Smyrna times., 1865-12-13

g.,
20 tie Smyrna H. Z. Sabbath School
NY rc'y dear friends
When | wrote to YOU
in 6j, little thought so long a time should
eapse ere again addressed you Yet | am
not entirely without excuse. OF one thing 7
can assure you-I nerer forget nv friends of
thc Smyrna " f. S. 1t is a great comfort
and pleasure to me to think that you remember
us IN our distant home-that your prayers are
offered for US, and that your wishes for our
success In our work follow us. do not doubt
cut that, In answer to prayers of Christian
rnehds at home, many evils, both seen and m
seen are warded of from us. This morniny ;s
not a very favorable time for writing. The
fact Is 1t IS too hot to do anything We don't
venture out much before p. NJ, and il wouId
pe dangerous to do so at all while the SIM
sn'nes' without an umbrella. The gentlemen
*ear pHh hats to protect their heads. Our We
n7dah blinds are all closed. and rooms darkon.
~ oue 90 our utmost we can't keep cool. :"
DAy and night the heat is almost unbearalle
an1 We may expect such weather until Octo.
Der. These are the months SO trying to for
eigners. We are truly thankful when We mass
'hfough the Summer uninjured in health and
undlmnlshed in number. Our Mission has
Oeen sadly reduced since last wrote you Last
Sunner the Cholera took from us our faithful
Dfo' Martln, and in March OF this year Mr..
~" mrs Olbson any family, with Mrs Martin
isi' US Tor home. Mr.. and Mrs. Gibson wc r1.
-. ~ return when they shall have recruited
I1s'' nca'eh' We now number in .ll four r,n,
lies Rev. R. S. Maclary, Rev y Gu E
ReT 5. L. Baldwin and the Misses WIS., Jl'o''
We are expecting reinforcement soon
Last Summer was one of much trial to us
personally and as Mission; the natives were
also greatly afflicted. Cholera and DyseDtery
prevailed; The Chinese live in low, closely.
quit, andl generally speaking, very filthy hou-
seq DogDtleSs these circumstances contributed
not little towards bringing on and continuing
disease. The poor creatures died of Cholera
10 great numbers You my friends, know how
natqrIily we, when in trouble, call upon God
lor neip. The careless, prOfane sailor, who in
III weather blasphemes Gods name,-whcn
Ine storm comes, and eternity seems near-is
Ine hrSt to bow before God and supplicate His
A.o; but suppose we had never heard of God.
III ills oon our Savior Jesus Christ, of the
ioy opirlt our COmfOrter-to whom do you
Ir nlhr we should look in our times Of desolatiOn
Lt! IL Iear! Alas! fear we should be like the
heathen and worship the work of our own
hands. But few of this poor people have ever
neard OF God. They know nothing of Christ
~ 10 the way of salvation. So when that terri
~ scourge, the Cholera, came, they thought
.'ieF gods must be angry with them, and to
surh away their wrath they doubled their gifts
nu multiplied their ceremonies. One night
81 unusually large and noisy procession came
uTectiy Dy our house, making such noise and
Jhs such scene as you have never
heard or seen. The street in front of our house
belongs to our Mission, and was only opened
y tne public for accommodation. The Chinese
y nAfe no right to bring their professions through
y, anu IL Is very seldom that they ATTEMPT 10
40 SO. :, put they think that our presenc. Gre
ases evll influences, and they occasionally trv
heuIraiize tnose influences by Bringing their
ROus Dy our houses. They have a phrase.
nuns cnul, "nlch literally means wind and
eur expression good luck. In aImost aC,a. -
Undertaking they are careful to see tho, I'IS thS
'nung chul is favorable. They even 80
oFten defer burying their dead for mo,tba H.
Eating for the chung chui'' to favor w.
9iten have great difficulty in buying land for
~ neighbors of the person who may wish IN
- are very sure to say that if we foreigners
II PV.tnitted TO buy and build near to them
meT hung ehui' will certainly be ruined, and
r. ~ will Immediately have all sorts of troubles.
ny ere not very quick to trust us; they are
% tonu OF money themselves, that they think
h ho.nhhg put the desire TO gain money could
paI;e pare Drought us to this land Many of them
.elieYs that we are able to see several feet into
.he ground, and are here looking for treasure
they cannot see. Our white skin and blue eyes
afe a wonder to them-you know the Chinese all
haye black eyes and hair.
i, pus .i must hasten this part Of my letter to
Hli you something of my school, toward which
you nave kindly promised aid l was not able
- conlmence one last year, but early In this
S'sfA''as 70 0psn a girls aay y.sshscl. / Put
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