file which includes the original illustrations4 ,see #bidbg-;h4htm or #bidbg-;h4zip3 7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/cache_/epu b_/#bidbg_/pg#bidbg-;images4html7 or 7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/files_/#bi dbg_/bidbg-;h4zip7 ,images of the original pages are available through ,internet ,archive_/,american ,libraries4 ,see http3_/_/www4archive4org_/details_/lotus buds#jj;carmiala ,,lotus ,,buds ,illustration ,illustration3 ,the ,great ,rock4 7,page #cch47 ,,lotus ,,buds by ,,amy ,,wilson-,,carmichael ,keswick ,missionary ,c4,e4,z4,m4,s4 ,author of ,things ,as ,they ,are2 ,overweights of ,joy2 ,the ,beginning of a ,story1 ,etc4 ,with ,fifty ,half-,tone ,illustrations from ,photos ,specially ,taken for ,this ,work ,morgan and ,scott ,ld4 #ab ,paternoster ,buildings ,london ,,mcmxii ,copyright1 ,morgan ,scott ,ld41 #aiji ,first ,edition1 ,quarto 7,fifty ,photogravure ,illustrations7 #b1jjj ,nov41 #aiji ,edition ,de ,luxe 7,fifty ,photogravures on ,japon ,vellum7 #bej ,nov41 #aiji ,octavo ,edition 7,fifty ,half-tone ,engravings7 #e1bej ,july1 #aiab ,,to ,,those ,,who ,,care ,,dohnavur1 ,,tinnevelly ,,district1 ,,south ,,india ,christmas1 #aiji4 ,each for himself1 we live our lives apart1 ,heirs of an age that turns us all to stone2 ,yet ever ,nature1 thrust from out the heart1 ,comes back to claim her own4 ,still we have something left of that fair seed ,god gave for birthright2 still the sound of tears ,hurts us1 and children in their helpless need ,still call to listening ears4 ,,owen ,,seaman4 ,from ,in a ,good ,cause4 ,,foreword ,,to ,,the ,,present ,,edition ,,when first ,things as they are trod the untrodden way1 it walked as a small child walks when for the first time it ventures forth upon young1 uncertain feet4 ,it has to walk2 it does not know why3 it only knows there is no choice about it4 ,but there is an eager looking for an outstretched hand1 and an instant gratefulness always1 for even a finger4 ,a whole hand given without reserve is something never forgotten4 ,it was only a child after all1 and it had not anticipated having to find its way alone among strangers4 ,it had thought of nothing further than a very short walk among familiar faces4 ,if it had understood beforehand how far it would have to walk1 ,i doubt if it would have had the courage to start2 for it was not naturally brave4 ,but once on its way it could not turn back2 and thanks to those kindly outstretched hands1 it grew a little less afraid1 and it went on4 ,then another small wayfarer followed4 ,it also was very easily discouraged2 an unfriendly push would have knocked it over at once4 ,but nobody seemed to want to push so unpretentious a thing1 so it gained courage and went on4 ,and now a more grown-up looking traveller 7though indeed its looks belie it7 has started on its way2 more diffident1 if the truth must be told1 than even its predecessors4 ,for it thought within itself--,perhaps there will be no welcoming hands held out this time2 hands may grow tired of such kind offices4 ,but it has not been so4 ,and now the sense of gratefulness cannot longer be repressed4 ,all of which means that ,i want to thank sincerely those kings of the ,book ,world--,reviewers--and those dwellers in that world who are my ,readers1 for their insight and the sympathy to which ,i owe so much4 ,once ,i read of a soldier who wrote a letter home from the midst of a battle1 on a crumpled piece of paper laid upon a cannon ball4 ,his home people he knew would overlook the appearance of the paper and the lack of various things expected in a letter written in a quiet room upon a study table4 ,and he knew he could trust them not to bring too fine a criticism to bear upon the unstudied words hot from the battle's heart4 ,i have thought sometimes that these books were not unlike that soldier's letter2 and those who read them seem to me very like his home people1 for they have been so generous in the kindness of their welcome4 ,amy ,wilson-,carmichael4 ,dohnavur1 ,tinnevelly ,district ,s4 ,india4 ,feb4 #ai1 #aiab4 ,,the ,,writer ,,to ,,the ,,reader ,,the photographs 7except two7 were taken by ,mr4 ,penn1 of ,ootacamund1 whose work is known to all who care to possess good photographs of the ,south ,indian hills4 ,the babies were a new experience to him1 and something of a trial1 ,i fear1 after the mountains1 which can be trusted to sit still4 ,the book has been written for lovers of children4 ,those who find such young life tiresome will find the story dull1 and the kindest thing it can ask of them is not to read it at all4 ,,contents ,,chapter ,,page ,i4 ,,lotus ,,buds #a ,,ii4 ,,opposites #e ,,iii4 ,,the ,,scamp #ae ,,iv4 ,,the ,,photographs #bc ,v4 ,,tara ,,and ,,evu #ca ,,vi4 ,,principalities1 ,,powers1 ,,rulers #da ,,vii4 ,,how ,,the ,,children ,,come #ea ,,viii4 ,,others #fa ,,ix4 ,,old ,d,,vai #fg ,x4 ,,failures8 #ge ,,xi4 ,,god ,,heard3 ,,god ,,answered #he ,,xii4 ,,to ,,what ,,purpose8 #ie ,,xiii4 ,a ,,story ,,of ,,comfort #ajc ,,xiv4 ,,pickles ,,and ,,puck #aac ,,xv4 ,,the ,,howler #aba ,,xvi4 ,,the ,,neyoor ,,nursery #abi ,,xvii4 ,,in ,,the ,,compound ,,and ,,near ,,it #ada ,,xviii4 ,,from ,,the ,,temple ,,of ,,the ,,rock #aec ,,xix4 ,,yos,,pu #aei ,,xx4 ,,the ,,menagerie #afi ,,xxi4 ,,more ,,animals #ahc ,,xxii4 ,,the ,,parrot ,,house #aia ,,xxiii4 ,,the ,,bear ,,garden #bja ,,xxiv4 ,,the ,,accals #bac ,,xxv4 ,,the ,,little ,,accals #bbg ,,xxvi4 ,,the ,,glory ,,of ,,the ,,usual #bce ,,xxvii4 ,,the ,,secret ,,traffic #bde ,,xxviii4 ,,blue ,,book ,,evidence #bec ,,xxix4 ,,very ,,common ,,in ,,those ,,parts #bfa ,,xxx4 ,,on ,,the ,,side ,,of ,,the ,,oppressors ,,there ,,was ,,power #bfi ,,xxxi4 ,,and ,,there ,,was ,,none ,,to ,,save #bgi ,,xxxii4 ,,the ,,power ,,behind ,,the ,,work #bia ,,xxxiii4 ,,if ,,this ,,were ,,all #cja ,,xxxiv4 ,,to ,,continue ,,the ,,succession #cji ,,xxxv4 ,,what ,,if ,,she ,,misses ,,her ,,chance8 #cba ,,xxxvi4 ,,thy ,,sweet ,,original ,,joy #cca ,,illustrations ,,page ,,the ,,great ,,rock ,frontispiece ,,lotus ,,flowers #c ,,god',s ,,fire #h ,,aiyo6 ,,did ,,you ,,think ,i ,,would ,,have ,,done ,,it8 #ab ,,chellalu ,,watching ,,the ,,picture-,,catcher #ah ,,oh1 ,,it',s ,a ,,joke6 #bj ,,that ,,thing ,,again6 #be ,,py,,rie ,,and ,,vineetha #bf ,,disgusting6 #bh ,,look ,,at ,,the ,,pose6 #cj ,,tara #cc ,,sturdy ,,and ,,stolid1 ,,and ,,little ,,veera #fc ,,pebbles #ff ,,latha 7,,firefly7 ,,blowing ,,bubbles #gb ,,seela1 ,,mala1 ,,and ,,nullinie #aje ,,the ,,cottage ,,nursery #ajh ,,pickles ,,and ,,her ,,friends #aae ,,the ,,dohnavur ,,country ,,in ,,flood #abd ,,pakium ,,and ,,naveena #abf ,,on ,,the ,,road ,,to ,,neyoor #aca ,,on ,,the ,,outskirts ,,of ,,nagercoil #acb ,,the ,,neyoor ,,nursery #acf ,,the ,,old ,,nursery 7,,the ,,room ,,of ,,joy7 #adc ,,the ,,courtyard #add ,a ,,coming-,,day ,,feast #adf ,,the ,,red ,,lake #adh ,,at ,,the ,,door ,,of ,,the ,,temple #aej ,,the ,,water ,,carriers #afa ,,the ,,beloved ,,tingalu #afd ,,two ,,views ,,of ,,life #aga ,,more ,,animals3 ,,depressed #ahe ,,tubbing #ahh ,,red ,,lake1 ,,and ,,hill ,,as ,,seen ,,from ,,the ,,taraha ,,nursery #aic ,,children ,,wading #aif ,,children ,,wading #aig ,,esli1 ,,and ,,little ,,kohila #aih ,,preetha ,,aware ,,of ,a ,,foe #bjj ,,jullanie ,,among ,,the ,,grasses #bjc ,,arulai ,,and ,,rukma1 ,,with ,,naveena #baj ,,ponnamal1 ,,preetha1 ,,and ,,tara #bae ,,sellamuttu ,,and ,,suseela #baf ,,suhinie1 ,,and ,,her ,,baby1 ,,sununda #bah ,,three ,,convert ,,workers3 ,,sundoshie1 ,,suhinie1 ,,and ,,jeyanie #bbj ,,sewing-,,class ,,in ,,the ,,courtyard #bbb ,,three ,,little ,,accals #bbi ,,preena ,,and ,,preeya #bcj ,,after ,,her ,,bottle #bcg ,,north ,,lake ,,and ,,hills #bch ,,from ,,the ,,rock1 ,,dohnavur #cch ,,the ,,place ,,of ,,baptism #cdj ,,chapter ,i ,lotus ,buds ,illustration3 ,,lotus ,,flowers4 ,from that same pool1 afterwards gathered by permission and given to us4 ,,lotus ,,buds ,,chapter ,i ,lotus ,buds ,,near an ancient temple in ,southern ,india is a large calm1 beautiful pool1 enclosed by stone walls1 broken here and there by wide spaces fitted with steps leading down to the water's edge2 and almost within reach of the hand of one standing on the lowest step are pink ,lotus lilies floating serenely on the quiet water or standing up from it in a certain proud loveliness all their own4 ,we were travelling to the neighbouring town when we came upon this pool4 ,we could not pass it with only a glance1 so we stopped our bullock-carts and unpacked ourselves--we were four or five to a cart--and we climbed down the broken1 time-worn steps and gazed and gazed till the beauty entered into us4 ,who can describe that harmony of colour1 a ,lotus-pool in blossom in clear shining after rain6 ,the grey old walls1 the brown water1 the dark green of the ,lotus leaves1 the delicate pink of the flowers2 overhead1 infinite crystalline blue2 and beyond the old walls1 palms4 ,with us was a young ,indian friend4 ,i will gather some of the lilies for you1 he said1 with the quick ,indian desire to give pleasure2 but some one interposed3 ,they must not be gathered by us4 ,the pool belongs to the ,temple4 ,it was as if a stone had been flung straight at a mirror4 ,there was a sense of crash and the shattering of some bright image4 ,the ,lotus-pool was a ,temple pool2 its flowers are ,temple flowers4 ,the little buds that float and open on the water1 lifting young innocent faces up to the light as it smiles down upon them and fills them through with almost a tremor of joyousness1 these ,lotus buds are sacred things--sacred to whom8 ,for a single moment that thought had its way1 but only for a moment4 ,it flashed and was gone1 for the thought was a false thought3 it could not stand against this--,all souls are ,mine4 ,all souls are ,his1 all flowers4 ,an alien power has possessed them1 counted them his for so many generations1 that we have almost acquiesced in the shameful confiscation4 ,but neither souls nor flowers are his who did not make them4 ,they were never truly his4 ,they belong to the ,lord of all the earth1 the ,creator1 the ,redeemer4 ,the little ,lotus buds are ,his--,his and not another's4 ,the children of the temples of ,south ,india are ,his--,his and not another's4 ,so now we go forth with the ,owner ,himself to claim ,his own possession4 ,there is hope in the thought1 and confidence and the purest inspiration4 ,and1 stirred to the very depths1 as we are and must be many a time when we see the tender ,lotus buds gathered by a hand that has no right to them1 and crushed underfoot2 bewildered and sore troubled1 as the heart cannot help being sometimes1 when the mystery of the apparent victory of evil over good is overwhelming3 even so there will be always a hush1 a rest1 a repose of spirit1 as we stand by the ,lotus-pools of life and seek in ,his ,name to gather ,his flowers4 ,,chapter ,,ii ,opposites ,,bala is nearly four4 ,there are so many much younger things in the nursery1 that ,bala feels almost grown up3 four will be quite grown up2 it will be nice to be four4 ,bala takes life seriously1 she has always done so2 she thinks it would be monotonous to have too many frivolous babies4 ,but ,bala's eyes can sparkle as no other eyes ever do2 and her mirth is something by itself1 like a little hidden fountain in the heart of a wood1 with the sweetness of surprise in it and very pure delight4 ,when ,bala came to us first she was between one and two1 an age when most babies have a good deal to say4 ,bala said nothing4 ,she was like a book with all its leaves uncut2 and some who saw her1 forgetting that uncut books are sometimes interesting1 concluded she was dull4 ,quite a prosaic child1 they said2 but ,bala did not care4 ,there are some babies1 like some grown-up people1 who show all they have to show upon first acquaintance and to all4 ,others cover the depths within1 and open only to their own4 ,bala is one of these2 and even with her own she has seasons of reserve4 ,her first remark1 however1 shown rather than said1 was not romantic4 ,she was too old for a bottle1 and she seemed to feel sore over this4 ,but she noted the time the infants were fed1 and followed the nurses about while they were preparing the meal2 and when they sat down to give it1 each to her respective baby1 ,bala would choose the one of most uncertain appetite1 and sit down beside it and wait4 ,there was an expression on her face at such times which suggested a hymn1 set it humming in one's head in fact1 in spite of all efforts to escape it4 ,more than once we have caught ourselves singing it1 and pulled up sharply3 ,even me6 ,even me6 ,let some droppings fall on me4 ,illustration3 ,god's ,fire4 ,taken on the bank of the ,red ,lake1 near ,dohnavur4 ,most of our family remind us very early that they trace their descent to the mother of us all4 ,bala1 on the contrary1 was good3 so we almost forgot she was human1 and began to expect too much of her2 but she got tired of this after a while1 and one day suddenly sinned4 ,the surprise acted like hypo1 and fixed the photograph4 ,the place was the old nursery1 which has one uncomfortably dark corner in it4 ,something had offended ,bala2 she marched straight into that corner and stamped4 ,we can see her--poor little girl--as she rumpled her curls with both her hands1 and flashed on the world a withering glance4 ,scorn to be scorned by those ,i scorn was written large all over the indignant little face4 ,after this shock we were prepared for anything1 but nothing special happened2 only when the demands made upon her are unreasonable1 then ,bala retires into herself and turns upon all foolish insistence a face that is a blank4 ,if this point is passed1 the dark eyes can flash4 ,but such revealings are rare4 ,when ,bala was something under three1 she was very tender-hearted4 ,one evening1 after the first rains had flooded the pools and revived the mosquitoes1 the nursery wall was the scene of many executions2 and ,bala could not bear it4 ,sittie1 don't kill the poor pchies6 she said pitifully2 and ,sittie1 much touched1 stopped to comfort and explain4 ,the other babies were delighting in the slaughter1 pointing out with glee each detested pchie2 but ,bala is not like the other babies4 ,later1 the ferocious instinct common to most young animals asserted itself in a relish for the horrible1 which rather contradicted the mosquito incident4 ,bala visibly gloats over the gory head of ,goliath1 and intensely admires ,david as he operates upon it4 ,her favourite part of the story about his encounter with the lion is the suggestive sentence1 ,i caught him by the beard2 and ,bala loves to show you exactly how he did it4 ,but then that is different from seeing it done2 and after all it is only a story1 and it happened long ago4 ,i have told how the ignorant once called ,bala prosaic4 ,bala knows nothing of poetry1 but is full of the little seeds of that strange and wonderful plant2 and the time to get to know her is when the evening sky is a golden blaze1 or glows with that mystic glory which wakens something within us and makes it stir and speak4 ,god has not lighted ,his fire to-night1 she said wistfully one evening when the ,west was colourless2 but when that fire is lighted she stands and gazes satisfied4 ,what does ,god do when ,his fire goes out8 was a question on one such evening1 as the mountains darkened in the passing of the after-glow2 and then3 ,why does ,he not light it every night8 ,amma6 ,i have looked into ,heaven6 she said suddenly to me after a long silence4 ,i have seen quite in1 and ,i know what it is like4 ,what is it like8 ,can you tell me8 and the child's voice answered dreamily3 ,it was shining1 very shining4 ,then with animation1 in broken but vivid ,tamil3 ,oh1 it was beautiful6 all a garden like our garden1 only bigger1 and there were flowers and flowers and flowers6--here words failed to describe the number1 and a comprehensive sweep of the hand served instead4 ,and our dolls can walk there4 ,they never can down here1 poor things6 ,and ,jesus plays with our babies there 7the dear little sisters who have gone to the nursery out of sight1 but are unforgotten by the children74 ,he plays with ,indraneela--lovely games4 ,what games1 ,bala8 ,i asked1 wondering greatly what she would say4 ,there was a long1 thoughtful pause1 and ,bala looked at me with grave1 contented eyes3-- ,new games1 she said simply4 ,bala's opposite is ,chellalu4 ,we never made any mistake about her4 ,we never thought her good4 ,not that she is impossibly bad4 ,she was created for play and for laughter1 and very happy babies are not often very wicked2 but she is so irrepressible1 so hopelessly given up to fun1 that her kindergarten teacher1 ,rukma1 smiles a rueful smile at the mention of her name4 ,for to ,chellalu the most unreasonable thing you can ask is implicit obedience1 which unfortunately is preferred by us to any amount of fun4 ,she will learn to obey1 we are not afraid about that2 but more than any of our children1 her attitude towards this demand has been one of protest and surprise4 ,she thinks it unfair of grown-up people to take advantage of their size in the arbitrary way they do4 ,and when1 disgusted with life's dispensations1 she condescends to expostulate1 her ,ba-a-a-a is a thing to affright4 ,but this is the wrong side of ,chellalu1 and not for ever in evidence4 ,the right side is not so depressing4 ,it is a brilliant morning in late ,november4 ,the world1 all washed and cooled by the rains1 has not had time to get hot and tired1 and the air has that crystal quality which is the charm of this season in ,south ,india4 ,every wrinkle on the brown trunks of the trees in the compound1 every twig and leaf1 stands out with a special distinctness of its own1 and the mountains in the distance glisten as if made of precious stones4 ,suddenly1 all unconscious of affinity or contrast1 a little person in scarlet comes dancing into the picture1 which opens to receive her1 for she belongs to it4 ,her hands are full of ,gloriosa lilies1 fiery red1 terra-cotta1 yellow1 delicate old-rose and green--such a mingling of colour1 but nothing discordant--and the child1 waving her spoils above her head1 sings at the top of her voice something intended to be the chorus of a kindergarten song3-- ,oh1 the delight of the glorious light6 ,the joy of the shining blue6 ,beautiful flowers6 wonderful flowers6 ,oh1 ,i should like to be you6 ,but1 ,chellalu1 where did you get them8 for the lilies in the garden are supposed to be safe from attack4 ,chellalu looks up with frank1 brown eyes4 ,for you6 she says briefly in ,tamil2 but there is a wealth of forgiveness in the tone as she offers her armful of flowers4 ,chellalu wonders at grown-up hearts which can harbour unworthy suspicions about blameless little children4 ,as if she would have picked them6 ,but1 ,chellalu1 where did you get them8 and still looking grieved and surprised and forgiving1 ,chellalu explains that yesterday evening the elder sisters went for a walk in the fields1 and brought home so many lilies1 that after all just claims were met there were still some over--an expressive gesture shows the heap--so ,chellalu thought of her ,ammal 7mother7 and went and picked out the best for her4 ,then by way of emphasis the story is attempted in ,english3 ,very good8 ,yesh4 ,naughty8 ,no4 ,kindergarten room want flowers8 ,no4 ,i 7patting herself approvingly7 very good2 yesh4 ,with ,chellalu1 speech is a mere adjunct to conversation1 a sort of footnote to a page of illustration4 ,the illustration is the thing that speaks4 ,so now both ,tamil and ,english are illuminated by vivid gesture of hands1 feet1 the whole body indeed2 curls and even eyelashes play their part1 and the final impression produced upon her questioner is one of complete contrition for ever having so misjudged a thing so virtuous4 ,illustration3 ,,aiyo6 7,fingers and toes curled in grieved surprise47 ,did you think ,i would have done it8 ,but ,chellalu wastes no sympathy upon herself4 ,she is accustomed to be believed2 and perfectly happy in her mind1 casts a keen glance round1 for who knows what new delights may be somewhere within reach6 ,ah6--the deep-breathed sigh of content--is always a danger signal where this innocent child is concerned4 ,i turn in time to avert disaster1 and ,chellalu1 finding life dull with me1 departs4 ,then the little scarlet figure with its crown of careless curls scampers across the sunny space1 and dives into the shadow of a tree4 ,there it stays4 ,something arresting has happened--some skurry of squirrel up the trunk1 or dart of lizard1 or hurried scramble of insect1 under cover out of reach of those terrible eyes4 ,or better still1 something is playing dead1 and the child1 fascinated1 is waiting for it to resurrect4 ,and then the song about the lilies begins again1 only it is all a jumble this time2 for ,chellalu sings just as it comes1 untrammelled by thoughts about sequence or sense1 and when she forgets the words she calmly makes them up4 ,and ,i cannot help thinking that ,chellalu is very like her song2 here is an intelligible bit1 a line or two in order1 then a cheerful tumble up1 and an irresponsible conclusion4 ,the tune too seems in character--,speed1 bonnie boat1 like a bird on the wing2 the swinging old ,jacobite air had fitted itself to a nursery song about the brave fire-lilies1 and something in its abandon to the happy mood of the moment seems to express the child4 ,it is not easy to express her4 ,if you had to describe ,chellalu1 how would you do it8 ,i asked my colleague this morning1 hoping for illumination4 ,i would not attempt it6 ,who would8 she answered helpfully4 ,chellalu6 ,oh1 you need ten pairs of eyes and ten pairs of hands1 and even then you could never be sure you had her--this was her nurse's earliest description4 ,she was six months old then1 she is three and three-quarters now2 but she is what she was1 only more so4 ,before ,chellalu had a single tooth she had developed mother-ways1 and would comfort distressed babies by thrusting into their open mouths whatever was most convenient4 ,at first this was her own small thumb1 which she had once found good herself2 but she soon discovered that infants can bite1 and after that she offered rattle-handles4 ,later1 she used to stagger from one hammock to another and swing them4 ,and often1 before she understood the perfect art of balance1 she would find herself1 to her surprise1 on the floor1 as the hammock in its rebound knocked her over4 ,she felt this ungrateful of the baby inside2 but she seemed to reflect that it was young and knew no better1 for she never retaliated1 but picked herself up and began again4 ,these hammocks1 which are our ,south ,indian cradles1 are long strips of white cotton hung from the roof1 and they make delightful swings4 ,chellalu learned this early1 and her nurse's life was a burden to her because of the discovery4 ,she could walk before she could stand--this is another nursery description1 and truer than it sounds4 ,certainly no one ever saw ,chellalu learning to walk4 ,she was a baby one day1 rapid in unexpected motion1 but only on all fours2 the next day--or so it seems1 looking back--she was everywhere on her two feet4 ,now there will be no place where she won't be6 groaned the family1 the first time she was seen walking about with an air of having done it all her life4 ,and appalling visions rose of ,chellalu standing on the wall of the well looking down1 or sitting in the bucket left by some careless water-drawer just on the edge of the wall1 or trying to descend by the rope4 ,before this date such diversions as the classic ,pattycake had been much in favour4 ,chellalu's ,attai 7the word here and hereafter signifies ,mrs4 ,walker1 ,mother's elder sister7 had taught it to her2 and whenever and wherever ,chellalu saw her ,attai1 she immediately began to perform ,prick it and nick it with great enthusiasm4 ,but after she could walk1 ,chellalu would have nothing more to do with such childish things4 ,show us ,edward ,rajah6 the older children would say2 and instead of standing up with a regal dignity and crowning her curls with the appropriate gesture1 ,chellalu would merely look surprised4 ,they had forgotten4 ,she was not a baby now4 ,such trifles are for babies4 ,,chapter ,,iii ,the ,scamp ,,pat-,a-,,cake is a thing of the past1 but the stage from the highest point of view is still distinctly attractive2 so decided ,chellalu1 and resolved to devote herself thenceforth to this new and engrossing pursuit4 ,she chose the scene of her first public performance without consulting us4 ,it was the open floor of the church1 on a ,sunday morning1 in the midst of a large congregation4 ,this was how it happened4 ,chellalu's ,attai1 who in those days was unaware of all the painful surprises in store1 had taken her to morning service1 and allowed her to sit beside her on the mat at the back of the church4 ,all through the first part of the service ,chellalu was good2 and as the sermon began1 she was forgotten4 ,in our church we sit on the floor1 men on one side1 women and children on the other4 ,a broad aisle is left between1 and the ,iyer 7,mr4 ,walker71 refusing to be boxed up in the usual manner1 walks up and down as he preaches4 ,this interested ,chellalu4 ,that morning the sermon was to children1 and the subject was ,girdles4 ,the ,east of this ancient ,india is the ,east to which the prophet spoke by parable and picture2 and1 following that time-worn path1 the preacher pictured the parable of ,jeremiah's linen girdle3 the attention of the people was riveted upon him1 and no one noticed what was happening on the mat at the end of the church4 ,only we1 up at the front with all the other children1 saw1 without being able to stop it1 the dreadful pantomime4 ,for ,chellalu1 wholly absorbed and pleased with this unexpected delight1 first stood on the mat and acted the girdle picture2 then1 growing bolder1 advanced out into the open aisle1 and1 following the preacher's gestures1 reproduced them all exactly4 ,it was a moment of tension2 but if ever a child had a good angel in attendance1 ,chellalu has1 for something always stops her