old hat-box on the floor by her side and for a moment looked around the
room, noticing everything. Then she took up the poker, commenced poking
the fire, as if she wanted more heat to enable her to explain the chief
object of her visit. The heat is now up to the degree required, the
poker is laid aside, the old hat-box is in her lap, and aunt Mary is
ready to talk business. Opening the box, she said to Mrs. R., "Sister, I
have something har I want ter show you; dun know if you want ter see
it." "What is it?" Mrs. R. enquired. Here she pulled out a second-hand
bonnet trimmed in high colors. "A lady," she said, "give me dis last
night to sell. I aint show it to no body yet; she say to take it to some
of de preachers' wives be case it's too stylish for these yer common
niggers." The hat was examined and returned with, "I don't think I need
a hat just now, aunt Mary."
"Do you sell a great deal?" "Yes 'urn, but sometimes 'tis mighty hard
to get money out ter our people. Dat ar ---- (naming the man) tuck a
dress from me for his wife; can't get a nickel from him, and every time
he see me he dodge inter some corner." "How do they pay? Cash?" "No, one
dollar a week till dey finish payin." "As a general thing I suppose they
try to meet you pretty promptly, don't they?" "Lors, no, honey! dey alus
put me off; but I keep a runin' and runin' every week jis ter make dem
tell lie."
The subject of the hat, etc., rested here, and aunt Mary took up some of
her experience at church. "Broder ---- (she said, calling the preacher
by name) get so now-a-days he don't preach out ter de Bible no more. He
alus (always) on de path, he aint got time ter look in de book. I aint
got nara larnin, but I kin tell if anybody is preachin out ter de Bible.
We had a meetin ter vote him out de other day and I was a sittin' near
de stove; I hear dat ar ---- (calling the person's name) say, 'Broder A.,
I don't want you to go 'way, I want you to stay,' and she was a sittin'
right up under de preacher's coat tail; and who tell you she didn't
wisper somethin ter him, then look at me and laugh?" "Is that so?" "Tis
so, honey! and I jis tuck up de shovel and went for her." Aunt Mary was
now on her feet, poker grasped in her hand, and arm lifted above her
head. "Laugh agin, says I, laugh agin, Miss Nigger, and I will stave
you down, who dar you to laugh at me, you unfogotten, hen-pecken,
know-nothin, off-scorn of the eart."
With this, aunt Mary slung her bag across her shoulder, took up her hat
box, bade good morning, and as she got through the gate, struck out at
the very top of her voice one of her favorite melodies.
* * * * *
This bit of history was imparted in an examination in answer to the
question, "What were the Alien and Sedition Laws?" "Alien and Sedition
were members of Congress."
Definition of education: Education is the cultivation of the moral,
brain, intellectual and voice.
* * * * *
THE INDIANS.
* * * * *
LETTER FROM OAHE SCHOOL, DAKOTA.
BY MISS JULIA E. PRATT.
A very sad incident came into our life as a school last winter, which
has accentuated anew the ignorance and the superstitious heathenism of
these Indian people.
One of our little boys was sent to the dormitory one morning to do some
work to which he objected, and, while pretending to obey, he took one of
the other little boys with him and ran away. Their absence was not
discovered until it was too late to overtake them, and as their home was
only ten miles away, and we knew they were good walkers, as all Indians
are almost from babyhood, we had every reason to believe they would
reach home in safety. They had started before daylight, and without any
breakfast, and the little boy who was enticed away had no overcoat nor
mittens, but had gone on the impulse of the moment without taking any
extra clothing. About ten o'clock, it grew very cold, and as the little
fellow had on shoes, to which he was unaccustomed, his feet became so
cold and tired that he could not go on. Then the boy who had coaxed him
away gave him his overcoat and mittens and went on, reaching home about
noon, telling that he had run away, and that he had left Jaran about
half way. Jaran's father did not believe the story, and came back to us,
ten miles, to see if it were true. This made us very anxious, but
nothing could be done but to await the issue. It seemed as if a series
of unfortunate mistakes had combined to bring about this result; and to
make everything still more puzzling, Mr. Riggs, our superintendent, was
away. He reached home that evening, and the next morning sent the
steward to learn the fate of the little runaway. He went on until he
found the little boy's cap and mittens, and the place where he had
evidently lain all night. It was a bitter night, and we knew that he
could not possibly have survived, in his exhausted condition, and not
knowing how to protect himself, even if he had had the means for so
doing. This, in itself, was a very bitter experience for us, but the
worst was yet to come. Mr. Riggs found it impossible to get an Indian to
go to the assistance of these poor people. They were all _afraid_.
