The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-02-18
Mission Work in India.
Extracts from Home Letters from Miss Amy
Porter of Pittsfield.

Extracts from Home Letters from Miss Am,
Porter of Pittsfeld.
From the Pittsfeld Advertiser.]
BALSORE, ORISSA, INDIA, Dec, l to 81,
1914. Language has gone pretty well
this week. am getting so that l can
understand some few things that are
said. | am having two pundits every
day now, -Rajendra Mohanty from sew
en- to nine in the morning, and James
, from three to four in the afternoon.
We live at present just next door to
the church; that is, there Is only the
compound and a street between US.
doors in the front of the church opening
! into little entry-ways and on into the
church. From the ceiling hang seven
big punkas (fans). We have them
everywhere here. A heavy timber hangs
by ropes from the ceiling and to this are
nailed double strips of heavy cloth or
punka walla sits in one side of the room
, and pulls rope to keep it swinging.
One or two of the punkas in the church
here, but they have not teen needed
as you would expect them to be. In
! communion service. There are usually
vases of flowers on it. The seats IN the
center of the room are comfortable,
straight arm chairs. We sit on the left
center part and the men highest in rank
sit in the right center. The seats on the
sides are wooden benches. The right
side is filled with men, the left with
women. Down the aisles and in the big
spaces on each side of the platform are
strewed boys and girls of all ages down
to three months. They sit on the mat
ting on the floor. You can pack in lot
that way. The orphanage girls come to
church all together in line and march
right down to the girls corner and sit on
the floor together. Mabel Frost's boys
clear down to fve-years-olds occupy the
corner across the platform from them
Once in while the pastor turns to one
group or the other with question in the
midst of the sermon and they are always
ready with an answer. There is no Or
gan nor choir, but the congregational
singing is very good. Babies add quite
notices them. Two weeks ago Pastor S
little two-years-old daughter went up
and staid with him on the platform.
l wonder what you would really like
most to hear about. In the first place
l seem to have no idea of its being al
most Christmas Day. have an invita-
and am planning to visit Midnapore and
possibly Bhimpore for two or three days
after Christmas.
Last Saturday the kindergarten and
girls school here closed for Christmas
Now promotion day in these schools
weeping. So after Miss Gowen had got
sented them with Christmas gifts as
big girls received bracelets, etc: the lit
boys had their choice of dolls or toy en-
that Sadie happened upon by the dozen
One quite large boy put aside the auto
mobile and gladly bore away Ills doll,
while another tiny little fellow turned
and fled when doll was offered him.
Once or twice | nearly burst out laugh
and then raise both hands to her head in
namascar so hastily that the dolls head
and her own resounded with the thwack.
lating. Komoline teaches the second
could be promoted to third standard. A
number of girls from various standards
wept because they were not promoted.
no
Komoline appeared at our door. Sadie
asked her in, but she turned and went
away without a word. Sadie followed
her and found the whole group of girls
who had been promoted from her class
standing together and weeping because
they had been promoted and must leave
komoline.
Yesterday it was cloudy all day and
sound good, though? 1t battered down
muttered, 1t just did my heart good.
cloudy all day. Rajendra Babu said this
morning that when the rain was dried
away the weather would be very cold. l
thought it was quite cold enough before.
/ think some snow might feel warm.
Well, l won't complain of this for shall
probably find weather more worth COM
planning about before have been here a
year. l like the country and the people
and the prospect of work. am not dis
appointed in anything.
l am living with Sadie Gowen. She
has been here five years and Is quite used
to things. She is supposed to go home
for furlough in year. l am to be ready
to take her work, or part of it at least
when she goes. She directs large kim
dergarten with six teachers, girls
school with four teachers, four Hindu
schools and Zenana work with fourteen
teachers. 1t is very interesting, but a
big undertaking for one person.
Merry Christmas to you.
AMY PORTER.