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On the summit of a small hill was built a house of

clay with a palm-grass roof. There it was prettily perched on the top, fifteen or twenty feet from the ground, with a wooden ladder to reach it and large enough to hold eight or ten boys. From the river this house looks lovely, and all the boys like it. Here they take their meals of manioca, stewed fish, palm oil and potatoes. For six cents a week they keep themselves. They sleep in it on mats, or bamboo frames only a few inches from the floor. They are fine and happy in it; and far into the night their merry laughter and conversation go on till we have to get up and quiet them. For clothing they have two yards of calico around the loins, and a small print coat. We give them a small blanket to sleep under at night.

How did we teach them?

Mr. Peterson planed three boards, nailed them together, and hung the board thus formed upon the house wall. On it we wrote copies in charcoal (we had no blackboards or chalk). Round it the boys gathered and did sums till it was too black to do more; then the eldest boy would wash it with sand and set it to dry till the

morrow.

How the boys spend their time out of school. Their greatest pleasure is a game at ball with goals and sides, and fine fun they have. When tired they run off and jump into the Congo. They are clever little swimmers and go far out in races with one another, dive deep, and show their best feats. Later on they sweep up our rooms, make the beds, lay the table, serve us at dinner, remove and wash the dishes, and cook their own food, rest and perhaps sleep a little, help us in gardening towards the evening time, and finally come into prayers, sing and hear the Gospel, and retire to their house on the top of the ant-hill.

How we got on with the school.

We have over twenty boys attending it, and twelve or fifteen of them live with us at the station and very rarely go to their own villages; some of these boys are slaves who live with us through the consent of their owners; most of them are free boys. All of them live with us by choice. We are now able to have prayers with them in their own language. When we have services crowds of people gather and look on in much astonishment.

How an orphan wanted us to be his father.

One poor little slave boy about six years old came many times and begged me to go to his owner and get his permission for the boy to come and live with us. I was very much attracted by this dear little boy and asked

he got dressed in a coat a me, threw his arms around father and friend; I will li

A Dialogue Abo

BY SOPH

TEACHER-Did you ever se

SCHOLAR-I don't think I like ours.

TEACHER-It is nothing lil other country. Indeed, it can the people of Africa have neit SCHOLAR-What do they TEACHER-Sometimes the cloth, and in some sections, rods.

SCHOLAR-Brass rods! T much are they worth?

TEACHER-About twelve d get to Africa, and it takes five SCHOLAR-How large are TEACHER-About twentyley was in Africa he used the tons of them in his store-hous SCHOLAR-They must be TEACHER-They do not money, but keep them stored when they want to trade.

SCHOLAR-What do they TEACHER-Whatever they they never buy because they caps, trousers and coats. TH ton cloth wound around the the children often are withou spend money on dress, nor w evil uses they make of these r man beings.

SCHOLAR-Do they buy ar TEACHER—A great many are bought and sold even in are. They will give from tw a good, bright boy.

SCHOLAR-Are they sold a TEACHER-Yes, they are times take them far away fro them beyond the labor they slave boy came to a missiona from his master, for he kne treated by the missionary. him, and he was dressed as I around him, called him his fa ways live with him.

SCHOLAR-Are they doing
TEACHER-Yes, missionar

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the temple through a narrow passage, between two rows of small shops.

Here were many petty traders, seated cross-legged, each before his pile of goods. Some sold tiny brass 7essels shaped like a canoe, used for pouring out libaions of Ganges water before or on the idols; also brass ars, in which the water of the sacred stream is carried o the homes of thousands of devotees, to be adminisered as medicine both for the mind and body. Some old garlands of large, bright flowers, to be blessed by he priests, and then worn by the worshiper on his reurn journey.

Others, again, were venders of cocoanuts, eagerly ought and devoured by weary and thirsty pilgrims.

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Then thoughtfully she said, "Yes, no one is so learned as He is; kings of this earth are great, but He is greater and above them all." In another minute she asked, "Do you know what the stars are that come out at night?" My explanation was not what she had been taught from infancy, and so giving her head a little shake in token of disapprobation she said most seriously, "They are eyes; some small and others large; the eyes of human beings that have died!”

Another day she noticed that the sun was shining on some houses and not on others; she drew my attention to it. After hearing its cause she said she had heard that as we put out clothes to sun and they leave a shadow on the ground or wall, so it is by the people in the skies; but I think she felt I was right, for to assure herself of my reasons she ran to another window to see the shadows of other clouds that were floating by. She has two chrysalides that I have given her, and she is keeping them with the greatest care, and longing to see if my words about them will come true.-Missionary Link.