before the bitter end4 ,i forget what stopped her then2 something invisible1 and so1 doubtless1 the angel4 ,but we did not breathe freely till we had her safe at home4 ,illustration3 ,,chellalu1 ,,watching ,,the ,,picture-,,catcher ,,with ,,some ,,suspicion4 ,whatever is he doing with that black box8 ,chellalu's visible angel is the gentle ,esli1 a young convert-helper1 of a meek and lowly disposition4 ,at first sight nothing seems more unsuitable1 for ,chellalu needs a firm hand4 ,but firmness without wisdom would have been disastrous2 so as we had not the perfect combination1 we chose the less dangerous virtue1 and gave the nursery scamp to the gentlest of us all4 ,sometimes1 to tell the whole unromantic truth1 we have been afraid less ,esli was spilling emotion in vain upon this graceless soul2 and we have suggested an exchange of angels--but somehow it has never come to pass4 ,once we almost did it4 ,for a noise past all bounds called us down to the nursery1 and we found the cause of it in a huddled heap in the corner4 ,chellalu6 what is the matter8 ,only the softest of soft sobs1 heard in the silence that followed our advent1 and one round shoulder heaved1 and the curly head went down on the arm in an attitude of woe4 ,now this is not ,chellalu's way at all4 ,soft sobbing is not in her line2 and ,i turned to the twenty-nine children now prancing about in unholy glee1 and they shouted the explanation3 ,oh1 she is ,esli ,accal6 ,she was very exceedingly naughty4 ,she would not come when ,accal called2 she raced round the room so fast that ,accal could not catch her1 and then she jumped out of her cumasu 7the single small garment worn71 and ran out into the garden6 ,and ,esli ,accal sat down in a corner and cried4 ,and ,chellalu is ,esli ,accal6 ,but the pet opportunity in those glad days was when some freak of manner in friend or visitor suggested a new game4 ,we used to wish1 sometimes1 that these kind people understood how much pleasure they were giving to the artless babe who was studying them with such interest1 while they1 all unconscious of their real use1 imagined probably she was thinking of nothing more serious than sweets4 ,after an hour in the bungalow1 ,chellalu would wander off1 apparently because she was tired of us1 but really because she was full of a new and original idea1 and wanted an audience4 ,once she puzzled the nursery community who had not been visiting the bungalow1 by mincing about on pointed toes1 with shoulders shrugged like a dancing master in caricature4 ,the babies thought this a very nice game1 and for weeks they played it industriously4 ,chellalu talked late--she has long ago made up for lost time--but she was never at a loss for an answer to a question which could be answered by action4 ,who is in the nursery now8 we asked her one afternoon when she had escaped before the tea-bell1 that trumpet of jubilee to the nursery1 had rung4 ,she smiled and sat down slowly1 and then sighed4 ,another sigh1 and she proceeded to perform her toilet4 ,when the small hands went up to the head with an action of decorously swinging the back hair up and coiling it into a loose knot1 and when a spasmodic shake suggested it must be done over again1 there was no doubt as to who was in charge4 ,no one but the excellent ,pakium1 one of our earlier workers1 ever did things quite like this4 ,no one else was so ponderous4 ,no one sighed in that middle-aged manner1 no one but ,pakium4 ,we never could blame ,pakium for ,chellalu's escape4 ,as well blame a mature cat for the escapades of her kitten4 ,chellalu1 watching for a clue as to her fate1 would sigh again profoundly4 ,it was never easy to return her4 ,illustration3 ,,oh1 ,,it',s ,a ,,joke6 ,we were not sorry when this phase passed into something safer for herself1 though perhaps not so charming to the public4 ,chellalu at two and three-quarters had surgical ambitions4 ,medical work she considered slow4 ,she liked operations4 ,her first1 so far as we know1 was performed upon the unwilling eye of a smaller and weaker sister4 ,lie down6 she had commanded1 and the patient had lain down4 ,open your eyes6 ,at this point the victim realised what she was in for1 and her howls brought deliverance2 but not before ,chellalu had the agitated baby's head in a firm grip between her knees1 and holding the screwed-up eye wide open with one hand1 was proceeding to drop in medicine with the other4 ,mercifully the medicine was water4 ,thwarted in this direction1 ,chellalu applied herself to bandaging4 ,she would persuade someone to lend her a finger or a toe2 the owner was assured it was sore--very sore4 ,she would then proceed to bandage it to the best of her ability4 ,but all this was mere play4 ,what ,chellalu's soul yearned for was a real knife1 or even only a needle1 provided it would prick and cause red blood to flow4 ,oh to be allowed to operate properly1 as grown-up people do6 ,chellalu had seen them do it--had seen thorns extracted from little bare feet1 and small sores dressed2 and it had deeply interested her4 ,the difficulty was1 no one would offer a limb4 ,she walked up and down the nursery one morning with a bit of an old milk tin1 very jagged and sharp and inviting1 and secreted in her curls was a long1 bright darning needle2 but though she took so much trouble to prepare1 no one would give her a chance to perform1 and ,chellalu was disgusted4 ,someone who did not know her suggested she should perform on herself4 ,this disgusted her still more4 ,do doctors perform on themselves6 ,chellalu's latest phase introduces the kindergarten4 ,for an educational comrade1 perceiving our defects in this direction1 furnished a kindergarten for us1 and gave us a kind push-off into these pleasant waters2 so the little boat sails gaily1 and the children at least are content4 ,chellalu has never been so keen about this institution as the other babies are4 ,do you like the kindergarten8 some one asked her the other day2 and she answered with her usual decision3 ,yesh4 ,no4 ,we thought she was talking at random1 and tested her by questions about things which we knew she liked or disliked4 ,but she was never caught4 ,well1 then1 don't you like the kindergarten8 ,yesh4 ,no4 ,it was evident she knew what she meant1 and said it exactly4 ,bits of it she likes1 other bits she thinks might be improved4 ,the trouble is that she has an objection to sitting in the same place for more than a minute at longest4 ,other babies1 steady1 mature things of five1 are already evolving quite orderly sentences in ,english--the language in which the kindergarten is partly taught--and we feel they are getting on4 ,chellalu never stops long enough to evolve anything1 and yet she seems to be doing a little4 ,from the first week she has talked all she knew in unabashed fashion4 ,good morning very much was an early production2 and it was followed by many oddments forgotten now1 but comical in effect at the time1 which perhaps may explain the otherwise inexplicable fact that she sometimes learns something4 ,one only of those early dashes into the unexplored land is remembered1 because it enriched us with a new synonym4 ,it was at afternoon tea that a sympathetic ,sittie 7the word means ,mother's younger sister71 knowing that ,chellalu had received something thoroughly well earned1 asked her in ,english3 ,what did ,ammal give you this morning8 ,chellalu caught at the one familiar word in this sentence 7for the babies learn the names of the flowers in the garden before they are troubled with lesser matters71 and she answered brightly3 ,morning-glory6 ,so ,morning-glory has become to us an alias for smacks4 ,this same ,morning-glory is the subject of one of the kindergarten songs4 ,for after searching through two or three hundred pages of nursery rhymes1 and interviewing many proper kindergarten songs1 we found few that belonged to the ,indian babies' world2 and so we had to make them for ourselves4 ,these songs are about the flowers and the birds and other simple things1 and are twittered by the tiniest with at least some intelligence1 which at present is as much as we can wish4 ,all the babies sing to the flowers1 but it is ,chellalu who gives them surprises4 ,one day we saw her standing under a bamboo arch1 covered with her favourite ,morning-glory4 ,she had two smaller babies with her1 one on either side4 ,amma6 ,look6 she called2 but italics are inadequate to express the emphasis4 ,,look1 ,morning--glory--kissing--'chother1 and she pointed with eagerness to the nestling little clusters of lilac1 growing1 as their pretty manner is1 close to each other4 ,then1 seizing each of the babies in a fervent and somewhat embarrassing embrace1 she hugged and kissed them both2 and finally wheeling round on the flowers1 addressed them impressively3 ,for--all--loving--little--,indian--chil dren--want-- to--be--like--you4 ,,chapter ,,iv ,the ,photographs ,illustration3 ,,that ,,thing ,,again6 7,page #bh47 ,i ,,do not know how they will strike the critical public1 but the photos are so much better than we dared to expect1 that we are grateful and almost satisfied4 ,of course1 they are insipid as compared with the lively originals2 but the difficulty was to get them of any truthful sort whatsoever1 for the babies regarded the photographer--the kindest and mildest of men--with the gravest suspicion3 and the moment he appeared1 little faces1 all animation before1 would stiffen into shyness1 and the light would slip out of them1 and the naturalness1 so that all the camera saw1 and therefore all it could show1 was a succession of blanks4 ,then1 too1 when our artist friend was with us we were in the grasp of an epidemic of cholera4 ,morning and evening1 and sometimes into the night1 we were tending the sick and dying in the village2 and in the interval between we had little heart for photographs4 ,but the visit of a real photographer is a rare event in ,dohnavur1 and we forced ourselves to try to take advantage of it4 ,remembering our difficulties1 we wonder we got anything at all2 and we hope that stranger eyes will be kind4 ,illustration3 ,,py,,rie ,,and ,,vineetha4 ,do smile1 you little ,turk6 ,often when we looked at the pretty little reversed picture in the camera1 with its delicate colouring and the grace of movement1 we have wished that we could send it as we saw it1 all living and true4 ,the photos were taken in the open air2 underfoot was soft terra-cotta-coloured sand2 overhead1 the cloudless blue4 ,in such a setting the baby pictures look their brightest1 something very different from these dull copies in sepia4 ,an ,oriental scene in print always looks sorry for itself1 and quite apologetic4 ,it knows it is almost a farce1 and very flat and poor4 ,then there were difficulties connected with character4 ,our photographer was more accustomed to the dignified ways of mountains than to the extremely restless habit of children2 and he never could understand why they would not sit for him as the mountains sat1 and let him focus them comfortably4 ,the babies looked at things from an opposite point of view1 and strongly objected to delays and leisureliness of every description4 ,sometimes when the focussing process promised to be much prolonged1 we put a child we did not wish to photograph in the place of one upon whom we had designs1 and then at the last moment exchanged her4 ,but the baby thus beguiled seemed to divine our purpose2 and1 resenting such ensnarements1 would promptly wriggle out of focus4 ,it was like trying to observe some active animalcul under a high power4 ,the microscope is perfect1 the creatures are entrapped in a drop of water on the slide2 but the game is not won by any means4 ,sometimes1 after spoiling more plates than was convenient1 our artist almost gave up in despair2 but he never quite gave up1 and we owe what we have to his infinite patience4 ,pyrie was the most troublesome of these small sitters1 though she was old enough to know better4 ,my mother was with us when she came to us1 a tiny babe and very delicate4 ,she had loved her and helped to nurse her1 and so we wanted a happy photograph for her sake2 but nothing was further from ,pyrie's intentions1 and instead of smiling1 she scowled4 ,our first attempt was in the compound1 where a bullock-bandy stood4 ,pyrie and ,vineetha1 a little girl of about the same age1 were very pleased to climb over the pole and untwist the rope and play see-saw2 but when the objectionable camera appeared1 they stared at it with aversion1 and no amount of coaxing would persuade ,pyrie to smile4 ,can't you do something to improve her expression8 inquired the photographer1 emerging from his black hood2 then someone said in desperation3 ,do smile1 you little ,turk6 ,vineetha1 about whose expression we were not concerned1 obediently smiled2 but ,pyrie looked thunderclouds1 and turned her head away4 ,she was caught before she turned1 poor dear1 so that photograph was a failure4 ,once again our kind friend tried4 ,this time he gave her a doll4 ,pyrie is most motherly4 ,she is usually tender and loving with dolls1 and we hoped for a sweet expression4 ,but in this we were disappointed4 ,she accepted the doll--a beautiful thing1 with a good constitution and imperturbable temper2 and she looked it straight in the face--a rag face painted--smiling as we wanted her to smile4 ,then she smote it1 and she scolded it1 and called for a stick and whacked it1 and called for a bigger stick and repeated the performance4 ,finally she stopped1 laid the doll upon the step1 sat down on it1 and smiled4 ,but she was hopelessly out of focus by this time1 and it was weary work getting her in4 ,she smiled during the process in a perfectly exasperating manner1 but the moment all was ready she suddenly wriggled out2 and when invited to go in again1 she shook her head decidedly1 and pointing to the camera with its glaring glass eye1 covered at that moment with its cloth1 she remarked1 ,naughty6 ,naughty6 and we had to give her up4 ,illustration3 ,,disgusting6 ,,she ,,remarked ,,in ,,explicit ,,young ,,tamil1 ,,and ,,looked ,,disgusted4 ,perhaps she would be happier in someone's arms1 next suggested the long-suffering artist2 and so one morning1 just after her bath1 she was caught up1 sweet and smiling1 and played with till the peals of merry laughter assured us of an easy victory4 ,but the camera was no sooner seen stalking round to the nursery1 than suspicions filled ,pyrie's breast4 ,that thing again6 ,and the photograph taken under such circumstances is left to speak for itself4 ,why did it follow her everywhere8 ,life1 haunted by a camera1 was not worth living--in which sentiment some of us heartily concur4 ,once an attempt was made when ,pyrie and two other little girls were busily playing on the doorstep4 ,pyrie soon perceived and expressed her opinion about the fraud--for the camera's stealthy approach could not be kept from the children4 ,disgusting6 she remarked in explicit young ,tamil1 and looked disgusted4 ,the photograph which resulted was perfect in detail of little rounded limb and curly head1 but it was lamentable as regards expression2 so once more our persevering friend tried to catch her unawares4 ,he showed us the result at breakfast in the shape of a negative which we recognised as ,pyrie4 ,he seemed very pleased4 ,look at the pose6 he said4 ,there was pose certainly1 but where was the smile8 ,pyrie's one idea had evidently been to ward off something or someone2 and our artist explained it by saying that in despair of getting her quiet for one second1 he had directed his servant to climb an almost overhanging tree1 and the child apparently thought he was going to tumble on the top of her1 and objected4 ,i got another of her smiling beautifully1 but the plate is cracked1 we were told1 after the table had admired the pose4 ,that is a way plates have4 ,the one you most want cracks4 ,poor little ,pyrie2 we sometimes fear lest her pose should be too true of her4 ,she takes life hardly1 and often protests4 ,i want a birthday6--this was only yesterday1 when everyone was rejoicing over a birthday jubilation4 ,pyrie alone was sorrowful4 ,she stood by her poor little lonely self1 with her head thrown back and her mouth wide open1 and her tears ran into her open mouth as she wailed3 ,aiyo6 ,aiyo6 7,alas6 ,alas67 ,i want a birthday6 ,illustration3 ',,look ,,at ,,the ,,pose6' ,he said4 ,there was pose1 certainly1 but where was the smile8 7,page #bh47 ,but she is such a loving child1 so loyal to her own and so unselfish to all younger things1 that we hope for her more than we fear4 ,and yet underneath there is a fear2 and we ask those who can understand to remember this little one sometimes1 for the world is not always kind to its poor little foolish ,pyries4 ,i am writing in the afternoon1 and two little people are playing on the floor4 ,one has a picture-book1 and the other is looking eagerly as she turns the pages and questions3 ,what is it8 ,what is it8 ,i notice it is always ,pyrie who asks the question1 and ,vineetha who answers it3 ,it is a cow4 ,it is a cat4 ,why don't you let ,vineetha ask you what it is8 ,i suggest2 but ,pyrie continues as before3 ,what is it8 ,what is it8 varied by ,what colour is it8 ,what shape is it8 ,who made it8 and the mischief in her eyes 7would that our artist could have caught it67 explains the game4 ,it is decidedly better to be teacher than scholar1 because suitable questions can cover all ignorance4 ,pyrie has not been to the kindergarten of late1 and has reason to fear ,vineetha is somewhat ahead of her2 so she ignores my proposals1 and continues her safe questions4 ,we sometimes think we shall one night be heard talking in our sleep1 and the burden of our conversation will be always--,what is it8 ,what colour is it8 ,what shape is it8 ,who made it8 ,,chapter ,v ,tara and ,evu ,illustration3 ,,tara4 ,,our nurseries are full of contrasts1 but perhaps the two who are most unlike are the little ,tara and ,evu1 aged1 at the hour of writing1 three years and two and a half4 ,i am hammering at my typewriter1 when clear through its metallic monotony comes in distinct double treble1 ,amma6 ,tala6 ,amma6 ,evu6 ,they always announce each other in this order1 and with much emphasis4 ,if it is impossible to stop1 ,i give them a few toys1 and they sit down on the mat exactly opposite my table and play contentedly4 ,this lasts for a short five minutes2 then a whimper from ,tara makes me look up1 and ,i see ,evu1 with a face of more mischief than malice1 holding all the toys--,tara's share and her own--in a tight armful1 while ,tara points at her with a grieved expression which does not touch ,evu in the least4 ,a word1 however1 sets things right4 ,evu beams upon ,tara1 and pours the whole armful into her lap4 ,tara smiles forgivingly1 and returns ,evu's share4 ,evu repentantly thrusts them back4 ,tara's heart overflows1 and she hugs ,evu4 ,evu wriggles out of this embrace1 and they play for another five minutes or so without further misadventure4 ,only once ,i remember ,evu sinned beyond forgiveness4 ,the occasion was ,pyrie's rag-doll of smiling countenance1 which had been badly neglected by the family4 ,but ,tara felt for it and loved it4 ,she was small at the time1 and the doll was large1 and ,tara must have got tired of carrying it2 but she would not tell it so1 and for one whole morning she staggered about with the cumbersome beauty tilted over her shoulder1 which gave her the appearance of an unbalanced but very affectionate parent4 ,this was too much for ,evu1 to whom the comic appeals much more than the sentimental4 ,she watched her opportunity1 and pounced upon the doll4 ,tara gave chase2 but ,evu's fat legs can carry her faster than one would suppose1 and ,tara's wails rose to a shriek when across half the garden's width she saw that ruthless sinner swing her treasure round by one arm and then deliberately jump on it4 ,it was hours before ,tara recovered4 ,such a breach of the peace is happily rare2 for the two are a pretty illustration of the mutual attraction of opposites4 ,at this moment they are playing ball4 ,this is the manner of the game3 ,tara sits in a high chair and throws the ball as far as she can4 ,evu dashes after it like an excited kitten1 and kitten-wise badly wants to tumble over and worry it2 for it is made of bits of wool1 which1 as every sensible baby knows1 were only put in to be pulled out4 ,she resists the temptation1 however1 and presents the ball to ,tara with a somewhat inconsequent ,tankou6 ,tankou6 returns ,tara politely1 and tosses the ball again4 ,this time ,evu sits down with her back to ,tara1 and proceeds to investigate the ball4 ,it is perfectly fascinating4 ,the ends are all loose and quite easily pulled out4 ,evu forgets all about ,tara in her keen desire to see to the far end of this delight4 ,evu6 comes from the chair in accents of dignified surprise4 ,tala6 exclaims ,evu abashed1 and hurries up with the ball4 ,tankou6 she says as before1 and ,tara responds ,tankou6 ,this is an integral part of the game4 ,if either forgets it1 the other corrects her by remarking inquiringly1 ,tankou8 whereupon the echo replies in a tone of apology1 ,tankou6 ,both these babies are devout1 as most things ,indian are4 ,but ,evu cannot sit still long enough to be promoted to go to church2 and perhaps this is the reason why in religious matters ,tara takes the lead1 for she does go to church4 ,in secularities it is always ,evu who initiates1 and ,tara admiringly follows4 ,the ball game was exceptional only because ,evu prefers the rle of kitten to that of queen4 ,this little characteristic is shown in common ways4 ,the two are sitting on your knee entirely comfortable and content4 ,the prayer-bell rings4 ,down struggles ,tara4 ,to prayers ,i must go6 she says with decision in ,tamil4 ,evu too1 urges ,evu1 also in ,tamil4 ,tum6 says ,tara in superior ,english1 and waits4 ,evu tums1 and they hastily depart4 ,or it is the time for evening hymns and good-night kisses4 ,we have sung through the chief favourites1 ending always with1 ,jesus1 tender ,shepherd4 ,now sing1 ',oh1 luvvly lily g'oing in our garden6' ,this from ,tara4 ,echo from ,evu3 ,yes2 ',oh1 luvvly lily g'oing in our garden6' ,you point out to the garden3 ,it is dark1 there are no lovely lilies to be seen2 besides1 that is not exactly a hymn2 shall we have ',jesus1 tender ,shepherd1' again1 and say good-night8 ,but this is not at all satisfactory4 ,tara looks a little hurt4 ,tender ,shepperd1 no6 ,oh1 luvvly lily6 ,evu wonders if we are making excuses4 ,perhaps we have forgotten the tune1 and she starts it3-- ,oh1 lovely lily1 ,growing in our garden1 ,who made a dress so fair ,for you to wear8 ,who made you straight and tall ,to give pleasure to us all8 ,oh1 lovely lily1 ,who did it all8 ,oh1 little children1 ,playing in our garden1 ,god made this dress so fair ,for us to wear4 ,god made us straight and tall ,to give pleasure to you all4 ,oh1 little children1 ,god did it all4 ,then ,tara smiles all round1 and you are given to understand you have earned your good-night kisses4 ,evidently to ,tara at least there is a sense of incompleteness somewhere if the lovely lilies are excluded from the family devotions4 ,to ,tara and to ,evu1 as to most babies1 the garden is a pleasant place4 ,but when they grow up and make gardens1 they will not fill them with forbidden joys as we do4 ,one of the temptations of life is furnished by inconsiderate ferns1 which hold their curly infant fronds just within reach4 ,then there are crotons1 with bright leaves aggressively yellow and delightful1 and there are tunflowers2 and the babies think us greedy in our attitude towards all these things4 ,the croton was especially alluring2 and one day ,tara was found tiptoe on a low wall1 reaching up with both hands1 eagerly pulling bits of leaf off4 ,she was brought to me to be judged2 and ,i said3 ,poor leaves6 ,shall we try to put them on again8 ,and hand in hand we went to the garden1 and ,tara tried4 ,but the pulled-off bits would not fit on again2 and ,tara's face was full of serious thought1 though she said nothing4 ,next day she was found on the same low wall1 reaching up tiptoe in the same sinful way to the shining yellow leaves overhead4 ,quite suddenly she stopped1 put her hands behind her back1 and never again was she known to pick croton leaves to pieces4 ,the same plan prevailed with the ferns4 ,the poor little crumples of silver and green moved her to pity1 and she left them to uncurl in peace when once she had tried and sadly failed to help them4 ,but the sunflowers' feelings did not affect her in quite the same way4 ,the kind we have in abundance is that little dwarf variety with a thin stalk1 and a cheerful face which smiles up at you even after you behead it1 and does not seem to mind4 ,tara was convinced such treatment did not hurt them4 ,they would stop smiling if it did4 ,but one day she suddenly seemed to feel a pang of compunction1 for she looked at the little useless heads and sighed4 ,i had suggested their being fitted on again1 as with the croton leaves and ferns4 ,but this idea had failed2 and what worked the change ,i know not1 for ,tara never told4 ,but tunflowers now are left in peace so far as she is concerned2 and she is learning to pick the free grasses and wild-flowers1 which happily grow for everybody1 and to make sure their stalks are long enough to go into water1 which is the last thing untutored babies seem to think important4 ,there is much to be done for all our children1 but perhaps for ,tara especially1 if she is to grow up strong in soul to fight the battles of life4 ,we felt this more than ever on the day of our last return from the hills1 after nearly seven weeks' absence4 ,on the evening when we left them1 we had gone round the nurseries after the little ones had fallen asleep1 and said goodbye to each of them without their knowing it2 but when we came to ,tara's mat1 and kissed the little sleeping face1 she stirred and said1 ,amma6 in her sleep2 and we stole away fearing she should wake and understand4 ,now in the early morning we were home again1 and all the children who were up were on the