Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-04-02
sTAUNTON. VA, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1872.
naaM many years ago, but when the Gods were
angry IL was changed to ruotar

An old Fakir, or priest, was there ready tc
receive offerings. These are generally green
leaves of some kind, and marigolds I have
some which took from the altar, which will
enclose. While We were eating dinner, the old
priest brought some sugar cane, some lemons
near US, and started off. Mr.. Heron, under
standing him, called him back and gave him a
Rupee $50 cts. Soon after we started home,
as we were going up the bank, the old priest
brought me handful of beautiful ferns. He
| mad seen me gathering some, and thought
| must be fond of them The natives are very
| quick at reading character and noticing pecui-
| iarities.
AS we came home we met Leper. Oh, such
sad, sad sight! He was in rags, and held up
his hands, with his fingers all gone, and said to
MT. Herron,. "Y ou were once my father, and
gave me food, and now you are gone!' He
had once been in the Leper's hospital. under
Mr.. Herron's charge. His face lighted up as
soon as ne saw him, but such sad, sad tone
of voice it haunts me yet.
Inat same day regiment of British soldiers,
passing through the city, encamped for the
night In large mango grove In one of the
companies are about 25 Christians, who have
prayer meetings every evening, and act as mis-
sionarles IN the regiment. Mr.. Heron knew
some OF them. We met two of them as we were
starting to the Picnic, who asked if they might
come and hold service in our chapel. When
we got home IN the evening they were all in the
yard, or Compound, as we say here. We
had very pleasant meeting. Mr.. Heron and
MIR. Woodside addressed them, and one oftheir
number made some remarks. l played the or
gan Tor them, and our girls helped to sing
They did seem like such earnest, faithful men
DEC. Ill have just attended notive ,ced-
dang, which will try to describe. Very early
this morning | met the older girls in the chapel.
where we had any quantity Of flowers, and for
some time were very busy arranging them in
vases, making wreaths, &c. The natives are
very fond OF brig ht red and yellow. Marigolds
predomlnate In their wreaths and bouquets.-
There is plant here with small yellow flow-
er, and around this cluster of the reddest
leaves l ever saw. These were used very
abundantly. |, however, made a wreath of
cedar, with white jessamine, white roses. with
few pink ones, and filled the baptismal bowl
with white roses. The girls were we'll pleased
with this
The bride is daughter of the native Pastor
here. The happy pair came in carriage, with
two sisters of the bride who acted as attendants,
Mr. Heron and took them to his study, and
showed them how they were to walk into the
chapel, join hands, &c. The bride had on white
Swiss, with thin white chudder. This is lust
the drapery we always see in the pictures of the
Madonna, and is very pretty. The groom was
dressed in black. with white vest and flowing
red neck-tie. They were very fine looking
couple. Mr.. Heron performed the ceremony
We then went to the home of the BRIDE to
partake of cake and wine, and such tables
never saw. There were two long tables, with
plates OF sweetmeats In great variety, just as
close together as they could set, and each plate
ornamented with marigolds and these fiery red
leaves. You cannot imagine how strange it
looked. The brides cake was black cake We
all sat down to the table, I have not time now
to speak of the different things we had to eat.
The whole house was trimmed with those same
colors, festoons over all the doors and around
the walls.
We are to have another wedding soon-one
OF the orphans-the one l mentioned in the
first part of this letter. | hope the groom S
heels are better.
| do wish you knew Mr. Heron He is so
kind, thoughtful, tender and fatherly, and yet
so intelligent, genial and lively. The style of
living here is very congenial to me. In some
respects it is very much like our Southern life
before the war, only these servants are no
slaves.
am already deeply interested in the girls of
the school. They are so shrinking and modest
so much afraid of being seen by gentlemen, yet
they are so fond of Mr.. Heron. He treats
them so kindly-just like father. He leaves
the school this week, for which am very sorry
l am so thankful can play the organ You
have no idea what good it does, as Mr.. Heron
says | can sing a whole system Of theology into
these girls before they know it. l play In
church at the English service, and my girls are
the choir. They do sing so sweetly, and love
it SO much. The English people like my tunes
very much, and have sent for my book to copy
some of them
J. A N