Rumors were afloat that the father was going to shoot anyone connected
in any way with the school, Indian or white. When an Indian is
sorrow-stricken over the death of a friend or relative, he alleviates
his suffering by killing some one else.
After the little boy was buried, the family came to the school. The old
grandmother brought the clothes he had on when found--and which they had
cut off,--spread them out before Mr. Riggs, and reproached him for
sending a little boy out into a storm so insufficiently clad; to which
Mr. Riggs replied that we had no idea he was going out into the storm,
that he was dressed for the house, and had we known he was going on a
journey, he would have been dressed for it. She would not be pacified,
however, and after bitterly reproaching Mr. Riggs for the death of her
grandson, she _demanded pay_ for it, as if money would make up to them
his loss.
That afternoon, at the woman's meeting, we learned that they had given
away everything they possessed, furniture, clothing, bedding, dishes,
and were absolutely destitute of the barest necessities of life. This is
one of their customs. They reason thus: Our child is dead; our hearts
are sad; life has no longer any attractions; take all we have. The
Christian Indian women in our church each gave something out of her
little property to help these poor heathen people, who in their
superstitious ignorance had made their lot so wretched. Taking this,
they returned home and demanded of the family of the other poor boy a
cow in _payment_ for the death of their child.
And there came to me this question: Is it possible that in the midst of
this beautiful free land of ours, there lives a people so densely
ignorant, so darkly superstitious, sunk so low in heathenism, as this
incident shows? And this is only one of many such incidents. May God
help us when such things are possible in a Christian land.
* * * * *
THE CHINESE.
* * * * *
THREE DAYS OF EVANGELISTIC WORK AT PETALUMA.
BY JEE GAM.
I reached Petaluma a little while before school began. The scholars soon
poured in and the attendance was the largest the school ever had. In
order to have a little preaching service, we hurried through the
lessons. At the conclusion of school, two hymns were sung. I then
preached to them of Jesus. They all listened very attentively and
appeared interested. At the close, I asked them to come again the next
evening and bring their friends. To my great surprise, the next evening
not only all the scholars came, but many outsiders; some of these had
years ago attended our school for some little time, but the majority of
them had never been inside our mission. I was informed, after the
meeting, that five or six of them were very highly educated in Chinese,
and that they were chief officers of the Chinese Branch Masonic Society
in Petaluma. I thought they came simply for curiosity and perhaps for
argument. Just before the meeting commenced, I went into my room, knelt
down and said to God: "Oh Lord, Thou art the Almighty God, Thou knowest
the motives of those who have come to this meeting; Thou knowest I am
very weak. I can do nothing without Thy help, so I beseech Thee to make
me a good agent in Thy hand. Give me the right word to speak, fill me
with power."
I arose from prayer and felt that God was with me. I went into the
meeting and announced my subject. It was on Daniel being cast into the
lions' den. I noticed the marked interest they all seemed to feel. At
the close, I again asked all present to come the next evening (Sunday
evening) and bring more friends.
The Sabbath evening meeting came. Sunday-school began at six o'clock.
Not only the scholars and every one of the outsiders who had attended
the meeting of the night before came, but many others besides, so that
we had to bring in extra benches, and yet we lacked room.
My subject this evening was Daniel, third chapter, the three Hebrew
children cast into the fiery furnace, being a continuation of my Bible
reading of the previous evening. I endeavored to bring home to my
countrymen three things: 1st.--That this was the true God, and he was
the Supreme Ruler mentioned by our Confucius, Mencius and other sages.
2d.--He was all-powerful and not like the golden image which
Nebuchadnezzar had set up, nor like the idols that we Chinese serve.
3d.--He was able to save all those that put their trust in Him. He is
_just as able_ and as _willing_ to _save_ us _to-day_ as He was when He
saved Daniel and his three countrymen, provided we are willing to trust
in Him, as these men did, for He is the same yesterday, to-day and
forever. The golden image could not protect from the dangers of the fire
the king's mighty men that cast Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the
furnace. And why? Because it was simply an image, the work of men's
hands. And now, what are our Chinese idols? Are not they the works of
men's hands too? We all say that they are true gods and are very
powerful; yet, you all well know that we have a common saying: "Though
the gods are powerful, yet they are not able to protect an _unfortunate_
man." So let us seek, believe and worship the only true God, and Him
alone.