verandah to welcome us1 each in her own way4 ,it was ,tara's way which troubled us4 ,at first most of the babies were shy1 for six weeks are like six years to the very young2 but soon there was a general rush and a thoroughly cheerful chatter4 ,tara did not join in it4 ,she stood outside the little dancing dazzle of delight--the confusion of little animated coloured dots is rather like the shake of a kaleidoscope--and she just looked and looked4 ,then1 as we drew her close1 the little hands felt and stroked one's face as if the evidence of eye and ear were not enough to make her sure beyond a doubt that her own had come back to her2 and then1 as the assurance broke1 she clung with a little cry of joy1 and suddenly burst into tears4 ,if only we could hold her safe and sheltered in our arms for ever6 ,how the longing swept through one at that moment3 for the winds of the world are cold4 ,but it cannot be1 it should not be1 for such love would be weak indeed4 ,rather do we long to brace the gentle nature so that its very sensitiveness may change to a tender power1 and the fountain of sweet waters refresh many a desert place4 ,but who is sufficient for even this8 ,handle the little soul carelessly1 harden rather than brace1 misinterpret the broken expression1 misunderstand the signs--and the sweet waters turn to bitterness4 ,god save us from such mistake6 ,we covet prayer for our children4 ,we want to know that around them all is thrown that mysterious veil of protection which is woven out of prayer4 ,we need prayer1 too1 for ourselves1 that our love may be brave and wise4 ,evu's disposition is different4 ,it would not be easy to imagine ,evu overcome by her feelings as ,tara was at that hour of our return4 ,one cannot imagine a kitten shedding tears of joy2 and ,evu is a kitten1 a dear little ,persian kitten1 with nothing worse than mischief at present to account for4 ,of that there is no lack4 ,oh1 it is ,evu6 we say1 and everyone knows what to expect when it is ,evu4 ,evu's chief sentiment that morning1 so far as she expressed it1 was rather one of wonder at our ignorant audacity4 ,you vanished in the night when we were all asleep1 and now you suddenly drop from the skies before we are properly awake1 and expect us all to begin again exactly where we left off4 ,how little you know of babies6 ,doubtless this sentence was somewhat beyond her in language2 but ,evu is not dependent on language1 and she conveyed the sense of it to us4 ,she backed out of reach of kisses1 and stood with a small finger upraised2 much as a kitten might raise its paw in mock protest to its mother4 ,she soon made friends1 however1 and proved herself an affectionate kitten1 though wholly unemotional4 ,when ,tara is naughty1 as she is at times1 like most people of only three1 a reproachful look brings her spirits down to the lowest depths of distress4 ,evu is more inclined to hold up that funny little warning first finger1 and shake it straight in your face4 ,this1 at two and a half1 is terrible presumption2 but the brown eyes are so innocent1 you cannot be too shocked4 ,sometimes1 however1 the case is worse1 and ,evu tries to sulk4 ,she sits down solemnly on the ground1 and throws her four fat limbs about in a dreadful recklessness1 supposed to strike the grown-up offender dumb with awe and penitence4 ,sometimes she even tries to put out her lower lip1 but it was not made a suitable shape1 for it smiles in spite of itself2 and then there is a sudden spring2 and two little arms are round your neck1 and you are being told1 if you know how to listen1 what a very tiresome thing it is to feel obliged to sin4 ,then1 with the comforting sense of irresponsible kittenhood fully restored1 ,evu discovers some new diversion1 and you find yourself weakly wishing kittens need not grow into cats4 ,,chapter ,,vi ,principalities1 ,powers1 ,rulers ,,it may seem a quick transition from nursery to battle-field2 but rightly to understand this story1 it must be remembered that our nursery is set in the midst of the battle-field4 ,it is a little sheltered place1 where no sound of war disturbs the babies at their play1 and the flowers bloom like the babies in happy unconsciousness of battles1 and make a garden for us and fill it full of peace2 but underlying the babies' caresses and the sweetness of the flowers there is always a sense of conflict just over1 or soon coming on4 ,we let the elastic go in the nursery4 ,we are happy1 light-hearted children with our children2 sometimes we even wonder at ourselves2 and then remember that the happiness of the moment is a pure1 bright gift1 not meant to be examined1 but just enjoyed1 and we enjoy it as if there were no battles in the world or any sadness any more4 ,and yet this book comes hot from the fight4 ,it is not a retrospect written in the calm after-years1 when the outline of things has grown indistinct and the sharpness of life is blurred4 ,there is nothing mellowed about a battle-field4 ,even as ,i write these words1 the post comes in and brings two letters4 ,one tells of a child of twelve in whom the first faint desires have awakened to lead a different life4 ,she is a ,temple girl4 ,pray that she may have grace to hold on2 and that if she does1 we may be guided through the difficult legal complications4 ,poor little girl6 ,it makes one sick to think of her spoiled young life6 ,the other is a ,tamil letter1 about another child who is in earnest1 so far as the writer can ascertain1 to escape from the life planned out for her4 ,she learned about ,jesus at school1 and responded in her simple way2 but was suddenly taken from school1 and shut up in the back part of the house and not allowed to learn any more4 ,like a little dove fluttering in a cage1 so she seemed to me4 ,but she is a timid dove1 and the house is full of wickedness4 ,how will she hold out against it8 ,by ,god's grace ,i was allowed to see her for one moment alone4 ,i gave her a little ,gospel4 ,she kissed it with her eyes 7touched her eyes with it71 and hid it in her dress4 ,only a little while ago we traced a bright young ,brahman girl to a certain ,temple house1 and by means of one of our workers we made friends with her4 ,the child1 a little widow1 was ill1 and was sent to the municipal hospital for medicine4 ,it was there our worker met her1 and the child whispered her story in a few hurried words4 ,she had been kidnapped 7she had not time to tell how71 and shut up in the ,temple house1 and told she must obey the rules of the house and it was useless to protest4 ,if we could help you1 she was asked1 would you like to come to us8 ,the child hesitated--the very name ,christian was abhorrent to her--but after a moment's doubt she nodded1 and then slipped away4 ,our worker never saw her again4 ,the conversation must have been noticed by the child's escort1 and reported4 ,she was sent off to another town1 and all attempts to trace her failed4 ,and the god to whom these young child-lives are dedicated8 ,in ,south ,india all the greater symbols of deity are secluded in the innermost shrine1 the heart of the ,temple4 ,in our part of the country the approach to the shrine is always frequented by ,brahman priests1 who would never allow the foreigner near1 even if he wished to go near4 ,far1 far6 remove thyself far6 would be the immediate command1 did any polluting presence presume to draw near the shrine4 ,there are idols by the roadside1 and these are open to all2 but they are lesser creations4 ,the ,great1 as the people call that which the ,temple contains1 is something apart4 ,it is to these--,the ,great--that little children are dedicated2 the whole ,temple system is worked in their name4 ,have you ever seen the god to whom your little ones would have been given8 is a question we are often asked2 and until a few days ago we always answered1 ,never4 ,but now we have seen it1 seen it unexpectedly and unintentionally1 as we waited for an opportunity to talk to the crowds of people who had assembled to see it being ceremonially bathed4 ,we cannot account for our being allowed to see it1 except by the fact that the ,brahmans had withdrawn for the moment1 and we being1 as our custom is1 in ,indian dress1 were not noticed in the crowd4 ,near the place where the idol was being bathed1 with much pomp by the priests1 was a little rest-house1 where we had waited till some child told us all was over4 ,then we came out and mingled with the throng1 not fearing they would misunderstand our motive4 ,while we talked with them1 the ,brahmans1 who had been bathing in the river after the water had been sanctified by the god1 began to stream up the steps and pass through the crowd1 which opened respectfully and made a wide avenue within itself3 for well the smallest child in that crowd understood that no touch might defile those ,brahmans as they walked1 wringing out their dripping garments and their long black hair4 ,how we searched the faces as they passed6--sensual1 cynical1 cold faces1 faces of utter carelessness1 faces full of pride and aloofness4 ,but there were some so different--earnest faces1 keen faces1 faces sensitive and spiritual4 ,oh1 the pathos of it all6 ,how our hearts went out to these1 whose eager wistfulness marked them out as truly religious and sincere6 ,how we longed that they should hear the word1 ,come unto ,me1 and ,i will give you rest6 ,they passed1 men young and old1 women and children1 and very many widows2 and then suddenly two palanquins which had been standing near were carried down to the awning where the idol had been bathed2 and before we realised what was happening1 they passed us4 ,in the first was the disk1 the symbol of the god2 in the second1 the god itself4 ,we wrestle not against flesh and blood2 but against principalities1 against powers1 against the rulers of the darkness of this world1 against spiritual wickedness in high places--this was the word that flashed through us then4 ,that small1 insignificant1 painted1 and bejewelled image1 in its gaudy little palanquin1 was not only that4 ,it was the visible representative of ,powers4 ,we thought of a merry child in our nursery who was dedicated at birth to this particular ,power4 ,by some glad chance that little girl was the first to run up to us in welcome upon our return home in the evening4 ,we thought of her with thankfulness which cannot be expressed2 but the sorrow of other children bound to this same god swept over us as we stood gazing after the palanquins1 till they became a coloured blur in the shimmering sunshine4 ,there was one such1 a bright little child of eight1 who was in attendance upon an old blind woman belonging to that ,temple4 ,yes1 she had answered to our distressed questions1 she is my adopted daughter4 ,should ,i not have a daughter to wait upon me and succeed me8 ,how can ,i serve the god1 being blind8 ,we thought of another1 only six1 who was to be given to the service when she was a suitable age4 ,her parents were half-proud and half-ashamed of their intention2 and when they knew we were aware of it1 they denied it1 and we found it impossible to do anything4 ,we turned to the people about us4 ,they were laughing and chatting1 and the women were showing each other the pretty glass bangles and necklets they had bought at the fair4 ,glorious sunshine filled the world1 the whole bright scene sparkled with life and colour1 and all about us was a lucid paradise of air4 ,but only as souls we saw the folk thereunder1 and our spirit was stirred within us4 ,there is something very solemn in such a scene--something that must be experienced to be understood4 ,the pitiful triviality1 the sense of tremendous forces at work among these trivialities2 the people1 these crowds of people1 absorbed in the interests of the moment--and ,eternity so near2 all this and much more presses hard upon the spirit till one understands the old ,hebrew word3 ,the burden which the prophet did see4 ,does this sound intolerant and narrow1 as if no good existed outside our own little pale8 ,surely it is not so4 ,we are not ignorant of the lofty and the noble contained in the ancient ,hindu books2 we are not of those who cannot recognise any truth or any beauty unless it is labelled with our label4 ,we know ,god has not left ,himself without witnesses anywhere4 ,but we know--for the ,spirit of ,truth ,himself has inspired the description--how desolate is the condition of those who are without ,christ4 ,we dare not water down the force of such a description till the words mean practically nothing4 ,we form no hard1 presumptuous creed as to how the ,god of all the earth will deal with these masses of mankind who have missed the knowledge of ,him here2 we know ,he will do right4 ,but we know1 with a knowledge which is burnt into us1 how very many of the units live who compose these masses4 ,we know what they are missing to-day1 through not knowing our blessed ,saviour as a personal1 living ,friend2 and we know what it means to the thoughtful mind to face an unknown to-morrow4 ,a ,hindu in a town in the northern part of our district lay dying4 ,he knew that death was near1 and he was in great distress4 ,his friends tried to comfort him by reminding him of the gods1 and by quoting stanzas from the sacred books2 but all in vain4 ,nothing brought him any comfort1 and he cried aloud in his anguish of soul4 ,then to one of the watchers came the remembrance of how1 as a little lad1 he had seen a ,christian die4 ,in his desperation at the failure of all attempts to comfort the dying man1 he thought of this one little1 far-back memory2 and though he could hardly dare to hope there would be much help in it1 he told it to his friend4 ,the ,christian was ,ragland1 the missionary4 ,he was living in a little house outside the town1 when a sudden hmorrhage surprised him1 and he had no time to prepare for death4 ,he just threw himself upon his bed1 and looking up1 exclaimed1 ,jesus6 and passed in perfect peace4 ,outside the window was a little ,hindu boy1 unobserved by any in the house4 ,he had climbed up to the window1 and1 leaning in1 watched all that happened1 heard the one word ,jesus1 saw the quick and peaceful passing2 and then slipped away unnoticed4 ,the dying ,hindu listened as his friend described it to him4 ,and this little faint ray was the only ray of comfort that lightened the dark way for him4 ,compare that experience with this3-- ,the missionary to whom this tale was told by the ,hindu who had tried to console his dying friend1 was himself smitten with dangerous illness1 and lay in the dim borderland1 unable to think or frame a prayer4 ,then like the melody of long familiar music1 without effort1 without strain1 came the calming words of the old prayer3 ,lighten our darkness1 we beseech ,thee1 ,o ,lord2 and by ,thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night2 for the love of ,thine only ,son1 our ,saviour1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,could any two scenes present a more moving contrast8 ,could any contrast contain a more persuasive call8 ,as we went in and out among the crowd1 there were many who turned away uninterested2 but some listened1 and some sat down by the wayside to read aloud1 in the sing-song chant of the ,east1 the little booklets or ,gospels we gave them4 ,we1 who are constantly among these people1 feel our need of a fresh touch1 as we speak with them and see them day by day4 ,we need renewed compassions1 renewed earnestness4 ,it is easy to grow accustomed to things1 easy to get cool4 ,we pray not only for those at home1 who as yet are not awake to feel the eloquence and the piteousness of the great voiceless silence of these lands1 but we pray for ourselves with ever deepening intensity3-- ,oh for a love1 for a burning love1 like the fervent flame of fire6 ,oh for a love1 for a yearning love1 that will never1 never tire6 ,lord1 in my need ,i appeal unto ,thee2 ,oh1 give me my heart's desire6 ,,chapter ,,vii ,how the ,children ,come ,,they come in many ways through the help of many friends4 ,we have told before,a how our first two babies came to us through two pastors1 one in the north1 the other in the south of our district4 ,since then many ,indian pastors and workers1 and several warm-hearted ,christian apothecaries and nurses in ,government service1 have become interested2 with the result that little children who must otherwise have perished have been saved4 ,one little babe1 who has since become one of our very dearest1 was redeemed from ,temple life by the wife of a leading pastor1 who was wonderfully brought to the very place where the little child was waiting for the arrival of the ,temple people4 ,we have seldom known a more definite leading4 ,i being in the way1 the ,lord led me1 was surely true of that friend that day1 and of other ,indian sisters who helped her4 ,later1 when she came to stay with us1 she told us about it4 ,when first ,i heard of this new work1 ,i was not in sympathy with it4 ,i even talked against it to others4 ,but when ,i saw that little babe1 so innocent and helpless1 and so beautiful too1 then all my heart went out to it4 ,and now---- ,tears filled her eyes4 ,she could not finish her sentence4 ,nor was there any need2 the loving ,indian heart had been won4 ,my mother was with us when this baby came2 and she adopted her as her own from the first1 and always had the little basket in which the baby slept put by her bedside4 ,when the mosquitoes began to be troublesome1 the basket was slipped under her own mosquito net1 lest the little pink blossom should be disturbed4 ,but the baby did not thrive at first2 and the pink1 instead of passing into buff1 began to fade into something too near ivory for our peace of mind4 ,it was then the friend who had saved the little one came to stay with us2 and she proposed taking her and her nurse out to her country village1 in hopes of getting a foster-mother for her there4 ,so my mother1 the pastor's wife1 the baby1 and her nurse1 went out to the ,good ,news ,village1 and stayed in the pastor's hospitable home4 ,the hope which had drawn them there was not fulfilled2 but the memory of that visit is fresh and fragrant4 ,we read of alienation between ,indian ,christians and missionaries4 ,we are told there cannot be much mutual affection and contact4 ,we often wonder why it should be so1 and are glad we know by experience so little of the difficulty1 that we cannot understand it4 ,we have found ,india friendly1 and her ,christians are our friends4 ,in these matters each can only speak from personal experience4 ,ours has been happy4 ,there may be unkindness and misunderstanding in ,india1 as in ,england2 but nowhere could there be warmer love1 more tender affection4 ,all sorts of people help us in this work of saving the children4 ,once it was a convert-schoolboy who saw a widow with a baby in her arms4 ,noticing the bright large eyes1 and what he described as the blossoming countenance of the child1 he got into conversation with the mother1 and learned that she had been greatly tempted by ,temple women in the town1 who had admired the baby and wanted to get it4 ,if ,i give her to them1 she will never be a widow1 was the allurement there4 ,the bitterness of widowhood had entered into her soul1 and poisoned the very mother-love within her2 and yet there was something of it left1 for she did not want her babe to be a widow4 ,the boy1 with the leisureliness of the ,east1 dropped the matter there2 and only in a casual fashion1 a week or so later1 mentioned in a letter that he had seen this pretty child1 and that probably1 the mother would end in yielding to the temptation to give her to the ,temple--but it may be by the grace of ,god that you will be able to save her4 ,we sent at once to try to find the mother2 but she had wandered off1 and no one knew her home4 ,however1 the boy was stirred to prayer1 and we prayed here2 and a search through towns and villages resulted at last in the mother being traced and the child being saved4 ,christian women have helped us4 ,one such1 sitting on her verandah after her morning's work1 heard two women in the adjoining verandah discuss the case of a widow who had come from ,travancore with a bright little baby-girl1 whom she had vowed she would give to one of our largest temples4 ,the ,christian woman had heard of the ,dohnavur nurseries1 and at once she longed to save this little child1 but hardly knew how to do it4 ,she feared to tell the two women she had overheard their conversation1 so in the simplicity of her heart she prayed that the widow might be detained and kept from offering her gift till our worker1 old ,dvai1 could come2 and she wrote to old ,dvai4 ,happily ,dvai was at home when the letter reached her2 otherwise days would have been lost1 for her wanderings are many4 ,she went at once1 and found the mother most reasonable4 ,her idea had been to acquire merit for herself1 and an assured future for her child1 by giving it to the gods2 but when the matter was opened to her1 she was willing to give it to us instead4 ,in her case1 as in the other1 our natural instinct would have been to try to make some provision by which the mothers could keep their babies2 but it would not have been possible4 ,the cruel law of widowhood had begun to do its work in them4 ,the ,temple people's inducements would have proved too much for them4 ,the children would not have been safe4 ,once it was a man-servant who saved a lovely child4 ,he heard an aside in the market which put him on the track4 ,the case was very usual4 ,the parents were dead1 and the grandmother was in difficulties4 ,for the parents' sake she wanted to keep the dear little babe2 but she was old1 and had no relatives to whose care she could commit it4 ,mercifully we were the first to hear about this little one2 for even as a baby she was so winning that ,temple people would have done much to get her1 and the old grandmother would almost certainly have been beguiled into giving her to them4 ,how often it has been so6 ,she will be brought up carefully according to her caste4 ,all that is beautiful will be hers1 jewels and silk raiment4 ,the hook concealed within the shining bait is forgotten4 ,the old grandmother feels she is doing her best for the child1 and the little life passes out of her world4 ,it is a dear little thing1 and the man 7its grandfather7 seemed really fond of it4 ,he said he would not part with it2 but its parents are both dead1 and he did not know what might happen to it if he died4 ,this from the letter of a fellow-missionary1 who saved the little one and sent her out to us1 is descriptive of many4 ,not the measure of a rape-seed of sleep does she give me4 ,i have done my best for her since her mother died1 but her noise is most vexatious4 ,this was a father's account of the matter only a week or two ago4 ,have you no women relations8 we asked him4 ,numerous are my womenfolk1 but they are all cumbered with children3 how can they help me8 ,given these circumstances of difficulty1 and the strong under-pull of ,temple influence--is it wonderful that many an orphaned babe finds her way to the ,temple house8 ,for in the ,south the child of the kind we are seeking to save is never offered to us because there is no other place where she is wanted4 ,everywhere there are those who are searching for such children2 and each little one saved represents a counter-search1 and somewhere1 earnest prayer4 ,the mystery of our work1 as we have said before1 is the oftentimes apparent victory of wrong over right4 ,we are silent before it4 ,god reigns2 ,god knows4 ,but sometimes the interpositions are such that our hearts are cheered1 and we go on in fresh courage and hope4 ,among our earliest friends were some of the ,london ,missionary ,society workers of ,south ,travancore4 ,one of these friends interested her ,biblewomen2 and when1 one morning1 one of these ,biblewomen passed a woman with a child in her arms on the road leading to a well-known ,temple1 she was ready to understand the leading1 and made friends with the mother4 ,she found that even then she was on her way to a ,temple house4 ,a few minutes later and she would not have passed her on the road4 ,there was something to account for this directness of leading4 ,at that time we had our branch nursery at ,neyoor1 in ,south ,travancore1 ten miles from the place where the ,biblewoman met the mother4 ,on that same morning1 ,ponnamal1 who was in charge there1 felt impelled to go to the upper room to pray for a little child in danger4 ,she remained in prayer till the assurance of the answer was given1 and then returned to her work4 ,that evening a bandy drove up to the nursery1 and she saw the explanation of the pressure and the answer to the prayer4 ,a little child was lifted out of the bandy1 and laid in her arms4 ,she stood with her nurses about her1 and together they worshipped ,god4 ,this prayer-pressure has been often our experience when special help is needed to effect the salvation of some little unknown child4 ,it was our ,prayer-day1 ,july #f1 #aijg4 ,three of us were burdened with a burden that could not be lightened till we met and prayed for a child in peril4 ,we had no knowledge of any special child1 though1 of course1 we knew of many in danger4 ,when we prayed for the many1 the impression came the more strongly that we were meant to concentrate upon one4 ,who1 or where1 we did not know4 ,five days later1 a letter reached us from a friend in the ,wesleyan ,mission1 working in a city five hundred miles distant4 ,the letter was written on the #hth3-- ,on the morning of the #fth1 a woman who knows our ,biblewomen well1 told them of a little ,brahman baby in great danger2 so ,j4 and two others went at once and spent the greater part of the morning trying to save the child4 ,it was in the house of a so-called ,temple woman1 who had adopted it1 and she had taken every care of it4 ,for some reason she wanted to go away1 and could not take it with her4 ,two or three women of her own kind were there and wanted it4 ,one had money in her hand for it4 ,but ,j4 had already got the baby into her arms1 and reasoned and persuaded until the woman at last consented4 ,they at once