St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-12-28

were also commenced by Government,
giving all persons in need, work, MAX
ing new roads, or repairing old ones, at
such wages as would just barely secure
food enough to sustain the life of the
laborer only. Men received three cents
per day, women little less, and chill
dren in proportion to their size. Grain
could be secured at about two and one
half times its usual price, and this rate
OF wages is just One-half the usual rate
for day laborers. But even at this rate
twelve thousand persons were sent on
to the works in this county almost as
fast as their names could be recorded.
This county is equal in size to about
one-third of Vermont.
Most of our village Christians belong
to the poorer class, being farmers,
weavers, and watchmen, and the fam
inc brought great trouble to them all.
We visited their villages and large
number came together asking us to sug-
gest some means of relief. We found
that if the farmers left their villages for
the relief works, they must sell their
oxen and break up their homes, as the
wages given would only sustain life
when all worked who were to be fed.
The farmers said that with a small
amount OF money-fve dollars even
they could SOW a portion of their fields,
watering them from the wells, and
could live through. They would GER
tainly pay all back when the famine
was over. The pastors and leaders then
signed joint note for the money re-
quired, and we received for them the
amount without interest through the
aid of friends. Most of the weavers
were expecting to go to the relief works,
but their houses would be cared for by
the farmers and watchmen who would
remain. Before separating we met to
pray for rain, though the season for
rain had entirely passed. AS l was
leaving the people said, at will surely
rain before you get home." was go
ing on farther into the country, and
sure enough, two days later rain COM
menced to fall and l rode home all the
way in the rain.
1t was not too late for the wheat crop
and for three weeks the greatest activi-
ty has prevailed, and a large amount of
ground is covered with sprouting wheat.
Our Christian people used all of their
loan for seeds and have prospects of
large crops. AS however one entire
crop has been lost there will be great
suffering until April, the time of wheat
harvest. The great question with the
poor man is what to eat while his grain
grows, and / confess that cannot see
how they are to live. In preparing for
the last crop they borrowed their usual
amount, and hence they cannot get
money now, or if they get it they must
pay ruinous interest. The Magistrate
of the County told me money was be-
ing loaned at four per cent. per month
and could not be got even at that rate.
Government is lOaning money to help
out the difficulty but can only loan on
good security which few can give. Such
is touch of an India famine. Had no
rain come at the time it came, we would
have had the severe reality in its worst
form. We are glad to be able to report
that rains have fallen all over India,
and that in Madras district also the peo-
pie are leaving the relief works by the
thousands for their homes and fields.
In one week after the rain fell several
hundred thousand left the works.
1t is our cool season here. We are
Sin camp" going with our little tent
from village to village, preaching, ex-
horting and baptizing. We usually hold
two meetings daily. Yesterday morn
ing after meeting twelve persons were
baptized, and at our evening meeting
in another village three. write this
sitting in the door of our tent holding
the paper on my knee. Our friends
may always think of us as happy and
contented for we love this work and this
people. E. w. PARKER.
Moradabad, India, Nov. 9, 1877.