I had to come away the next day, and felt that perhaps I might never
have another chance to speak to them. The opportunity, too, was one of
the best that any preacher could desire, for they all seemed hungering
for more of the truth. Therefore I went on to tell them that the Son of
God whom Nebuchadnezzar saw in the fiery furnace was this same Jesus
that we Christians believe in and preach to-day. At the conclusion, I
urged all to accept Him as their Saviour. I said: "Of course I cannot
tell you all about Jesus in one evening, for nearly every one of the
thirty-nine books of the Old Testament and every one of the twenty-seven
books of the New Testament speak of Jesus,--his birth, his life, his
teaching. All these you can find out by reading the Chinese translation
of the Bible, and therefore we earnestly invite you all to read it for
yourselves."
"One of our proverbs says: 'Genuine gold never fears the hot furnace
fire.' So the Bible never fears examination. The more you try it, the
truer you will find it to be. You are all acquainted with the ways of
the Tanist priests. They deceive the people and you all know their
doctrines and tricks will not bear inspection. For example, the manner
in which they pretend to catch demons; they go to the house with their
gongs, cymbals, etc., and pretend to catch the ghost and place him in a
jar. After they have caught him, they will not _allow you_ to open the
jar to view him. Why? The Bible you see is as true as the broad
daylight, for it has borne the inspection of centuries. The doctrines of
the Tanist priests differ in this respect. Their teaching will not stand
criticism nor examination, while the Bible stands the tests of all
times, and it is fast becoming the standard book of the nations of the
world."
The meeting was then closed with a prayer. I said to them, "I shall be
happy to have any one ask questions about Jesus and I will endeavor to
answer." But no question was asked, so I gave each a tract to take home
to read. After they had left, a Chinese laundryman and two of his
employees came. I learned that they had come before and found the room
so crowded that they could not enter. I had a very pleasant visit from
them. I talked to them both of their spiritual and temporal welfare.
May God bless the seed sown there and grant that all the Petaluma
Chinese may find salvation in Jesus Christ, our Lord.
* * * * *
DEATH OF LEUNG KEE.
BY MRS. C.A. SHELDON.
Leung Kee was but 16 years old and was in a store with his uncle, a
heathen, but a fine-looking man and one whose character is worthy of
respect. He had just joined our Christian Association when he was taken
sick. His uncle thought his sickness came because he had become a
Christian, and he begged of him to go back to his old religion, but he
said "No," he would trust in Jesus. Just as he died, his uncle again
asked him if he should not burn incense, but he still said "No," and
asked the Christian brethren to pray with him. As soon as we heard of
his death, Miss Watson and I called. The uncle was very courteous, told
us that Leung Kee was a Christian boy, and he wanted us to do just what
we thought best. Our pastor, Dr. Hutchins, attended the funeral with us
and made some very touching remarks. We had singing by the Christian
brethren and others who were there. The uncle was attentive, and more
than once tears were in his eyes. At the grave we sang a hymn. Chung Moi
prayed in Chinese; all joined in the Lord's prayer in Chinese, then we
sang again, "O think of the home over there." The uncle came and thanked
us for our kindness to his boy; said it was his brother's son, but just
like his own; I wish all who think the Chinese have no heart could have
heard the tremor in his voice and seen his quivering lips and his eyes
full of tears. One of the Christian brethren told us that he said
afterwards that he would join the Christian Association himself if he
were not so old. So I think perhaps our young brother's early death may
do more for his countrymen than his life would have done. I pray that it
may be so.
* * * * *
BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK.
MISS D.E. EMERSON, SECRETARY.
* * * * *
WOMAN'S STATE ORGANIZATIONS.
CO-OPERATING WITH THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.
ME.--Woman's Aid to A.M.A.,
Chairman of Committee, Mrs. C.A. Woodbury, Woodfords, Me.
VT.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
Secretary, Mrs. Ellen Osgood, Montpelier, Vt.
CONN.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
Secretary, Mrs. S.M. Hotchkiss, 171 Capitol Ave., Hartford, Conn.
MASS. and R.I.--Woman's Home Miss. Association,
Secretary, Miss Natalie Lord, Boston, Mass.[1]
N.Y.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
Secretary, Mrs. William Spalding, Salmon Block, Syracuse, N.Y.
