Zenana Series. o BALA SOONDEREE TAGORE. BY Mrs. MURRAY MITCHELL. I NEW MADRAS EDITION, 2,000 COPIES ! MADRAS: THE CHRISTIAN LITERATURE SOCIETY. M. E. PUBLISHING HOUSE, VEPERY. 1892. Price \ Anna. V Zenana Series^ BALA kOONDEEEB TAGOEE, A NARRATIVE OF THE CONVERSION OKA HINDOO LADY TO THE CHRISTIAN REUGION. MADEAS: THE CHRISTIAN LITERATURE SOCIETY. M. E. PUBLISHING HOUSE, VEFEKY. 1892. The facts ^ntained in the fallowing pages have been drawn from a little work by the Rev. E. Storrow, of Calcutta, entitled,!" The Eastern Lily Gathered," and from notices contained in various J,ndian publications. Mr. Stprrow's work was specially drawn up for readers in England, for it is well adapted. It seems, however, tesirable to present the facts in a different nsiderably simpler font, an?rto accompany with such 1 reflections 'as may be fitted to impres.^the Native mind aroaind us. This at- tempt has; saccordingly, been made in the follow- ing pages. \ A ., J^K IjJ Many of the young men in Western India are favourably disposed towards the Christian re- ligion, .bft^ comparatively few of ^hem act in accordance wiili their convictions by publicly pro- fessing their faith in Christ. The sweet, attrac* tive character of their young country-woman, whose story is here given, seems eminently fitted to lead them to serious reflection on the solemn responsibilities of their position. It may also 4 give an impulse to Female improvement by con- vincing them how great would he the blessing to their wives and daughters if these came under the same holy influence that softened and refined the young heart of Bala Soonderee Tagore. This little work was drawn up by the writer when laid aside by sickness from more active ex- ertion ; and it formed a parting contribution to the cause of Native progress when she was re- cently compelled to leave India for a season.* May the Giver of all good accept and own the humble offering ! Bombay, 1 1st May 1856. J J. M. M. The Madras reprint is by permission of the Bombay Tract and Book Society, by whom it was originally published. * The name of the subject of this little work would be written in Jonesian orthography, Bald Sundari Thdhur. Fully expressed, it should have the respectful appellation of Shrimati prefixed. Bala Soonderee simply means Beauti- ful Girl. BALA SOONDEEEE TAGOKE. CHAPTER I. Her birth — early life — and marriage. I was a little Indian child Among the heathen born, And wandered long in error's ways, All darkened and forlorn. I worshipped idols, stone and wood, That could not hear nor see ; But never knew the living God, Nor Him who died for me. Bala Soonderee was the daughter of a Kool- in Brahmin whose name was Shooja Koomar Chuckerbutty. She was born at Jessore in Bengal, in the year 1833. With the circumstances of Bala's family we are not acquainted. Nor do we know what influences surrounded her childhood. But we have no reason to suppose that they were superior to those which generally surround the 6 children of Hindoo families of the higher orders. She was probably brought up among kind and affectionate relatives who would lavish every indulgence upon her, and deck her in gold and pearls, and all that could orna- ment the person, while the heart and mind would remain quite untrained. When the mothers of India have themselves been taught — when they have been raised to the posi- tion God intended they should occupy — then they will be able to train up their little ones in the way in which they should go, and bestow on them that mental and moral culture which youth — the early spring-time of life — is intended to receive. How eagerly does the husbandman avail himself of the seed-time of the year ! When the first soft showers have fallen upon the earth, and all nature is springing into new life, he prepares his field and sows his seed, so that in due time he may reap the fruit. But the Hindoo parent scarcely yet acknowledges the importance of the sowing-time in the mind of his female child, and allows the season for implanting in it the good seed of knowledge and truth to 7 pass by unimproved. Thus, probably, was a precious portion of Bala's youth entirely lost. The first thing we know with certainty about her is that at the age of nine, according to the custom of her country, her betrothal took place. The young bridegroom was Baboo Gyanendra Mohun Tagore. This young man's family is one of high re- spectability and wealth, and is well known both in Europe and India. Some of its mem- bers have been able and distinguished men. His uncle Dwarkanath Tagore must be known by name to most of our readers. This re- markable man, so much in advance of his countrymen in enlightenment and energy, communicated a powerful impulse to the cause of improvement in this country. He himself threw off the fetters of caste, visited England and other parts of Europe, and exerted all his influence for the overthrow of prejudice and superstition among his people. Prosunno Koomar Tagore, the father of Gyanendra, was also a man of ability and influence in Calcutta, and long held a high appointment under the English Government. 8 Such was the family into which Bala Soon- deree was introduced by her marriage. Al- though her own family was inferior in wealth, yet her high caste as a Koolin Brahminee made the connection equal and suitable. A year after her betrothal, the marriage ceremonies took place with great pomp and rejoicing. But here we must raise our testi- mony against the deplorable extravagance which marks the celebration of every Hindoo marriage. This single wedding festival cost a lakh of rupees ! If such wasteful expenditure were confined to the rich it would be of less consequence ; but, however poor his circum- stances may be, the Hindoo thinks that on the occasion of a wedding in his family he is bound to feed Brahmins, make presents, provide ex- pensive feasts and all sorts of amusements for numberless friends and guests, and engage in pompous ceremonies. He has no means of his own ; he must, therefore, borrow money, and thus he