deep earnestness he said to his people, *' Brethren and sisters, you know that for many years the good people of America have put their hands into their pockets SELF-SUPPORT — CoU. 73 and taken out money for our country, with which we have builded churches and school houses, educated our children and supported our pastors. They have supported me, your pastor. Now, brothers, don't you think we ought to do likewise ? Should we not follow their example in building our churches, educating our children, supporting our ministers and sending out missionaries. In order to do my part in this work I have given up my salary from America and will take what the Lord sends me through the people of my country." This was only a little of what he told his people. After he sat down he buried his face in his hands. What would his people do now? The richest man of his congregation, the member with a salary of five cents a day, arose to respond. Then it was the heart of the Little Miss Sahiba almost caused her to say, "Brother Gandu, how can you do it? What is eight dollars a month to the people of America?" for she was looking intently now into the faces of this poor people. Their pitiful condi- tion touched her heart deeply. The ragged garments, only half covering their bodies, the sad faces of men and women, the pinched, starved faces of some of the children, all appealed so strongly to her that for a few moments she almost lost her joy over the victory won for the cause of Christ and his church in the touching scene before her. The brother arose to respond to his pastor. As 74 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. he stood there calm and dignified, the Little Miss Sahiba thought surely he would reprove his pastor for his course. She could almost hear him saying, '* Pastor, how could you do it, when you know our poverty? Our children are often hungry. We sometimes have only one meal a day. We have heard the people of America always have two meals daily, clothing to cover them and houses to shelter them. America would not miss the eight dollars a month." What a joyful surprise to hear instead the man's earnest ejaculation : " Thank God for such a pastor ! We have known for a long time we ought to do more. If God will forgive us the past we will do better in the future. God will bless the people of America for what they have done to help us. Let us, brothers, show our love for the Lord by helping others. Pastor, you know we do not have much of this world's goods, but when you are hungry we will be hungry too. We will divide the last crumb we have with you." To this all the people heartily responded, *' Amen." The joy that was felt that night in the hearts of missionary and native Christian worker can never be told. The power of God was manifest in a new and wonderful way. At midnight this little flock of God's children in that heathen land sang in closing, these words of the psalmist : — SELF-SUPPORT — CoU. 75 **What fit return, Lord, can I make, For all Thy gifts on me bestowed ? The cup of blessing I will take And call upon the name of God. With sacrifice of thanks I'll go And on Jehovah's name will call, Will pay to God the vows I owe In presence of His people all." CHAPTER VIII. TWO WEDDINGS. ONE hot night in June, Miss Corbett and the Little Miss Sahiba left their home and walked a mile across the hot, burning plains to the village of Naya Find, where a young Hindu girl, a friend of theirs, was to be married that night. They had been invited to the wedding. It was a little past nine o'clock when they reached the village. On the outskirts they passed a group of men who were seated, silently smoking the hookah. This, they soon learned, was the bridegroom's party that had arrived at the village, but could not enter until the wrath of a paternal uncle had been sufficiently appeased, to enable him to enter with them. The Miss Sahibas entered the bride's home, a plain little mud dwelling, with a mud enclosure in front of it. In one corner of the yard, the bride's father, with some other men, was busy cooking rice in an immense caldron that swung over a bright fire. Guests had already arrived. The men were stretched out on the ground fast asleep, while the women were resting more comfortably 76 TWO WEDDINGS. 