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What Can Idols Do?

MISSIONARY in India tells the following story of a little boy who, in a mission school, had been taught about the one God, and about Jesus :

"One day this boy, who lived in a house with a heathen, said to him, 'There is only one God, the one who made the earth and sky and everything. He gives us the rain and the sunshine; he knows everything we do; he can save us or kill us. But these images you pray to are only lumps of baked clay. They can't see nor hear; how can they do any good, or save you from any trouble?' "The heathen paid no attention to him, but soon afterwards he went on a journey. While he was gone, the little boy took a stick and broke all the images except the largest, into the hands of which he put the stick. "When the man returned, he was very angry at what had happened, and exclaimed:

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Raising Corn

BY MRS. JULI

Once a wee little girl with two And with eyes like a dove's, s Held her kerchief at once, for t Which her teacher placed in

Then the kind lady said, and in

"Plant this corn for the Lord

Then water it, tend it, and shie

And the Lord will himself ma

Then the wee little girl with he

And quite snug 'neath her pil The next morn, ere the sun had Her neat little garden was m

And at night, she thus prayed a

"Bless dear papa, and mamm Please God bless my corn, and

Please don't let the mockingSo with watching and praying a The young blade soon appear And ere long as it grew, and the To the wee little girl it did no Then in time there appeared sil

And bright plumes such as w And the bright golden corn in i The wee little girl watched w

But when it was ripe and then The wee little girl danced for As ten bright silver shillings lay And naught could such pleas But when one by one she them

That the heathen, her Lord m No music so sweet ever fell on 1 And she never such happiness Now, dear children, go thou an If the half of her joy I have Plant your corn for the Lord, sc He'll reward you a full hundr

Feast of Doll

The greatest day in the ye Dolls." For days before, t made of wood or clay, beauti kado and his wife, the Kioto and various other persons. saki-a kind of wine-and emperor and empress, and th toys, some of which are so v only played with on that day after year; and when a girl

and attend its quarterly meetings, taking tea in the church parlors, listening to the dialogues, recitations, and music and seeing the banks opened, was a great privilege, and one Ella wouldn't miss for anything; and though she could go without taking her bank she had too fine a sense of honor to do anything of the kind. Her mother looked up quite surprised, saying,

"Why, how does that happen?"

ore.

Having just caught a glimpse of the way of salvation, and begun the study of the Bible, she must give up the counsel and prayers of her beloved teacher, the sweet songs of praise, the precious Bible lessons, the Christian education which would put a new light in her dull eyes and enrich her mind, and go back to a prayerless, wretched home, to mental and spiritual darkness, all because girls and boys in a Christian land, with

"I don't know, I'm sure. I forgot all free schools, and happy homes filled about it till to-day."

Where is your bank ?"

"Up-stairs in my bureau drawer."

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.

Ah-" said Mrs. Brown with a peculiar accent. "That explains it all. Out of sight, out of mind,' you know. If the bank had been where members of the family could see it occasionally, a little girl's bad memory might have been helped, and the Mission Band also."

"I'll go and get it this minute," said Ella, and off she ran.

Then Anna, her older sister and confidential adviser of her mother, said:

"It would be serving Ella just right not to help her at all this quarter, and see how her money comes out. She is so thoughtless and careless. Last quarter I had to put in 75 cents just before she started for the meeting to make out a dollar. I knew that was about what she ought to give if the Mission Band are to raise one hundred dollars this year."

Well, well! We must see about that," replied the mother. "Ella must learn to plan better, and to practice some selfdenial; and at the same time we must see that the missionary society does not suffer through her neglect."

At this moment the little girl returned with her Missionary Bank which she placed upon the mantel.

"How much money ought your bank to contain next Saturday?" asked her mother.

Why, not less than a dollar. Miss Maxfield says that we are very much behind, and she is afraid cannot raise the $100 needed this year.

To what use is this money put?" "We are supporting two Armenian girls in the school at Harpoot." “What if you fail to raise the required amount?"

Why I suppose they will have to leave school.

"O Ella' Think what it means for a

with comfort, are too careless, too forgetful, yes, too selfish, to lay aside a little money every week that these may be helped.

As Mrs. Brown waited a moment and Ella said nothing but looked very thoughtful, she continued, “Now, my dear, that you may feel your responsibility in this matter you must not ask any one for money for your bank this time, but see what you can do yourself to make up for this carelessness."

