The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-08-04
Children and Missions.

Cousin Frances was spending few
days with the children, when Sunday
came round again Her mother had
been obliged to leave town, and as she
could not conveniently take both the
children with her, she had left her un-
der the care of her Aunt Mary. 1 sup
pose you all remember that Frances was
the little girl who would not come over
to play tea with Susie, because she did
not want to stop reading her book of
fairy tales. However she was, on the
whole, an unselfsh and pleasant play
fellow, and the children were always
very glad when she was able to stay
with them. This day they had enjoyed
very much together, for Sunday was the
brightest day of the week in the par
sonage.
When Mr.. and Mrs. Howard enjoyed
the children in the arbor after their
early supper, they found them eagerly
discussing the subject of Mission Circle
The girls were to make fancy articles
which they hoped to sell to their friends
or, one of these days, at fair Charlie
and some of the brothers of their play
mates were to gather together all the in
teresting missionary news they could
find about the work of the Reformed
Church, or that of other denominations.
This was to be read by the boys at the
meetings, and they were also to draw
maps of the countries where their church
had mission stations Charlie had Just
received prize for his carefully-drawn
book of maps, so he thought this would
be the pleasantest part of the whole af-
fair. Mr.. Howard had expected, any
how, to 90 on with his talk of last week,
SO he was very glad to hear of their
plans. Charlie was sent to the house for
the large atlas, and all gathered round,
while his father pointed out the parts of
India, China, and Japan where our mis-
sionaries are at work. I wish you would
look for them, too, my dear children, or
would ask your fathers and mothers to
show them to you. do not know Just
how many people there are in Japan
near the stations of our Church, but in
the parts of India and China where DR..
Scudder, DR.. Chamberlain, Mr. Rapalje,
DIR. Talmage, and others of whom you
have heard, ive-there are more than
100000. Won't you remember, every
&c think it is good idea, said Mrs.
Howard, when the children had listened
to great many interesting stories about
these countries, to have special days for
praying for each country and missionary.
If we all should do this, throughout our
Church, we would have great blessings,
1 think, and certainly the missionaries
would feel much happier and stronger
when they thought about it. We ought
not only to say Thy kingdom come
every day, but we ought to ask to have
it come in China and India, and where
ever else there are poor lost men and
women"
81 don't think should like to 90 to
indians well as to some other places, -
said Frances, shivering little.
Mamma, read aloud letter from
Dr. Chamberlain in the Intel6gencer, a
few weeks ago, about snakes and scor-
pions, and all kinds of dreadful creatures
he has seen there"
Yes, Frances" replied her uncle,
but you remember that DR.. Chamber
lain said that not one Of the missionaries
or their families had been injured by
them. The Lord watches over them Just
as He did over st. Paul, when He kept
him from being hurt by the viper that
stung or bit him" Il always like to
read about that so much, said Frances
cit reminds me Of Robinson Crusoe, and