The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-02-07
soochow, China.

Miss Stafford writes to Che Missionary Of labors
among the women of the oountry-hOw they De-
have
"Muoh seed has been sown in the city and coun-
try, in old and in new places. When the weather
permitted, the Der of visits | made averaged
for the time thus spent thirty month regularly.
In the families of the pupils in our schools, and in
few others, we can visit quite often and besides,
many new families receive us occasionally. ought
to say here that my day school does no. interfere
with my work amongst the women. | regard the
latter as my chief work and the school, in which L
spend only limited time, as help therein. For
instance, this week | went home with one of my
pupils to see his mother. Several women came IN
to see me, and had on leaving two invitations to
visit in neighboriDg houses which | accepted, and
which would not have received but for my pu
pills. | superintend my school, and from time to
time examine and teach the classes, but regard
this labor for the women as Of primary Importance,
and | would not relinquish it for any others. The
average attendance aG the womans class on Sab
bath has been very good, sometimes large, though
the same persons seldom come twice. La our
country trips we have found as much as we could
do in teaching from house to house, and sometimes
in the oren air. | remember one talk which [ had
out in the green meadows with group of women
returning from their work, which was peculiarly
interesting. They gathered around me whilst
told them of the one God and Father of all who,
"seeing that he ia the Lord Of heaven and earth,
dweIleth not in temples made with hands," aud,
though they knew Hin not, bore witness for Him
self in the bright sunshine and the spriDgng gran
and more than all, had given Jesus to live aud die
| for them to rise again and live for them IN heaven
They said that no foreigner had talked with them
of these things before, and that they had feared
the foreign people, but they grew quite friendly
with me, and asked me to come to their homes
1t is not surprising that all of our talks should be
at intervals disturbed by bursts OF merriment on
the part of our audience, by foolish questions, and
| by snatches of conversation that seem rude and
heartless. RecOllect how new both messenger and
message are to then"
Mrs. DuBose writes from the same place to the
Selma and Taladega Sabbath Schools
Its with great joy that haste to tell you of
the first fruits of your abors among this people in
Soochow. Two souls are now rejoicing 10 newly
found Redeemer. who bat for you would probably
never have heard of Him.
More than year ago, was hunting for man
to teach one of your schools. Our landlord recon-
meudsd "Koo.sien-san,' good, kind man, he
said he was, and would make an excellent teacher
From that time he has been in your school, Ger
tainly more faithful man could not be found
| than he has been from the first. You know how
the Scriptures are studied every day in our schools
and he had TO teach the boys all of their lessons
| He seemed very much interested in the Gospels
and used to take Testament home with him every
! night and read it to his vile. She also, became
very much interested in her own souls salvation.
Last spring, she became ill with chills and fever,
but as no medicine seemed to do Der the least bit
of good, she says that for long time, she has felt
| that she should die. For more than six months
Koo sien san has had family prayers morning and
night, and has seemed to be q true Christian
! Four months ago, had them move to our place
here, behind the street chapel, as | wanted him to
teach our boarding school in connection with the
day school here Daily have | seen his wife, and
it seems to me that her faith has been growing
stronger and stronger, as her body has grown
weaker For some time she has been longing to
make public profession of her faith last week
her husband applied to be admitted to the church
with her. So we had solemn meeting in their
house, all the children of both schools were there,
the old elder and the church members, for Mrs.
Kooi is entirely too weak to be moved from her bed
now, and probably before you hear this good news,
she will be singing the song Of Moses and the Lamb
ia the new Jerusalem. 1t was very solemn and
vet very joyful time, the youngest son was bap-
tized along with his father and mother The eldest
boy is adopted by another man and the daughter
is engaged so over these two they did not have
control When all was over, Koo. nysng nyang,
exclaimed with radiant face Oh I'm so happy
so happy" She cannot read herself, but she seems
to erjoy listening to the Bible very much, she
seems as happy Christian as ever saw.
Pray earnestly for the dying. souls in this city
my friends May many ind their way out Of the
darkness of heathensm into the perfect light of the
Gospel this year. This is worth all your labor to
send money to open day school in far off China
isn't it?