The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-20
OUR GIFT TO THE KING.
BY MARY L. CoRT.

About year ago, wrote you Of the
Kings visit to Petchaburi, and of how sorry
we felt that motto which we were prepar-
ing for him was not flushed in time to pre-
sent during his stay. Since then it has been
completed and sent to Bangkok, the royal
city. Here is copy of the letter which we
prepared to accompany the gift:
PETcHABURI, October, 1876.
To HIS Royal Majesty, the King Of Siam:
The ladies of the Petchaburi school and
also their pupils send greetings. The accom-
panying gift, worked by the school girls, we
trust your Majesty will be graciously pleased
to accept as a specimen of their work, and as
small token of our happiness in the fact
that your Majesty is graciously pleased to
encourage the education of all classes in your
Majesty kingdom. This motto, in English
text, "God is cur refuge and strength" is
worked in silk embroidery, royal purple and
gold, and the frame is made of native wood
from your Maesty'S forests. There is no
need that we should inform your Majesty of
the object of our sojourn in this country
Our only desire and hope is that we may
assist 10 making this an enlightened, happy
and prosperous kingdom, and we trust that
your Majesty's subjects may soon stand side
by side with the most renowned nations of
the world in education, civilization and Chris
tiaUity.
We beg to present grateful thanks that
we, as missionaries of the religion Of Jesus
Christ have been allowed to live and teach
in peace and safety here, even as in our own
beloved America.
We hope that your Majesty may trust in
and receive the richest blessings of that God
who hath made our native land what it is.
That God may ever be your Majesty's
Refuge and strength" and that he may
grant your Majesty long life, peace and pros
perity is the grateful prayer of
Mrs. JENNIE MCFARLAND,
Miss S. M. COLEMAN,
Miss MARY L. CoRT.
His Majesty seemed pleased with the gift,
and in acknowledgment of it sent us letter,
written by his own hand in SiameSe. AS
Americans do not often read kings letters,
1 will send you copy of this one, or trans
lation rather, for am sure you would stun
Bile over the upright Siamese characters. The
letter was written on heavy white English
paper, with black ink, and both the paper
and envelop bore the kings seal in crimson
and gold. The seal is a combination of ele-
plants, umbrellas, etc., and there was a
motto underneath it about ruling in justice.
The original is laid away among trophies of
mission work in Siam, but here is tranala-
ton:
Royal Throne in the Royal Palace, We'd
nesday, the 7tk day of the waning moon, in
the 18th month, the 9Th year of the cycle,
the year of the Rat 1888.
To Mrs. Mcfarland, and the Ladies and pupils IN
the school at Petchabura:
We have received the letter of October
31st, in which the ladies and pupils express
their Joy, and trust that we have pleasure in
the cultivation of knowledge, and have de-
sire to promote the useful arts among my
people, and because we do not oppose the
work of teaching the Christian religion, for
this reason the ladies and pupils have made
framed motto, worked in silk, and with it
have sent their greetings to US.
We have received it with great joy, and
think it shows the very finest workmanship,
such as the people in our country have never
before attained, and they only have it now
because the ladies have taught them. 1t is
proper that we should know that the ladies
have brought these useful arts and taught
them in our land, for this reason We rejoice
greatly. We have seen and received this
motto as a thing of great value, and as that
which we ought to preserve as memento.
We beg that the ladies and pupils will re-
ceive our sincere thanks for it, and we also
beg to say that we wish to assist and encour-
age the ladies in all their work of teaching
in whatever way we can.
TSigned7 CHULA-LANG KoRN.
In order to appreciate the sequel to our
gift to the king, and this friendly inter-
change of letters, I must tell you that after
We sent our letter we began to build "The