77 over in another corner on cots. No wonder they were tired, for some had walked twenty miles in order to be present on this happy occasion. After sitting a little while in the yard, some one asked the Miss Sahibas if they would not like to go up on the roof They gladly assented. It was delightful up there, in the bright moonlight, the flat expanse of roofs all about them. Had they so desired they could have walked over the top of the whole village. Many women came and perched themselves on the very edge of the roof, making the Ivittle Miss Sahiba exceedingly nervous, lest they should fall oj0f, but they only laughed at her fears. The night hours were whiled away pleasantly with Bible stories and songs, all so new and wonderful to these heathen wedding guests. Still the bridegroom's party tarried. The supper grew cold. After the rice was cooked it was thrown on a sheet, and several bushels of it now lay, in a pile white as snow. The guests were becoming impatient for supper, and they did that night, what is against Hindu etiquette, fed the guests before the bridegroom's arrival. One hundred and three men sat down in a circle on the bare ground. Dishes made from the leaves of a tree was passed to the guests. Some of the neighbors, who acted as waiters, now carried the rice around in large baskets, and with their hands lifted out great quantities and filled the leaf dishes. 78 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. When the men had all been fed, the women numbering seventy, took their places on the ground and were helped liberally from the baskets of rice. After supper, the people formed into groups and the singing of wedding songs began. Still the bridegroom came not. The Little Miss Sahiba, turning to Bua, who was seated near her, said, *' No wonder the virgins slumbered and slept when waiting for the bride- groom's coming. I am so sleepy I can scarcely keep my eyes open." "What does she mean?'* said a woman to Bua, and this led to the parable of the ten virgins being explained and the way of life opened up to these women. *' We never before heard anything like it at a wedding," said several of the women. " Our songs and stories are not fit for your ears to hear, but what you say is good and pure." At last ! " The bridegroom is coming ! The bridegroom is coming ! " rang through the court- yard and on the housetops. Great excitement prevailed. The young girls went out to meet him, and soon returned, singing as they came. As the bridegroom and his friends came to the outer gate, they were met by the bride's mother, who had a Itttle lamp in her hand. She passed this back and forth several times over his head, while all the women sang. They now came inside, and rough matting was spread on the ground in their honor. TWO WEDDINGS. 79 The Miss Sahibas descended the mud stairway to meet the bridegroom. A nice looking boy of thirteen or fourteen years of age stood before them, clad in pure white muslin. His coat almost touched the ground, and was tied in at the waist with a sash. From his turban of white, strings of flowers fell over his face. He greeted the Miss Sahibas with a lowly salaam and they returned to the roof. No bride appeared on the scene, and they knew she would not appear for some time. The bridegroom's party, numbering twenty-one, were given their supper of rice and pulse. The bridegroom having come, the bride could now be dressed for the ceremony. The bridegroom's parents always furnish the bridal dress. At two o'clock the Miss Sahibas were taken into the room where the poor little bride had been kept all that evening and night. It was a small room, with only one small door to let air into it. It was filled with women ; relations and neighbors of the family. The bride sat in the center of the room with a sheet wrapped about her, crying. The bridegroom's uncle brought a basket to the door. This was handed inside and placed before the bride. In it were the wedding garments. No one except an unmarried person could open this basket. After not a little search, a tiny girl was thrust forward who finally succeeded in opening 80 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. the cloth in which the basket was tied. '* Sing/* said a woman as this was being performed, and a song about the opening of the bride's garments was sung. Bright red and green garments, trimmed in silver braid now lay exposed to view, trousers, jacket and veil. In the bottom of the basket lay a package tied up in a heavy brown paper. A song was sung as this was unfastened. A comb, sandal wood, red lead and cloves were taken out, all of which were used in dressing the bride's hair. Her aunt, who combed her hair, now unbraided for the last time the little braids she had always worn close to her forehead, showing her to be an unmarried girl. When next the world saw her face she would be a wife. Into many small braids were her long black tresses braided. Little balls of red cotton, the brown paper and three strands of heavy red cord, with tassels of tinsel, were fastened in her hair. It would not be combed again for a week. Another aunt put a gold ring in her nose, and still another, fastened silver rings in her ears. During all this time, the little girl continued cry- ing, while the women laughed, and the women sang. At last the Little Miss Sahiba, who could not endure^it any longer, began upbraiding the womenlfbr their heartlessness, when the bride's mother said, *' Do you suppose there is laughter in our hearts, oh no ! but why should we weep, would HANNAH. ISEI. TWO WEDDINGS. 