often becomes hopelessly involved in debt. Amidst the many useful social reforms the youth of India are so zealously carrying on, we long to see them abolish the system of ex- 9 pensive weddings, and deliver their country- men from this galling yoke which a foolish and pernicious custom has bound upon them. But to return to our narrative. The young bridegroom, Gyanendra Tagore, had been a student in the Hindoo College of Calcutta. He was evidently possessed of superior intelli- gence and talent, as well as of an aff ectionate and amiable disposition. Before his marriage he appears to have been an enquirer into the truth of Chi'istianity, to which his attention had been first drawn by the perusal of Wat- son's " Apology for the Bible." His belief in Hindooism had been shaken by his English education. The light of knowledge and true science had broken in on the darkness of prejudice in his mind • but as the twinkling of a star is to the full glory of the noonday sun, so was this mere intellectual light in com- parison with the glorious shining of the Sun of righteousness which afterwards arose on his soul. At present, however, his progress was no greater than this, that the star had arisen on the midnight gloom. It was well for him that, when his belief in one system 10 was undermined, his attention was directed to the claims of another, and that he was not content, as so many are, to get rid of the sub- ject by simply banishing it from his mind, and along with belief in Hindooism to cast off belief in Eeligion altogether. If there was a true religion — a revelation from God, he felt it was of unspeakable importance for him to know it ; and therefore with candour, sincerity and seriousness, he set himself to the search after truth. Like all who tread " the narrow way" which leads to eternal life through an evil and oppos- ing world, he found he had many difficulties and dangers to contend against. Strong efforts were made to turn him from his course. In- fidel books were put into his hands with a challenge to refute their arguments. But though for a time they had their power, and his progress was thus retarded, yet they were not permitted to lead him altogether astray. God graciously preserved him from being cast adrift on that fearful ocean of scepticism and doubt where so many of his young compatriots are tossed and driven about at the mercy of 11 every chilling wind and stormy wave. Alas ! how sad the spectacles ! They scorn the true pilot, — they neglect the only harbour of safety, even Christ Jesus, until at length, amid weep- ing, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, they become shattered and broken wrecks upon the shore of a dark and hopeless Eternity. The Lord graciously preserved our young friend from a fate like this ; and though he lingered long only in sight of the blessed haven, yet at length he was brought safely in, and his soul securely anchored in the still waters of a heaven-born, holy faith. To conclude our notice of Bala's husband, we may add that, after the death of his young wife, he was baptised in Calcutta, and now adorns the doctrine of his God and Saviour by a life of fidelity and active usefulness. May God dispose the hearts of many of his countrymen, who know the truth, in like manner to come out and be separate ! We entreat them to remember that they cannot remain neutral. If they do not love Christ, they must soon hate him ; if they are not his friends, they will be his foes. And oh ! let 12 them remember that the day will come when He must inflict punishment on all those who have known and yet rejected Him. The Word of God says : " In that day shall a man cast his idols of silver and his idols of gold to the moles and to the bats, to go into the clefts of the rocks and to the tops of the ragg- ed rocks, for the fear of the Lord and for the glory of his majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth." He now invites in love ; but the day of His wrath will come, and in that day who shall be able to stand ? CHAPTER II. Conversion. Our hearts, if God we seek to know, Shall know Him and rejoice ; His coming like the morn shall be, Like morning songs His voice. As dew upon the tender herb, , Diffusing fragrance round ; As showers that usher in the spring, And cheer the thirsty ground, — So shall His presence bless our souls, And shed a joyful light ; ' That hallowed morn shall chase away The sorrows of the night. After her marriage, Bala went, as the cus- tom is, to reside in the house of her father-in- law. At this time she was a girl of ten years of age, singularly" fair and pure in complexion, and very beautiful in features. Intelligence, modesty and kindness beamed from her sweet young face, and her manner was so gentle and winning that she attracted every heart. Before this, her education had been little attended to. But could her husband be satis- 14 fied that she should remain uninformed — she, with whom he was to live in the most intimate and endearing relation — who was to be his nearest friend and dearest companion ? Hap- pily he could not. He wished that his young wife should have beauties of mind as well of person; and therefore he resolved that she should receive a training which would at once open up boundless sources of pleasure and improvement to herself, and fit her to enter into his feelings and pursuits, and so yield him that sympathy and companionship which his enlightened affections told him he required in a wife. As Hindoo etiquette required that at first he should see little of her, he engaged a Pundit to teach her the elementary branches of education, and afterwards he instructed her himself. She proved herself an apt pupil. She was remarkably quick and intelligent; she very soon learned to read, and ever after her greatest pleasure was in books. Up to this time her mind had been little directed to religion. In a conversation with her, some time after their marriage, her hus- band asked her what were her ideas on this 15 important subject. "Oh/ 5 said she "I believe in the goddess Kalee, and worship her. 55 " And why should you worship Kalee ? 