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The next morning at breakfast Ella flowed exclaimed, "Oh, I'm so glad it is Saturday! Papa, can I have fifteen cents to go to the roller-skating rink?”

"Yes, and here is five for candy," replied her indulgent father. As she was passing through the parlor she espied the neglected bank, which seemed to be reproaching her by its presence. For a few moments she stood fingering the two dimes she had just received, then slowly walked to the mantel, dropped them in and went up stairs. The mother's heart rejoiced as she noticed it, but she wisely refrained from saying anything, and waited to see if this spirit would last..

On Sunday the bank was observed by her brother Charlie, a very generous boy, who put in a quarter, saying, Wish I had more, sis, but that will help a little."

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On Monday Mrs. Brown, wishing an errand done in another part of the city, gave Ella two car tickets, as the walking was muddy.

"Please give me two five-cent pieces instead," said the little girl. Her mother smiled and gave her the change. "I can ride one way and walk the other," thought the child. But just at dark when the family were beginning to feel anxious, a couple of very muddy rubbers were taken off at the back door, the chink, chink of two pieces of money was heard in the bank, and a rosy-cheeked

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Churches from Maine to Texas, and from Florida to Oregon, were filled with happy children keeping "Children's Day," the day was observed with a measure of the same enthusiasm here in Naini Tal.

The Church in this beautiful mountain city, 6,000 feet above sea level, is under the pastoral charge of the Rev. J. Baume, so well known at home, especially in the Rock River Conference. In crossing the seas to again take up work in India he left none of his enthusiasm behind, and on "Children's Day," as in every other good cause, he labors with a will.

The service was a great success. The church, a beautiful stone structure overlooking the lovely lake which gives the city its name, was neatly decorated with ferns, ivy and many kinds of flowers, now at their loveliest. As usual, the richest decorations were the children, a round hundred of them, with bright happy faces, entering into the spirit of the occasion as only children can.

Quite a number of other friends were present, including Mr. Ross, Commissioner of Kumaon, several missionaries (spending a few weeks here to escape the heated plains) and forty English soldiers, mostly from the 78th Highlanders. The church was well filled. The day was verily a "perfect day in June," earth air and sky all praising God.

The programme was similar to a thousand others used at home. Thanks to Dr. Kidder, who in the multiplicity of his efforts and engagements, never forgets us in India, we have no difficulty in arranging programmes, using part of what he sends us, and making such changes as we deem advisable for our work here.

Besides responsive readings there were hymns from the hymnal and "Redeeming Love." We were favored with recitations by the girls of Miss Knowles' High School and the boys of Mr. Tompkins' High School, and an address was delivered by Rev. B. H. Badley.

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What They are

in future

In the evening, in place of the regular service, the Rev. H. Mansell, of Cawnpore, preached a sermon on "Education." and Labra At the close an opportunity to give was and are again presented and Rs. 20 ($10) secured. The total collection for the day amounted to no less than R3. 155 ($77), one of the largest collections of the kind ever taken in our conference. At the close of the service the pastor spoke for all when he said the day had been one of great happiness and blessing.

With the approval of the Board of Education, our collections in India are retained and used in helping our native preachers to educate their sons. At present about thirty are thus being assisted in our various schools. At least thirty others need assistance. As our work expands there will be large demands in this direction. Our native converts are thoroughly awake to the importance of educating their boys and girls, and in many cases are denying themselves to do this. We are glad to report that our three English churches-Lucknow, Cawnpore and Naini Tal-have this year in connection with "Children's Day" services given upwards of Rs. 400 ($20) for purely native work. This fact shows clearly and conclusively the interest they take in this branch of our work.

They will probably contribute a like amount for missions. to be sent to 805 Broadway-a part of the forthcoming million; and besides, they are constantly giving to local missionary work. These churches were never in better working order than at present: they are a power for good, and a source of blessing to our people and our work.

Naini Tal, June 15.

CATECHISM ON ALASKA. Where is Alaska? In the northwestern part of North America.

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To whom does it belong? To the United States, by whom it was purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7,200,000. What is its size? It contains 580,107 who are n square miles. will be sta

What is its largest river? The Yukon, which is 3,000 miles in length.

Following the address came the collection. First the Sunday-school made its offering. In each class a boy or girl had been selected to carry the offering to the pulpit; each announced the amount What is the climate? The climate in (enclosed in a neat purse) and deposited it, the south is mild, due to the warm Japan reciting an appropriate verse. The school current of the Pacific. Alaska is said to thus gave Rs. 54 ($27 in mad numbers.) | have an Arctic winter and a tropical sum

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