brought it here4 ,had the friendly woman not told ,j41 the baby would now be in the hands of the second ,temple woman4 ,i visited the woman afterwards4 ,she had two grown girls in the room with her1 the elder such a sweet girl4 ,she told me openly it was all according to custom1 and that ,god had arranged their lives on those lines1 and they could not do otherwise4 ,it is terribly sad1 and such houses abound4 ,happenings of this sort--if the word happen is not irreverent in such a connection--have a curiously quieting effect upon us4 ,we are very happy2 but there is a feeling of awe which finds expression in words which1 at first reading1 may not sound appropriate2 but we write for those who will understand3-- ,oh1 fix ,thy chair of grace1 that all my powers ,may also fix their reverence 4 4 4 ,scatter1 or bind1 or bend them all to ,thee6 ,though elements change and ,heaven move1 ,let not ,thy higher court remove1 ,but keep a standing ,majesty in me4 ,,footnote3 ,a ,overweights of ,joy4 ,,chapter ,,viii ,others ,illustration3 ,,sturdy ,,and ,,stolid1 ,,and ,,little ,,veera --whose story1 however1 is different4 ,,we have some children who were not in ,temple danger1 but who could not have grown up good if we had not taken them4 ,if peril to the soul is of importance1 wrote the pastor who sent us two little girls1 then it is important you should take them3 so we took them4 ,these little ones were in peril to the soul1 because their nominal ,christian mother had1 after her husband's death1 married a ,hindu1 against the rules of her religion and his4 ,the children were under the worst influence2 and both were winning little things1 who might have drifted anywhere4 ,we have found it impossible to refuse such little ones1 even though danger of the ,temple kind may not be probable4 ,such a child1 for example1 is the little girl the ,moslem is ready to adopt and convert to the faith4 ,our first redeemed from this captivity 7literally slavery under the name of adoption7 was a cheerful little person of six1 with the sturdy air the camera caught1 and a manner all her own4 ,an ,american missionary in an adjoining district heard of her and her little sister1 and wrote to know if we would take them if he could save them4 ,we could not say ,no2 so he tried1 and succeeded in getting the elder child2 the little one had been already adopted1 and he could not get her4 ,the whole affair was the most astonishing thing ,i have ever seen in ,india1 he wrote when he sent the little girl4 ,the child upon arrival made friends with another1 and confided to her in a burst of confidence3 ,ah1 she was a jewel1 my own little sister--not like me1 not dark of skin1 but 'fair' and tender2 and the great man in the turban saw her and desired her1 and he took her away2 and she cried and cried and cried1 because she was only such a very little girl4 ,the business was being discussed out in the open street--the writer was another missionary--the pastor heard of it from a ,christian who was passing1 and saw the cluster of ,muhammadans round the mother and her children4 ,it was touch-and-go with the child4 ,these two1 ,sturdy and ,stolid1 side by side in the photograph1 are in all ways quite unlike the typical ,temple child2 but the danger from which they were delivered is as real1 and perhaps in its way as grave4 ,one of the sweetest of our little girls1 a child with a spiritual expression which strikes all who see her1 came to us through a young catechist who heard of her and persuaded her people to let her come to ,dohnavur4 ,she is an orphan2 and being fair and very gentle1 needed a mother's care4 ,her nearest relatives had families of their own1 and were not anxious for this addition to their already numerous daughters2 and the little girl1 feeling herself unwanted1 was fretting sadly4 ,then an offer came to the relations--not made expressly in words1 but implied--by which they would be relieved of the responsibility of the little niece's future4 ,all would not have been straight for the child1 however1 and they hesitated4 ,the temptation was great2 and in the end it is probable they would have yielded1 had not the catechist heard of it1 and influenced them to turn from temptation4 ,it was the evening of our ,prayer-day when the little ,pearl came2 and when we saw the sweet little face1 with the wistful1 questioning eyes like the eyes of a little frightened dog taken away alone among strangers1 and when we heard the story1 and knew what the child's fate might have been1 then we welcomed her as another ,prayer-day gift4 ,we do not look for gratitude in this work2 who does8 ,but sometimes it comes of itself2 and the grateful love of a child1 like the grateful love of a little affectionate animal lifted out of its terror and comforted1 is something sweet and tender and very good to know4 ,the ,pearl says little2 but her soft brown eyes look up into ours with a trustful expression of peaceful happiness2 and as she slips her little hand into ours and gives it a tight squeeze1 we know what her heart is saying1 and we are content4 ,two more of these others are the two in the photograph who are playing a pebble game4 ,their parents died leaving them in the care of an aunt1 a perfectly heartless woman whose record was not of the best4 ,she starved the children1 though she was not poor2 and then punished them severely when1 faint with hunger1 they took food from a kindly woman of another caste4 ,finally she gave them to a neighbour1 telling her to dispose of them as she liked4 ,about this time our head worker1 ,ponnamal1 was travelling in search of a child of whom we had heard in a town near ,palamcottah4 ,she could not find the child1 and1 tired and discouraged1 turned into the large ,church ,missionary ,society hall1 where a meeting was being held to welcome our new ,bishop4 ,as ,ponnamal was late1 she sat at the back1 and could not hear what was going on2 so she gave herself up to prayer for the little child whom she had not found1 and asked that her three days' journey might not be all in vain4 ,illustration3 ,,pebbles4 ,as she prayed in silence thus1 another woman came in and sat down at the back near ,ponnamal4 ,when ,ponnamal looked up1 she saw it was a friend she had not met for years4 ,she began to tell her about her search for the child2 and this led on to telling about the children in general1 and the work we were trying to do4 ,the other had known nothing of it all before2 but as she listened1 a light broke on her face1 and she eagerly told ,ponnamal how that same morning she had come across a ,hindu woman in charge of two little girls4 ,the ,tamils when they meet1 however casually1 have a useful habit of exchanging confidences4 ,the woman had told ,ponnamal's friend what her errand was4 ,ponnamal's talk about children in danger recalled the conversation of the morning4 ,in a few hours more ,ponnamal was upon the track of the ,hindu woman and her two little charges4 ,it ended in the two little girls being saved4 ,,chapter ,,ix ,old ,dvai ,,she has been called ,old ,dvai ever since we knew her1 twelve years ago2 and she is still active in mind and body4 ,as ,i was then1 even so is my strength now for war1 both to go out and to come in1 she would tell you with a courageous toss of the old grey head4 ,her spirit at least is untired4 ,we knew her first as a woman of character4 ,one ,sunday1 in our ,tamil church1 a sermon was preached upon the love of the ,father as compared with the love of the world4 ,that ,sunday ,dvai went home and acted upon the teaching in such fashion that she had to suffer from the scourge of the tongue in her own particular world4 ,but she went on her way1 unmoved by adverse criticism4 ,some years later1 when we were in perplexity as to how to set about our search for children in danger of being given to temples1 old ,dvai offered to help4 ,she was peculiarly suitable1 both in age and in position1 for this most delicate work2 and we accepted her offer with thanksgiving4 ,since then she has travelled far1 and followed many a clue discovered in strange ways and in strange company4 ,perhaps no one in ,south ,india knows as much as ,dvai knows about the secret system by which the ,temple altars are supplied with little living victims2 but she has no idea of how to put her knowledge into shape and express it in paragraph form4 ,we learn most from her when she least knows she is saying anything interesting4 ,when first we began the work1 our great difficulty was1 as it is still1 to get upon the track of the children before the ,temple women heard of them4 ,once they were known to be available1 ,temple scouts appeared mysteriously alert2 and it is doubly difficult to get a little child after negotiations have been opened with the subtle ,temple scout4 ,how often old ,dvai has come to us sick at heart after a long1 fruitless search and effort to save some little child who1 perhaps1 only an hour before her arrival was carried off in triumph by the ,temple people6 ,i pursued after the bandy1 and ,i saw it in the distance2 but swiftly went their bullocks1 and ,i could not overtake it4 ,at last they stopped to rest1 and ,i came to where they were4 ,but they smiled at me and said3 ',did you ever hear of such a thing as you ask in foolishness8 ,is it the custom to give up a child1 once it is ours8' ,sometimes a new story is invented on the spot4 ,did you not know it was my sister's child2 and ,i1 her only sister1 having no child of my own1 have adopted this one as my own8 ,would you ask me to give up my own child1 the apple of my eye8 ,oftener1 however1 the clue fails1 and all ,dvai knows is that the little one is nowhere to be found4 ,once she traced it straight to a ,temple house1 won her way in1 and pleaded with tears1 offering all compensation for expenses incurred 7travelling and other7 if only the ,temple woman would let her take the child4 ,but no3 ,if it dies1 that matters little2 but disgrace is not to be contemplated4 ,when all else fails1 we earnestly ask that the little one in danger may be taken quickly out of that polluted atmosphere up into purer air2 and it is startling to note how solemnly the answer to that prayer has come in very many instances4 ,the clue for which we are always on the watch is often like a fine silk thread leading down into dark places where we cannot see it1 can hardly feel it2 it is so thin a thread4 ,sometimes1 when we thought we held it securely1 we have lost it in the dark4 ,sometimes it seems as if the ,evil ,one1 whose interest in these little ones may be greater than we know1 lays a false clue across our path1 and bewilders us by causing us to spend time and strength in what appears to be a wholly useless fashion4 ,once old ,dvai was lured far out of our own district in search of two children who did not even exist4 ,she had taken all precautions to verify the information given1 but a false address had baffled her2 and we can only conclude that1 for some reason unknown to us1 but well known to those whom we oppose1 they were permitted on that occasion to gain an advantage over us4 ,we made it a rule1 after that will-of-the-wisp experience1 that any address out of our own district must be verified2 and that the nearest missionary thereto1 or responsible ,indian ,christian1 must be approached1 before further steps are taken4 ,this rule has saved many a fruitless journey2 but also we cannot help knowing it has sometimes occasioned delays which have had sad results4 ,for distances are great in ,india4 ,dvai herself lives two days' journey from us1 and her address is uncertain1 as she sets off at a moment's notice for any place where she has reason to think a child in danger may be saved4 ,then1 too1 missionaries and responsible ,indian ,christians are not everywhere4 ,so that sometimes it is a case of choosing the lesser of two evils1 and choosing immediately4 ,illustration3 ,,latha 7,,firefly7 ,,blowing ,,bubbles4 ,once in the night a knock came to ,dvai's door4 ,a man stood outside1 a ,hindu known to her4 ,a little girl has just been taken to the ,temple of ,a41 where the great festival is being held4 ,if you go at once you may perhaps get her4 ,the place named was out of our jurisdiction2 but in such cases ,dvai knows rules are only made to be broken4 ,off she went on foot1 got a bandy en route1 reached the town before the festival was over1 found the house to which she had been directed--a little shut-up house1 doors and windows all closed--managed1 how we never knew1 to get in1 found a young woman1 a ,temple woman from ,travancore1 with a little child asleep on the mat beside her1 persuaded her to slip out of the house with the child without wakening anyone1 crept out of the town and fled away into the night1 thankful for the blessed covering darkness4 ,the child was being kept in that house till the ,temple woman to whom she was to be given produced the stipulated ,joy-gift1 after which she would become ,temple property4 ,some delay in its being given had caused that night's retention in the little shut-up house4 ,the child1 a most lovable little girl1 had been kidnapped and disguised2 and the matter was so skilfully managed1 that we have never been able to discover even the name of her own town4 ,we only know she must have been well brought up1 for she was from the first a refined little thing with very dainty ways4 ,she and her little special friend are sitting on the steps looking at ,latha 7,firefly71 who is blowing bubbles4 ,the other little one has a similar but different history4 ,her father brought her to us himself1 fearing lest she should be kidnapped by one related to her who much wanted to have her4 ,i1 being a man1 cannot be always with the child1 he said1 and ,i fear for her4 ,on another occasion the clue was found through ,dvai's happening to overhear the conversation of two men in a wood in the early morning4 ,one said to the other something about someone having taken ,it somewhere2 and ,dvai1 whose scent is keen where little ,its are concerned1 made friends with the men1 and got the information she wanted from them4 ,careful work resulted in a little child's salvation2 but ,dvai hardly dared believe it safe until she reached ,dohnavur4 ,when that occurred we were all at church2 for special services were being held in week-day evenings1 and old ,dvai had to possess her soul in patience till we came out of church4 ,then there was a rush round to the nursery1 and an eager showing of the ,it4 ,i shall never forget the pang of disappointment and apprehension4 ,several little ones had been sent to us who could not possibly live2 and the nurses had got overborne1 and we dreaded another strain for them4 ,it was a tiny thing1 three pounds and three-quarters of pale brown skin and bone4 ,its face was a criss-cross of wrinkles1 and it looked any age4 ,but ,man looketh upon the outward appearance would have been assuredly quoted to us1 regardless of context1 had we ventured upon a remark to old ,dvai1 who poured forth the story of its salvation in vivid sentences4 ,next evening the old grannie of the compound told us the baby could not live till morning4 ,she laid it on a mat and regarded it critically1 felt its pulses 7both wrists71 examined minutely its eyes and the bridge of its nose3 ,no1 not till morning4 ,better have the grave prepared1 for early morning will be an inconvenient hour for digging4 ,others confirmed her diagnosis1 and sorrowfully the order was given and the grave was dug4 ,but the baby lived till morning2 and though for two years it needed a nurse to itself1 and over and over again all but left us1 this baby has grown one of our healthiest2 and now when old ,dvai comes to see us she looks at it1 and then to ,heaven1 and sighs with gratitude4 ,,chapter ,x ,failures8 ,,but sometimes old ,dvai brings us little ones who do not come to stay4 ,failures1 the world would call them4 ,twice lately this has happened1 and each time unexpectedly2 for the babies had stories which seemed to imply a promise of future usefulness4 ,surely such a deliverance must have been wrought for something special1 we say to ourselves1 and refuse to fear4 ,one dear little fat fair baby was brought to us as a surprise1 for we had not heard of her4 ,it had seemed so improbable that ,dvai could get her1 that she had not written to us to ask us to pray her through the battle1 as she usually does4 ,the sound of the bullock-bells' jingle one moonlight night woke us to welcome the baby4 ,she had travelled fifty miles in the shaky bullock-cart1 and she was only a few days old2 but she seemed healthy1 and we had no fears4 ,ah1 the ,lord our ,god gave her to me1 or never could ,i have got her6 ,her mother had determined to give her to the ,temple2 and when ,i went to persuade her1 she hid the baby in an earthen vessel lest my eyes should see her4 ,but earthen pots cannot hide from the eyes of the ,lord4 ,and here she is6 ,the details1 fished out of ,dvai by dint of many questions1 made it clear that in very truth the ,lord1 to whom all souls belong1 had worked on behalf of this little one2 moving even ,hindu hearts1 as ,his brave old servant pleaded1 making it possible to break through caste and custom1 those prison walls of most cruel convention1 till even the ,hindus said3 ,let the ,christian have the babe6 ,we do not know why she was taken4 ,she never seemed to sicken1 but just left us2 perhaps she was needed somewhere else1 and ,dohnavur was the way there4 ,the other meant even more to us1 for she was our first from ,benares1 the heart of this great ,hinduism2 and her very presence seemed such a splendid pledge of ultimate victory4 ,this little one was saved through a friend1 a ,wesleyan missionary1 who had interested her ,indian workers in the children4 ,the baby's mother was a pilgrim from ,benares1 and her baby had been born in the ,south4 ,a ,temple woman had seen it and was eager to get it1 for it was a child of promise4 ,our friend's worker heard of this1 and interposed4 ,the mother consented to give her baby to us4 ,it was not a case in which we dare have persuaded her to keep it2 for such babies are greatly coveted1 and the mother was already predisposed to give her child to the gods4 ,when we heard of this little one1 old ,dvai was with us4 ,she had only just arrived after a journey of two days with a little girl1 but she knew the perils of delay too well to risk them now4 ,let me go6 ,i will have some coffee1 and immediately start6 ,so off she went for five more days of wearisome bullock-cart and train4 ,but her face beamed when she returned and laid a six-weeks-old baby in our arms--a baby fair to look upon4 ,we gathered round her at once1 and she lay and smiled at us all4 ,hardly ever have we had so sweet a babe4 ,but the smiling little mouth was too pale a pink1 and the beautiful eyes were too bright4 ,she had only been with us a month when we were startled by the other-world look on the baby's face4 ,we had seen it before2 we recognised it1 and our hearts sank within us4 ,that evening1 as she lay in her white cradle1 the waxy hands folded in an unchildlike calm1 she looked as if the angel of ,death had passed her as she slept1 and touched her as he passed4 ,she stayed with us for another month1 and was nursed day and night till more and more she became endeared to us2 and then once more we heard the word that cannot be refused1 and we let her go4 ,we laid passion-flowers about her as she lay asleep4 ,the smile that had left her little face had come back now4 ,she came with a smile1 and she went with a smile1 said one who loved her dearly2 and the flowers of mystery and glory spoke to us1 as we stood and looked4 ,who for the joy that was set before ,him 4 4 4 endured4 ,the scent of the violet passion-flower will always carry its message to us4 ,let us be worthy of the grief ,god sends4 ,and oh that such experiences may make us more earnest1 more self-less in our service for these little ones6 ,someone has expressed this thought very tenderly and simply3-- ,because of one small low-laid head1 all crowned ,with golden hair1 ,for evermore all fair young brows to me ,a halo wear4 ,i kiss them reverently4 ,alas1 ,i know ,the pain ,i bear6 ,because of dear but close-shut holy eyes ,of heaven's own blue1 ,all little eyes do fill my own with tears1 ,whate'er their hue4 ,and1 motherly1 ,i gaze their innocent1 ,clear depths into4 ,because of little pallid lips1 which once ,my name did call1 ,no childish voice in vain appeal upon ,my ears doth fall4 ,i count it all my joy their joys to share1 ,and sorrows small4 ,because of little dimpled hands ,which folded lie1 ,all little hands henceforth to me do have ,a pleading cry4 ,i clasp them1 as they were small wandering birds1 ,lured home to fly4 ,because of little death-cold feet1 for earth's ,rough roads unmeet1 ,i'd journey leagues to save from sin and harm ,such little feet4 ,and count the lowliest service done for them ,so sacred--sweet4 ,but grief is almost too poignant a word for what is so stingless as this4 ,and yet ,god the ,father1 who gives the love1 understands and knows how much may lie behind two words and two dates4 ,given 4 4 4 ,taken 4 4 4 ,only indeed we do bless ,him when the cup holds no bitterness of fear or of regret4 ,there is nothing ever to fear for the little folded lambs4 ,if only the veil of blinding sense might drop from our eyes when the door opens to our cherished little children1 should we have the heart to toil so hard to keep that bright door shut8 ,would it not seem almost selfish to try8 ,but the case is different when the child is not lifted lovingly to fair lands out of sight1 but snatched back1 dragged back down into the darkness from which we had hoped it had escaped4 ,this work for the children1 which seems so strangely full of trial of its own 7as it is surely still more full of its own particular joy71 has held this bitterness for us1 and yet the bitter has changed to sweet2 and even now in our twilight of short knowledge we can understand a little1 and where we cannot we are content to wait4 ,four years ago1 after much correspondence and effort1 a little girl was saved from ,temple service in connection with a famous ,temple of the ,south from which few have ever been saved4 ,she had been dedicated by her father1 and her mother had consented4 ,dvai got a paper signed by them giving her up to us instead4 ,but shortly after she left the town1 the father regretted the step he had taken1 and followed ,dvai1 unknown to her4 ,alas1 the child had not been with us an hour before she was carried off4 ,for two years we heard nothing of her4 ,old ,dvai1 who was broken-hearted about the matter1 tried to find what had been done with her1 but it was kept secret4 ,she almost gave up in despair4 ,at last information reached her that the child was in the same town2 and that her father having died of cholera1 the mother and another little daughter were in a certain house well known to her4 ,she went immediately and found the older child had not been given to the gods4 ,something of her pleadings had lingered in the father's memory1 and he had refused to give her up4 ,but the mother was otherwise minded1 and intended to give both children to the ,temple4 ,dvai had been guided to go at the critical time of decision4 ,the mother was persuaded1 and ,dvai returned with two sheaves instead of one--and even that one she had hardly dared to expect4 ,once more we were called to hold our gifts with light hands4 ,the younger of the welcome little two was one of ten who died during an epidemic at ,neyoor4 ,the elder one is with us still--a bright1 intelligent child4 ,the only other one whom we have been compelled to give up in this most hurting way was saved through friends on the hills1 who1 before they sent the little child to us1 believed all safe as to claims upon her afterwards4 ,she was a pretty child of five1 and we grew to love her very much2 for her ways were sweet and gentle and very affectionate4 ,lala1 ,lola1 and ,leela were a dear little trio1 all about the same age1 and all rather specially interesting children4 ,but the father gave trouble4 ,he was not a good man1 and we knew it was not love for his little daughter which prompted his action4 ,he demanded her back1 and our friends had to telegraph to us to send her home4 ,it was not an easy thing to do2 and we packed her little belongings feeling as if we were moving blindly in a grievous dream1 out of which we must surely awaken4 ,there was some delay about a bandy1 but at last it was ready and standing at the door4 ,we lifted the little girl into it1 put a doll and a packet of sweets in her hands1 and gave our last charges to those who were taking her up to the hills1 workers upon whom we could depend to do anything that could yet be done to win her back again4 ,then the bandy drove away4 ,but we went back to our room and asked for a great and good thing to be done4 ,we thought of little ,lala1 with her gentle nature which had so soon responded to loving influence1 and we knew her very gentleness would be her danger now2 for how could such a little child1 naturally so yielding in disposition1 withstand the call that would come1 and the pressure that had broken far stronger wills8 ,so we asked that she might either be returned to us soon or taken away from the evil to come4 ,a week passed and our workers returned without her2 they evidently felt the case quite hopeless4 ,but the next letter we had from our friends told us the child was safe4 ,she had left us in perfect health1 but pneumonia set in upon her return to the colder air of the hills4 ,she had been only a few days ill1 and died very suddenly--died without anyone near her to comfort her with soothing words about the ,one to whom she was going4 ,even in the gladness that she was safe now1 there was the pitiful thought of her loneliness through the dark valley2 and we seemed to see the little wistful face1 and felt she would be so frightened and shy and bewildered2 and we longed to know something about those last hours4 ,but one of the heathen women who had been about her at the last told what she knew1 and our friends wrote what they heard4 ,she said she