thank Him for bringing me among His people. Now my heart is turned towards God, and I love Him because He loved me; this is of His grace. I was baptized nine months ago, and it is a thought of joy to me that I was. I am a widow, and have one boy, who was also baptized at the same time. The name I chose for him was Solomon; he is eight years old. I am learning every day reading and writing, and am beginning to read the Bible for myself. I go to church to hear the Gospel of Jesus preached and to worship God. I do the work of a Bible-woman nurse in my Miss Sahib's hospital. I pray to God to make me grow in grace. I want to be His good servant. I give you a thousand thanks for all your kindness in caring about me.-I am, your humble servant, HASHMAT-BIBI (Dhai, i.e. Nurse)." Miss Clay has in her Village Mission four Bible-women, and is about to add two others, for whom she earnestly asks support. We are quite sure that her many friends in England would wish us to assure her that as soon as the fitting instruments are to be found, the support will be forthcoming. Of the two Batala Bible-women Miss Tucker reports : 'The two Bible-women are very nice, and I think take a real interest in their work. They give me weekly reports, and we talk over the various hearers. Bibi Martha lately paid an interesting visit to Purian, but I think her health suffered. When the thermometer is 95 deg. in the coolest room it is not a time for even natives to expose themselves to the sun.' Later, Miss Tucker says: I cannot write you so bright a note as usual, my mind is so much taken up with the scene witnessed to-day. Yesterday, Mrs. Baring saw our dear Biblewoman, Maggie, ill, and I had called to see her the day before, but neither of us expected any danger. To-day we stood by her grave! It is quite a blow! We had but two Bible-women, both good Christians, but Martha has been very sickly lately, and between her own illnesses and those of relations has done little city work for months. One valued all the more her bright, cheerful, winsome companion, the mother of three boys-the youngest not a year old; one never dreamed of her being taken! But she has departed in full assurance of faith, with prayer and singing; and her corpse lay smiling in the coffin. Oh how touching to see the mother's sweet smile on the face of her unconscious babe! The funeral was a very affecting one. A nice American lad (a missionary's son), who has come to our school, helped to carry the coffin; so, with Mr. Baring and myself and our Abyssinian, we had representatives of all the four quarters of the globe at the funeral of our dear Indian sister. 'We shall miss our bright Maggie sadly in the work; but perhaps her death may do more than her life. Oh how the young mothers are taken! Since my coming to India I can count up ten in our little Christian flock. The old and the feeble are left. But the dear Lord knows best; the work is His ; He can supply our need.' We close our account of the Bible-women workers by a tribute to the memory of Maggie, a Bible-woman of Batala, freely translated from an account written by her sorrowing husband :— 'Some days ago the beloved Bibi of Babu Wilson departed from this perishing world. As the account of her death is a precious lesson to true Christians, and to weak ones a means of strengthening, it may not be without profit to the readers of this paper. 'The epitome of her history is this, that during her life, in every state, she never let go her hold of her Saviour, the Lord Christ. All her days she tried to follow His example. In necessity, trouble, misfortune, sorrow, Maggie never forgot God. Like saint Job she remained in patience and thanksgiving. The day before her death, Maggie called her husband to her and said, "The Lord remembers me. After my departure be not sad or sorrowful; now I go to my Lord. Treat the children with love and affection; I commit you all to the Lord." Saying this, Maggie prayed to the Lord, and made her husband join her. After prayer Maggie sang three hymns of praise, which proved her desire to go to her heavenly home. There was no fear of death, no grief at leaving a perishable world; affection for her children did not distress her; with perfect peace and comfort-nay more, with heart's desire-Maggie was ready to go. Though her husband and others sat weeping beside her, seeing the strength of her faith, they were astonished. 'The work of reading the Word of God had been committed to Maggie. 'The doctor and others that saw Maggie in her illness said that it was not unto death; but who can understand God's dealings? Power and authority are His; He has dominion over life and death. Ah! beloved friends, we know not when the angel of death may come, and God call us to Himself, therefore it becomes us always to be on the watch and ready.' The poor husband gave a touching address by the grave of his Maggie, which made many an eye wet. He now seems to take pleasure in following in his wife's steps, by carrying the Gospel to the villages. W. has made for himself a little flag, with 'a Christian soldier' in Persian-Urdu on it, so that he emphatically shows his colours when preaching amongst the heathen. CHINSURAH. MISS RAIKES'S REPORT FOR 1881. 