81 that make it any easier? We wept when we were married, we lived through it. She will live through it too. We all have to endure the same thing." Oh the sadness of it all ! The weeping bride so soon to be taken away from her parents to a new home, where she would be owned soul and body, and where, who knows what torture awaited the little girl inside the four walls that would soon encircle her for life. She would not have a shadow of redress. Thinking on all this, the Little Miss Sahiba bowed her head and wept with the tender bride. At last the painful ordeal of dressing the bride was over, and she stood for a few minutes in all her gay finery, the admiration of all the women. Not long, however, was she allowed to remain unveiled. Two heavy sheets were thrown over her. "Why all this covering, on this hot night?" the Miss Sahibas asked. " We want her well hidden from view," an aunt replied. She was now ready to be taken out for the marriage ceremony. A square framework had been prepared for this. In one corner sat the bridegroom, in another the priest, who was ready for his part. He had prepared a few of his gods for the occasion. A stone represented Ganesh. Vishnu had been made of dough, while Brahma will receive more honor if he remains undescribed. In an opposite corner the little trembling bride 6GI 82 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. sat. The gods were worshiped. Water was sprinkled over them, and over the worshipers by the priest. This, he said, made them holy, the gods, as well as the men. Incense was oflfered. A collection was then taken for the benefit of the priest. If this happens, as is frequently the case, to be not large enough to satisfy him, he stops the ceremony until the offering is made more liberal. One corner of the bride's veil was tied to an end of the bridegroom's turban, and the '* knot " that in this case was '* tied " was altogether literal. Dough was then placed in the hands of each. They now arose and walked seven times around the framework. The first three times the bride preceded the bridegroom, but the order was reversed the last four times and the bride followed meekly after the one she would continue following the remainder of her life. It was six o'clock in the morning before the ceremony was finished. The poor little bride, so tired and sleepy after the long, dreary night, was placed in a gayly covered palanquin. Bidding good-bye to her girlhood home, she was borne away on the shoulders of four men, across country six miles to the new home where she would hence- forth be always under the stern eye of her mother-in-law. How different was the marriage of Jiwan, one of the Sialkot school girls, during the summer TWO WEDDINGS. 83 vacation ! Mr. Anderson, the Little Miss Sahiba, and Bua drove over one morning to her village, a few miles north of the town of Zafarwal. Many of the wedding guests had already arrived. After a little rest in the neat Christian home, where the young bride quietly assisted her mother in looking after the comfort of the visitors, the men arose, and taking their Bibles in their hands started out to spend the day in preaching Jesus Christ to the heathen in that village. The marriage ceremony would not take place until evening. The unusual stir in the one Christian home in the village brought the Hindu women out in large numbers. The opportunity was improved by the Christian women, and all day long in that happy home, heathen women were pointed to the Saviour. The bride took her turn in telling these heathen sisters of what Jesus had done for her. The Little Miss Sahiba knew better than any one else the great change that had come over Jiwan in those last months of her school life. It was difficult for these village women to believe that the young girl who spoke so earnestly and lovingly to them about their souls, was to be married that day. What a strange religion was this- that absorbed every thought even on the wedding day ! About four o'clock in the afternoon Jiwan's