was ,jesus' child1 and did not seem afraid4 ,and she said that she saw three ,shining ,ones come into the room where she was lying1 and she was comforted4 ,oh1 need we ever fear8 ,little ,lala had been with us for so short a time that we had not been able to teach her much2 and so far as any of us know1 she had heard nothing of the ministry of angels4 ,we had hardly dared to hope she understood enough about our ,lord ,himself to rest her little heart upon ,him4 ,but we do not know everything4 ,little innocent child that she was1 she was carried by the angels from the evil to come4 ,old ,dvai keeps a brave heart4 ,when she comes to see us1 she cheers herself by nursing the cheerful little people she brought to us1 small and wailing and not very hopeful4 ,she is full of reminiscences on these occasions4 ,ah1 she will say1 addressing an astonished two-year-old1 the devil and all his imps fought for you1 my child6 ,this is unfamiliar language to the baby2 but ,dvai knows nothing of our modern ideas of education1 and considers crude fact advisable at any age4 ,yes1 he fought for you1 my child4 ,i was sitting on the verandah of the house wherein you lay1 and ,i was preaching the ,gospel of the grace of ,god to the women1 when five devils appeared4 ,yea1 five were they1 one older and four younger4 ,men were they in outward shape1 but within them were the devils4 ,i had nearly persuaded the women to let me have you1 my child2 and till they fully consented1 ,i was filling up the interval with speech1 for no man shall shut my mouth4 ,and the women listened well1 and my heart burned within me--for it was life to me to see them listening--when lo6 those devils came--yea1 five1 one older and four younger--sent by their master to confound me4 ,and they rose up against me and turned me out1 and told the women folk not to listen2 and you--,i should never get you1 said they2 and so it appeared1 for with such is might1 and their master waxes furious when he knows his time is short4 ,but the ,lord on high is mightier than a million million devils1 and what are five to ,him8 ,he rose up for me against them and discomfited them--,dvai does not go into secular particulars--and so you were delivered from the mouth of the lion1 my child6 ,we are not anxious that our babies should know too much ancient history4 ,enough for them that they are in the fold-- ,i am ,jesus' little lamb1 ,happy all day long ,i am2 ,he will keep me safe from harm1 ,for ,i'm ,his lamb-- is enough theology for two-year-olds2 but ,dvai's visits are not so frequent as to make a deep impression1 and the baby thus addressed1 after a long and unsympathetic stare1 usually scrambles off her knee and returns unscathed to her own world4 ,,chapter ,,xi ,god ,heard3 ,god ,answered ,,old ,dvai1 with her vivid conversation about the one old devil and four younger1 does not suggest a conciliatory attitude towards the people of her land4 ,and it may be possible so to misinterpret the spirit of this book as to see in it only something unappreciative and therefore unkind4 ,so it shall now be written down in sincerity and earnestness that nothing of the sort is intended4 ,the thing we fight is not ,india or ,indian1 in essence or development4 ,it is something alien to the old life of the people4 ,it is not allowed in the ,vdas 7ancient sacred books74 ,it is like a parasite which has settled upon the bough of some noble forest-tree--on it1 but not of it4 ,the parasite has gripped the bough with strong and interlacing roots2 but it is not the bough4 ,we think of the real ,india as we see it in the thinker--the seeker after the unknown ,god1 with his wistful eyes4 ,the ,lord beholding him loved him1 and we cannot help loving as we look4 ,and there is the ,indian woman hidden away from the noise of crowds1 patient in her motherhood1 loyal to the light she has4 ,we see the spirit of the old land there2 and it wins us and holds us1 and makes it a joy to be here to live for ,india4 ,the true ,india is sensitive and very gentle4 ,there is a wisdom in its ways1 none the less wise because it is not the wisdom of the ,west4 ,this spirit which traffics in children is callous and fierce as a ravening beast2 and its wisdom descendeth not from above1 but is earthly1 sensual1 devilish4 4 4 4 ,and this spirit1 alien to the land1 has settled upon it1 and made itself at home in it1 and so become a part of it that nothing but the touch of ,god will ever get it out4 ,we want that touch of ,god3 ,touch the mountains1 and they shall smoke4 ,that is why we write4 ,for we write for those who believe in prayer--not in the emasculated modern sense1 but in the old ,hebrew sense1 deep as the other is shallow4 ,we believe there is some connection between knowing and caring and praying1 and what happens afterwards4 ,otherwise we should leave the darkness to cover the things that belong to the dark4 ,we should be for ever dumb about them1 if it were not that we know an evil covered up is not an evil conquered4 ,so we do the thing from which we shrink with strong recoil2 we stand on the edge of the pit1 and look down and tell what we have seen1 urged by the longing within us that the ,christians of ,england should pray4 ,only pray8 does someone ask8 ,prayer of the sort we mean never stops with praying4 ,whatsoever ,he saith unto you1 do it1 is the prayer's solemn afterword2 but the prayer we ask is no trifle4 ,lines from an ,american poet upon what it costs to make true poetry1 come with suggestion here3-- ,deem not the framing of a deathless lay ,the pastime of a drowsy summer day4 ,but gather all thy powers1 and wreck them on the verse ,that thou dost weave4 4 4 4 ,the secret wouldst thou know ,to touch the heart or fire the blood at will8 ,let thine eyes overflow1 ,let thy lips quiver with the passionate thrill4 ,arise1 cry out in the night2 in the beginning of the night watches pour out thine heart like water before the ,lord2 lift up thine hands towards ,him for the life of thy young children6 ,the story of the children is the story of answered prayer4 ,if any of us were tempted to doubt whether1 after all1 prayer is a genuine transaction1 and answers to prayer no figment of the imagination--but something as real as the tangible things about us--we have only to look at some of our children4 ,it would require more faith to believe that what we call the ,answer came by chance or by the action of some unintelligible combination of controlling influences1 than to accept the statement in its simplicity--,god heard3 ,god answered4 ,in ,october1 #aijh1 we were told of two children whose mother had recently died4 ,they were with their father in a town some distance from ,dohnavur2 but the source from which our information came was so unreliable that we hardly knew whether to believe it1 and we prayed rather a tentative prayer3 ,if the children exist1 save them4 ,for three months we heard nothing2 then a rumour drifted across to us that the elder of the two had died in a ,temple house4 ,the younger1 six months old1 was still with her father4 ,on ,christmas ,eve our informant arrived in the compound with his usual unexpectedness4 ,the father was near1 but would not come nearer because the following day being ,friday 7a day of ill-omen71 he did not wish to discuss matters concerning the child2 he would come on ,saturday4 ,on ,saturday he came1 carrying a dear little babe with brilliant eyes4 ,she almost sprang from him into our arms1 and we saw she was mad with thirst4 ,she was fed and put to sleep1 and hardly daring yet to rejoice 7for the matter was not settled with the father71 we took him aside and discussed the case with him4 ,there were difficulties4 ,a ,temple woman had offered a large sum for the child1 and had also promised to bequeath her property to her4 ,he had heard1 however1 that we had little children who had all but been given to ,temples1 and he had come to reconnoitre rather than to decide4 ,the position was explained to him4 ,but the ,temple meant to him everything that was worshipful4 ,how could anything that was wrong be sanctioned by the gods8 ,the child's mother had been a devout ,hindu2 and as we went deeper and deeper into things with him1 it was evident he became more and more reluctant to leave the little one with us4 ,her mother would have felt it shame and eternal dishonour4 ,we were in the little prayer-room1 a flowery little summer-house in the garden1 when this talk took place4 ,on either side are the nurseries1 and playing on the wide verandahs were happy1 healthy babes2 their merry shouts filled the spaces in the conversation4 ,sometimes a little toddling thing would find her way across to the prayer-room1 and break in upon the talk with affectionate caresses4 ,to our eyes everything looked so happy1 so incomparably better than anything the ,temple house could offer1 that it was difficult to adjust one's mental vision so as to understand that of the ,hindu beside us1 to whose thought all the happiness was as nothing1 because these babes would be brought up without caste4 ,in the ,temple house caste is kept most carefully4 ,if a ,temple woman breaks the rules of her community she is out-casted1 excommunicated4 ,you do not keep caste6 you do not keep caste6 the father repeated over and over again in utter dismay4 ,it was nothing to him that the babes were well and strong1 and as happy as the day was long2 nothing to him that cleanliness reigned1 so far as constant supervision could ensure it1 through every corner of the compound4 ,we did not profess to keep caste2 we welcomed every little child in danger of being given to ,temples1 irrespective altogether of her caste4 ,all castes were welcome to us1 for all were dear to our ,lord4 ,this was beyond him2 and he declared he would never have brought his child to us1 had he understood it before4 ,let her die rather6 ,there is no disgrace in death4 ,as he talked and expounded his views1 he argued himself further and further away from us in spirit1 until he became disgusted with himself for ever having considered giving the baby to us4 ,all this time the baby lay asleep2 and as we looked at the little face and noted the mother-want1 the appealing expression of pitiful weariness even in sleep1 it was all we could do to turn away and face the almost inevitable result of the conversation4 ,once the father1 a splendid looking man1 tall and dignified1 rose and stood erect in sudden indignation4 ,where is the babe8 ,i will take her away and do as ,i will with her4 ,she is my child6 ,we persuaded him to wait awhile as she was asleep1 and we went away to pray4 ,together we waited upon ,god1 whose touch turns hard rocks into standing water1 and flint-stone into a springing well1 beseeching ,him to deal with that father's heart1 and make it melt and yield4 ,and as we waited it seemed as if an answer of peace were distinctly given to us1 and we rose from our knees at rest4 ,but just at that moment the father went to where his baby slept in her cradle1 and he took her up and walked away in a white heat of wrath4 ,the little one was in an exhausted condition1 for she had not had suitable food for at least three days4 ,it was the time of our land-winds1 which are raw and cold to ,south ,indian people2 and it seemed that the answer of peace must mean peace after death of cold and starvation4 ,it would soon be over1 we knew2 twenty-four hours1 more or less1 and those great wistful eyes would close1 and the last cry would be cried4 ,but even twenty-four hours seemed long to think of a child in distress1 and her being so little did not make it easier to think of her dying like that4 ,so on ,sunday morning ,i shut myself up in my room asking for quick relief for her1 or--but this seemed almost asking too much--that she might be given back to us4 ,and as ,i prayed1 a knock came at the door1 and a voice called joyously1 ,oh1 ,amma6 ,amma6 ,come6 ,the father stands outside the church2 he has brought the baby back6 ,but the child was almost in collapse4 ,without a word he dropped the cold1 limp little body into our arms1 and prostrated himself till his forehead touched the dust4 ,we had not time to think of him1 we hardly noted his extraordinary submission1 for all our thought was for the babe4 ,there was no pulse to be felt1 only those far too brilliant eyes looked alive4 ,we worked with restoratives for hours1 and at last the little limbs warmed and the pulse came back4 ,but it was a bounding1 unnatural pulse1 and the restlessness which supervened confirmed the tale of the brilliant eyes--the little babe had been drugged4 ,from that day on till our ,prayer-day1 ,january #fth1 it was one long1 unremitting fight with death4 ,we wrote to our medical comrade in ,neyoor1 and described the symptoms1 which were all bad4 ,he could give us little hope4 ,gradually the brilliance passed from the eyes1 and they became what the ,tamils call dead4 ,the film formed after which none of us had ever seen recovery4 ,then we gathered round the little cot in the room we call ,tranquillity1 and we gave the babe her ,christian name ,vimala1 the ,spotless ,one2 for we thought that very soon she would be without spot and blameless1 another little innocent in that happy band of innocents who see ,his ,face4 ,on the evening of the #eth1 friends of our own ,mission who were with us seemed to lay hold for the life of the child with such fresh earnestness and faith1 that we ourselves were strengthened4 ,next morning we believed we saw a change in the little deathlike face1 and that evening we were sure the child's life was coming back to her4 ,it was not till then we thought of the father1 who1 after signing a paper made out for him by our pastor1 who is always ready to help us1 had returned to his own town4 ,when we heard all that had occurred we saw how our ,god had worked for us4 ,it was not fear of his baby's death that had moved the man to return to us4 ,what is the death of a babe8 ,let her die across my shoulders6 ,he was not afraid of the law4 ,after all persuasions had failed1 we had tried threats3 the thing he purposed to do was illegal4 ,the ,collector 7chief magistrate7 would do justice4 ,what care ,i for your ,collector8 ,how can he find me if ,i choose to lose myself8 ,how can you prove anything against me8 ,and in that he spoke the truth4 ,there are ways by which the intention of the law concerning little children can be most easily and successfully circumvented4 ,our pleadings had not touched him4 ,is she not my child8 ,was her mother not my wife8 ,who has the right to come between this child of mine and me her father8 ,and so saying he had departed without the slightest intention of coming back again4 ,but a ,power with which he did not reckon had him in sight2 and a ,hand was laid upon him1 and it bent him like a reed4 ,we hope some ray of a purer light than he had ever experienced found its way into his darkened soul1 and revealed to him the sin of his intention4 ,but we only know that he left his child and went back to his own town4 ,god had heard3 ,god had answered4 ,,chapter ,,xii ,to what ,purpose8 ,,among the closest of our little children's friends is one whose name ,i may not give1 lest her work should be hindered2 for in this work of saving the little ones1 though we have the sympathy of many1 we naturally have to meet the covert opposition of very many more1 and it is not well to give too explicit information as to the centres of supply4 ,this dear friend's help has been invaluable4 ,from the first she has stood by us1 interesting her friends1 ,indian and ,english1 in the children1 and stirring them into practical co-operation4 ,then1 when the babies have been saved and had to be cared for and sent off1 she made nothing of the trouble1 and above all she has never been discouraged4 ,sometimes things have been difficult4 ,some have doubted1 and many have criticised1 and even the kindest have lost heart4 ,this friend has never lost heart4 ,for not all the chapters of the ,temple children's story can be written down and printed for everyone to read4 ,we think of the unwritten chapters1 and remember how often when the pressure was greatest the thought of that undiscouraged comrade has been strength and inspiration4 ,no one except those who1 in weakness and inexperience1 have tried to do something not attempted before can understand how the heart prizes sympathy just at the difficult times1 and how such brave and steadfast comradeship is a thing that can never be forgotten4 ,among the babies saved through this friend's influence was one with a short but typical story4 ,the little mite was seen first in her mother's arms1 and the mother was standing by the wayside1 as if waiting4 ,something in her attitude and appearance drew the attention of an ,indian ,christian1 whom our friend had interested in the work1 and she got into conversation with the mother1 who told her that her husband had died a fortnight before the baby's birth1 and she1 being poor though of good caste1 was much exercised about the little one's future4 ,how could she marry her properly8 ,she had come to the conclusion that her best plan would be to give her to the ,temple4 ,so she was even then waiting till someone from a ,temple house would come and take her little girl4 ,the news that such a child is to be had soon becomes known to those who are on the watch1 and it is improbable that the mother would have had long to wait4 ,the ,christian persuaded her to give up the idea1 and the little babe was saved and sent to us4 ,on the journey to ,dohnavur a ,temple woman chanced to get into the carriage where the little baby slept in its basket4 ,there was nothing to tell who she was2 and like the other women in the carriage1 she was greatly interested in its story4 ,but presently it became evident that her interest was more than superficial4 ,she looked well at the baby and was quiet for a time2 then she said to the ,christian who was bringing it to us3 ,i see it is going to be an intelligent child4 ,let me have it2 ,i will pay you4 ,the ,christian of course refused1 and asked her how she knew it was going to be intelligent4 ,look at its nose1 said the ,temple woman4 ,see1 here is money6 and she offered it4 ,let me have the baby6 ,you can tell your ,missie ,ammal it died in the train6 ,sometimes our babies have to run greater risks than this in their journeys south to us4 ,the distances which have to be covered by train and bullock-cart are great1 and the travelling tedious4 ,and there are many delays and opportunities for difficulties to arise2 so that when we know a baby is on its way to us we feel we want to wrap it round in prayer1 so that1 thus invisibly enveloped1 it will be protected and carried safely all the way4 ,once a little child1 travelling to us from a place as distant1 counting by time1 as ,rome is from ,london1 was observed by some ,brahman men1 who happened to be at the far end of the long third-class carriage4 ,our worker1 who was alone with the child1 noticed the whispering and glances toward her little charge1 and wrapped it closer in its shawl1 and1 as she said1 looked out of the window as if she were not at all afraid1 and prayed much in her heart4 ,presently a station was reached4 ,the language spoken there was not her vernacular1 but she understood enough to know something was being said about the baby4 ,then an official appeared1 and there was a cry quite understandable to her3 ,a ,brahman baby6 ,that ,christian there is kidnapping a ,brahman baby6 ,the official stopped at the carriage door4 ,she was pushed towards him amidst a confused chatter1 a crowd gathered at the door in a moment1 and someone shouted in ,tamil1 above the excited clamour on the platform3 ,pull her out6 ,a ,christian with a ,brahman baby6 ,then did my heart tremble6 ,i held the baby tight in my arms4 ,the man in clothes said1 ',show it to me6' ,and he looked at its hands and he looked at its feet1 and he said3 ',this is no child of yours6' ,but as ,i began to explain to him1 the train moved1 and he banged the door2 and ,i praised ,god6 ,india is a land where strange things can be accomplished with the greatest ease4 ,as all went well it is idle to imagine what might have been2 but we knew enough to be thankful4 ,among the unwritten chapters is one which touches a problem4 ,there are some little children--often the most valuable to the ,temple women--who cannot live with us1 but can live with them1 because the baby in the ,temple house is nursed by a foster-mother for the sake of merit1 and thus it is given its best chance of life2 whereas with us it is impossible to get foster-mothers4 ,indian children of the castes approved for the service are not1 as a class1 as robust as others2 the secluded lives of their mothers1 and the rigid rules pertaining to widows 7girl-children born after the mother becomes a widow are1 as has been seen1 in special danger71 partly account for this2 and in other cases there are other reasons4 ,whatever the cause1 however1 the effect is manifest4 ,the baby is seldom the little bundle of content of our ,english nurseries4 ,it may become so later on1 if all goes well4 ,often it lives upon its birth-strength for four months1 or less1 and then slips away4 ,we have often hesitated about taking such babies2 and then we have found that by refusing one who is likely to die we have discouraged those who were willing to help us1 and the next baby in danger has been taken straight to the house where its welcome was assured4 ,so we have hardly ever dared to refuse1 and we have taken little fragile things whose days we knew were numbered unless a foster-mother could be found1 for it seemed to us that death with us was better than life with the ,temple people2 and also we have not dared to risk losing the next1 who might be healthy4 ,one dies1 one lives1 say the ,temple women in their wisdom1 and take all who are suitable in caste and in appearance4 ,she will be 'fair1' or1 ,she will be intelligent1 settles the matter for them4 ,they give the baby a chance3 should we do less8 ,one night ,i woke suddenly with the feeling of someone near1 and saw1 standing beside my bed out on the verandah1 the friend who has sent us so many little ones4 ,she had something wrapped in a shawl in her arms1 and as she moved the shawl a thin cry smote me with a fear1 for a baby who has come to stay does not cry like that4 ,it was a dear little baby1 one of the type the ,temple women prize1 and will take so much trouble to rear4 ,the little head was finely formed1 and the tiny face1 in its minute perfection of feature1 looked as if some fairy had shaped it out of a cream rose-petal4 ,alas1 there was that look we know so well and fear so much--that look of not belonging to us1 the elsewhere1 other-world look4 ,but we could not do this work at all1 we would not have the heart to do it1 if we did not hope4 ,so we go on hoping4 ,the baby filled the next half-hour1 for a thing so small can be hungry and say so2 and together we heated the water and made the food1 till1 satisfied at length that her little charge was comfortable1 our friend lay down to rest4 ,jesus therefore being weary with ,his journey1 sat thus on the well4 ,there is something in the utter weariness after a long1 hot journey1 ending with seven hours in a bullock-cart over rough tracks by night1 which always recalls that word of human tiredness4 ,how ,i wished that the morning were not so near as ,i saw my friend asleep at last6 ,a few hours later she was on her homeward way1 and we were left with our hopes and our fears1 and the baby4 ,for three weeks we hoped against fear1 till there was no room left for any more hope1 or for anything but prayer that the child might cease to suffer4 ,and after a month of struggle for life1 the tiny1 tossing thing lay still4 ,to what purpose is this waste8 ,was it strange that the question came again to ourselves1 and to others too8 ,our dear friend's toilsome travelling--a journey equal in expenditure of time to one from ,london to ,vienna and back again1 and very much more exhausting1 the faithful nurse's patience1 the little baby's pain6 ,and all the love that had grown through the weeks1 and all the efforts that had failed1 the very train ticket and bandy fare--was it all as water spilt on the ground8 ,was it waste8 ,we knew in our hearts it was not4 ,the dear little babe was safe2 and it might be that our having taken her1 though she was so very delicate1 would result in another1 a healthy child1 being saved1 who1 if she had been refused1 would never have been brought4 ,this hope comforted us2 and we prayed definitely for its fulfilment1 and it was fulfilled4 ,for shortly after that little seed had been sown in death1 information came from the same source through which she had been saved1 that another child was in danger of being adopted by ,temple women2 and this information would not have been given to our friend had the first child been refused4 ,nundinie we called this little gift3 the name means ,happiness4 ,sometimes in moments of depression and disappointment we go for change of air and scene to the ,prmalia nursery2 and the baby ,nundinie1 otherwise ,dimples1 of whom more afterwards1 comes running up to us with her welcoming smile and outstretched arms2 while others1 with stories as full of comfort1 tumble about us1 and cuddle1 and nestle1 and pat us into shape4 ,then we take courage again1 and ask forgiveness for our fears4 ,it is true our problems are not always solved1 and perhaps more difficult days are before2 but we will not be afraid4 ,sometimes a sudden light falls on the way1 and we look up and still it shines3 and what can we do but follow the ,gleam8 ,,chapter ,,xiii ,a ,story of ,comfort ,illustration3 ,,seela ,,is ,,the ,,baby ,,in ,,the ,,middle4 ,she slipped into the picture at the last moment1 and so was caught unawares4 ,mala is to the right2 ,nullinie to the left4 7,this little one's left hand and foot are partially paralyzed through drugging in infancy47 ,,among the stories of comfort is one that belongs to our merry little ,seela4 ,she is bigger now than when the despairing photographer broke thirteen plates in the vain attempt to