55 he enquired. " My father is a priest of Kalee ; I have been taught to worship her, and that is enough for me. 55 This was all the reason she could give. Her husband then told her that he did not believe in Kalee ; that she was not a god- dess, but only a dumb idol, an image of man's making, — and that he thought he had found a new and better religion than that of the Hindoos — a religion which acknowledged only one God. This was the first idea of Christianity that Bala had ever received — the first ray of light that had entered into her mind, — and from this time she sought to know what this new religion was. She had never before questioned the truth of her own, because she had never heard it questioned ; but she soon found that there were necessities in her soul which Hindooism did not meet, — and, as she learned more of Christianity, she felt that it contained that which could meet them all. The conviction grew and strengthened that her own religion 16 was false, and that the religion of the Bible was true. In a childlike and earnest spirit she follow- ed out the all-important inquiry. She did not bring to it that prejudiced and partial spirit which is evinced by so many before whom its claims are presented, and who wish to find it false. She sincerely sought the truth ; and God by His Holy Spirit enabled her to find it. So will He help all who do like her. Those who truly seek Him, shall find Him. To those who really hunger and thirst after the bread and water of life, He will soon give to eat and drink and be satisfied ! Thus gradually and surely, as the dawn of day breaks on the darkness of night, broke the light of truth on Bala's soul. It was her husband that had opened up to her this new world of thought and feeling, — she had had no other earthly instructor. He was himself at this time, not far advanced in divine know- ledge — he was little more than an enquirer, — and though he greatly admired the purity and high morality of the Bible, and especially the beautiful character of Christ, he had not 17 felfcj as lie afterwards did, that this book was the word of the living God, and that Jesus Christ was the only Saviour of sinners. In- tellectually he had received a portion of the truth, but it had not yet come with power to his heart. However, he communicated to his wife all the knowledge he himself possessed, and studied the Scriptures daily with her. As he himself afterwards grew in knowledge and grace, he sought to lead her on, and to open to her those sources of joy and peace from which rivers of pleasure were flowing into his own heart. He had a most attentive pupil in her. Nat- urally possessed of superior abilities, and full of animation and energy, she eagerly entered into the new conceptions opening up before her. As the sun-flower, when it turns to the sun, opens up its closed petals and expand beneath his gladdening beams, so did Bala's mind unfold in new fragrance and beauty as it turned towards the blessed source of light and life and joy. She became very fond of reading. The Pil- grim's Progress was one of her favourite books. 18 Its glowing descriptions were quite suited to her fervid imagination. She read it with in- tense delight, carried it about with her by day, and placed it near her by night. She also read with great pleasure Baxter's " Call to the Unconverted" and several other Christian books which have been translated into Ben- galee. But she also wished to learn English. She thought that as Christianity was the religion of Englishmen, she ought to know their lan- guage ; and her singular energy of character was shown in the way she endeavoured to ac- complish her object. She had no facilities for the study. It was not usual for Native ladies to attend to learning, or books, or any thing beyond their own domestic concerns. But Bala had begun to drink of the fountain of knowledge ; she had tasted its sweets, and she could not but thirst for further and deeper draughts. The difficulties, therefore, which surrounded her in the seclusion of the Zenana did not deter her. She borrowed an English spelling-book from a little boy, her husband's nephew, who attended the Hindoo College ; 19 and every day when lie returned from school, she asked what lesson he had been learning, and made him repeat it to her. The boy had no idea with what object she made her en- quiries ; but in this way — with no other help than the little thus obtained, — she managed to acquire the rudiments of the English lan- guage. Her husband, on discovering the progress she had made, undertook to assist her ; and he gave her frequent lessons while in the retirement of their own apartments. The study, however, which she loved best of all was the Bible — the book of God Himself — which alone could make her wise unto salva- tion. The historical portions were what she most delighted in at this time. She read the story of Creation, and saw how sin and death had entered into the world. But she took especial interest in the history of the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. The wondrous story of the redemption of a fallen and suffering world laid hold of her mind and deeply touched her heart. How great was the love of God that He had " found a ransom" — that " He had given His own Son, that whosoever believeth 2 20 in Him should not perish but have everlasting life \" How great was the love of the Son, that he had said, " Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God," and that He had suffered and died, " the just for the unjust," thus consummating a sacrifice without a parallel in the record of the universe. He died that all who believe on Him might live, — His precious blood was shed that whosoever will may come to Him and have their guilty and polluted souls wash- ed and made clean. He rose from the grave and went to His Father, that His people may also rise when He shall come again in glory, and so be for ever with Him. These glad tidings of salvation