mother came into the room where her daughter was surrounded by an attentive audience, and said, 84 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. " Daughter, it will soon be time for the ceremony. I think you had better go and dress." An hour afterwards Jiwan was ready. She came out into the open yard, dressed in the simple style of her people, only wore less gaudy colors and her veil was of soft white muslin. A bunch of roses brought from the Zafarwal mission garden held her veil in place. The bridegroom, a tall, fine looking man, was attired in pure white. He was a teacher under Mr. Anderson's supervision. These two young people stood side by side while the ceremony was performed by a native minister. The heathen, who witnessed it, were filled with amazement at the honor given the woman in the marriage cere- mony. She was placed on an equality with the man. She stood by his side. They both made the same promises. The day had been full of beau- tiful object lessons. The Little Miss Sahiba was glad that night, as they drove back to Zafarwal, that she had had the privilege of helping to prepare Jiwan for her life work. Another Christian home had been started, and oh ! how great was its need in that great stretch of north country wholly given over to idol- atry. CHAPTER IX. THE CHRISTIAN KNDKAVORS' GIFT. ONE Tuesday evening after the Endeavor meet- ing was over, some of the girls still lingered in the room, and drew near the Little Miss Sahiba, who was reading the mail that had just come in from America. After finishing the letters, she said to the girls : '' I have received another letter from my sister, who has so often written us about the orphans where she lives and works. Would you like me to read it to you ?" ' ' Oh, yes, please do,'' they exclaimed quickly. The Little Miss Sahiba always found willing listeners when- ever she spoke of the grand work that is being done by Rev. J. G. Lemen and his staff of work- ers for two hundred and more little American orphans. Her sister had been engaged in the work for some time in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The people of India always have a word of sympathy for the orphan. The school girls had taken the sorrows of these orphans into their hearts. They listened intently, as the Little Miss Sahiba read from her sister's letter of the " hard times " that had come to America. " We have," she wrote, " had very little money come to us lately for our 85 86 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. work. You know we are dependent on the gifts of friends for our support. We have been accus- tomed to giving our children bread and milk for their suppers, but lately we have had so little money we have had nothing but bread to give them.'' Her reading was now interrupted by one of the girls exclaiming : " Nothing but bread, dry bread for their suppers ! Poor little things ! We thought we were poor, but we always have some- thing in which to dip our bread." The Little Miss Sahiba was deeply touched with this tender- ness for the orphans in her home land. " We have something in which to dip our bread," the girls said, and their Miss Sahiba thought to herself: '^ You poor little things, that is all you ever have, the bread, and something in which to dip it.'' Several of them now arose and passed out of the room, murmuring as they left: *' Nothing but dry bread ! Nothing but dry bread ! " The Little Miss Sahiba was alone with her let- ters from the home land, the little white messen- gers that are so eagerly watched for, and that bring such joy to the lonely worker in the distant outposts of the Christian churches. Friends in the home land, will you not help swell the foreign post that reaches the missionaries only once a week ? The girls came back after a short time, and coming up to the Little Miss Sahiba, began drop- THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVORS' GIFT. 87 ping pieces of money into her lap, little silver bits worth five cents, little copper ';*coins worth half a cent. Ivooking up in surprise, she said: "Girls, why do you give me this money ? '' "It isn't much," one replied, " but it is all we have ; please send it oflf quickly to help feed those poor little orphans." They left her again and went out and canvassed the whole school. Another handful of small coins was brought and laid beside the first pile. As the Miss Sahiba looked at the shining bits of silver, her heart was melted at the sight, for she knew how much sacrifice was represented by this money. The girls had given their alL And how hard some of them had worked to earn this money ! Grinding at the mill for hours to earn five cents ! They were hoarding these silver bits, so that by and by they might have enough to buy a reference Bible, while the copper coins would be expended in much needed hair ribbons. " We will read our old Bibles, and tie our hair with strings," one of the girls now said, as she seemed to read the Little Miss Sahiba's thoughts, "we want all our money sent to those orphans." When the money was counted it was found the girls had given a little more than two dollars, all the spending money the school contained. The girls were happy that night. Never, per- haps, had they prayed so earnestly for God to bless 88 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. the " good people of America," as when they met for evening prayers. They had invested money over there and were interested in those they were helping. The next day, twenty of the girls, with their Miss Sahibas, went down to the city church for the missionary society. At the close of the meet- ing, one of the most timid girls in the school arose and told the story of the orphans so graphically that every heart was touched, and ten rupees, or three dollars, one half the money in the treasury, was voted to the help of this object. Some of the Christians in the city added to this sum and in a few days the Little Miss Sahiba had $8.50 to send in a draft to Mr. Lemen, of Council Blufifs, Iowa. India, famine-stricken, plague-smitten India, out of its penury, could still send a little to help prosperous America's suffering ones ! The gift was blessed to the " Christian Home ;'* and the givers received a rich blessing in their own souls. " It is more blessed to give than to receive." CHAPTER X. WHO SENT THKM AWAY? THE weeks that followed were full of work, for the girls were preparing for the government examination. Three of the girls, Martha, Viro and Nasiban were going up for their final examination. They were freed from much of the household work, that they might have more time for their studies, but the Miss Sahibas were glad to notice that they did not neglect the study of the Bible and prayer. That always came first. Indeed a loving, helpful spirit prevailed in every department of the school. Never had the work seemed more encouraging. It was at this time a letter came to the mission field bearing sad tidings. It came from the Foreign Board. It told of "hard times" in America, and how, because of this, the mission receipts had been greatly reduced. " It would be necessary," the letter said, '' for the mission estimates to be reduced twenty-five per cent." This letter went the rounds of the mission stations, and one day reached the girls' boarding school in Sialkot, where it was read by the two Miss Sahibas. In consternation they exclaimed: 89 90 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. " A cut of twenty-five per cent ! Oh, what does that mean to us in this school ! How can we reduce expenses !" It cost only ;^1.25 per month to support a girl in the school. This sum fed, clothed and taught a girl for one month. True, it meant plain living, two simple meals a day, the " dry bread and some- thing in which to dip it,'' two plain, coarse cotton suits of clothing a year, and a staff of teachers, who received from ;^3.00 to ;^8.00 per mensem for their wages. The Miss Sahibas, after talking the matter over, decided they could not feed the girls less food and keep them well and strong ; they could not clothe them on less, and as they were in the school to be taught, the teaching staff could not well be reduced. There was no alternative but to turn some of the girls out of the school. The question then arose "which ones shall we turn away?" They looked over the school, and saw happy little Firoza^ the baby of the school, now four years old, who had come to them at the age of two, a motherless child. Surely they could not turn her away. Then they looked again and saw eight-year-old Hannah, who was lame. Could they turn her out into the cold, cruel world? One after another the faces of the girls came before them, until they reached those of the highest class. These girls would soon finish the school WHO SENT THEM AWAY? 91 course and would then be able to help in the school as teachers. They needed help so much. Could it be right to turn them from the school? Not one of the girls did the Miss Sahibas want to send away from this school, the only school in the whole mission field for training Christian girls. They struggled on a few days longer trying to keep the one hundred girls together in the happy school home ; but a day came when they did