catch her2 but she is still most elusive and alluring1 a veritable baby1 though over two years old4 ,some months ago1 the ,iyer measured her1 and told her she was thirty-two inches of mischief4 ,for weeks afterwards1 when asked her name1 she always replied with gravity1 ,terty-two inses of mistef4 ,all who have to do with babies know how different they can be in disposition and habits4 ,there is the shop-window baby1 who shows all her innocent wares at once to everyone kind enough to look4 ,she is a charming baby4 ,and there is the little wild bird of the wood1 who will answer your whistle politely1 if you know how to whistle her note2 but she will not trust herself near you till she is sure of you4 ,seela is that sort of baby4 ,we have watched her when she has been approached by some unfamiliar presence1 and seen her summon all her baby dignity to keep her from breaking into tears of overwhelming shyness4 ,give her time to observe you from under long1 drooping lashes2 give her time to make sure--then the mischief will sparkle out1 and something of the real child4 ,but only something1 never all1 till you become a relation2 with those who are only acquaintances ,seela1 like ,bala1 has many reserves4 ,seela's joy is to be considered old and allowed to go to the kindergarten4 ,she takes her place with the bigger babies1 and tries to do all she sees them do4 ,sometimes a visitor looks in1 and then ,seela1 naturally1 will do nothing2 but if the visitor is wise and takes no notice1 she will presently be rewarded by seeing the eager little face light up again1 and the fat hands busily at work4 ,seela is not supposed to be learning very seriously2 but she seems to know nearly as much as some of the older children1 and her quaint attempts at ,english are much appreciated4 ,seela has her faults4 ,she likes to have her own way1 and once was observed to slap severely an offender almost twice her own size2 but on the whole she is a peaceful little person1 beloved by all the other babies1 both senior and junior4 ,her great ambition is to follow ,chellalu into all possible places of mischief4 ,anything ,chellalu can do ,seela will attempt2 and as she is more brave than steady on her little feet1 she has many a narrow escape4 ,her latest escapade was to follow her reckless leader in an attempt to walk round the top of the back of a large armchair1 the cane rim of which is a slippery slant1 two inches wide4 ,on the morning of her arrival1 not liking to leave her even for a few minutes1 ,i carried her to the early tea-table1 when she saw the ,iyer and smiled her first smile to him4 ,from that day on she has been his loyal little friend4 ,at first his various absences from home perplexed her4 ,she would toddle off to his room and hunt everywhere for him1 even under his desk and behind his waste-paper basket1 and then she returned to the dining-room with a puzzled little face4 ,iyer is not6 ,where is he1 ,seela8 ,gone to ,heaven6 was her invariable reply4 ,when he returned from that distant sphere she never displayed the least surprise4 ,that is not our babies' way4 ,she calmly accepted him as a returned possession2 stood by his chair waiting for the invitation1 ,climb up2 climbed up as if he had never been away--and settled down to bliss4 ,part of this bliss consists in being supplied with morsels of toast and biscuit and occasional sips of tea4 ,sometimes there is that delicious luxury1 a spoonful of the unmelted sugar at the bottom of the cup4 ,for ,seela is a baby after all1 and does not profess to be like grown-up people who do not appreciate nice things to eat1 being1 of course1 entirely superior to food2 but1 excitable little damsel as she is in all other matters1 her table manners are most correct1 and she shows her appreciation of kind attentions in characteristic fashion4 ,a smile1 so quick under the black lashes that only one on the look-out for it would see it1 a sudden confiding little nestle closer to the giver--these are her only signs of pleasure2 and if no notice is taken of her1 she sits in silent patience4 ,sometimes1 if politeness be mistaken for indifference1 a shadow creeps into her eyes1 a sort of pained surprise at the obtuseness of the great2 but she rarely makes any remark1 and never points or asks1 as the irrepressible ,chellalu does in spite of all our admonitions4 ,if1 however1 ,seela is being attended to and fed at judicious intervals1 and she knows the intention is to feed her comfortably1 then her attitude is different4 ,she feels a reminder will be acceptable2 and as soon as she has disposed of a piece of biscuit1 she quietly holds up an empty little hand1 and glances fearlessly up to the face that looks down with a smile upon her4 ,this little silent1 empty hand1 held up so quietly1 has often spoken to us of things unknown to our little girl2 and as if to enforce the lesson1 the other babies1 to our amusement1 apparently noticing the gratifying result of ,seela's upturned hand1 began to hold up their little hands with the same silent expectancy1 till all round the table small hands were raised in perfect silence1 by hopeful infants of observant habits and strong faith4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,cottage ,,nursery4 ,mala1 the rather stolid-looking little girl to the right of the photograph1 is ,seela's elder sister4 ,she is not so square-faced as the photograph shows her1 and she is much more interesting4 ,this little one seems to us to have in some special sense the grace of ,god upon her2 for her nursery life is so happy and blameless and unselfish1 that we rarely have to wish her different in anything4 ,her coming1 with little ,seela's1 is one of the very gladdest of our ,overweights of ,joy4 ,we heard of the little sisters through a mission schoolmaster1 who--knowing that they had been left motherless1 and that a ,hindu of good position had obtained something equivalent to powers of guardianship1 and thus empowered had placed them with a ,temple woman--was most anxious to save them1 and wrote to us2 and1 as he expressed it1 also earnestly and importunately prayed the benign ,british ,government to intervene4 ,the ,collector to whom the petition was sent was a friend of ours4 ,he knew about the nursery work1 and was ready to do all he could2 but he did not want a disturbance with the ,caste and ,temple people1 and so advised us to try to get the children privately4 ,we sent our wisest woman-worker1 ,ponnamal1 to the town1 and she saw the principal people concerned2 but they entirely refused to give up the children4 ,the man who had adopted them had got his authority from the local ,indian sub-magistrate2 and contended that as the ,government had given them to him1 no one had any right to take them from him2 and even if the ,government itself ordered me to give them up1 ,i never will4 ,i will never let them go4 ,this in ,tamil is even more explicit3 ,the hold by which ,i hold them ,i will never let go4 ,ponnamal returned1 weary in mind and in body1 after three days of travelling and effort2 she had caught a glimpse of the baby1 and the little face haunted her4 ,the elder child was reported very miserable1 and she had seen nothing of her4 ,the guardian1 of course1 had not dealt with her direct2 but she heard he had taken legal advice1 and was sure of his position4 ,there was nothing hopeful to report4 ,once again we tried1 but in vain4 ,by this time a new bond had been formed1 for the guardian had become attached to little ,seela1 and spent his time1 so we heard1 in playing with her4 ,he let it be known that nothing would ever make him give her up4 ,she is in my hand1 and my hand will never let go4 ,then suddenly news came that he was dead4 ,the baby had sickened with cholera4 ,he had nursed her and contracted the disease4 ,in two days he had died4 ,he had been compelled to let go4 ,then the feeling of all concerned changed completely4 ,it hardly needed the ,collector's order1 given with the utmost promptitude1 to cause the ,temple woman to give the children up4 ,to the ,indian mind1 quick to see the finger of ,god in such an event1 the thing was self-evident4 ,an unseen ,power was at work here4 ,who were they that they should withstand it8 ,a telegram told us the children were safe1 and next day we had them here4 ,the baby was happy at once2 but the elder little one1 then a child of about three and a half1 was very sorrowful4 ,she was so pitifully frightened1 too1 that at first we could do nothing with her2 and there was a look in her eyes that alarmed us1 it was so distraught and unchildlike4 ,my mother did her best for them1 wrote the kind schoolmaster to whose house the children had been taken when the ,temple woman gave them up2 but the elder one has fever4 ,she is always muttering to herself1 and can neither stand nor sit4 ,she could stand and sit now1 only there was the muttering1 and the terrible look of bewilderment worse than pain4 ,for days it was a question with us as to whether she would ever recover perfectly4 ,that first night we had to give her bromide1 and she woke very miserable4 ,next day she stood by the door waiting for her mother1 as it seemed2 for under her breath she was constantly whispering1 ,amma6 ,amma6 7,mother6 ,mother67 ,she never cried aloud1 only sobbed quietly every now and then4 ,she would not let us touch her1 but shrank away terrified if we tried to pet her4 ,all through the third day she sat by the door4 ,this was better than the weary standing1 but pitiful enough4 ,on the morning of the fourth day she sat down again for a long watch2 but once when her little hand went up to brush away a tear1 we saw there was a toy in it1 and that gave us hope4 ,that night she went to bed with a doll1 an empty tin1 and a ball in her arms2 and the next day she let us play with her in a quiet1 reserved fashion4 ,next morning she woke happy4 ,the babies teach us much1 and sometimes their unconscious lessons illuminate the deeper experiences of life4 ,one such illumination is connected in my mind with the little trellised verandah1 shown in the photograph1 of the cottage used as a nursery when ,mala and ,seela came to us4 ,it was the hour between lights1 and five babies under two years old were waiting for their supper--,seela1 ,tara1 and ,evu 7always a hungry baby71 ,ruhinie1 usually irrepressible1 but now in very low spirits1 and a tiny thing with a face like a pansy--all five thinking longingly of supper4 ,these five had to wait till the fresh milk came in1 as their food was special2 that evening the cows had wandered home with more than their usual leisureliness from their pasture out in the jungle1 and so the milk was late4 ,the babies1 who do not understand the weary ways of cows1 disapproved of having to wait1 and were fractious4 ,to add to their depression1 the boy whose duty it was to light the lamps and lanterns had been detained1 and the trellised verandah was dark4 ,so the five fretful babies made remarks to each other1 and threw their toys about in that exasperated fashion which tells you the limits of patience have been passed2 and the most distressed began to whimper4 ,at this point a lantern was brought and set behind me1 so that its light fell upon the discarded toys1 miscellaneous but beloved--a china head long parted from its body1 one whole new doll1 a tin with little stones in it1 a matchbox1 and other sundries4 ,if anything will comfort them1 their toys will1 ,i thought1 as ,i directed their attention to the tin with its pleasant rattling pebbles1 and the other scattered treasures on the mat4 ,but the babies looked disgusted4 ,toys were a mockery at that moment4 ,evu seized the china head and flung it as far as ever she could4 ,tara sat stolid1 with two fingers in her mouth4 ,seela turned away1 evidently deeply hurt in her feelings1 and the other two cried4 ,not one of them would find consolation in toys4 ,then the pansy-faced baby1 ,prsie1 pointed out to the bushes1 where something dangerous1 she was quite sure1 was moving2 and she wailed a wail of such infectious misery that all the babies howled4 ,and one rolled over near the lantern which was on the floor behind me1 and for safety's sake ,i moved it1 and its light fell on my face4 ,in a moment all five babies were tumbling over me with little exclamations of delight1 and they nestled on my lap1 caressing and content4 ,are there not evenings when our toys have no power to please or soothe8 ,there is not any rest in them or any comfort4 ,then the ,one whom we love better than all ,his dearest gifts comes and moves the lantern for us1 so that our toys are in the shadow but ,his face is in the light4 ,and ,he makes ,his face to shine upon us and gives us peace4 ,for ,thou1 ,o ,lord my ,god1 art above all things best2 4 4 4 ,thou alone most sufficient and most full2 ,thou alone most sweet and most comfortable4 ,thou alone most fair and most loving2 ,thou alone most noble and most glorious above all things2 in whom all things are at once and perfectly good1 and ever have been and shall be4 ,and therefore whatever ,thou bestowest upon me beside ,thyself1 or whatever ,thou revealest or promisest concerning ,thyself1 so long as ,i do not see or fully enjoy ,thee1 is too little1 and fails to satisfy me4 ,because1 indeed1 my heart cannot truly rest nor be entirely contented unless it rest in ,thee1 and rise above all ,thy gifts and all things created4 ,when shall ,i fully recollect myself in ,thee1 that through the love of ,thee ,i may not feel myself but ,thee alone1 above all feeling and measure in a manner not known to all8 ,,chapter ,,xiv ,pickles and ,puck ,illustration3 ,,pickles ,,and ,,her ,,friends4 ,pickles sits with her thumb in her mouth1 distrustful of photographers4 ,,amma6 ,amma6 then in baby ,tamil1 ,salala has come6 ,and one of the most enticing of the little interruptions to a steady hour's work scrambles over the raised doorstep1 tripping and tumbling in her eagerness to get in4 ,now she is staggering happily about the room on fat1 uncertain feet4 ,upsets are nothing to ,sarala4 ,she shakes herself1 rubs a bumped head1 smiles if you smile down at her1 and picks herself up with a sturdy independence that promises something for her future4 ,she has travelled to-day1 stopping only to visit her ,prma ,sittie1 a long way across the field all by herself4 ,she has braved tumbles and captures1 for her nurse may any minute discover her flight2 and even now1 safe in port1 she keeps a wary eye on the door which opens on the nursery side of the compound4 ,if she thinks ,i am about to suggest her departure1 she immediately engages me in some interest of her own4 ,she has ways and wiles unknown to any baby but herself2 and if all seems likely to fail1 she sits down on the floor1 and first puts out her lower lip as far as it will go1 and then springs up1 climbs over you1 clings with all four limbs at once1 and buries her curly tangle deep into your neck4 ,but if the case is hopeless1 she sits down on the floor again and digs her small fists into her eyes1 in silent indignation and despair4 ,then comes a howl impossible to smother1 and at last such bitter bursts of woe as nothing short of dire necessity can force you to provoke4 ,this is ,sarala1 one of the most affectionate1 most wilful1 most winsome of all the babies4 ,she is truthful4 ,she has just this moment pulled a drawing-pin out of its place1 which happened to be within reach1 and her solemn ,aiyo6 7,alas67 ,look1 ,amma6 shows she feels she has sinned1 but wants to confess4 ,life will have many a battle for this baby2 but surely if she is truthful and loving1 and we are loving and wise1 the ,lord who has redeemed her will carry her through4 ,her first great battle royal was with the new ,sittie1,b who immediately upon arrival loved the babies4 ,the battle was about ,sarala's evening meal1 which she refused to take from the new ,sittie because she had offended her small majesty a few minutes before by allowing another baby to share the lap of which ,sarala wished to have complete possession2 and the baby had crawled off disgusted with the ways of such a ,sittie4 ,as a rule we avoid collisions at bedtime4 ,the day should end peacefully for babies2 but the contest once begun had to be carried through1 for ,sarala is not a baby to whom it is wise to give in where a conflict of wills is concerned4 ,next morning it was evident she remembered all about it4 ,when the new ,sittie 7now called ,prma ,sittie by the children7,c came to the nursery1 ,sarala hurried off and would have nothing to do with her4 ,from the distance of the garden she would catch sight of her advancing form1 and retreat round a corner4 ,sometimes if ,prma ,sittie sat down on the floor and fondled another baby1 ,sarala would crawl up from behind1 put her arms round her neck1 and even begin to sit down on her knee2 but if her ,sittie made the first advance1 she was instantly repelled4 ,this continued for a fortnight2 and as ,sarala was only a year and eight months old at the time1 a fortnight's memory rather astonished us4 ,in the end she forgot1 and now there are no more devoted friends than ,prma ,sittie and ,sarala4 ,but it was the other ,sittie1 ,piria ,sittie by name1,d who first made ,sarala's acquaintance4 ,she and ,i went to ,neyoor together when the branch nursery was there2 and as the new nursery was almost ready for the babies1 we lightened the immense undertaking of removal by carting off whatever we could of furniture and infants4 ,sarala has eyes which can smile bewitchingly1 and a voice which can coo with delicious affection2 but those sweet eyes can look stormy1 and cooing is a sound remote from ,sarala's powers in opposite directions2 so we wondered1 as we packed her into the bandy1 what would happen that night4 ,if we had known ,sarala better we should not have wondered4 ,all this child wants to make her good is someone to hold on to4 ,she woke frequently during the night1 for we were not entirely comfortable1 wedged sideways and close as herrings in a barrel4 ,but all she did when she awoke was to push a soft little arm round either one or other of us1 and cuddle as close as she possibly could2 the least movement on our part1 however1 she deeply resented and feared4 ,a limpet on a rock is nothing to this baby4 ,her very toes can cling4 ,sarala's private name is ,pickles4 ,her twin in mischief is ,puck1 and she1 too1 is fond of paying visits to the bungalow4 ,but she always comes as a surprise2 she never announces herself4 ,you are busy with your back to the door when that curious feeling1 a sense of not being quite alone1 comes over you1 and you turn and see an elfish thing1 very still and small and shy1 but with eyes so comical that ,puck is the only possible name by which she could be called4 ,seen unexpectedly1 playing among the flowers in a fragment of green garment washed to the softness of a tulip leaf1 you feel she only needs a pair of small wings and a wand to be entirely in character4 ,puck has none of ,pickles' faults1 and a good many of her virtues4 ,she is a most good-tempered little person1 loving to be loved1 but equally delighted that others should share the petting4 ,she gives up to everybody1 and smiles her way through life2 such a comical little mouth it is1 to match the comical eyes4 ,all she ever asks with insistence is somewhere to play4 ,bereft of room to play1 ,puck might become disagreeable1 though a disagreeable ,puck is something unimaginable4 ,yesterday it was needful to keep her in the shade2 and as a special policeman-nurse could not be told off to keep watch over her1 she was tied by a long string to the nursery door4 ,at first she was sorely distressed2 but presently the comic side struck her1 and she sat down and began to tie herself up more securely4 ,if they do such things at all they should do them better1 she seemed to think4 ,and this is ,puck all through4 ,she will find the laugh hidden in things1 if she can4 ,sometimes in her eagerness to make everybody as happy as she is herself she gets into serious trouble4 ,she was hardly able to walk when she was discovered comforting a crying infant by taking a bottle of milk from an older babe 7who1 according to her thinking1 had had enough7 and giving it to the younger one who seemed to need it more4 ,what the older baby said is not recorded4 ,puck in trouble is a pitiful sight4 ,she tries not to give in to feelings of depression4 ,she screws her smiling lips tight1 twists her face into a pucker1 and shuts her eyes till you only see two slits marked by the curly eyelashes4 ,but if her emotions are too much for her she gives herself up to them thoroughly4 ,there is no whining or whimpering or sulking2 she wails with a wail that rivals ,pickles' howl4 ,what an awful child6 remarked a visitor one morning1 in a very shocked tone1 as she went the round of the nurseries and came upon ,puck on the floor abandoned to grief4 ,we wondered if our friend knew how much more awful most babies are1 and we wished the usually charming ,puck had chosen some other moment to disgrace herself and us4 ,but no1 there she sat1 her two small fists crushed over her mouth--for we insist that when the babes feel obliged to cry1 they shall smother the sound thereof as much as may be--and the visitor retired1 feeling1 doubtless1 thankful the awful child was not hers4 ,but ,puck's griefs are of short duration4 ,ten minutes later she was climbing the chain from which the swing hangs1 trying to fit her little toes into the links1 and laughing1 with the tears still wet on her cheeks1 because the chain shook so that she could not climb it properly1 though she tried it valiantly1 hand over head1 like a dancing bear on a pole4 ,puck's ,guardian ,angel1 like ,chellalu's1 must be ever in attendance4 ,,footnotes3 ,b ,miss ,lucy ,ross4 ,c ,prma means ,beloved4 ,d ,miss ,mabel ,wade1 who joined us ,november #ae1 #aijg4 ,piria1 like ,prma1 means ,beloved4 ,,chapter ,,xv ,the ,howler ,,pickles and ,puck at their worst and both together are nothing to the ,howler in her separate capacity4 ,we called her the ,howler because she howled4 ,we heard of her first through our good ,pakium1 who1 during a pilgrimage round the district1 paid a visit to the family of which she was the youngest member4 ,she lay in her cradle asleep--,pakium kindled over it--like an innocent little flower1 and she once opened her eyes--such eyes6--and smiled up in my face4 ,oh1 like a flower is the babe6 ,and much speech followed1 till we pictured a tender1 flower-like baby1 all sweetness and smiles4 ,her story was such as to suggest fears1 though on the surface things looked safe4 ,her grandfather1 a fine old man1 head of the house1 was sheltering the baby and her mother and three other children2 for the son-in-law had gone to ,colombo1 which in this case meant he desired to be free from the responsibilities of wife and family4 ,he had left no address1 and had not written after his departure4 ,so the old man had the five on his hands4 ,a ,temple woman belonging to a famous ,south-country ,temple1 knowing the circumstances1 had made a flattering offer for the baby1 then just three months old4 ,the grandfather had refused2 but the grandmother was religious1 and she felt the pinch of the extra five1 and secretly influenced her daughter1 so that it was probable the ,temple woman would win if she waited long enough4 ,and ,temple women know how to wait4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,dohnavur ,,country ,,in ,,flood4 ,a year passed quietly4 ,we had friends on the watch1 and they kept us informed of what was going on4 ,the idea of dedication was becoming gradually familiar to the grandfather1 and he was ill and times were hard4 ,but still we could do nothing1 for to himself and his whole clan adoption by ,christians was a far more unpleasant alternative than ,temple-dedication4 ,after all1 the ,temple people never break caste4 ,once a message reached us3 ,send at once1 for the ,temple women are about to get the baby2 and we sent1 but in vain4 ,a few weeks later a similar message reached us2 and again the long journey was made1 and again there was the disappointing return empty-handed4 ,it seemed useless to try any more4 ,about that time a comrade in ,north ,africa1 ,miss ,lilias ,trotter1 sent us her new little booklet1 ,the ,glory of the ,impossible4 ,as we read the first few paragraphs and roughly translated them for our ,tamil fellow-workers1 such a hope was created within us that we laid hold with fresh faith and a sort of quiet1 confident joy4 ,and yet1 when we wrote to our friends who were watching1 their answer was most discouraging4 ,the only bright word in the letter was the word ,impossible4 ,far up in the ,alpine hollows1 year by year1 ,god works one of ,his marvels4 ,the snow-patches lie there1 frozen into ice at their edges from the strife of sunny days and frosty nights2 and through that ice-crust come1 unscathed1 flowers in full bloom4 ,back in the days of the bygone summer the little soldanella plant spread its leaves wide and flat on the ground to drink in the sun-rays2 and it kept them stored in the root through the winter4 ,then spring came and stirred its pulses even below the snow-shroud4 ,and as it sprouted1 warmth was given out in such strange measure that it thawed a little dome of the snow above its head4 ,higher and higher it grew1 and always above it rose the bell of air till the flower-bud formed safely within it2 and at last the icy covering of the air-bell gave way and let the blossom through into the sunshine1 the crystalline texture of its mauve petals sparkling like the snow itself1 as if it bore the traces of the fight through which it had come4 ,and the fragile things ring an echo in our hearts that none of the jewel-like flowers nestled in the warm turf on the slopes below could waken4 ,we love to see the impossible done1 and so does ,god4 ,these were the sentences which we read together4 ,to the ,south ,indian imagination ,alpine snow is something quite inconceivable2 but the picture on the cover and snow-scene photographs helped1 and the ,indian mind is ever quick to apprehend the spiritual1 so the booklet did its work4 ,we