The morning times., 1896-04-12

believe that every thing eCualizes IN some
way, and that people who do coed in this
world do IL LCCaUsc it is their ideal, and
he great pleasure that can eGmc 20 one is
u the pursuit OF an ideal.
l first heard OF her in this way: Some
one told me ihat lady had a mission school
among the Ilalians. One knows so very
little about these Italians, beyond seeing
them every day pushing banana carts and
grinding Out music from a hand-OTgan.
They are ciannish and picturesque. Artists
paint them. but no one talks with them
or interviews lhCm. The reason is ap-
parent. They do not answer quest ions and
they resent being associated with IN q con-
descending WaEneT-
A LIMITED VOCABULARY.
They learn very little English If you
address any questions 10 them they answer
yes or no. and one thinks them
taciturn. But they really have no idea
what you are talking about, and their Eng
lish is confined TO assent and dissent, and
the price OF their wares.
1 once Iancied | had an extended con-
versation with an Italian about Christ
mas. Il WAS all on my side, and he had
merely said yes" and mo- and when /
WIS loHI tt4sit nc lEd'l IOl tllc Iti3ttSi iGeI
what / was talking about, by some one
VITO knew. gave il up as a bad job.
Now, this mi-s onary who lad succeeded
In getting on with the Italians to the cN-
tent Of establishing school among them
and thus constantly aSsOCiating with them,
was to me an object of great interest.
Therefore ] set about finding her abode and
studying her. ] found her living in d sunny
back room down near the Italian quarter
In. H. II
The room was high up among the branches
OF the trees. where the birds sing and cliirp
all day, making a lively and serene COM
panionstin. IT was q very modest little
home of one room, humbly furnished, yet
II seemed a desirable place TO lie in, for
the atmosphere was one of peaceful happi-
ness.
The missionary is a silver-haired wo.
man, aged before her time. The frosts of
sorrow must have whitened her hair and
blanched her withered face. il taxes ratf-
er an intimate knowledge of her to be-
come aware that she is no more than mid
dle-aged. A little girl Of some nine yea rs,
who is her daughter and her constant COM
panion. helps To the realization of this fact.
This child was playing about the room in
a quiet manner, her quaint little face set
in a shower of curls and, lighted with a
pair Of Iong-lashed, bright blue eyes, was
II
occupation lad TO do with big Bible she
was carrying around.
HER OWN CHURCH.
Il have come TO talk to you about your
Italians I announced. You have q
school among them, / believe
Il did have school, she returned.
"And did you give il up, or can't youl
church afford to go on with it?''
Il do not work with any church, though
many good people helped me to keep VI
the rent of the room I had. IL was in a
basement of the Eastern Dispcnsary, and
was very suitable to my work
And you gave it up"
ION, no; they wanted the rGCm for some.
thing else, aud-there were other rea,
sons.''
/ waited, bat the other reasons were not
forthcoming.
Have you given up being missionary
them"
''Oh, no: there is too much to he done
in this world for that, and there is such a
dearth Of missionaries in the world
And how are you going on with your
work.
well, am going on Just as would like.
lam trying tofind roomto place my school
in, but meanwhile go 10 see the women
and talk with them
''And how did you get hold OF these
people" How can you talk with them?
DO you know the language? You see have
tried. and found ii impossible
mo; / don't know the language beyond
few phrases" and thelady smiled I went
to them in the spirit of God. nd he opened
my heart TO an understanding. IL was
difficult, though, at first. | had TO get the
hearts OF the men. Iexplained TO them that
would teach them English, or enough of it
to help them i'm their work. They doubted
me at first. l suppose they thought It was
a trick toget money out ofther. But after
q while they found il was not. Whenthey
were at leisure talked 10 them and taught
them from the Bible"
And did you win them over?''
VERY soon. When once they grew 10
trust me il was an open doorto their wives
and then the children. think he children
do the very best missionary work, for they
are in the families all the time, and caI
have a lasting influence
REFORM THROUGH THE NEEDLE.
"And what did you teach them?''
Firstly, taught them to sew and ther
taught them the Bible. 1t is beautiful tc
see what an Influence the sewing had.
was kept so busy cutting out under gar
ments that could do little else when they
began TO understand that it was helpful tC
them. Then l gave them patterns, and
soon had some thirty-two families working
with me through their Children
Aud then, suppose, they began to learn
English and YOU Italian?'
mo, have never learned Italian. The
children learn a little English, but theil
parents do not.''
''Then, how could you get on with the
women?',
81 do not know, except by the grace of
God. We understand each other.i