not have enough to feed all the children and some of them went hungry that day. " It will have to be done,'' Miss Corbett said, and that evening after worship was over, the girls were asked to remain seated a little while longer. " Children,'' the Miss Sahiba began, " we have something to tell you.'' They looked up in sur- prise, wondering what they were to hear. "We have had sad news from home,'' the Miss Sahiba continued, while the faces of the girls grew very sad. They thought perhaps the Miss Sahibas had heard of the death of some loved one. " They are having hard times in America," she said, and she spoke very slowly now, for she found it so hard to tell them what the hard times meant to them in the school. " Hard times ! '' Oh, yes, they knew the meaning of that. It meant famine, and people dying by the thousands from starvation. Was that what had happened to America ? Were the people over there dying because there was no food? Oh, they were sorry. 92 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. The Miss Sahiba's heart was too sad to explain that matters were not so serious as that. A few less luxuries for the rich, and a little plainer style of living for the mass of people was probably all that would result from ''hard times " in the home land. The explanation made to the children was : " We are so sorry, but ' hard times ' really means that people in America are giving less money to missions. You know this school is supported by Christians over there. They are not giving as much as they used to give, and you know how we have economized lately. This morning some of you had not enough to eat. How can we tell you ? " Some of you must leave school and go back to your homes." Then followed that which would surely have touched the hearts of even those least interested in missions. The girls began to cry and to plead so earnestly to be kept. One little girl leaning against the brick wall said, with sobs choking her voice : " Please don't turn me away from your school. I don't know much about Jesus yet, and my people are heathen. If I go, I am afraid I'll forget all I have learned. Please do keep me.'' Another said: " My people are so poor. They do not have enough to feed all the children who are at home. Oh keep me !" WHO SENT THEM AWAY? 93 The Miss Sahibas knew this was true, for it was famine year in India. " If you'll only keep me," wailed one, '' I'll try so hard to be good." The older girls were quietly wipmg the tears from their own sad faces. The Miss Sahibas could not endure the strain any longer. Saying good- night to the girls, they went to their own room, where they had to decide who would have to leave on the morrow. When this sad task was over the names of thirteen giris were written on a piece of paper. . ^ The next morning Miss Corbett went out into the school yard and told these little girls they were chosen to go. The school clothing was removed from them in accordance with a mission rule, and the racrs they had worn to school put on them. Then Miss Corbett called to the Little Miss Sahiba, who was getting ready for the day's work in the school room : '' They are going now, won't you come and say good-bye?" "I'm coming," she answered, and started m through a small back door. As she came inside the court-yard, she heard the heavy front gate open, creaking on its hinges as it opened. She knew only too well what that sound was. The gate was not opening to let some more little girls into the blessed sunlight of that Christian school, but it was opening, to close again, with thirteen of their dear 94 ONE HUNDRED GIRLS OF INDIA. children on the outside, shut out because there was not enough money in the treasury to support them at ;^1.25 per month. She drew a little nearer the crying groups of girls, where goodbyes were being said to the unfortunate little school mates. She overheard one say : '' I would do with just one meal a day if they would only keep me." And another: " I would eat only two pieces of bread instead of four, if they would only let me stay." " I am willing to sleep on the ground," one poor little thing was saying hysterically, "anything, anything that I may not have to leave school." The Little Miss Sahiba could not listen longer, she felt her heart breaking, and turning to Miss Corbett, said : '* I cannot say goodbye, you will have to see them leave." Miss Corbett's heart ached none the less, but her nerves were a little stronger for the trying ordeal. By and by the gates closed ; and thirteen sad little figures could be seen on the outside, weeping for the place that had been more than home to