Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-09-14
A TAX with the Girls.


estng in this missionary work, that one
hardly knows in talking what to choose.
All missionary women are temperance
women, and all missionary girls are tenn
perance girls, and 50 you all know our
dear Miss Willard, the president of the
woman's national Christian temperance
union About year and a half ago Miss
Willard spoke to the students of Wellesley
college. Gathering us to her very heart,
as if we were her own dear girls whom
she left to engage in the grand work which
she is now doing, she said, "Girls, aren't
vou glad you're alive nowP and aren't you
gltd you weren't alive till lately7" And
50 we say about our missionary work-lt
is worth while to live now There is so
much that we may do, so many levers that
we may place in position, whose combined
force shall move the world for "the king
ms of this world shall become the king
d dus of our Lord and of His Christ
You remember the story of the cruel
rocks hat so long obstructed the entrance
to New York harbor by the sound. Many
attempts to remove them were made, but
in vain \, last Gen. Nelson planned and
executed, BY the labor of long and weary
years the rock was honey-combed, and in
ewh hclyily charge of nitro glycerine was
p ccd, the whole being connected with
the shore by an electric wire. When all
WI, ready, Con. Nelson bade his little
hr,c.vcar-old daughter touch key. The
circuit was complete. 'In an instant that
mighty pile of rock rose high into the
ST.. 1t seemed to totter moment in its
aerial flight, anl then sank in ten mil
lion fragments benenth the wave, and dis
appeared forever. And He'll Gate is among
the hings that were"
There are rocks of ignorance, superst-
ton prejudice cruel and wicked customs
booking the channel through which must
pass the white winged messengers of Gods
peace. 1t may not be yours to work in the
depth, of these surging waters-to honey
comb by steady blows of pirkaxe and
hammer these massive rocks it is yours to
help equip the workers, to furnish them
with submarine armor, to provide them
with tools 1t is yours to touch the keys
who-e action shall shatter these obstruc-
oas, for in helping to rescue the women
and girls of heather lands, you are press
Ing the mightiest springs in the Christian
ling of India and China and Japan, of
South America and Mexico.
Now what we want of you is, first, an
earnest interest in this work. You talk
to one another of temperance meetings,
church festivals, school exhibitions. And
if one of your number chances to be luke
warm in her zeal. how you rally around
her. and talk her into enthusiasm, in spite
of herself You know how to do it, girls
Your warm hearts, sparkling eyes and
eager voices know not the word Fail
when YOU wish to interest a schoolmate in
thl, which interests you. Take the faces
of our dear missionary workers who with
HtiIlS rs warm anu dlluOSI ao yOubS 40
yours have gone as your representatives
to your du,Ky sisters in Africa, to the
dark browed maidens of India, the Gus
tom bound women of China or Japan,
Learn their history and SO learn to love
their faces-hcn take our dear little
FrtrH and read their letters from their
fir-otl homes-they will seem like letters
from old friends. Write to them your
sejyes-not asking nor expecting them to
reply. for their hands are full-but to send
them word of greeting, that they may
know that they are not forgotten in the
homeland; to receive a new inspiration
in your own heart with the lnasmnch us
ye have done it unto the least OF one OF
he,e We have done it unto me. !"
And then we want you to keep up your
interest in this work. Let me give you
another word from Miss Willard. Speak
ing before large audience, one day, she
compared intemperance to the ocean, and
the buIwarks which are raised against it,
to the dikes built around Holland to keep
out the angry waters She spoke OF the
necessity that every rock and stone in
those walls should remain firm in its
place. As closed" she continued, in
telling the story, "a sailor boy rose, and
with his clear blue eyes looking up into
mine, said Miss, I'm nothing in the
world but cobhle stone, but put me in
the wall anywhere, and TU stickr"
That is what we want of you" stick !!
Grow up into strong missionary women
with love for the work increasing year by
year. 1t may be God will call some ol
you not only to send, but to go. Remem'
Der tae answer of Florence Nightingale
when some one asked her the secret of her
wonderful life. She replied, ~ have never
refused God anything" Give the mission.
ary cause your voices, your work, youl
prayers, Study missionary geography by
maps, pictures and descriptions; form a
cabinet OF foreign curiosities, library Of
Missionary litcraluIe-auythng to bring
these countries near and make them rea
to you.
Another thing! Ere long you will be
Preparing your Christmas gifts for home
friends. win you not remember in youI
love tokens our missionaries and the girls
in their school,P Miss Thoburn sails in
October and will gladly take charge o
any such packages for India. They should
be properly addressed and sent to the
mission rooms, 800 Broadway, New York
IN care Of Miss Isabella Thoburn. Yol
would be delighted with doll dressed IN
hlndoo costume; no less pleased woult
be the girls in the Moradabad. Bijnour OF
hareiIy school, with "a doll robed il
American style. Send housekeeping ma
lerals, small articles that will not take uT
100 much room; the youngest among you