This at once brought out the answer, "Those who are ignorant think they are mistaken, but we who have learned about these things and have read the Injil see that they are right." The earnest tone in which this was said convinced me it was not a mere answer of the lips for the sake of pleasing, but that it came from the ground of her heart. I asked her whether she would come over to our Normal School at Amritsar. At first the offer was refused, but not long after Khaira appeared and announced that she had made arrangements to live here and read in the school. May the fresh opportunities now given to her result in the growth, not of worldly knowledge only, but of that which makes wise unto salvation !

'Our staff of Native assistants now numbers seven. One great advantage of the move into the city is that we are able to have our helpers close by us, and can thus do more in the way of teaching and training them. Though not nominally a Bible-woman, but a Christian teacher, Premi deserves notice as one who watches for the souls of her pupils, and who has been much blessed in her labours amongst them. The ranks of her scholars have been thinned just now on account of a baptism which took place this year in connection with the school.

'Nathu, with her husband, a weaver, living near, had been visited by Miss Smith. They left the place, and after a long absence returned. Meanwhile the seed Miss Smith had sown had been springing up. They both confessed themselves inquirers. The husband was put under the instructions of a catechist, and the wife entered Premi's school, where she was quite willing to sit amongst the little ones to make up her deficiencies in reading and writing. Though not naturally bright, by patience and perseverance she learned to read with tolerable ease, and laid firmer hold of the elementary and fundamental truths of

the gospel. By the time Miss Smith returned from Kashmir, six months afterwards, they were ready for baptism, and on the very day she left for England she had the joy of seeing them admitted into the fold. As they were much persecuted by relatives, who would not allow them to carry on their trade (silk-weaving), they were sent down to Lodiana, where the missionaries kindly gave them employment in their industrial school, and where they also have the advantage of further instruction in Christian truth.

'This paper cannot be closed without a few words of grateful thanks to those who have supplied us with the ways and means for carrying on the work which has been spoken of. The cashbox has been well, supplied thanks to all the subscribers, both here and in England, to the contributors of the boxes of needlework, to those who have sold and those who have bought, and also to those who have supplied us with prizes. Kind friends at Clifton and Brighton have sent us a rich store of saleable things, and Mrs. Henry Lawrence, and others of the family, wishing to assist the schools which bear the name of a loved member of it, have most kindly given us a number of dolls, a quantity of material for kurtas, together with a handsome donation to pay for making them up, and to cover the expenses of our annual treat. We are grateful for these, and shall be glad if some good friends will send us more for the C.E.Z.M., these being specially intended for the Lady Henry Lawrence Schools.

'This is only a hasty and very imperfect glance at the work, but I must not occupy too much space. It may be that the words "schools" and "Zenanas" have grown old and wearisome, and readers prefer hearing about something fresher. Old they certainly are, but I trust we are not getting tired of hearing them. Let us forget the words for a time, and think only of what they

mean. So many women and children, with hearts capable of loving, with minds capable of knowing, brought into contact with the knowledge of Him who alone can fill and satisfy their longings, so many channels opened through which the life-giving streams may run, bringing with them a joy unspeakable, hope for this life, hope for the life to come,-this is what we mean when we speak of schools and Zenanas.

'Would that I could take every reader up to the roof of the Zenana Mission-House, and bid her look round! It would stir her heart, as it stirs ours, to see the mosques, the temples, and the wide, wide stretch of houses, containing hundreds and thousands who are yet slaves to the false religions which these places of worship represent. We have only

just begun, as it were, to make our Mission felt, and shall we grow weary of it? No, thank God, there are many other agencies employed which are being owned and blessed, but we have no reason to believe that education has ceased to be an instrument in God's hands. On the contrary, we see more and more what a mighty engine it is. Already we see that by means of it many strongholds are being broken down, and many captives are coming out one by one from the bondage of sin to lay hold on the great Deliverer. Let us then make this agency more efficient still, and never cease our efforts till the time shall come when all the children of this city shall be taught of the Lord, and till the daughters of Amritsar shall become as polished corner-stones in the temple of the Great King.'

'Looking back upon the work of the past year, devoid as it is of stirring incident or interesting fact, we can see here and there little signs, invisible to all but the worker, which point out something gained, just little straws on the broad silent stream telling of an undercurrent which is slowly but surely bearing the heavy waters on. It may be only a smile of welcome in a Zenana where formerly a very indifferent salutation had been given, or the unexpected bright answer in one of the schools from a hitherto stolid and ignorant child. Such signs, trivial indeed in themselves, are, we believe, heralds of better things; perhaps they may help to form a cloud, no bigger than the hand, which tells of a plenteous shower by-and-by.

'The following incident may be noted as an encouraging sign. One of the difficulties connected with schoolwork has been the non-religious instruction given in Government schools, which sometimes induces the parents to send their children where the Bible is not taught. It is no unusual thing to hear the teachers complain that

the cleverest girl has gone away to the Government school." Such a loss happened in Khatigan's school. She was very wroth, and wished to have the rival teacher punished for having received the child. Time, however, healed the wound. We had indeed forgotten all about it, when one day, on entering the school, Khatigan met us with a very pleasant face. Without saying anything, she led the way to the

truant.

third class, and pointed out the little Upon asking why she had been taken away from a school where the Bible was not taught, Khatigan said, "The parents say that they would rather send their child to a school where the Bible is taught than let her remain in one where no religious teaching is given." Such an acknowledgment from Mohammedans, who, as a rule, only send their children to school for the pice given, and in some cases even then dislike Bible teaching, is indeed a token for good.