them, for there they had been taught of Jesus. Through no fault of theirs they had been turned out into the cruel, heathen world of superstition and darkness. WHO SENT THEM AWAY ? , 95 When the Miss Sahibas could bear to speak of that sad day, they said : '^ Who sent them away?" Did the friends in the home land know when retrenchment was sounded all along the line of missionary work, it meant the little children must suffer too? Do not the pleading voices of these little ones of India come to you dear Christian friends? They stand before you in their tattered garments, and with their big brown eyes full of tears, say to you so beseechingly : '* Please keep us in school a little while longer. We want to learn more about Jesus." OUR FRIENDS— YOUR FRIENDS «An honest tale speeds best, being plainly told." The fine half-tone engravings in this volume were kindly furnished by the Buoher- Engraving Co., Colunr^bus, O. tPomen's ITiissionaru IH^garine PUBLISHED MONTHLY By the Committee of the Women's General Missionary Society of the United Presbyterian Church Nothing will awaken more interest in the work of the society and the Church than to let the Magazine ell its monthly story. We appeal to members of the chu ch and missionary societies to help enlarge the subscription ^'"^ PRICE SIXTY CENTS PER YEAR. Subscriptions to begin at any time, to be sent to MRS. S. M. KELSO. Xenia, Ohio. ESTABLISHBD 1842 (n?e Hnttcb Presbyterian No. 209 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, Penn. (Publication Building) LEADING PAPER OF ITS CHURCH Only Paper for Adults of Its Church Published in Pittsburgh THE MIDLAND Published Weekly at CHICAQO, ILLINOIS A Modern Wide-Awake, Progressive CHURCH PAPER. WILLIAM S. OWENS, D. D., Editor Address all communications to -the: in/iiduaimd, John A. Crawford, Business Mgr. 358 Dearborn St., CHICAGO, ILL. The Christian Instructor PHILADELPHIA, PA. ^ ^ ^ Six Months On Trial.... 50 cents The Christian Union Herald 209 NINTH ST., PITTSBURG. PA. A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER In the Interests of the Young Peoples' Christian Union of the United Presbyterian Church. A CIRCULATION OF 23000. It is taken in 95 per cent, of the Congregations of our Denominations. Tarkio College... Tarkio College is an institutioii for l^'oth sexes located in Tarkio, Mo. It is under the control of the Synods of Iowa and Nebraska of the United Presby- *'"^?t°hrthe following Departments: Collegiate, offering Classical, Scientific and Literary Courses; Norinal,providing special training for Departments teachers; Preparatory, fitting students — for its own courses ; Musical, provid- ing courses leading to diplomas in Piano and Singing rXhese include instruction in harmony, Musical His- tory and Bar Training and make a literary requir- ment for graduation)^ Commercial, fitting for busi- es" and giving instruction in Shorthand and Type- """* Marshall Hall is the college home for ladies. The Gentlemen's Dormitory affords young men ari oppor- uenueme j^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ education Soecial Features at the least expense for board and — lodging. The Gymnasium offers separate instruction for young men and yo""?/—- A specialist is employed to give ins ruction in Elocu- tion Special attention is given to instruction in the modern languages. French, German and Spanish are Taught sTblei taught regularly and systen^atica lly Tarkio is so situated that the breezes from the nrairies drive away every taint of malaria. Consump- prairies drive aw j^^ j^ ^.^^^^^ ^.^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^ HealthfulneSS unknown in the vicinity. The health record of teachers and students has been remarkable. Two out of one hundred and forty- ""^^ ^l^eslndSer printed matter will be sent on application. Add ress^at Tarkio, Mo.^^^^^^^^_ Westminster College ^^^ IT is a college and not an academy; is a college and not a university. It has three courses — Classical, Scientific and Literary. Besides cona- petent instructors, it has adequate laboratories and other teaching appliances. It has also a music depart- ment that has held high rank, and an art department under the guide of a skilled and talented artist. It has a Ladies' Hall, well situated and elegantly fur- nished, supplied with water from the hillside, heated with steam and lighted with gas. It is in a beautiful town without saloons and dominantly Christian, with two United Presbyterian congregations, one Presbyter- ian congregation and one Methodist. January 3, 1900 — Winter Term will begin. April 4, 1900— Spring Term will begin. For catalogue