'In reviewing the past year's work, though I cannot write of increase as in former years, still there is no apparent decrease. The Zenanas are still faithfully visited and taught. A few always contend about religion, and sometimes break off, for a time, only to renew their lessons. For instance, we have several times commenced to teach in the house of an influential Babu, but no sooner have our pupils learnt something of Christ than the doors have been closed to us. I thought it might be the act of his favourite daughter, who was quite adverse to our religion, but she, poor thing, has died after much suffering, in her heathenism; and I hoped our barrier was gone, when I found out that the head of the house, this enlightened Babu, has imbibed his bigoted daughter's spirit, and forbade us teaching his granddaughters, nice intelligent girls, because they repeated to him verses from the Bible with explanations, and seemed interested. I have to-day had a most interesting conversation with him of an hour and a half upon religion. I fain would have stayed longer, but other duties called me away. After talking at length of Jesus Christ the true Saviour, he came to the conclusion that His example is the purest, holiest, and meekest, and thus far a pattern for man up to his youth, but as husband and father he had no example; he could not copy Jesus any further, for His example ceased there. Their arguments are indeed so subtle that it requires much wisdom wherewith to answer them. I went away, hoping that he would see our religion as it is in Christ Jesus, and told him I would pray for him; he said, "Do so, for I should like to believe simply as you do in Jesus Christ." This house is closed to us now, as far as teaching is concerned, and it is a great grief to me. 'Now for a contrast in another Zenana, I may say a very bright one, for there God is honoured. The head of the house is an earnest believer in Jesus Christ, and only waits till his dear wife thinks as he does. We explain and teach her the truths, and her husband also reads to her in the evenings, with their three children around them. Much prayer is offered up for this household, and I trust the day may not be far distant when we may all rejoice over this interesting family, and the shout of victory rise to heaven over dark heathenism by their coming out and openly confessing Christ. 'In a third Ženana, a mother urges me to visit her; tells me her daughters at school have so taught her our blessed Saviour's religion, by repeating what they have heard and been taught, that she longs to know more of this Jesus Christ; and her mind is disturbed, and she thirsts after that water of life so freely given to all. I sat and talked with her on this subject, and she listened rapt in interest. Her son and husband are also favourable towards our religion. "In a fourth Zenana, a gentle mother, a Brahminee, gives us her whole little family of five to teach, and there they sit and lisp out Gospel truths. Truly it may be said of them, that "out of the mouths of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise.' În a fifth Zenana there is a Bow, wife of a well-educated Babu, who is opposed to our religion, and sees none of its beauties. She puts hard questions, no doubt privately taught by her husband, a sceptic; but we are not hopeless of her, though so far from the Truth. 'In a sixth Zenana there are two sisters, docile, gentle, and intelligent; they make no objections to the Word of God, and improve daily in their secular as well as religious instruction. 'In the Mohammedan house much has been taught, and many have heard of the glad tidings of the Gospel of Christ. Their Koran is often brought to bear on the Bible to see whether things agree or not, but "the Word of God shall not return unto Me void" is a blessed promise and a comforting one. I could go on depicting each of our Zenanas with interest to our readers, but it would make my story too long. And now a word about our four schools in Gutiabazar, Bally, British Chandernagore, and Chinsurah. They are all in a flourishing state, the numbers of 150 and upwards are kept up, though many leave yearly to be married. Prejudice and caste, I am thankful to say, are fast losing power. Singing, only a year and a half ago, was thought to be something disgraceful, and on first introducing it, we got angry looks from the bigoted Babus, and several children were withdrawn on that account for a time, but by dint of perseverance singing is now tolerated, and on our last distribution day, the 17th December, the four schools assembled in one house and the children sang several hymns, such as, "There is a happy land," "Here we suffer grief and pain," and "Great King of kings and Lord of lords." Their recitations were all from the, Bible (except one secular piece), such as from Proverbs xxxi., verses 10 to 31, Psalms viii. and xxxiv. All this was listened to with interest by the Babus. There is decidedly a vast improvement within the last six years, since this Chinsurah Mission was founded; Hindu minds are enlarging, as regards education, for their girls, not only in a secular, but in a Christian point of view. 'We have two girls in our British Chandernagore School, who are still allowed to remain, though of a marriageable age. Dr. Baumann, who kindly examined our schools this year, alludes to this fact in his report. 'In conclusion, we all beg for continued prayers for this interesting mission, and to have more faith and love in the Master's work.' REPORT BY DR. BAUMANN, C.M.S. Missionary. 'On December the 6th I had the pleasure of examining again Miss Raikes's four schools at and near Chinsurah, and am pleased to find that there is no diminution of their general excellence. I use the term "pleased " advisedly, for among the sights now-a-days enjoyed in this country, there is none more gratifying than that of a flock of Hindu girls collected together in a Christian school for an examination or a prize distribution, dressed as they are in gorgeous though quaint attire, their handsomely chiselled features lit up with joy, and their big black eyes sparkling with wonderment and eagerness combined. 