were receiv- ed by Bala Soonderee Tagore with faith, humi- lity and joy. She was " translated from the power of darkness into the kingdom of God's dear Son j" and that change took place in her which the Scripture describes as " the new birth," and of which it says, " Once ye were darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord." Her conversion was indeed a remarkable event and shows the great power of God. She had enjoyed few opportunities of instruction, 21 — very few in comparison with many who are daily under religious teaching, and who con- stantly have the truths of the Gospel present- ed to them. She had never seen a missionary nor heard a sermon preached ; but the Spirit himself had brought the Word of God home to her heart with demonstration and power. A bright beam had come direct from heaven, — it had penetrated to the gloomy recesses of the Zenana, — and, even as it is related of the wise men from the East that a star conducted them, until it rested over the place where Jesus lay, so this light illumined her path until it led her to the presence of her Saviour in heaven. "The wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; — so is every one that is born of the Spirit." CHAPTER III. Teial. Trials make the promise sweet, Trials give new life to prayer ; Trials bring me to His feet, Lay me low, and keep me there. But now Bala's trials were to commence. " It is through much tribulation that we must enter into the kingdom of God." How truly lias Christ prophesied that His coming into the world should not bring " peace, but a sword/' — not harmony, but division ! His claims and those of the world are always at variance ; but his claims and those of the nearest and dearest relatives may be at variance too. His people have always to choose between Him and the world, — for we cannot love and serve both, the world being at enmity with Him ; and we have some- times to choose between Him and those we love as our own life, for "a man's foes shall be they of his household." This young Brah- minee had made her choice. She knew that Christ had said, " Whosoever loveth father 23 or mother more than me, is not worthy of me and now He was her portion, — He was to her " the chief among ten thousand, and al- together lovely." But her change of feeling, shown by her change of life, soon attracted the notice of her relatives. They saw that she no longer cared for amusements and frivolities which used to occupy her, — that she loved to read other books than the light and foolish tales on which she formerly spent her time, — and that now her days were passed in serious thought, in study, or in works of charity and usefulness. You have seen the dry and dusty ground, when shower after shower of the , watery treasures from the sky have fallen up- on it — how, as it were, it leaps into life and becomes fresh and green, luxuriant with grass and flower, and herb. Thus had the dew of grace descended on Bala's heart, and it was becoming as a garden burstingforth into beau- ties of holiness. The change was indeed a striking one ; it was from death to life. But though there was joy in heaven over this young convert, there was wrath and grief 24 on earth. Her relatives noticed her behavi- our, and especially her dislike ©f idolatry and neglect of all the rites and ceremonies, which formerly she used to observe in common with the family. This greatly distressed them, and excited their fears that she was forsaking the faith of her fathers. They were the more afraid because they had begun to suspect her husband's leanings to Christianity. In order, therefore, to try her obedience, and to coun- teract those influences which they feared were at work in her mind, they ordered that she should worship the symbol of the god Shiva, and perform certain idolatrous ceremonies every day. This was a grievous trial to her. She feared to offend by refusing, and yet she knew that this little symbol was only a stone, — that " there was no breath at all in the midst of it," — and that the true God had said, " I am the Lord, — that is my name : and my glory will I not give to another, nor my praise to graven images." One day she was found -playing with the god instead of worshipping it — so little could she 25 hold it in reverence. This greatly displeased her family • and alas ! as is often the case when any member of a Hindoo family ventures to act according to conscience, the conse- quence was that she was afterwards treated with unkindness and even with severity. She was not now ordered to worship the symbol of Shiva; but she had duties as- signed her which she had never been accus- tomed to perform, and which were not con- sistent with her rank and station, nor conge- nial to her tastes and habits. This was sorely trying to her high spirit. Her father-in-law, however, appears to have always treated her husband and herself with kindness and consideration, and he made them a liberal monthly allowance. Of this time her husband speaks as follows : " My father was a liberal in religion. Being a man of consider- able influence he had joined the party who thought that some changes might advantage- ously be made in the forms of Hindooism ; he had therefore given up the Doorga Pooja for some years. My mother was extremely anxi- ous that it should be resumed, chiefly as an 26 example to me and my wife. We, however, would not take any part in it ; and this was a fruitful cause of pain and sorrow to us. My father, however, was passive, feeling that though my views were very different from his own, yet it became him, as a parent, to treat us with respect, and afford us that protection which, as the head of our house, we had a right to expect at his hands." At length Bala's mother-in-law became ill and died. As she felt the approach of death, her heart softened towards her son and daughter-in-law. Her affection for them returned; and, although she did not ac- knowledge their God, yet she showed such confidence in them that she left them the un- controlled possession of all her