or other particulars, address, R. G. FERGUSON, President. Muskingum College NEW CONCORD, OHIO UNITED PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE FOR MEN AND WOMEN ^ J- J- ^ ^ Founded J 837 Jesse Johnson, President, New Concord, Ohio CEDARVILLE COLLEGE CEDARVILLE, OHIO ^^^ CEDARVILLE College is a Christian institution. The Psalms are used exclusively in worship. A large and flourishing United Presbyterian church here. The college trains both sexes. Its courses lead to A. B. and Ph. B. Good Musical and Elocution courses. The attendance tripled in four years. Only eight miles from Xenia Theological Seminary. Fine farming community. Advantages in all lines superior. Total expenses for 36 weeks $125. Spring Term Opens ilarch 20, 1900 Fall Term Opens Sept. 12, 1900 Catalogue and other information free. President, DAVID McKINNEY Secretary, W. R. McCHESNEY SEEDS SEEDS A Chance to Help YOURSELF and also MISS CAMPBELL in her self-sacrificing work. WE OFFER 1 Pkt. Eclipse Beet, For Prem. Flat Dutch Cabbage, Hanson Lettuce, Livingston's Evergreen Piclcle, ( £5 CCIltS Rosy Gem Radisti, Livingston's Beauty Tomato, -OR- For 1 Plct. Best Mixed Aster, 1 *• *» Sweet Peas, 1 '* *♦ Nasturtium, 1 - - Petunia, ( 25 CCfltS 1 " " Phlox, 1 ** *« Pansy, OR ONE OF EACH FOR 45 CENTS STAMPS ARE GOOD WITH US. Five or more collections either of Flower or Vegetable Seeds y or made up partly of each, at 20 cents each. ALL POSTPAID. These offers are good until July 1st, 1901. On July 1st, 1900, we will send our check to Miss Campbell for 60% of all inoney received froni this advertisement up to that time. On July 1st, 1901, we will remit again to her, on same basis, for orders received up to that time. It will please us wonderfully if the amount is large. Our 104 Page Catalogue Free. The Livingston Seed Company, COLUMBUS, OHIO. UNITED PRESBYTERIAN Mutual Benefit Association Chartered in accordance with the Fraternal Insurance Laws of the State of Illinois, by the Insurance Department, May 17, 1897. FOR UNITED PRESBYTERIANS ONLY Should we admit others, the state would require it to be a secret order. Certificates Written for $1000 and $2000 ACCRUED ASSESSMENTS RETURNED at death of insured to the beneficiary, in addition to the face of the policy, thus making it in reality a savings bank. ACCIDENT AND DISABILITY BENEFITS PAID The following benefits were paid for deaths which occurred in 1899 : Rev. David McCaw... Hanover, Ills $2,018.75 Mr. Robert J. Stewart Swanwick, Ills 2,01T.50 Mr. John T. Gillespie Chariton, Iowa 2,020. dO Mr. Daniel Conner Philadelphia, Pa 1,003.00 Mrs. Harriet L. Gowdy Monmouth. Ills 2,026.25 Mr. Robert R. Royer Adamsville, Pa 1,010.40 Mr. David T. Kenney Swanwick, Ills 2,030.00 Mrs. Elmira Speer Monmouth, Ills, (loss of hand) 500. 00 Certificates in Force January 1. 1900— 1966— for $3.029,000.00. A very interesting and profitable biennial meeting of the General Council of the United Presbyterian Mutual Benefit Association, consisting of the officers and dele- gates of the local branches, was held in the First United Presbyterian Church, Monmouth, Ills, January 9, 1900. From the Auditors' Report to the General Council we extract the following: " We, the undersigned, members of the Auditing Committee, have Examined the books and vouchers of the United Presbyterian Mutual Benefit Association and find them to be correct. " In addition to the above formal statement, we desire to put on record our appreciation of the manner in which the business ot the Association has been conducted by those concerned in its active management. The system of book- keeping could not well be improved. Il reduces the possibility of mistake to a minimum, and would be a check, all but absolute, upon any attempted dis- honesty. The records are also securely kept, and the more important ones in duplicate, thereby guaranteeing the policy holder against annoyance or loss. " Expenses have been kept down to the lowest point consistent with efficient service and good business management." R. G Ramsay, M. McKlTRICK, C. Ritchie. i E. J. BLAIR, M. D,, Gen'l Mgr. HUGH R. MOFFET, Sec'y, For Information, address U. P. M. B. A. MONMOUTH, ILLS. The Monarch Vehicle Co. MANUFACTURERS OF FINE VEHICLES Columbus, Ohio OUR LINE Buggies, Phaetons, Runabouts and Surreys Everything Known in Music SALES TO DATE 100,000 MUSICAL OVER INSTRUMENTS $33,000,000 PRODUCED ANNUALLY LYON & HEALY CHICAGO Salesrooms : Wabash Ave. and Adams Street. Manufactories 5 Randolph Street and Ogden Ave, BW7509.C18 One hundred girls of India : an account Princeton Theological Seminary-Speer Library 1 1012 00043 6503