Christians here. Many in years to come, in the name and for the sake of these dear departed ones, will receive the blessings of a Christian education in this Girls' BoardingSchool.

After reaching Ceylon one of the first things which affected me very deeply was the sight of a heathen funeral. On going to the house where a little child had died, I found the mother beating her face on the ground and wailing most piteously. The human heart is just the same all the world over, and mothers love their children. This poor mother had no hope of ever seeing this child again or taking it in her arms or knowing it as her child, and her heart was breaking. Soon the little body which she pressed so convulsively to her bosom would be carried away by the men of the village and reduced to ashes in the burning ground, and the ashes would be strewn in the sea. She thought the child she loved was lost to her for ever, and the future seemed all dark to her. Very often mothers, under such circumstances, will refuse to eat food for days together, and sometimes a mother's hopelessness and despair are such that she commits suicide.

Dear mothers in the home land, some of you have lost a little child. What did you do in that sad hour? You went into your closet and looked up into the face of your Christ, and poured out all your sorrows before Him. You remembered that He had said, "Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of Heaven" You thought how He had taken up little children in His arms and blessed them, and you believed that your little one was safe and happy with Him, that He was caring for it better than you could care for it, that you would see it again, and your hearts were comforted. Was it not so? Remember there are other mothers who need the same comfort which comforted you in your hours of great sorrow. Oh, make haste to tell the heathen mothers of Jesus, the Almighty Saviour, the infinitely compassionate One, for they need Him as much as you do.

Some time after we landed in Ceylon I attended a Christian funeral. Again it was a little child that had died. I looked into the faces of the father and mother, and although their eyes were full of tears, I saw a look of hope on their faces. A number of native Christians had come to the house, and we joined together in singing Christian hymns. The native minister came and held a brief service. Then all followed the body to the grave-yard, walking in procession and singing in the Tamil language:

"There's a land that is fairer than day, and by faith we can see it afar,
For our Father waits over the way, to provide us a dwelling-place there.

In the sweet by-and-by we shall meet on that beautiful shore.

In the sweet by-and-by, we shall meet on that beautiful shore."

Our Dead not Lost.

69 We stood around the open grave, and the native minister opened the Bible and read those words of Christ's: "I am the Resurrection and the Life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." Marvellous words! Surely none but a Divine Saviour could have spoken words so suited to meet the needs of the human heart. I looked again at the faces of the father and mother; they were upturned to heaven, and I saw in them a look of resignation and peace. In my heart I thanked God that we had such a Gospel to give to the heathen-a Gospel which presents such glorious hopes. Our dead are not lost, but gone before. We shall meet them again on the other side, and there shall be no partings there," and God shall wipe away all tears from all eyes."

boarding-school. To enter there, one of the subjects for examination was the Scripture catechism. Although his father was a stiff heathen and had his son taught in a private heathen school, yet he sent him to a Christian village school for a few months, just in order that he might learn the Christian catechism and pass a good examination. This was the beginning of his knowledge of Christianity. He then went to study at the Batticotta Seminary (a school which preceded the Jaffna College), and while a student there he became convinced of the truth and was brought to Christ. When his parents knew this they were very angry, and threatened him with the loss of his inheritance. On the Sabbath, when he was to have been baptized, they shut him up and took away all his clothes. When, later on, he received baptism, he was cast off by his parents, but our mission sent him to Manepy, where he studied medicine under the late Dr. Green. He is now the leading native Christian doctor in Manepy, and has a large practice and wide reputation.

He married a Christian girl, having refused offers from the parents of much richer heathen girls. He has now a large, fine stone house, and an interesting family of children. His wife is a very lovely woman, beautiful in person, in mind, and in heart. It is a joy and satisfaction to have her company and help in village meetings, or in visiting in the homes of the pupils of the Bible-wonen. She teaches a class of girls in

Sunday School, though most women with a family of six children,
three of them little ones, would not think they could come
promptly at 8.30 a.m. on Sabbath mornings as she does.
goes out every Sabbath afternoon to hold a women's meeting in
the neighbouring village, taking her little children with her.

The eldest daughter, about whose marriage I began to tell you, is a beautiful girl, nineteen years old, educated in the boardingschool, speaking English, able to read music and play on the organ, and a good singer; she sews and embroiders, and is a good housekeeper; but more important than all, she is an earnest, loving Christian.

A LITTLE BRIDESMAID.

100 if

A young man related to a high heathen family, who studied in the Jaffna College and became a Christian, asked for the daughter in marriage, because she was a true Christian. When this young man's parents heard of it, they were very angry. They wished him to marry a rich heathen girl, and return to heathenism. They offered if he would do this to give him £300, and the relatives offered he would marry with heathen ceremonies. He refused, and chose to cast in his lot with the Christians. The persecution of his friends was so great that he felt he must either accede to their wishes and become a heathen, or else leave his home, which he did. His mother threatened to throw herself into the well, and his father threatened to disinherit him, and finally they sent him word that they regarded him as one dead. It was very trying that not one of his immediate relatives was present at his marriage, but the Christians and the missionaries and many educated and influential natives were present, to the number of 800. The marriage was celebrated in the Manepy I was glad that so many should have the opportunity of seeing a Christian marriage, and hearing the words of the native pastor and our missionaries. It was nearly dusk when they left the church, Christian lyrics in Tamil composed for the occasion, and sung with accompaniment of native instruments, having very pleasantly filled up the time.

As the bridal party left the church, garments were spread before them the whole way to their home, an arch of flowers was borne over their heads, a band of music preceded them, and the whole company of people accompanied them on foot in the brilliant glare of torches, blue and red lights, rockets and fireworks, provided by friends, to grace the occasion.

We hope that they may have a very happy and useful life, and carry out their intention of devoting themselves directly to Christian work in connection with this mission.