SAD WEDDINGS. 
 
 By Our Missionaries in Allahabad , India. 
 EBRUARY is the month for weddings, and many 
 
 of our school girls are being married. Those of 
 low caste we expect to return in a few days or weeks, 
 when the ceremonies are over, and they may remain in 
 their fathers’ houses for a year or two longer. I was 
 amused the other morning, as I was teaching in a school, 
 when an old woman asked me to let the pupils go 
 home. She said, “ Can’t you hear those drums? They 
 are beating for their marriage, which is now going on, 
 and they have run away and come to school.” I could 
 say no more to detain the children, and the two little 
 dirty-faced and ragged girls got up and went out. 
 
 In my Sunday-school two days ago we could scarcely 
 hear ourselves speak, there was such a din outside. 
 
I missed some children too, and on inquiry found that 
 this was wedding music. 
 
 A little pupil of mine did not read last week because 
 she was just married, and at her mother-in-law’s house. 
 This week she was at home in Allahabad. She had 
 a very pretty new white saree, a silver ornament in the 
 shape of a chain about her waist, and much silver about 
 her ankles. She is a slim, pretty little thing, and looked 
 very sweet. She told me that she expected soon to go 
 away to her husband’s house, in Benares, and my heart 
 ached for her. She looked very serious, and I imagine 
 must have had some idea of what was in store for her. 
 
 The other day, as I was walking along, I heard a 
 heart-broken sob, and from the cross-lane on my right, 
 came a little procession, formed by some people, follow- 
 ing coolies, bearing the little covered arrangement in 
 which women are carried, when necessity compels them 
 to pass through the streets. In this they sit perfectly 
 concealed from any one’s gaze. The sobs proceeded 
 from within this, and it was of one who was evidently 
 tired with long crying. The cause was not hard to 
 guess, as I saw a little bride taken from her mother's 
 house. Poor little children ! 
 
It does afflict me when I see these little girls taken 
 from their mothers to go and live among utter strangers, 
 uncertain of the treatment they may receive, which, no 
 matter how kind it may be, yet can never be like the 
 home love. 
 
 I hope influences are at work which will break up 
 this dreadful system of early marriages. Much is being 
 written and spoken on the subject, and it does seem as 
 if the agitation would end in reform. I believe many 
 of the people who lack courage openly to advocate 
 it, yet wish it might be brought about. 
 
 Mrs. HENRY JOHNSON, President. 
 
 Miss S. D. DOREMUS, Corresponding Secretary. 
 Mrs. RUFUS WAPLES, 
 
 Miss M. S. STONE, 
 
 Assistant Treasurers. 
 
 Mission Room, 41 Bible House, New York. 
 
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