ALA.--Woman's Missionary Union,
Secretary, Miss S.S. Evans, Birmingham, Ala.
MISS.--Woman's Miss. Union,
Secretary, Miss Sarah J. Humphrey, Tougaloo, Miss.
TENN. and ARK.--Woman's Missionary Union of Central South Conference,
Secretary, Miss Anna M. Cahill, Nashville, Tenn.
LA.--Woman's Miss. Union,
Secretary, Miss Jennie Fyfe, 490 Canal St., New Orleans, La.
FLA.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
Secretary, Mrs. Nathan Barrows, Winter Park, Fla.
OHIO.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
Secretary, Mrs. Flora K. Regal, Oberlin, Ohio.
IND.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
Secretary, Mrs. W.E. Mossman, Fort Wayne, Ind.
ILL.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
Secretary, Mrs. C.H. Taintor, 151 Washington St, Chicago, Ill.
MINN.--Woman's Home Miss. Society,
Secretary, Miss Katharine Plant, 2651 Portland Avenue,
Minneapolis, Minn.
IOWA.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
Secretary, Miss Ella E. Marsh, Grinnell, Iowa.
KANSAS.--Woman's Home Miss. Society,
Secretary, Mrs. G.L. Epps, Topeka, Kan.
MICH.--Woman's Home Miss, Union,
Secretary, Mrs. Mary B. Warren, Lansing, Mich.
WIS.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
Secretary, Mrs. C. Matter, Brodhead, Wis.
NEB.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
Secretary, Mrs. L.F. Berry, 724 N Broad St., Fremont, Neb.
COLORADO.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
Secretary, Mrs. S.M. Packard, Pueblo, Colo.
SOUTH DAKOTA.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
President, Mrs. T.M. Hills, Sioux Falls;
Secretary, Mrs. W.B. Dawes, Redfield;
Treasurer, Mrs. S.E. Fifield, Lake Preston.
NORTH DAKOTA.--Woman's Home Miss. Soc.,
President, Mrs. A.J. Pike, Dwight;
Sec., Mrs. Silas Daggett, Harwood;
Treas., Mrs. J.M. Fisher, Fargo.
[Footnote 1: For the purpose of exact information, we note that
while the W.H.M.A. appears in this list as a State body for Mass.
and R.I., it has certain auxiliaries elsewhere.]
We would suggest to all ladies connected with the auxiliaries of State
Missionary Unions, that funds for the American Missionary Association
be sent to us through the treasurers of the Union. Care, however,
should be taken to designate the money as for the American Missionary
Association, since _undesignated funds will not reach us_.
* * * * *
Now is the time to plan to attend our A.M.A. Woman's Meeting in
connection with the Annual Meeting at Chicago, where you may see and
listen to some live missionaries. We hope to see one or more lady
representatives from every church.
* * * * *
The Woman's state home missionary unions will also hold a meeting upon
this occasion, with a full and good programme. See notice of time and
entertainment on cover. Particulars will be given in our next number.
Mrs. Regal's valuable paper, "The Local Society--its Management and
Membership," also the paper "The Relation of the State Unions to the
American Missionary Association," are published as pamphlets, and may be
had of any officer of the State Unions, or of the American Missionary
Association, 56 Reade Street, New York.
* * * * *
A VISIT TO A MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL.
BY MRS. L.S. HITCHCOCK.
One Lord's day, I went out to look after a Sunday-school in which one of
our missionaries had become interested, and where she labored part of
the year. The day was excessively warm. The distance was two miles, and
the horse cars would only take me half the way, leaving a walk across
the fields for the rest of the trip. There was no road, and much of the
way not even a footpath, and the fields were partly covered with water
from the frequent showers. I got along quite well during the first half
of my walk by picking my way, now and then elongating steps, or jumping,
generally with satisfactory results. Presently a place appeared where
the water seemed too wide to venture with safety. There was no
possibility of jumping this time, and I was ready to give up in despair,
when I discovered at some little distance a log laid across the narrow
part of the stream. I commenced the tight rope walk and was just
congratulating myself upon my heroic adventure which, with one step
more, would have landed me safely on the other side, when the log tilted
and off I went, my knees plowing into the mud making a hole as big as
grandma's workbasket. I lost no time in getting up. As I arose, I saw my
_best_ parasol and big palm-leaf fan floating along leisurely in the
muddy stream. These were secured later, but with much trouble, and my
portmanteau was fished from the hidden deep at the peril of crabs and
other biters who make such places homes of retreat.