property. After this our young friend regained much of her former freedom. She returned with delight to her beloved books, and made much progress in all her studies. Her husband engaged an English governess for her, that her knowledge of the English language might be improved ; and very soon she wrote as well as spoke it, with correctness and ease. She 27 likewise commenced the study of Sanskrit while she did not neglect that of her own lan- guage. She read much in the latter, especially poetry; and she intended to make a metrical translation of part of the New Testament Scriptures into Bengalee, had her life been spared. Thus she sought to improve her mind, mak- ing use of the gifts and endowments which God had given her, and breaking through the trammels with which custom and supersti- tion have so long bound her country-women. Would that many might, like her, cast off their fetters, and taste of that liberty with which the God of the Christians makes His people free ! She was a companion and friend to her husband, entering into his pursuits, and sym- pathising in his joys and sorrows. What are you thinking about ? she would sometimes say to him, as she saw him buried in thought. In reply to her questionings he often imparted to her the results of his meditation. In this way she became acquainted with the Eviden- ces of Christianity, and also obtained consider- able information on those scientific facts which are corroborative of the truths of the Bible. 28 This might have been a happy portion of Bala's life. She was surrounded by much that was calculated to make her happy. She had all the comforts and luxuries that wealth could procure, and a refined taste suggest. Her husband was superior to most of his people, and always treated her with affection and confidence ; and she would have been happy but for one thing. That was — her con- science was not at rest. She and her husband, though they believed in Christianity, were not acting up to their belief. They had received light; but, instead of walking according to it, they were linger- ing behind. They were not professing Christ before men ; and she knew that He had said, " Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father who is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven." She, therefore, urged her husband to con- sent to their being baptised. " My wife," says Gyanendra, " often told me that, as I had taught her this new religion, it was but just 29 that I should put her in a position to learn it perfectly, and profess it freely." In this, the pupil had outstripped the teach- er. He was not yet ready to take this solemn step. He was swayed by worldly consider- ations and fears regarding the effect on their relatives. And although at a subsequent period, and after the death of his beloved wife, he was enabled to make the profession she so earnestly desired, yet at this time he shrank from it. He put her off with some of the arguments so common in the mouths of young men similarly situated. " Christianity is true, but Christians are not true to their re- ligion," he would say, — forgetting how many bear the name of Christian without being Christian in heart. And he would urge that, though still residing with their friends, they could secretly live as Christians, — it would at once secure their own comfort, and please their relatives to do so, — that they could, in short, be Christians, without being baptised. He forgot that Christ has distinctly said, " Whosoever believeth and is baptised, the same shall be saved." 30 His arguments did not satisfy her, and happily they did not always satisfy himself. She would entreat him to have courage, — not to be anxious about their property, — to try to get a situation, — only to become a Christian ; " and I," she would affectingly add, " shall then be happy." Conscientiousness was a striking characteristic of Bala's mind. She used to say, when urged to do any thing of which she disapproved, " How can I do what I know to be wrong ? I cannot." She was equally resolute in doing what she knew to be right. Religion was now to her a thing of life — the one thing needful. The salvation of her soul which she knew must live through an eternity of misery, or an eternity of happi- ness, was of more importance than the most important object on earth. What would it profit her, if she gained the whole world and lost her own soul ? She believed Hindooism to be falsehood, and Christianity to be truth ; and she felt that even honesty required her to profess what she believed. She would say to her husband, " I am willing to go and live with you in a hut, if you will only become a 31 Christian ; for then we can serve God as we please." And she was quite in earnest. Her costly jewels, her dresses, and all the luxuries of her house were as nothing in her estimation. She was ready to bear any distress — to undergo any privation, because she had now a better 1 nheritance than any that earth could afford. She could endure hunger and thirst, because she had now got the bread and water of life. She could part with her fine clothes, because now she was arrayed in the spotless robe of Christ's righteousness. She could give up her jewels, because she had found " the pearl of great price." She could change a palace for a hut, because her Lord had prepared eter- nal mansions in the heavens, to which He will welcome all who have loved, and served, and obeyed Him on earth. But this young disciple had fiery trials yet to pass through, ere she could obtain the peace she sighed for. Her friends determined to make yet another effort to bring her and her husband back to Hindooism. They were re- quired to write and sign a document, explicit- ly renouncing all belief in Christian doctrine, 32 and expressing their adherence to the faith of their fathers. Gyanendra alas ! was not proof against this temptation; he wrote the paper and signed it. But Bala would not. She had taken firm hold of the Rock of Ages, and all the buffetings alike of the devil, the world, and the flesh could