have two seasons here1 the wet and the dry4 ,the dry is subdivided into hot1 hotter1 and hottest2 but the wet stands alone4 ,it is a time when the country round ,dohnavur is swamp or lake according to the level of the ground2 and we do not expect visitors--the heavy bullock-carts sink in the mud and make the way too difficult4 ,if a letter had come just then asking us to send for the baby1 we should certainly have tried to go2 but no letter came1 and it was then1 when everything said1 ,impossible1 that suddenly all resistance gave way and the grandfather said3 ,let her go to the ,christians4 ,illustration3 ,,pakium ,,and ,,naveena4 ,we were sitting round the dinner-table one wet evening1 thinking of nothing more exciting than the flying and creeping creatures which insisted upon drowning themselves in our soup1 when the jingle of bullock-bells made us look at each other incredulously2 and then1 without waiting to wonder who it was1 we all ran out and met ,rukma running in from the wet darkness4 ,it's it6 it's it6 she cried1 and danced into the dining-room1 decorum thrown to the pools in the compound4 ,look at it6 and we saw a bundle in her arms4 ,and it howled4 ,from that day on for nearly a week it continued consistently to howl4 ,we called the little thing ,naveena1 for the name means new2 and it was our nearest approach to ,soldanella1 which we should have called her if we did not keep to ,indian names for our babies4 ,new and fresh as that little flower of joy1 so was our new little gift to us1 a new token for good4 ,but flowers and howlers--the words draw their little skirts aside and refuse to touch each other4 ,from certain points of view1 in this case as so often1 the sublime and the ridiculous were much too close together4 ,the very crows made remarks about the baby when she wakened the morning with her howls4 ,mercifully for the family's nerves she fell asleep at noon2 but as soon as she woke she began again1 and went on till both she and we were exhausted4 ,there were no tears1 the big dark eyes were only entirely defiant2 and the baby stood straight up with her hands behind her back and her mouth open--that was all4 ,but we knew it meant pure misery1 though expressed so very aggressively2 and we coaxed and petted when she would allow us1 and won her confidence at last1 and then she stopped4 ,it took months to tame the little thing4 ,she had been allowed to do exactly as she liked2 for she was her grandfather's pet1 and no one might cross her will4 ,we had to go very gently2 but eventually she understood and became a dear little girl1 reserved but very affectionate1 and scampish to such a degree that ,chellalu1 discerning a congenial spirit1 decided to adopt her as her friend4 ,this fact was announced to us at the babies' ,bible-class1 when the word friend1 which was new to the babies1 was being explained4 ,it has four syllables in ,tamil1 and the babies love four-syllabled words4 ,they were rolling this juicy morsel under their tongues with sounds of appreciation1 when ,chellalu pointed across to ,naveena1 and with an air of possession remarked1 ,she is my friend4 ,the other babies nodded their heads1 ,yes1 ,naveena is ,chellalu's friend6 ,naveena looked flattered and very pleased4 ,these friends in a kindergarten class are rather terrible4 ,they are always separated--as the ,tamil would say1 if one sits north the other sits south--but even so there are means of communication4 ,this morning1 passing the door of the kindergarten room1 ,i looked in and saw something not included in the time-table4 ,we have a little yellow bellflower here which grows in great profusion2 and some vandal taught the babies to blow it up like a little balloon1 and then snap it on the forehead4 ,the crack it makes is delightful4 ,we do not like this game1 and try to teach the babies to respect the pretty flowers2 but there are so many sins in the world1 that we do not make another by actually forbidding it2 we trust to time and sense and good feeling to help us4 ,so it comes to pass that the worst scamps indulge in this game without feeling too guilty2 and now ,i saw ,chellalu with a handful of the flowers1 cracking them at intervals1 to the distraction of the teacher and the delight of all the class4 ,one other was cracking flowers too4 ,it was ,naveena1 and there was a method in her cracks4 ,when ,rukma turned to ,chellalu1 ,naveena cracked her flower4 ,when she turned to ,naveena1 then ,chellalu cracked hers4 ,how they had eluded the search which precedes admission to the kindergarten nobody knew2 but there they were1 each with a goodly handful of bells4 ,at a word from ,rukma1 however1 they handed them over to her with an indulgent smile1 and even offered to search the other babies in case they had secreted any2 and as ,i left the room the lesson continued as before1 but the friends' intention was evident3 they had hoped to be turned out together4 ,,chapter ,,xvi ,the ,neyoor ,nursery ,the roads are rugged1 the precipices steep2 there may be feelings of dizziness on the heights1 gusts of wind1 peals of thunder1 nights of awful gloom4 ,fear them not6 ,there are also the joys of sunlight1 flowers such as are not in the plain1 the purest of air1 restful nooks1 and the stars smile thence like the eyes of ,god4--,p,,re ,,didon 7translated by ,rev4 ,arthur ,g4 ,nash74 ,illustration3 ,,on ,,the ,,road ,,to ,,neyoor4 ,,and now for a chapter of history4 ,we had not been long at the new work before we discovered difficulties unimagined before1 and impossible to describe in detail4 ,some of these concerned the health of the younger children2 and eventually it seemed best to move the infants' nursery to within reach of medical help1 and keep the bigger babies and elder children1 whose protection was another grave anxiety1 with us at ,dohnavur4 ,shortly before that time we had been brought into touch with the medical missionaries at ,neyoor1 in ,south ,travancore4 ,the senior missionary1 ,dr4 ,fells1 was about to retire2 but his successor1 ,dr4 ,bentall1 cordially agreed to let us rent a little house in the village and fill it with babies1 though he knew such a houseful might materially add to the fulness of his already overflowing day4 ,he1 and afterwards ,dr4 ,davidson 7now the only survivor at ,neyoor of that kind trio of doctors71 seemed to think nothing a trouble if only it helped a friend4 ,so the little house was taken and the babies installed4 ,illustration3 ,,on ,,the ,,outskirts ,,of ,,nagercoil1 ,,where ,,we ,,stopped ,,to ,,rest4 ,the first day1 ,september #be1 #aije1 is a day to be remembered4 ,i had gone on before to prepare the house1 and for a day and a half waited in uncertainty as to what had happened to the little party which was to have followed close behind4 ,i had left one baby ill4 ,she was the first child sent to us from the ,canarese country2 and ,i thought of the friends who had sent her1 newly interested and stirred to seek these little ones1 and of what it would mean of discouragement to them if she were taken1 and my heart held on for her4 ,at last the carts appeared in sight4 ,it was the windy season1 and six carts had been overturned on the road1 so they had travelled slowly4 ,then a wheel came off one of their carts and an accident was narrowly averted4 ,this had caused the delay4 ,the baby about whom ,i had feared had recovered in time to be sent on4 ,she was soon quite well1 and has continued well from that day to this4 ,how familiar the road between ,dohnavur and ,neyoor became to us1 as the months passed and frequent journeys were made with little new babies6 ,sometimes those journeys were very wearisome4 ,there was great heat1 or a dust-laden wind filled the bandy to suffocation and blew out the spirit-lamp when we stopped to prepare the babies' food4 ,how glad we used to be when1 in the early evening1 the white gleam of the stretch of water outside ,nagercoil appeared in sight6 ,we used to stop and bathe the babies1 and feed them under some convenient trees1 and then go on to our friends with whom we were to spend the night1 trusting that the soothing effect of the bathe and food would not pass off until after our arrival4 ,those friends1 our comrades of the ,l4,m4,s41 like the ,medicals at ,neyoor1 seemed made of kindness4 ,how often their welcome has rested us after the long day6 ,next morning we tried to start early1 so as to arrive at ,neyoor before the sun shone in fever-threatening strength straight in through the open end of the cart4 ,this plan1 however1 proved too difficult1 so we found it better to travel slowly straight on from ,dohnavur to ,neyoor4 ,in this way we missed the blazing sun2 but we also missed the refreshment of our friends at ,nagercoil1 and arrived more or less tired out1 after a journey which1 because of slow progress and frequent stops1 was equal in time to one from ,london to ,marseilles4 ,but the welcome at the nursery made up for everything4 ,how vividly the photograph recalls it6 ,the house opened upon the main street of the village1 and there was nearly always a watcher on the look-out for us4 ,sometimes it was ,isaac1 our good man-of-all-work1 who never failed ,ponnamal through the two years he was with us4 ,then we would hear a call1 and ,ponnamal 7we used to call her the ,princess1 but dignity gives place to something more human at such moments7 would come flying down the path with a face which made words superfluous4 ,then there was the scramble out of the bandy1 and the handing down of babies and exclamations about them2 and all the nurses seemed to be kissing us at once and making their amazed babies kiss us1 and everything was for one happy moment bewilderingly delightful4 ,then there was the run round the cradles in which smaller babies were sleeping1 and an eager comparing of notes as to the improvement of each4 ,and if there were no improvement1 how well one remembers the smothered sense of disappointment--smothered in public at least1 lest the nurses should be discouraged4 ,then came a cup of tea on the mat in the little front room1 where four white hammock-cradles hung1 one in each corner2 while ,ponnamal sat beside me with three babies on her knee and two or three more somewhere near her4 ,the babies used to study me in their wise and serious fashion1 and then make careful advances4 ,and so we would make friends4 ,ponnamal had always much to tell about the exhaustless kindness of the doctors and their wives and the lady superintendent of the hospital4 ,and the chief ,tamil medical ,evangelist had been true to his name1 which means ,blessedness4 ,once1 in much distress of mind1 we sent a little babe to the nursery1 hardly daring to hope for her4 ,when she arrived1 the doctors were both away on tour1 and the medical ,evangelist was in charge4 ,he attended to her at once1 and by ,god's grace upon his work was able to relieve the little child1 who has prospered ever since4 ,but ,i must leave unrecorded many acts of helpfulness4 ,in those early days of doubt and difficulty1 almost forgotten by us now1 we beckoned to our partners which were in the other ship1 and their ,master and ours will not forget how they held out willing hands and helped us4 ,it was not always plain sailing1 even at ,neyoor4 ,you are fighting ,satan at a point upon which he is very sensitive2 he will not leave you long in peace1 wrote an experienced friend4 ,on ,palm ,sunday1 #aijg1 our first little band of young girls1 fruit of this special work1 confessed ,christ in baptism1 and we stood by the shining reach of water1 and tasted of a joy so pure and thrilling that nothing of earth may be likened to it4 ,a fortnight later we were ordered to the hills1 and then the trouble came4 ,the immediate cause was overcrowding4 ,why did we overcrowd8 ,friends at home to whom the facts about ,temple service were new1 were stirred to earnest prayer4 ,out here fellow-missionaries helped us to save the children4 ,god heard the prayer and blessed the work1 and children began to come4 ,soon our one little room became too full4 ,we had babies in the bungalow and on our verandah1 babies everywhere4 ,then money came to build two more rooms1 but they were soon too full4 ,at ,neyoor the pressure was worse1 for we could only rent two small houses2 and though we put up mat shelters1 and the children lived as much as possible in the open air1 it was difficult to manage4 ,but how could we refuse the little children8 ,the ,temple women were ready to take them if we had refused4 ,their houses are never too full4 ,there was no other nursery to which they could be sent4 ,little children who had passed the troublesome infant stage could sometimes find a home elsewhere2 but only the ,temple houses were open at all times to babies4 ,could we have written to the friend who had saved a little child3 ,hand her back to the ,temple4 ,it is the will of our ,father that this little one should perish8 ,should we have done it8 ,we dare not do it4 ,we prayed that help would be sent to build new nurseries1 and we went on and did our best2 but it was difficult4 ,we had just reached the hills in early ,april1 and were forbidden to return1 when news reached us of a fatal epidemic of dysentery which had broken out in the ,neyoor nursery4 ,unseasonable rains had fallen and driven the babies indoors2 this increased the overcrowding4 ,the doctors were away4 ,letters telling us about the disaster had been lost--how1 we never knew--so that the second which reached us1 taking it for granted we had the first1 gave no details1 only the names of the smitten babes--nineteen of them1 and five dead4 ,then trouble followed trouble4 ,while he was yet speaking1 there came also another4 ,some evil men who had sought to injure us before1 caused us infinite anxiety4 ,and for a time that cannot be counted in days or in weeks it was like living through a nightmare1 when everything happens in painful confusion and the sense of oppression is complete4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,neyoor ,,nursery4 ,out of the maelstrom came a letter from ,ponnamal4 ,we are being comforted1 she wrote4 ,you will be longing to come to us1 but oh1 do not come6 ,if you were here all your strength would be given to fighting this battle with death1 and you would have no strength left for prayer4 ,god wanted to have one of us free to pray2 and so ,he has taken you up to the mountain1 as ,he took ,moses when the people were fighting down in the plain4 ,this was the true inward meaning of it all1 and ,i knew it4 ,but ,ponnamal is far from strong1 and ,i feared for her2 and to stay away with the babies ill--it was the very hardest thing ,i had ever been asked to do4 ,when the trouble passed there were ten in heaven4 ,one1 a little child of two1 had been saved so wonderfully from ,temple dedication that we had looked forward to a future of special blessing for her2 and another was a very lovely babe1 dear to the missionary who1 after much toil and many disappointments1 had been comforted by saving her4 ,each of the ten had cost someone much4 ,but this is an earthly point of view4 ,they had cost ,him most who had taken them1 and he is only an owner in name who has no right to do as he will with his own4 ,the other side1 the purely human side1 pressed heavily just then4 ,the doctors had most kindly at once ordered a mission room1 vacated at that season1 to be lent to the nursery1 and another little house was taken for the month4 ,how ,ponnamal kept all four houses going in an orderly fashion1 how she kept her nurses together through that time of almost panic1 and how she herself1 frail and delicate as she is1 kept up till all was over1 we cannot understand from any point of view but the ,divine4 ,she only broke down once4 ,it was when her dearest child1 our merry1 beautiful little ,heart's ,joy1 who1 having more strength than most1 had battled longer and almost recovered1 suddenly sank4 ,the visible cause was that a special nutrient1 which1 being costly1 we stocked in small quantities1 ran short1 and the fresh supply reached the nursery just too late4 ,if only it had come yesterday6 moaned ,ponnamal1 and we with her when we heard of the series of contretemps which had delayed its arrival4 ,the torture of second causes is as the blackness of darkness1 but the ,lord gave deliverance from it2 for just as she had to part with all that was left her of our little ,heart's ,joy1 a letter came from ,dr4 ,davidson which was ,god's own blessed comfort to a heart almost broken4 ,she never refers to that letter without the quick tears starting4 ,i could let my little treasure go after ,i read that letter4 ,it strengthened me4 ,while all this was going on in ,neyoor1 ,chellalu1 then just two years old1 was very ill in ,dohnavur4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,walker were still there1 and they nursed her night and day2 but at last a letter came1 evidently meant to prepare me for fresh sorrow4 ,every little lamb belongs to the ,good ,shepherd1 not to us1 the letter said1 and told of a temperature #ajf and rising4 ,the child1 all spirit and frolic1 had little reserve strength1 and there was not much cause for hope4 ,but we were spared this parting4 ,chellalu is with us still4 ,the sky was clearing again and we were beginning to breathe freely1 when the worst that had ever touched us in all our years of work came suddenly upon us4 ,how small things that affect the body appear when the point of attack wheels round to the soul6 ,the death of all the babies seemed as nothing compared with the falling away of one soul4 ,but ,god is the ,god of the waves and the billows1 and they are still ,his when they come over us2 and again and again we have proved that the overwhelming thing does not overwhelm4 ,once more by ,his interposition deliverance came4 ,we were cast down1 but not destroyed4 ,a time of calm succeeded this storm4 ,money came to build nurseries at ,dohnavur1 and buy more of the special nutrients we so much required4 ,the ,neyoor remnant picked up1 and the nurses took heart again4 ,i went out to them as soon as ,i could after our return from the hills1 and found those who were left well and strong4 ,they shall see ,his face had been the text in ,daily ,light1 the evening the news reached me of the little procession heavenwards4 ,i looked at the ten names written in the margin of my book2 and1 recalling the story of each1 could be glad they have seen the face of the ,one who loves them best4 ,lower down on the page come the words1 ,we shall be satisfied4 ,we thought of our babies satisfied so soon2 and then we knelt together and said1 ,even so1 ,father3 for so it seemeth good in ,thy sight4 ,pretty pictures all in colours and bright sunshine tempt one to linger over that visit4 ,i can see the white hammocks slung from the trees in the nursery compound1 and happy baby-faces looking out of them4 ,and another shows me one who had been like a sister to ,ponnamal1 lightening her load whenever she could2 sitting with two dear babies in her arms1 and another clinging round her neck4 ,she comes and helps us often in the mornings when we are very busy1 said ,ponnamal about the doctor's wife1 as ,i noticed the babies' affection for her and her sweet1 kind ways with them4 ,sometimes when ,i am feeling down and home-sick1 she comes in like this and plays with the babies1 and cheers us all up4 ,the ,indian woman is very home-loving4 ,only devotion to the children could have kept the nurses and ,ponnamal so long in exile for their sake2 and there were times when even ,ponnamal's brave heart sank4 ,then these love-touches helped4 ,when the time came for the nursery party to leave ,neyoor and return to ,dohnavur1 after two and a half years in that hospitable mission1 we were sorry to part4 ,days like the days we had passed through test the stuff of which souls are made1 and they prove what we call friendship4 ,after the fire has spent itself1 the fine gold shines out purified1 and there is something solemn in its light4 ,we had grown close to our friends in ,neyoor2 but the cloud had moved1 so far as we could read the sign1 and it seemed right to return4 ,the missionaries were away when the day came1 but the ,christians surrounded ,ponnamal with tokens of goodwill4 ,the nursery has been like a little light in our midst1 they said2 and this word cheered her more than all other words4 ,and so farewelled1 they arrived home1 all glad and warm with the glow that comes when hearts meet each other and each finds the other kind4 ,,chapter ,,xvii ,in the ,compound and ,near it ,illustration3 ,,the ,,old ,,nursery4 ,,the ,,room ,,of ,,joy4 ,,now ,i know why ,god put you in ,dohnavur when ,he wanted this work done4 ,he hid you from the eyes of the world for the little children's sake4 ,he knew this work could never have been done by the road-side1 so ,he hid you4 ,the speaker was a ,christian friend from ,palamcottah1 an ,indian lawyer who1 for the first time1 had come out to see us4 ,he had found our approaches appalling1 and had wondered at first why we lived in such an out-of-the-way place1 three or four miles from the nearest road1 and twenty-four from civilisation4 ,when he saw the children he understood4 ,later1 he helped us in an attempt to save two little ones in danger1 and insisted not only upon paying his own and our worker's expenses1 but in sending us a gift for the nurseries4 ,with the gift came a letter full of loving1 ,indian sympathy2 and again he added as before3 ,the ,lord hid you in that quiet place for the little children's sake4 ,sometimes when the inconveniences of jungle life press upon us1 we remember our friend's words3 ,this work could never have been done by the road-side1 so ,he hid you4 ,we have children with us who would not have been safe for a day had we lived near a large town or near a railway4 ,the stretch of open country between us and ,palamcottah 7the ,church ,missionary ,society centre of the ,tinnevelly district71 to cover which1 by bullock-cart1 takes as long as to travel from ,london to ,brussels1 is not considered very safe for solitary ,indian travellers1 as the robber clan frequent it1 and this is an added protection for the children4 ,several times1 to our knowledge1 unwelcome visitors have been deterred from making a raid upon us1 by the rumour of the robbers on the road4 ,we are also most mercifully quite out of the beat of the ordinary exploiter of missions2 few except the really keen care for such a journey2 so that we get on with our work uninterrupted by anything but the occasional arrival of welcome friends and comrades4 ,these1 when they visit us for the first time1 are usually much astonished to find something almost civilised out in the wilds1 and they walk round with an air of surprise1 and quite inspiring appreciation1 being kindly pleased with little1 because they had looked for less4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,courtyard4 ,the compound in which the nurseries are built is a field1 bounded on three sides by fields1 and on the fourth by the bungalow compound4 ,the ,western ,ghauts with their foothills make it a beautiful place4 ,the buildings are not beautiful4 ,with us1 as elsewhere1 doubtless1 even the break of a gable in the straight1 barn-like roof makes a difference in the estimate1 and we have never had a margin for luxuries4 ,but the walls are coloured a soft terra-cotta1 the roofs are a dull red2 while the porches 7hidden by the palm trunks in the photograph7 are a mass of greenery and bloom2 and the garden at the moment of writing is rejoicing in over a hundred lilies1 brilliant yellow and flame colour1 each head with its many flowers rising separate and radiant in the sunshine4 ,then we have oleanders1 crimson and pink and white1 and little young hibiscus trees1 crimson and rose and cream4 ,the arches in the new nursery garden are covered with the lilac of morning-glory2 and the ,prayer-room in the middle of the garden is a mass of violet passion-flower1 the pretty pink antigone1 and starry jessamine4 ,the very hedges at this season are out in yellow flower1 and a trellis round the nursery kitchen is a delight of colour2 so though our buildings are simple1 we think the lines have fallen unto us in pleasant places4 ,the first picture shows the old nursery1 used now for the kindergarten4 ,it opens off the courtyard shown in the second photo4 ,this courtyard serves as an open-air room1 a bright little place which is filled with merrier children than the sober photograph shows4 ,tamils old and young move when they laugh or even smile2 in fact they wriggle4 ,being still1 with them1 meant being seriously subdued2 and so1 where time-exposures were required1 we had to choose between solemn photos1 or no photos at all4 ,opening off the courtyard on the opposite side to the kindergarten is a room used as a store-room and ,bible-class room combined4 ,it was so very uncomfortable that last ,christmas1 as a surprise for the children1 we divided the room into two halves with a curtain between4 ,their half is made pretty with pictures and texts1 painted in blue on pale brown wood4 ,the children call this part of the room the ,tabernacle4 ,the part beyond the curtain is the court of the ,gentiles4 ,the ,coming-,day ,feasts are a feature of ,dohnavur life4 ,now that there are so many feasts to celebrate1 we find it more convenient to combine2 and the photograph overleaf shows as much as it can of one such happy feast4 ,the children who are being fted are distinguished from the others by having flowers in their hair4 ,no ,indian feast is complete without flowers4 ,jessamine is the favourite1 but the prettiest wreaths are made of pink oleander2 and sometimes a girl will surprise us with a new and lovely combination1 as of brown flowering grasses and yellow ,tecoma bells4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,coming-,,day ,,feast4 ,opposite the kindergarten room is the first of the two new nurseries--the lively ,parrot-house4 ,this nursery1 really the ,taraha 7,star1 called after its ,english giver1 whose name means star7 is the abode of the middle-aged babies1 aged between two years and four4 ,most of these attend the