'Now, with regard to the Schools, we could not do better than take the reader to an average one, and let the children speak for themselves. Imagine yourself, then, transported to a narrow gali leading off one of the most crowded thoroughfares in Amritsar. We shall suppose that it is during the cold season, so we see little groups of women sitting here and there sunning themselves. Some say "salam" in a friendly way, others call their children with the warning, "The Miss Sahib will whip you." Mothers have so little control over their children that they seem only too glad to make us a bugbear. 'Now we reach a doorway just below the school. Our approach has been spied long ere this by the sharp eyes above, so lessons are conned with renewed vigour, each child repeating or reading as loud and as fast as she can. The pretty little teacher comes forward to meet us, and after quieting the little ones we sit down. Before us are the first and second classes ready with St. Matthew's Gospel and "The Peep of Day." We shall spend some time with them before going to the third and fourth classes in the adjoining room. The first class consists of five girls, not a bit shy, only too anxious to tell us all they know. Let us question them about a miracle; they tell the whole story verbatim; but we want something more. So a few questions about the deeper meaning of the text draw out some intelligent answers. Then we

show them our scrap-book. Pictures of our Lord especially interest them much. The second class girls cross the dividing bench to have a peep too; they like to see pictures of the Saviour better than those of Adam and Eve, etc., about whom they read.

'We turn to the second class. There they are, like so many machines wound up, ready to pour out their knowledge at a touch. They know all about the Garden of Eden, the Serpent, and the Fall, but get more subdued when asked about the meaning. "How can we know till you have told us?" is the usual reply. But our little pupils are bright, so they soon see how much more interesting the story is when they understand it, and can apply the moral to themselves.

us.

'We go into the next room, and soon a crowd of little things, "takhhs" tucked under their arms, and fingers smeared with ink, stands before Most of the third class girls can repeat the Ten Commandments and several texts very nicely, but the fourth class children repeat very few, they are so little. That little mite before us can scarcely lisp the words, "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin." We are teaching them the first eight verses of Psalm cxv. They really seem to enjoy repeating the things their gods cannot do. "Have you ever seen an idol?" we ask. All the little heads nod vigorously, and one braver than the rest says, "I have seen one in the bazaar." "What is it like ?" "Lovely; it is covered with red paint, and has eight hands." "Do you often go to see it?" "Heaps of times; my father always takes me with him when he goes; we offer flowers and sweetmeats." "Does the god eat any?" This is too ludicrous; they laugh merrily at the idea, while one little narrator says, "How can it? its mouth is made of stone !" "Does it take the flowers you offer?" Then the others, seeing the meaning, repeat, "They have hands, but handle not." Then comes the question, "If the god can do nothing

for himself, what can he do for you?" A puzzled look crosses the little faces as they are forced to admit that their god of stone or wood is a useless thing. Before leaving they ask for a hymn, so the school soon rings with the praises of the precious Name.

'Perhaps the work amongst children is the most hopeful; their hearts are not yet hardened by the many cares which shadow the woman's life; they do not know the impure legends and useless tales of which their religion is full, so the simple story is received simply in the yet fresh soil of their hearts. Is it not a subject of thankfulness that about five hundred girls are receiving regular Bible teaching, and can repeat many precious texts, and that the Saviour, who forbade not the little ones to go to Him, is loved by many a child-heart in this dark city? 'An incident which happened lately may be mentioned to show how a child, taught in one of the city schools, may be an influence for good to others. The lesson had been given in a Hindu Zenana, so the teacher opened her picture-book and began to explain some simple story. But the Bibi would not be interested; she did not understand her visitor's "Rachchha" (Punjabi) for one thing, and seemed rather weary of the effort to be polite. She did not say, "I wish you would have done," but her wandering eyes spoke plainly enough that her mind was far away. The missionary saw this, and perhaps never felt her weakness in utterance so painfully as then. But help was

near.

The creaking door opens, and a bright face peeps in, a smiling face, too, which seems to say, "I know you." The owner of the face comes in and sits down quietly, looking very earnestly at the picture. When the story is done, she looks full in the missionary's face, and asks,

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Do you never sing hymns?" "Often," the missionary replies, only too glad to find a sympathetic listener. "Then let us sing one," says the child; "I have brought my hymn-book." So saying,

she produces the well-known blue book from her basta. The hymn is sung, to which the Bibi has listened most attentively, being very much astonished to see such a clever child. After singing, Maya has something more to ask. Lifting her big brown eyes earnestly, she asks, "Do you never tell these people about Jesus? Show them the picture of the Cross." The request is readily granted, and the child explains, in her own simple way why Christ died. The Bibi's eyes do not wander now; she listens with satisfaction to the sound of her own native tongue and the familiar idioms she can easily understand. Thus little Maya can carry the precious truths she learns in school into many a dark home. May her simple faith grow firm, so that she may be a true missionary amongst her ignorant sisters!

'There are doubtless many more Mayas, and Sughis, and Nikkis, who are led to tell of the loving Saviour about whom they have been taught. Children can go where no one else can, and often their simple words tell when others fail. If in each of the twelve schools scattered over the city one child be a light-bearer, surely we can say that the labour amongst the little ones is not in vain.

'Amongst the Zenanas visited, the following pupils may be mentioned: Taj Bibi and Jan Bibi, the sister and daughter of a rich lawyer, are both interesting women. One is reading a Gospel, the other Barth's Bible Stories in Persian Urdu. They are always willing to listen to Bible reading, and ever pleased to sing hymns. One day, after singing about the Name which makes the heart glad, Taj Bibi said, “That is a beautiful hymn, and quite true; my heart does feel glad when I sing it." Ahmadi, another dear pupil, is quite insatiable in her desire to learn; she would like to read three different books and do two kinds of needlework at once! The Old Testament stories are read with great interest. Often she stops to exclaim, "Wah, wah!" (an