not prevail against her. f ' You could give up Christianity/' she would say sorrowfully to her husband, " but I will not." A still severer test however, awaited her. It was determined to have a great Pooja in the house, and to celebrate the festival of the Juggutdatree, in the idolatrous ceremonies of which she was to be obliged to take part. Her husband had already agreed to do so, and therefore it was the more difficult for her to refuse, as the Hindoo wife, is expected to have no mind of her own, but to have will, judg- ment and conscience, entirely under subjec- tion to her husband and relatives. But Bala had tasted true liberty 3 — " she knew the truth, and the truth had made her free." She would have done any thing to please her friends, — borne any thing however distress- 33 ing oi' humiliating that did not interfere with her faithfulness to her Saviour ; but when their commands came in conflict with those of God, she knew she must obey God rather than man, and she refused to take part in the ceremonies of the coming festival. Every effort was made to induce her to do so, — every persuasion and threat was tried to make her yield. How fearful was the trial ! Here she stood alone, a young timid Hindoo woman who had scarcely ever been without the walls of her own dwelling, urged by all whom she had ever been taught to honor and obey, to follow a course they were all pursuing, — her- self, too, the daughter of a Hindoo priest, without one Christian friend to take counsel with, or minister of the Gospel to point out the path of duty or encourage her to follow it. Her position was indeed a trying one. So great was her distress that with much and bitter weeping she said to those around her, " It were less unkind to take a knife and kill me, than to torture me thus." At length, worn out by this persecution, and forced to be present during the festival, she 34 threw a garland over the idol. But she posi- tively and finally refused to kneel before it, or do it further homage. It would be very interesting could we state fully what were Bala's feelings in the retros- pect of this act ; but we can gather that she repented, and deeply regretted having been overpowered by the importunities of her re- latives. And now what can we say of this act of Bala's ? With all our sorrow — all our com- passion — we must not forget that the act was decidedly wrong. To do any thing which we know God has forbidden is fearfully danger- ous. By so doing we grieve the Spirit of God. He may leave us, and never, never return. And what shall we say of Bala's husband ? He who had been her instructor, who had led her into these new paths, why did he now forsake her, and leave her to tread them alone? Certainly, his sin was very great. At the same time, it is well for us to remember the peculiar difficulties of young enquirers, and while we condemn, let us also deeply pity. Who that has not endured them can estimate 35 the trials and temptations which beset the path of every sincere convert from heathenism ? Who can comprehend his tossings and strag- glings before he can clearly decide between his duty to God and his duty to man ? Who can tell his anguish of heart when his parents and friends whom he still fondly loves, treat him with cruelty and bitterness, and make him an outcast and an alien from his father's house because he ventures to love his Saviour too ? Do such tried ones imagine that those of more favoured lands do not feel for them, — those, who may worship God as they please, who can sit under their vine and their fig tree, none daring to make them afraid ? Oh ! let them not think so. Hearts sympathise, pray, bleed, for them. But what shall we say ? He who knows our frame — who " remembers that we are dust" — expects that His people shall be ready to make the sacrifice of every earthly tie for His sake, — that they will give up husband or wife, father, mother, son and daughter, if He demand it of them. His heart, so " acquainted with grief," is tenderer than 36 the tenderest ; and yet He plainly says that those who refuse to do this " are not worthy of Him." Let the sorrowing, struggling, weeping con- vert ever bear this consoling truth in mind, that every sorrow borne for God is in reality a blessing. Let him, then, " come out and be separate." " Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." " Those who suffer with Christ shall also reign with him." Let them look onward to the glorious land of rest, where " there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying," and where what " he has sown in tears he will reap in joy." " Oh, happy, happy country, where There entereth not a sin ; And death who keeps its portals fair, May never once come in. No grief can change their day to night, — The darkness of that land is light. Sorrow and sighing God hath sent Far thence to endless banishment. And never more may one dark tear Bedim their burning eyes, — For every one they shed while here, In fearful agonies, Glitters a bright and dazzling gem, In their immortal diadem." CHAPTER IV. Death. The hour of my departure's come ; I hear the voice, that calls me home % Now, O my God, let trouble cease, Now let Thy servant die in peace. The race appointed I have run ; The combat's o'er, the prize is won. And now my witness is on high, And now my record's in the sky. I come, I come at Thy command, I give my spirit to Thy hand ; Stretch forth Thine everlasting arms, And shield me in the last alarms ! Our narrative now approaches its close, and we come to contemplate one of those events, dark and incomprehensible to us, which yet must be wise, and of which we must say " it is well," because appointed by " the Judge of all the Earth/' who can do only right. We mean the death of her whose short, but event- ful journey through life we have been follow- ing. She was only nineteen ; but God had chosen her, and fitted her by trial and suffer- 3 38 ing, for His own happy dwelling-place. Now He was going to take her far from the sorrows of earth to the joys of heaven. The