'But greater pleasure still is derived from the reflections and expectations which such auspicious sights are apt to suggest. It is not very long since that Native Female education was entirely unknown in this country. The tide of public opinion, rushing as it does along the channel of immemorial custom, was opposed to such a movement; reading and writing were not considered becoming in a female. It was thought quite sufficient for her to superintend the affairs of her house, and minister to the wants of her family. The Hindu girl was to grow up, to be kindly treated, to marry, to occupy a respected place in the household, to rear up children, and to die. Dr. K. M. Bannerjee, speaking of Bengali women in his work on Native Female Education, says, "Bereft of the advantage of reading and observation, their thoughts seldom extend beyond the walls of the Zenana, or soar above the roof under which they are secured, and the little exchequer of their minds contains almost nothing besides images of bodily ornaments and household articles. Intellectual amusements and recreations are wholly unknown to them, and the only employments of which they are capable during moments of leisure are sleeping or quarrelling, gaming (sometimes at cards), or idle conversation on low and degrading topics.' 'Such mothers, wives, and sisters the Hindus are accustomed to see around them. They appreciate the kind attentions which they receive from them in health and sickness, but, alas! they desire nothing higher, nothing better. 'Take as a contrast to this what we Europeans are accustomed to in our women, and can any one wonder that we wish to accomplish the same for our Hindu sisters? It is true, better housewives, better managers of their families, as to ordinary matters, we cannot make them. What then do we aim at? This is answered by another question, What is it that commands our admiration in our British, American, and German countrywomen? Was it not, and is it not, this, that while they have the ordinary and practical, they have also the elevated and refined? Managing their households as well as Hindu women can do, they are not, like their Eastern sisters, under dark apprehensions from omens, prognostics, spells, and unlucky days. Their minds are enlarged, they can take an intelligent interest in the school-exercises and education of their sons and daughters, they can share our conversation on any topic, contributing their own valuable additions to it, and they adorn our homes by their graces and accomplishments. 'Here, however, allow me to interpose a short but important observation. Education alone has not made, and indeed cannot make, this difference between the East and West. If Christian women of the West exhibit a 66 superior enlightenment in matters social, moral, and spiritual, let it be distinctly understood they owe it to their possession and diligent use of that Word which God has graciously given to man to be as a lamp to his feet, and a light to his path." But secular education is a handmaid, nay, it is the handmaid, that mainly accomplishes the highest civilisation; and therefore we Europeans fervently desire that our Hindu sisters, whether high or low, rich or poor, should be educated. In advocating Female Education, we have also before our eyes the elevated position which was occupied by Hindu women in pre-Mohammedan times. No chains of seclusion and ignorance fettered the gentler sex then. They are deprived of their comparative enlightenment and freedom of movements only since the simoom from Arabia cast its scorching blasts on the country of Bharat. To say nothing of several of the leading women of antiquity in their country, who, that knows anything of Sanscrit literature, will not bear his testimony to the indications which the drama entitled "Sakantalah" exhibits of the fact that the females were educated at the time of its composition,—that exquisite drama the merits of which have been so well summed up by the great German poet, Goethe "Wouldst thou the young year's blossoms, and the fruit of its decline, Knowing and remembering all this, we shall not cease to anticipate the time when sound instruction shall be imparted again to all, whether male or female, and when native female authors, with all modesty, but with truthful earnestness, shall demand for their sisters the discharge of a long-neglected duty, and in tones which no educated man at least, will be able to despise, shall vindicate their claim. But, thank God, in many places in India, especially among the progressive Bengalis, the ground has been successfully broken, and every year is rendering more easy the formerly impossible task of collecting caste girls for the purpose of teaching them. Having tasted for themselves the sweets of education, Hindu fathers, husbands, and brothers, now also begin to think of developing the minds of their females by systematic instruction. Indeed, female education is already beginning to be recognised as one of the social institutions of the land, and an integral part of its daily life. The old prejudice that there is nothing lucrative in female education, and that girls, though well taught, are unable to contribute to the resources of a family, is, we are happy to say, gradually passing away. Nor indeed could it be well otherwise. Educated young men are multiplying around us, and we are mistaken if they will not wish, and do not now wish to have educated wives. Seeing, then, that female education adds so much of value in arranging matrimonial contracts, let the parents and guardians of Hindu girls abandon their indifference, where it still exists, on the subject of educating their females, and, with all earnestness, do what they can for the promotion of female education. "To this I would add another remark, with kind permission of my Hindu friends. It is this. Not only send your girls to school, but keep them there for such a reasonable space of time as will enable us to give them somewhat like a thorough education. As it is, the children are found scarcely to have learned the rudiments of grammar and construction when the objectionable custom of early marriage withdraws them from school, the pupils unlearning in a few months what they had got up in as many years. I have no desire to enlarge here on the many bad effects of this evil custom. This has been done eloquently and efficiently by the authors of two masterly brochures, entitled, Balya |