The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-01-05
From Woman's Work in China.
A Boys Boarding School.


The little fellow who is patiently learn
ing the alphabet at mammals knee, scarce
ly dares open his book in the presence of
his school-boy brother. The tired trav-
eller taking his first steps up the weary
ascent of some lofty mountain looks with
an almost envious sigh at one far above
him, who seems to have almost reached
the summit
Thus it is with those of us who have
recently undertaken the care of boarding
schools. We gaze upon the high excel
lence already attained by some of these
schools in China, and longingly wonder
IT our boys can ever be led so far up the
delectable mountains of learning. But,
g. Tall oaks from little acorns grow" and
L suppose all schools once began even as
mine did, four years ago, with a small
number. At first, had but two pupils,
and these two formed the school for sew
eral months. Since that time however,
they have increased slowly, but surely,
until | have had sixteen.
Two of them I dismissed for bad be-
havior. One was not strong, and his
father took him away, returning his "rice
money" according to the written agree
ment.
One was coaxed off by his father, who
Immediately moved with his whole fam
lily to some other place, SO we did not
try to trace the boy. This leaves twelve
at present in the school.
Following Mrs. Crawford's example.
we only furnish flood, bedding, books,
and stationary, while they clothe them
selves"
This plan has worked admirably so
far; it causes the parents to take more
interest in their boys, and in the school,
it makes the boys themselves feel more
independent, and helps them to take bet
ter care of their clothes, making them
careful not to lose or tear them
The mothers always come two or three
times month to see their sons, and look
after the washing and mending of their
clothes, every little while bringing new
garment, which the boy puts on with
pride, because his mother made it.
[ confess that they have many times
looked rather threadbare, for their pa
rents are all poor, but this is not bad
thing, for it gives the church members an
opportunity to begin their charity at
home. and Chinese Christians, like many
foreign ones, give with readiness, yes,
even joyfulness, when they can see the
good they are doing, whereas it would be
next to impossible to persuade them to
give Just for the sake of giving For in
stance, a Chinese Christian who had given
to his own church to the extent of his
ability as his pastor thought, when he
saw that my boys needed a few garments,
and knew that they were clothed by their
parents, was so pleased with the plan
that he gave forty dollars to be used in
buying them new clothes. 1t was rather
wonderful how much more forty Chinese
dollars could buy than the same number
of foreign dollars would have done. !
mean 1T seemed so much more, because it |
was received with gratitude, and not as
matter Of course.
| have no "neighboring high school to
raise the curriculum of mine, but most
of the teaching outside Of the classics has
to be done by me, even to the lessons in
Arithmetic, both mental and written.
My course includes as many as five
catechisms which the boys study at diff
ferent stages, beginning with "The Child s
Catechism," and "The Catechism of true
Doctrine" and so on up the scale. Peep
Of Day, Line upon Line, Short Talks
about the Soul, and such books, come
next, then the Old and New Testaments,
in which the boys learn portions each
day, and recite the whole from memory
on Sunday. Many Of them come with
more than hundred verses every Sab
bath and one of the largest boys has in
this way learned the whole of the Tesla
ment, and nearly all of the Psalms, while
several Of the others have nearly finished
the New Testament.
On Sunday afternoons they read the
Pilgrims Progress with me, and it is a
rare thing that they have to open their
Bibles to find reference, but some one
of them can epeat it Immediately from
memory.
Their week day lessons are, Arith-
metic, Geography, together with ques-
tons on the Outline Maps, Evidences Of
Christianity, Ancient History, Astrono-
my, Natural Theology, and lesson every
night after tea, in a commentary, which
thew all learn in the wen1i and then tbe