solitary light which had shone with a mild lustre amid the darkness of her heathen home was to be removed to a better world, there to " shine as the brightness of the firmament, and as the stars for ever and ever." But before he took her, God permitted her to do something for His cause, as well as to suffer for it. We are told of a young kins- woman, whom she was made the means under God of bringing to a knowledge of Christia- nity. This lady, Shree Muttee Moheshweree De- bee, was a widow, and lived under the guard- ianship of Baboo Prosunno Koomar Tagore, who was her uncle. She became the friend and companion of Bala Soonderee, who had the happiness of leading her mind to the con- sideration of those truths which had become so precious to her own heart. She put the Bengalee Bible into her hands, and assist- ed her to study it, explaining and opening up its wonderful declarations, until she saw that 39 it was received by lier as containing the mes- sage of salvation, and as a voice proclaiming i( liberty to the captive, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." They searched the Scriptures together, and grew together in Christian knowledge and grace. They had no earthly aid ; but the Spirit of God shed light on His own word, and from it they learned the way to heaven. At length the fears and suspicions of their rela- tions separated them. Bala's friend was sent to Benares, and deprived of her precious Bible and all her Christian books. While there, she heard of the happy death of her loved companion. She remembered and treasured in her heart the sacred lessons they had learned together. With much difficulty she obtained another copy of the Bible ; and, at length, after much trial and through many difficulties, she was able to return to Calcutta, where she found an asylum in the house of her relative, Bala's husband, now a Christian and openly renouncing idolatry. Here she professed herself a believer in Christ, and was baptised by the Rev. Krishna Mohun Banerjea. 40 But to return to Bala. After the events related in the last chapter, circumstances occurred in their family which placed her and her husband less fully under the notice of their friends than before, and they therefore enjoyed a season of comparative tranquillity and leisure. She became acquainted with some Christian ladies whose companionship she much enjoyed. They rejoiced over her as one of Christ's hidden ones, — as a lovely and frag- rant flower blooming in the midst of a waste and barren wilderness. They delighted to converse with her and to lead her to deeper experience in personal religion. She had never before had the privilege of Christian society, and it seems to have been greatly prized by her. She sometimes begged one of her new friends to let her come and live with her ; " for then/' she said, rt I can be a Christ- ian, and associate with Christians." In reply to the objection that, if she did so, she must give up many of her comforts and luxuries, she would say, " What of that ? I can live on sim- ple food ; I could assist you a little in teach- ing and I do not care for my jewels, I hate idolatry," 41 She now had the comfort of seeing that her husband's mind was becoming more impressed than ever by the truths of the Gospel. Her ex- ample was greatly blessed to him. Her sim- ple piety, her steady faithfulness to what she believed was the truth of God, her devotion and love to Christ as her Saviour and Ke- deemer, her willingness to bear any privation, and to make any sacrifice rather than dis- honor Him, her diligence, activity and zeal, her sweetness of temper and gentleness of manner, — all these gifts and graces attracted him and drew him on to follow her in the hea- venward path she trod. Her governess says of her, " She was one of the most beautiful beings I ever beheld. All her motions were graceful and dignified ; there was a kind of blooming geniality in her expression, which not only told how kind, intelligent, and pure-hearted she was, but which made it a happiness to look upon her, and to be in her presence." Thus the divine things which had taken such deep root in Bala's mind were bringing forth their fruits. The study of the Bible was, to the end, her chief delight. The narrative of Christ's suffer- 42 ings and death was ever new to her, and always created in her mind feelings of the deepest and most solemn interest. She dwelt on the promises, so abundant in the Scriptures, of Christ's coming a second time upon the earth, and rejoiced in the pass- ages which foretell the final triumph of His religion, and the overthrow of every false system — the time when we shall behold the accomplishment of that for which He taught His disciples to pray : " Thy kingdom come ; Thy will be done on earth, as it is done in heaven." She used to speak triumphantly of the in- controvertible truth of the Bible. She clearly saw that it was no cunningly devised fable, but that in it holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. She dwelt much on God's marvellous love to her in so wonderfully finding her out, as it were, in the seclusion of her home, bringing her under the influence of His Word, and opening her eyes to see its truth — her, who had been so care- fully guarded by all that man could do from coming in contact with it, or with any thing 43 that could lead her from Hindooism. She looked on this as a proof of its truth. " The Bible is true/ 5 she said, " and one of the most wonderful proofs of its truth is, that I have become a Christian. In Judea, hundreds of years ago, Jesus said that His religion should extend into all nations ; and now it has come all the way from England to India, — and I, the daughter of a Brahmin Priest — I, a dweller in the Zenana, — I have received it, and I know it is true, for my heart tells me so ! " At length her husband's convictions becamo as strong as Bala's own. He could delay no longer, and determined that they should " come out," and be baptised. This was the fulfilment of her long cherished and dearest hope. She was now to join herself openly to the Church of Christ. But before their resolution could be carried into effect, she was taken to another and a better Church, — that of " the first-born whose names are written in heaven." " There is a home for weeping souls By sin and sorrow driven, When tost on life's tempestuous shoals Where storms arise, and ocean rolls, — 'Tis found above — in heaven." 