St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-03-18
Ceylon.

In a recent letter, Miss Mary Leitch
gives the following account of some
gospel meetings which she and her sister
attended, in company with Mr.. and Mrs.
Rowland at Oodooville. She says:
We left home last week Tuesday,
starting out in the early dew of the
morning, and reached Mr.. Smyth's-
having gone distance of eighteen
miles-in time for breakfast.
Can YOU imagine our ride that morn
ing The bids were singing merrily in
the trees: the cocoanut and jack and
other trees were hanging with fruit
and here and there man was climbing
a smooth, tall tree without branch to
take hold of. The poor sheep and cat
tie seemed to be looking almost hepe-
lessly for something to eat, as the coun-
try is dry and brown, quite burned up
by the scorching sun. The shepherds
are digging up the roots of the grass to
feed the cattle. We studied Tamil all
the way, while our coolies flew over
the ground, needing no word from us
except now and then Il request not to
go so fast. 1t is their pride to go fast,
and they laugh and joke on the way,
chatting each other for going so slowly.
When we reach our destination they
usually eat their rice and curry, and
then lie down on the ground to sleep,
until we are ready to 90 on again. If
we hold meeting, they come in and
listen.
The meetings commenced Wednesday
evening. Those who knew the people
said that many came who had never
been inside a church before. There
were quite a number of requests for
prayers sent in. They were given to us
by people with tears running down
their faces, so much in earnest were
they that their friends might be brought
to Christ. One man arose, his voice
choked with emotion, and minated
that he had long been convinced of the
truth of Christianity, and asked our
prayers that he might become Chris
tian that day. One after another pray
ed for him, as they knew better than
we his circumstances and the trials to
which he would be exposed. 1t seems
that he belongs to quite good family,
and his wife has a considerable proper
ty. Before he had reached home the
word had gone before him that he had
asked for prayers, and his wife and
family shut the door upon him, and
drove him from the house. He has to
sleep out of deOrs and prepare his own
food, while his friends either scott and
jeer at him, or refuse to notice him at
all. We have just heard that he is
standing firm, and that his younger son
has Joined him and wishes also to be-
come a Christian. The elder son sides
with the mother.
There were many working women
present, who are helping erect the new
school building there. They work as
hard as men, from seven in the morn
ing till six at night. But they attended
the halt-past six morning prayer meet
ing, and went quietly out at seven
coming in again at seven in the evening
and staying till nine; then they went
into my sisters room, and listened ca
gerly while she talked and prayed will
them. Nearly all expressed desire tC
become Christians, aud many said they
had begun to pray for themselves
They were SO much in earnest tha
they did not seem to know that they
were tired, and showed no inclination
to leave, until my sister, quite worr
out with the labor of the day-singing
playing on the organ, etc.-would tel
them they might go.
Some of the women of a higher caste
came into my room and prayed for on,
and another of their friends. Two cam,
who Just decided to become Christians
One asked us to pray for her tw'
daughters. "Oir she said, wringinj
her hands, II have given them t
heather husbands, and if they are los
it will be my own work y We tried Il
tell her that if she would work for then
and pray in faith God would hear he
prayer. One woman prayed very ear
nestly that the Lord would make he
duty plain. She said that she love-
Jesus Christ with her whole heart, ant
wanted TO serve him, but If she cam
out openly as a Christian her friend
would discard her, and she was too oil
to earn her own living. What woul'
she do in her old ageG She would On
of starvation. We could only pray tina
the Lord would guide her. | wish yo
could see how these people listen; hoy
they lean forward to catch every word
how earnestly they pray. They seen
hungry for the Bread of Life, and l an
sure the Lord says, They need not de
part; give We them to eat" When Hi
disciples are ready to take the brea'
and give IL tn the Deonle and they ar