I called at the nearest cabin, and found "Auntie" with a kind heart
ready to undertake the job of "cleaning me up." She took in the
situation at once, ejaculating, "Lor', honey! specs Is'e goin ter let
yer go ter Sunday-school wid dem ar close all spilt? Sam, take dem ar
shoes and wash em clar fru for Missus."
In a short time she said, "You's fine," and I started for the little
church close by, arriving just five minutes before the Sunday-school
closed. I was greeted with "Howdy" by the pastor, who is superintendent,
and was requested to speak to the children, while the whole Sunday
school, including twenty-six boys and girls, and seven fathers and
mothers, rose to their feet, indicating their delight to see me.
I was in time to observe one little boy standing on tiptoe to reach up
to the Bible which the minister held open on the table and was teaching
him to read. It was his custom, as he was the only teacher, to call each
one separately, and teach him to read, as well as his ignorance would
allow. This is in advance of their old way of conducting Sunday-school.
Formerly, all the instruction received was from Webster's "blue back,"
and, for the closing exercise, they counted from one to a hundred. The
pastor attended school at Straight University during the past year and
can read a little, but not intelligently. He looks as if he had seen
sixty years or more, and I believe him to be a good man who tries to do
faithful work for the Master so far as he is able. He has built a little
church, mostly with his own hands and out of his own scanty earnings. It
is made of rough boards, but it has a good foundation and the roof is
well shingled. There are no glass windows, but boards like a barn door
hung on hinges serve to let in the light or shut out the cold in winter.
The people are ignorant beyond description. Most of them live in little
huts or cabins on the banks of the canal, getting a scanty living by
working out as they can find places.
Their homes are filthy and uninviting. How much good a missionary could
accomplish by going into their homes and teaching them the true
Christian way of living! The mothers with whom I talked seemed willing,
and even anxious, to know better ways. Any instruction in housekeeping
would be gratefully received, and a sewing class, where cutting and
making plain clothing were taught, would be eagerly accepted. A mothers'
meeting once a week would be more helpful to those barren minds than
words can express. The work is right there, all ready and waiting for
some loving, self-denying Christian woman to take up. Who in the far-off
Northland will say, "Lord, here am I, send me," and who will reach deep
in their pockets and say, "I will give a tenth, yea, even more," for
that which is more is the only true giving? May God open the hearts of
those who have an abundance and to spare, to give liberally for the
uplifting of our colored brothers and sisters.
* * * * *
OUR YOUNG FOLKS.
* * * * *
THE FRESH DRINK.
A missionary teacher to the mountain whites, who was laid aside
temporarily from teaching, on account of illness, writes of one of the
children of her charge:
I must tell you of the little native girl who lived with us, and of her
practical application of a Scripture text. It was my custom to teach her
from the Bible every Sabbath afternoon. I had been reading from the
ninth chapter of Mark, where it speaks of the child-like spirit our dear
Saviour wants us to possess.
She listened very attentively, and seemed especially interested when we
came to the forty-first verse, "For whosoever shall give you a cup of
water to drink in my name, ... he shall not lose his reward."
She left me a few moments, but presently came back saying: "Won't you
tell me about that verse again?" I gladly complied; then came the
question, "Does it mean me--can I do something for Jesus?"
That evening, there came a gentle rap on my door, and to my "Come in,"
Minnie entered, bearing a glass of water.
Coming near, she placed the water on a little stand by my bedside.
Noticing that she stood as though she would speak, I said, "What is it,
Minnie?" She hesitated a moment, then replied: "I was thinking about
what you said about the 'cup of water,' and I wanted to give you
something 'cause you was sick, but I didn't have anything, so I thought
may be you might like a fresh drink of water, for it's all I've got."
Indeed, my heart was touched by this poor girl's beautiful application
of the lesson learned; nor was it forgotten--every evening during my
illness came the "fresh drink" from the hands of the little beginner,
who wanted to do something for Jesus.
* * * * *
LETTER FROM AN INDIAN BOY.
JUNE 5th, 1889.
_Friends at the East:_
It is summer over here now and every thing looks green and nice. The
roses are red and beautiful, so every day everybody has a bouquet on his
coat. There are lots of more flowers, some of them are white, blue, red,
yellow; so everything looks nice.