44 One day Bala was suddenly seized with heaviness in her head. Severe fever followed. Her illness soon became a rapid consumption. At first she seems to have hoped for re- covery ; and she requested that the solemn rite of baptism, to which she had been look- ing forward, might at once be administered to her. However, the complaint rapidly as- sumed so severe a form that she was quite unequal to the effort. For some days she was in a state of unconsciousness ; but she unex- pectedly revived, and was permitted to bear yet one other testimony to her faith in Christ as the only Saviour of sinners. She request- ed that she might be supported by pillows, and then asked that the members of the family might be summoned to her bedside. She bade them all farewell, and begged her husband to give some money to her servants ; " for," said she, " they have been very kind to me." She also begged that a relative whom she named, might have an allowance settled upon her from her property. She then turned to her medical attendant and said, " Doctor, I am going to die." He replied, " Are you not 45 afraid of death ?" " No," she said, " I am not at all afraid of death. I am tired of this wicked world." " Do you die in a spirit of faith and prayer ?" asked her husband. With a fixed, majestic look, she answered, " Do you doubt it ? I die in the faith which is in Jesus Christ." " Will you remember me in heaven ?" he asked. " Oh yes," she said, " I can never forget you," After this, she desired that her loved Bible should be read to her. She then shook hands with her Doctor, and said, " I leave you." Afterwards she took a very tender farewell of her husband, asking him to give her a part- ing kiss. Then she seemed done with earth, and waiting her departure in calmness and peace. The faith which she had professed in life, now supported and cheered her in death. She could say, " 0 death, where is thy sting ? O grave, where is thy victory ?" " Now let me sleep," she said ; and she slept, only to awake in that glorious land, " where the inhabitant shall no more say, I am sick." There she now sits — one of the happy throng who surround the throne of God, and serve Him day and 46 night iu His temple, and who sing the new song of praise, "Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever ! Amen." " How bright these glorious spirits shine ! Whence all their white array ? How came they to the blissful seats Of everlasting day ? Lo ! these are they from sufferings great, Who came to realms of light, And in the blood of Christ have washed Those robes which shine so bright. Now with triumphal palms they stand Before the throne on high, And serve the God they love, amidst The glories of the sky. His presence fills each heart with joy, Tunes every mouth to sing ; By day, by night the sacred courts With glad Hosannas ring. Hunger and thirst are felt no more, Nor suns with scorching ray ; God is their Sun whose cheering beams Diffuse eternal day. The Lamb that dwells amidst the throne Shall o'er them still preside, — Feed them with nourishment divine, And all their footsteps guido. 47 'Mid pastures green He'll lead his flock Where living streams appear ; And God the Lord, from every eye, Shall wipe off every tear." Nothing need be added to the foregoing narrative. The facts speak for themselves in tender and persuasive accents to every son and daughter of this land. Finally, our heart's desire and prayer to God for India is that she may be saved ! May God hasten the time when her idols shall be utterly abolished, — when the stupendous fabric of her false systems of worship shall be no more remembered, — when her idol-shrines shall be levelled with the dust, and temples to Jehovah raised upon their ruins ! May the feet of the messengers of peace speed over her borders until this is accomplished, — until the joyful sound has been proclaimed from sea to sea, — until Messiah's name has become known to every ear, and dear to every heart, — and her people have waked from the sleep of ages to stretch forth their hands unto God ! Then, indeed, will this fair and lovely land become a garden, blossoming abundantly, and rejoic- ing even with joy and singing. 43 Salvation, O Salvation !' The joyful sound proclaim',. Till each remotest nation, Has learnt Messiah's name. Waft, waft ye winds His story, And you, ye waters, roll — Till, like a sea of glory, It spread from pole to pole ! So let India be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, even as the waters cover the sea ! Yea, let the whole earth be filled with His glory ! Amen, and Amen I Printed at the M. E. Publishing House, Vepery, Madras. ZENANA SERIES. i English Sditlons.) Pictures op English Home Life. 80 pp. 2 As. The object is to give an idea of an English Home. 76 illustrations. Emblems and Stories for Women. 96 pp. 2 As. Familiar illustrations of Christian truth taken from domestic life. Pictures and Stories of Old. 144 pp. 2 As. Scripture Stories, with pictures on nearly every page. Parables of the Great Teacher. 64 pp. 1 An, Picture Stories of Noble Women. 4to. 50 pp. Old Testament Pictures and Stories. 64 pp. 2| As. New Testament Pictures and Stories. 64 pp. S* As. Each of the two foregoing contains 30 large pictures. Also, two parts complete, stiff covers, 5 As. The Ayah and Lady. £vo. 160 pp. 1 anna. Conversations on the Ten Commandments by Mrs. Sherwood. Indian Stories by A. L. 0. E. 3 As. Large Coloured Picture Stories. Story of Ruth. 4to. 4 As. Net. Story of Esther. 4to. do. do. Life of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 As. Sold by Mr. A. T. Scott, Tract Depot, Madras, and at other Tract Depots in India.