Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-05-11
Letter from Mis- nrar.h

We copy from WOman's Work for Ko-
man an interesting letter from Miss Marsh,
which we believe many of our readers viii
be pleased to read. She writes from japan.
1t is Saturday night, and four little
bright-eyed japanese girls are sitting on
their heels, as close to me as possible, pOr-
ing over the Bible lesson for tomorrow. It
seems to be great privilege to stay in
= Senser's room and love to have them
here. l can say but little to them; but |
have learned to read in the character. and
they read to me from the Bible every niobt
and kneel at my side to pray. The other
night discovered that one Of their reo-uIaT
petitions was that " teacher would Quickly
speak the japanese language" They are
such anxious little teachers, never los
ing an opportunity of giving me a new
word, that hope their prayers will be an
swered and l shall soon be able to talk to
them.
There is something very gentle and win
ming about this people. They are too polite
to be truthful, and are not reliable; but
they are certainly very lovable. The old
est one Of the little company is more espe-
cially NINE. She Is with me nearly all the
time, brings in her futon and sleeps by nv
side, and Is more of a comfort to me than I
can express. She is a very pretty girl
about seventeen. Her father had deter.
mined to send her to Toxic, feared for no
good purpose, so l took her, hardly know.
ing what l was to do with her, but resolved
at all hazards to keep her here. am sure
that kind Providence sent her to comfort
me in my loneliness. She is a Christian
and her influence over the girls is YerV
sweet. wish very much that we were able
to establish a boarding school here. 1
want my girls where l can make home for
them, as our influence over them is much
stronger when we have them with US all the
time. think the way may be opened, how
ever, when have learned sufficient Japan
ese to manage school properly.
On Sunday afternoons Mrs. Hepburn and
I have sort of ragged school, and there is
no part of my work that love quite so well.
Some of our largest scholars go with US,
and we sing at first to attract them. Then
when they gather around the door we ask
them in, teach them to sing 81 Jesus loves
me, ''There is happy land, aud Mrs. Il.
or some of the native Christians tell them
the sweet old story Of 60 Jesus and his love-"
Such pitiful looking little creatures they
are-ragged, dirty, and covered with sores,
with babies almost as large as they are
strapped on their backs. We should shrink
from their wretched little bodies did we not
look within at the precious souls for which
Christ died. l can only ask them in, help
teach them to sing, and pray, oh, so ear
nestly! that the good seed may not be sown
in vain. 1t is a great comfort to know that
dear friends at home are praying for US.
am very happy in the work, but l have
great need Of patience, and my heart grows
heavy when / realize how little l can ac-
eomplish for years to come. am sure you
will unite with my dear girls in the prayer
that may speedily learn their language.
If christians at home could realize how much
we need their sympathy and their prayers,
there would be more heart in the prayers so
often offered for So the nations that sit in
darkness.
In the same paper We also extract from
Mrs. DR.. Hepburn's letter, paragraph Of
Miss Marsh and her work in japanese
school room:
Miss Marsh has got fully into the work,
and will now take entire charge Of the
school. 1t was a pleasant sight when
went into the school-roOm last week to find
her seated at the organ, quite surround
ed by her pupils, and to hear their voices
mingled with hers in singing sweet hymns.
Her heart is full Of love for these little
girls. She has begun right, and have no
fear but that, with the blessings Of God,
her labors viii be greatly prospered. She
and DIR. Hepburn 60 early to the new na-
tive church In the evenings, and play and
sing; this attracts the passers by, and
they come in and stay, listening respect
fully during all the service. A friend Of
mine is teaching one Of the school girls
who lives with me so that she viii soon
be able to play.
To any one wishing useful information
on Japan-the Mikado's Empire-Mrs.
DR.. Hepburn recommends Mr.. Grifin's
book on Japan.