St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-08-08
A Former Missionary in Peril.

a EOTIIIGI LII CAh.
MANY will remember Miss Mary
pooers and her work in this state.
AFTER leaving Vermont she went as a
missionary in China for term of
rears While there she married the
Pew Mr.. Larson and was sent with
him from Pekin to service among the
Nongols. A letter has recently been
received from her by Miss Billings,
dated at Kalgan, N. China, May IS.
Although this is only ninety miles
from Pekin, not the slightest refer
eoce is made to any fear of disturb
apce. But since the receipt of the
letter the name of Larson has ap-
reared among the missionaries who
took refuge with the legations in
Pekin.
After speaking Of the birth of a
second daughter April 80, and say
ing that Mr.. Larson would have to
take the trip upon the plains alone
this summer, leaving her at Kalgan
with the children, she writes regard
ing her work: ave have as yet no
station in Mongolia and must live
as the people do in tents when we
90. We have done that for two
summers and | hoped to 60 again
this year, but it seems best other
wise. The Mongols live in small
villages, in large round tents of felt.
They do not till the ground but use
it for pasturage. In some ways they
resemble the North American Indians.
They are perhaps ahead Of them. l
think so because | know them better
than the Indians. The women do
most of the work, and are independ-
ent and intelligent. They seem
more like Europeans than the Chi
nese do. The language is totally
different, and thecustoms too. They
hvemuch more freely and are very hos
pitable. Their vices are immortality
and whiskey drinking. They are
very religious and bitterly opposed
to the religion of Jesus. Buddhism
hates Christianity so that you feel
the devils power. Even those who
have listened for years seem perfectly
hardened. The work is very dis
couraging therefore. AS man looks
at it it is hopeless, but we know
other places have been thought that
at the beginning"
Mongolia, at least in the southern
part, is similar to the Western
prairies Of America, rolling grass
land with many kinds of flowers.
Birds abound, not only singing birds
but cartridges, ducks, geese and
other kinds, THERE'S a kind of small
deer in large numbers. Hundreds OF
them came almost to our tent one
time. Last summer wolves came in
sight and killed a sheep and tore
others. We have a very cosy little
home here in Kalgan, and here we
must live until house can be built
upon the'plains. Tent life is only fit
for the warm weather. The winters
are very severe. We have beer
studying this past winter, in fact
have had some studying on hand
each winter. The Mongols come to
Kalgan, so we see many of them
here"
She pictures her home life. and says
of the two years old Mary who is
learning to talk; "We talk English
to her, but she hears three other
languages daily, so once in while
she mixes Them" Mr.. Larson is
Swede. Offormer days she writes
Eyes, you were right to say we do not
forget former days. Vermont es
pecially is one of the brightest mem
cries l have. 1t is so blessed to bt
used of God. Some of these days we
are going home, and perhaps will
meet you in our travels. God bles:
you in your work. He is precious tc
us here too, and is our constan
refuge and help and strength. w
would praise Him for His love an(
taithfulness."
These words were written only {
lew weeks ago and little more thar
four score miles removed from tn
horrors of Pekin. When we think o
what may have transpired since
they have meaning far deeper thai
could have been purposed. Yet hat
she known the whole could an,
word have been more fitting?
Pension Rolls Increasing,
Ehe fo,,.4l, or, .,n;.,cr n+n1,nl -a1,o.-t Of h