kindergarten1 and are very proud of the fact4 ,the ,prmalia nursery 7,abode of ,love71 given by two friends in memory of a mother translated1 lies beyond the ,taraha4 ,here the tiny infants live1 and we call it the ,menagerie4 ,this nursery1 like the other1 looks out on the glorious mountains4 ,if beautiful things can make babies good1 ours should be very good4 ,on the eastern side of the field we have lately built two small sick-rooms1 used oftener as overflow nurseries4 ,these little rooms have names meaning peace and tranquillity2 and those of us who have lived in them with our babies1 sick or well1 find the names appropriate4 ,in the foreground there is a garden1 in the background the mountain2 and to give purpose to it all1 the foreground is full of life4 ,a new nursery now being built is a welcome gift from ,australia2 and a new field with a noble tree1 in whose shade a hundred children could play1 is the gift of a friend who stayed with us for one bright week last year4 ,all this is a later development1 unthought of when our artist friend was with us4 ,we have often wished for him since the nurseries filled4 ,when he was with us our choice of subject was very limited3 now1 wherever we look we see pictures1 which to be properly caught ask for colour photography4 ,the story of these buildings is the story of the ,ravens1 so old and yet so new4 ,when first the work began1 we had only one mud-floored room for nursery1 kitchen1 bedroom1 and everything else that was needed4 ,we hardly knew ourselves whereunto things would grow1 and feared to run before the ,lord by even a prayer for buildings4 ,and yet we could not go on as we were4 ,the birds were soon too many for the nest1 and we needed more nests4 ,no one knew of our need2 for visitors at that time were few at ,dohnavur1 and we told no one4 ,but money began to come4 ,we ventured on a single room without a verandah or even foundations--built of sun-dried bricks as inexpensively as possible4 ,but it was a palace to us4 ,while we were building it1 more little children came4 ,we felt we should need more room1 but had not more money2 so we told the builders to wait for a day while we gave ourselves to prayer about the matter4 ,was the work going to grow much more8 ,we were fearful of making mistakes4 ,were we right to incur fresh responsibility8--for buildings need to be kept in condition1 and the cheaper they are the more care they need4 ,no one at home was responsible for us4 ,no one had authorised this new work4 ,it would not be fair to saddle those on whom the burden might eventually fall with responsibilities for which they were not responsible4 ,and yet surely the work of saving these little children had been given to us to do8 ,someone was responsible4 ,surely1 unless we were utterly wrong and had mistaken the ,shepherd's ,voice1 surely ,he was responsible6 ,he could not mean us to search for the lambs for whom only the wolves had been searching1 and then leave them out in the open1 found but unfolded1 or packed so close in the little fold that they could not grow as little lambs should8 ,we rolled the burden off that day as to the ultimate responsibility1 and we asked definitely for all that was needed to build another room4 ,three days later a registered letter came from a bank in ,madras4 ,it contained an anonymous gift of one hundred rupees1 and was marked1 ,for a new nursery4 ,the date showed that it had been posted in ,madras on the day of our waiting upon ,god for guidance as to ,his wishes4 ,a few days later1 the same amount1 with the same direction as to its use1 was sent to us from the same bank4 ,the giver1 as we knew long afterwards1 was a fellow-missionary in ,tinnevelly1 whose order to send these sums to us was given before even we ourselves had fully understood the meaning of the leading4 ,the second room was built on to the first1 and the children called it the ,room of ,joy4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,red ,,lake4 ,water ,palms1 with ,mountains in the background4 ,there are no secrets in ,india4 ,the ,hindu masons were amazed at what they at once recognised as the hand of the ,lord upon the work1 and they spread the story everywhere4 ,later1 when they built the nursery where poor little ,mala stood and mourned1 they understood why they had to stop before the verandah was built4 ,only enough was in hand to build the bare room2 but to their eyes1 as to ours1 a verandah was much needed1 and they were content to wait till what was required for one came4 ,in this land of blazing sunshine and drenching monsoon a house without a verandah is hardly habitable1 and a small square room without one has a ,manx-cat appearance4 ,the story of the rooms has been repeated in the story of the work ever since4 ,do not thank us4 ,it is only a belated tenth1 wrote a fellow-missionary not long ago1 as she sent a gift for the nurseries4 ,belated tenths have reached us sometimes when they have been like visible ravens flying straight from the blue above4 ,all the long journeys in search of the children1 all the expenses connected with their salvation1 all that has been required to provide nurses and food 7including the special nourishment without which the more delicate could not live at all71 all that is now being needed for their education--all has come and is coming as the ravens came to ,elijah4 ,the work has been a revelation of how many hearts are sensitive and obedient to the touch of the ,spirit2 for sometimes help has reached us in such a way and in such form that we could not but stand and worship1 awestruck by the token of the nearness of our ,god4 ,there is many a spot marked in garden or in field or in the busy nursery or our own quiet room1 where1 with the open letter in our hand--the letter of relief from a pressure unknown even to the nearest fellow-worker--we have knelt in spirit with ,jacob and said3 ,surely the ,lord is in this place6 and almost added1 so dense are we in unilluminated moments1 and ,i knew it not4 ,framed between red roofs and foliage1 there are far blue glimpses of mountains shown in this lakeside photograph4 ,we do not see the water from the compound4 ,it lies on the other side of the boundary fields and hedges2 but we see the mountains with perfect distinctness of outline1 scarped with bare crags1 which in the early morning are sometimes pink1 and in the evening1 purple4 ,but the time to see the mountains in their glory is when the south-west monsoon is flinging its masses of cloud across to us4 ,then the mountains1 waking from the lazy sleep of the long1 hot months1 catch the clouds on their pointed fangs1 toss them back and harry them1 wrap themselves up in robes of them1 and go to sleep again4 ,the road that skirts the ,red ,lake leads through two ancient ,hindu towns1 from both of which we have children saved1 in each case as by a miracle4 ,in the first of these old towns there is a ,temple surrounded by a mighty wall4 ,there are two large gates and one small side door in the wall2 and1 passing in through the small side door1 one sees another wall almost as strong as the first1 and realises something of the power that built it4 ,the ,temple is in the centre of the large enclosure4 ,it is a single tower opening off the inner court4 ,in the outer court a pillared hall is used as stable for the ,temple elephant1 and two camels lounge in the roughly kept garden in front4 ,this ,temple1 with its double walls1 its massive1 splendidly-carved doors and expensive animal life1 is somewhat of a surprise to the visitor1 who hardly expects to see so much in a little old country town on the borders of the wilds4 ,but ,hinduism has not lost hold of this old remote ,india yet4 ,there are some who think that the country town is the place to see it in strength4 ,illustration3 ,,at ,,the ,,door ,,of ,,the ,,temple4 ,it was early in ,august1 three years ago1 that we heard of a baby girl in that town1 devoted from birth to the god4 ,we set wheels in motion1 and waited4 ,a month passed and nothing was done4 ,we could not go ourselves and attempt to persuade the mother to change the vow she had made1 as any movement on our part would only have riveted the links that fettered the child to the god4 ,we had to be quiet and wait4 ,at last1 one evening in ,september1 a ,hindu arrived in the town with whom our friends who were on the watch had intimate connection4 ,he1 too1 knew about the child2 and he knew a way unknown to our friends by which the mother might be influenced1 and he consented to try4 ,his arrival just at that juncture appeared to us1 who were waiting in daily expectation of an answer of deliverance1 as the evident beginning of that answer2 thus our faith was quickened and we waited in keen hope4 ,two days later1 after dark1 there was a rush from the nursery to the bungalow4 ,the baby has come6 ,another moment1 and we were in the nursery4 ,a woman--one of our friends--was standing with what looked like a parcel wrapped in a cloth hidden under her arm4 ,even then1 though all was safe1 she was trembling2 and outside1 two men1 her relations1 stood on guard4 ,she opened the white cloth1 and inside was the baby4 ,the men assured us that all was right4 ,the mother had been convinced of the wrongness of dedicating the little babe1 and would give us no trouble4 ,but a day or two later1 she came and demanded it back4 ,she could not stand the derision of her friends1 who told her she had sinned far more in giving her child to those who would break its caste than she ever could have done had she given it to the ,temple4 ,we pacified her with difficulty1 and were thankful when the little thing was safe in the ,neyoor nursery4 ,for in those days1 before we learned how best to protect our children1 we were often glad to have some place even more out of reach than ,dohnavur4 ,the second of these old towns is famous for its rock1 and its ,temple built into the rock4 ,looking down from above one can see inside the courtyard as into an open well4 ,connected with this ,temple1 some years ago1 there was a beautiful young ,temple woman1 who had been given as a child--as all ,temple women must be--to the service of the gods4 ,she had no choice as regarded herself--probably the idea of choice never entered her mind--but for her babe she determined to choose2 and yet she knew of no way of deliverance4 ,but there was a way of deliverance1 and if it had only been for this one child's sake1 and for the sake of the relief it must have been to that fear-haunted mother1 we are glad with a gladness too deep for words that the nursery was here4 ,for the mother heard of it4 ,there were lions in the path4 ,she quietly avoided them1 and through others who were willing to help she sent her child to us4 ,she herself would not come4 ,she waited a mile or so from the bungalow till the matter was concluded1 then returned to her home alone4 ,a week later she appeared suddenly at the bungalow4 ,it was only to make sure the little one was safe and well1 and in order to sign a paper saying she was wholly given to us4 ,this done she disappeared again1 refusing speech with anyone1 and for months we heard nothing of her4 ,then cholera swept our countryside1 and we heard she had taken it and died4 ,we leave her to ,god her ,creator1 who alone knows all the story of her life3 we only know enough to make us very silent4 ,and through the quiet we hear as it were a voice that chants a fragment from an old hymn3 ,we believe that ,,thou shalt come to be our ,judge4 ,,chapter ,,xviii ,from the ,temple of the ,rock ,,another little girl who came from that same ,temple of the ,rock has a story very different from the other1 and far more typical4 ,it was on a blazing day in ,june1 when the very air1 tired of being hot1 leaned heavily upon us1 and we felt unequal to contest1 that a cough outside my open door announced a visitor4 ,come in6 ,another cough1 and ,i looked out and saw a shuffling form disappear round the corner of the house4 ,i called again1 and the figure turned4 ,it was a man who had helped us before1 but about whose bon-fides we had doubts2 so we asked without much hopefulness what he had to tell us4 ,he said he had reason to believe a certain ,temple woman known to him had a child she meant to dedicate to the god of a ,temple a day's journey distant4 ,then he paused4 ,do you know where she is now8 ,she is on her way to the ,temple4 ,it would be well if she came here instead4 ,if that is the ,animal's desire it may be possible to bring her4 ,has she gone far8 ,could you overtake her8 ,she is waiting outside your gate4 ,at such a moment it is wise to show no surprise and no anxiety4 ,all the burning eagerness must be covered up with coolness4 ,but in the hour that intervened before the woman at the gate could be persuaded to come further1 we quieted ourselves in the ,lord our ,god and held on for the little child4 ,at last the shuffling step and the sound of voices told us they had come--two women1 the man1 and a child4 ,the child was a baby of something under two1 a sad-looking little thing1 with great1 dark1 pathetic eyes looking out from under limp brown curls4 ,she was very pale and fragile2 and when the woman who carried her set her down upon the floor and propped her against the wall1 she leaned against it listlessly1 with her little chin in her tiny hand1 in a sorrowful1 grown-up fashion4 ,i longed to take her and nestle her comfortably2 but1 of course1 took no notice of her4 ,any sign of pity or sympathy would have been misunderstood by the women4 ,all through the interminable talk upon which her fate depended1 that child sat wearily patient1 making no demands upon anyone2 only the little head drooped1 and the mouth grew pitiful in its complete despondency4 ,the ways of the ,east are devious4 ,the fact that the child had been brought to us did not indicate a decision to give her to us instead of to the ,temple4 ,the woman and the man who had persuaded them to come had much to say to one another1 and there was much we had to explain4 ,a child given to ,temple service is not in all cases entirely cut off from her people4 ,if the ,temple woman's hold on her is sure1 her relations are sometimes allowed to visit her2 so far as friendly intercourse goes she is not lost to them4 ,but with us things are different4 ,for the child's own sake we have to refuse all intercourse whatever4 ,once given to us1 she is lost to them as if they had never had her4 ,we adopt the little one altogether or not at all4 ,it is a delicate thing to explain all this so clearly that there can be no misunderstanding about it1 without so infuriating the relations that they will have nothing more to do with us4 ,naturally their view-point is entirely different from ours1 and they cannot appreciate our reasons4 ,at such a time we lean upon the ,invisible1 and count upon that supernatural help which alone is sufficient for us2 we count also upon the prayers of those who know what it is to pray through all opposing forces1 till the battle is won by faith which is the victory4 ,it was strange to watch the women as the talk went on4 ,the woman within them had died1 there was nothing of it left to which we could appeal2 everything about them was perverted1 unnatural4 ,i looked at the insensitive faces and then at the sensitive face of the child1 and entered deeper than ever into the mercifulness of ,god's denunciations of sin4 ,once towards the close of what had been a time of some tension1 the leader of the two women suddenly sprang up1 snatched at the tired baby1 and flung out of the room with her4 ,she had been gradually hardening2 and ,i had felt rather than seen the shutting down of the prison-house gates upon that little soul1 and had1 as a last resource1 appealed to the sense1 not wholly atrophied1 the sense that recognises the supernatural4 ,god is1 ,i told them briefly2 ,god takes cognisance of what we are and do3 ,god will repay3 some time1 somewhere1 ,god will punish sin4 ,the arrow struck through to the mark4 ,startled1 indignant1 overwhelmed by the sweep of an awful conviction1 with a passionate cry she rushed away2 and we lived through one breathless moment1 but the next saw the child dropped into our arms1 safe at last4 ,facts about any matter of importance are usually other than at first stated2 but we have reason to believe that in this instance our shuffling friend spoke the truth4 ,the women were really on their way to the ,temple when he waylaid them4 ,the wonder was that they allowed themselves to be persuaded by him to come to us4 ,but if nothing happened except what we might naturally expect would happen in this work1 we might as well give it up at once4 ,if we did not expect our ,jericho walls to fall down flat1 it would be foolish indeed to continue marching round them4 ,it was a relief when the women left the compound1 after signing a paper committing the child to us4 ,there is defilement in the mere thought of evil1 but such close contact with it is a thing by itself4 ,the sense of contamination lasted for days2 and yet would that we could go through it every day if the result might be the same6 ,for the child woke up to a new life1 and became what a child should be4 ,at first it was very pitiful4 ,she would sit hour after hour as she had sat through that first hour1 with her chin in hand1 her eyes cast down1 and the little mouth pathetic4 ,we found that1 in accordance with a custom prevailing in the coterie of ,temple women belonging to the ,temple of the ,rock1 she had been lent by her mother to another woman when she was an infant1 the other lending her baby in exchange4 ,this exchange had worked sadly2 for the little one had asked for something which had not been given her1 and her two years had left her starved of love and experienced in loneliness4 ,but when she came to us everything changed2 for love and happiness took her hands and led her back to baby ways1 and taught her how to laugh and play3 and now there is nothing left to remind us of those two first years but a certain droop of the little mouth when she feels for the moment desolate1 or wants some extra petting4 ,,chapter ,,xix ,yospu ,illustration3 ,,the ,,water ,,carriers4 ,,no description of the compound would be complete without mention of ,yospu1 friend of the babies4 ,this photograph shows the ,indian equivalent of pumps and water-pipes4 ,we have neither2 so all the water required for a family of about a hundred has to be drawn from the well and carried to the kitchens and nurseries4 ,the elder girls1 who would otherwise help with the work1 according to ,south ,indian custom1 are already fully employed with the babies4 ,so at present the men do it all4 ,they also buy the grain and other food-stuffs1 look after the cows and vegetable garden--a necessity for those who dwell far from markets--and in all other possible masculine ways are of service to the family4 ,chief of these men is ,yospu1 whose seamed and wrinkled and most expressive face ,i wish we had photographed1 instead of this not very interesting string of solemnities4 ,yospu is not like a man1 he is more like a dear dog4 ,he has the ways of our dog-friends1 their patience and fidelity1 their gratefulness for pats4 ,he came to us in a wrecked condition1 thin and weak and rather queer4 ,he had been beaten by his ,hindu brother for becoming a ,christian1 and it had been too much for him4 ,the first time we saw him1 a few minutes after his arrival1 he was standing leaning against a post with folded hands and upturned eyes and a general expression of resignation which went to our hearts4 ,we found afterwards he was not feeling resigned so much as hungry1 and he was better after food4 ,for a week he slept1 ate1 and meditated4 ,sometimes he would hover round us1 if such a verb is admissible for his seriousness of gait4 ,he would wait till we noticed him1 then sigh and extend his hand4 ,he wanted us to feel his pulse--both pulses4 ,this ceremony always refreshed him1 and he would return to his corner of the verandah and meditate till his next meal came4 ,sometimes1 however1 more attention was required4 ,he would linger after his pulses were felt1 and we knew he was not satisfied4 ,one day a happy thought struck us4 ,the ,tamil loves scent4 ,the very babies sniff our hands if we happen to be using scented soap1 and tell each other rapturously what they think about that chope4 ,scent is the one thing they cannot resist4 ,a tin of sweets on our table may be untouched for days1 few babies being wicked enough to venture upon it in our absence2 but a bottle of scent is irresistible1 and scented chope on our washing-stands has a way of growing thin4 ,the baby will emerge from our bathrooms rubbing suspiciously clean hands1 and in her innocence will invite us to smell them4 ,then we know why our chope disappears4 ,so now that ,yospu needed something to lift him over the trials of life1 we remembered the gift of a good ,scottish friend1 and tried the effect of eau-de-,cologne4 ,it worked most wonderfully4 ,yospu held out his two hands joined close lest a single drop should spill1 and then he stood and sniffed4 ,it would have made a perfect advertisement--the big brown man with his hands folded over his nose1 and an expression of absolute bliss upon every visible feature4 ,now1 when ,yospu is down-hearted1 we always try eau-de-,cologne4 ,his first move towards being of use was when some of our children had small-pox and were put up in a half-finished room which was being built4 ,it has walls and it has a roof1 therefore it is suitable1 was ,yospu's opinion2 and he offered to nurse the children4 ,one evening we heard a terrible noise2 it was like three cracked violins gone mad1 all playing different tunes at the same time4 ,it was only ,yospu singing hymns to the children4 ,for spiritual instruction is a thing to be desired1 and there is nothing so edifying as music4 ,after this he announced his intention of becoming a water-carrier4 ,water is a pure thing and a necessity4 ,the young children demand much water if their bodies are to be--here followed ,scriptural quotations meant in deepest reverence4 ,i will be responsible for the baths of all the babes4 ,and from that time ,yospu has been responsible4 ,solemnly from dawn to dusk1 with breathing spaces for meals and meditation1 he stalks across from nurseries to well and from well to nurseries4 ,he is a man of few smiles2 but he is the cause of many1 and we all feel grateful to ,yospu for his goodness to us4 ,often on melancholy days he comes and comforts us4 ,it was so one anxious day before we went to the hills1 when we were trying to plan for the safety of our family4 ,we can only take a limited number of converts with us1 and no babies2 the difficulty is then which to take1 which to hide1 and which to leave in the nurseries4 ,we were in the midst of this perplexity when ,yospu arrived4 ,he stood in silence1 and then sighed1 as his cheerful custom is4 ,we made the usual inquiries as to his health1 physical and spiritual4 ,both soul and body 7his invariable order1 never body and soul7 were well1 he said2 his pulse did not need to be felt to-day3 no1 there was something weightier upon his mind4 ,there are times when it is like extracting a tooth to get a straight answer from ,yospu1 for he resents directness in speech2 he thinks it barbarous4 ,at last it came4 ,aiyo6 ,aiyo6 7,alas6 ,alas67 ,my sun has set2 but who am ,i1 that ,i should complain or assault the decrees of ,providence8 ,but ,amma6 remember the word of truth3 ',then shall ye bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave4' ,and he slowly unwound his wisp of a turban1 held it in his folded hands1 and shook down his lanky1 jet-black locks with a pathos that was almost sublime4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,beloved ,,tingalu4 ,it took time to pierce to the meaning of it3 the children were being scattered--the reason must be that we felt the bath-water carrying too much for his powers through the hot weeks4 ,it was not so6 ,he was strong to draw and to bear4 ,the babies should never be deprived of their baths6 ,but to-day as he went to the well he had heard what broke his heart2 and he laid his hand upon the injured organ1 and sighed with a sigh that assured us his lungs at least were sound4 ,tingalu is to go away6 ,the apple of my eye6 that golden child who smiles upon me1 and says1 ',oh1 elder brother1 good morning6' ,you are not going to leave her with me6 ,therefore spake ,i the word of truth concerning my grey hairs4 ,then quoting the text again1 he turned and walked away4 ,once the beloved ,tingalu was slightly indisposed4 ,she has not often the privilege of being ill1 and so1 when the opportunity offers1 she does the invalid thoroughly2 it would be a pity1 ,tingalu thinks1 to be anything but correct4 ,but ,yospu was much concerned4 ,he appeared in the early morning with his usual cough and sigh4 ,amma6 ,tingalu is ill6 ,she will soon be better1 ,yospu2 she is having medicine4 ,what sort of medicine1 ,amma8 and ,yospu mentioned the kind he thought suitable4 ,that is exactly what she has had2 you will see her playing about to-morrow4 ,but no smile is on her face to-day2 ,i fear for the babe4 7,tingalu never smiles when ill4 ,invalids should not smile47 ,yospu suggested another medicine to supplement the first1 and departed4 ,next morning he came again1 anxious and cast down in countenance4 ,i had to keep him waiting2 and when ,i came out1 he was standing beside my verandah steps1 head on one side1 eyes shut1 hands folded as if in prayer4 ,well1 ,yospu1 what is it8 ,amma6 the light of your eyes revives me6 ,well1 tell me the trouble4 ,all yesterday ,i saw you not2 it was a starless night to me6 ,this is merely the preface4 ,but1 ,yospu1 what is wrong8 ,tingalu1 that golden child with a voice like a bird1 she lies on her mat4 ,i am concerned about the babe1 7,tingalu1 turned four1 is as hardy as a gipsy71 ,i fear for her delicate interior4 ,those ignorant children 7the convert nurses would have been pleased if they had heard him7 know nothing at all4 ,it may be they will feed her with curry and rice this morning4 ,that would be dangerous4 ,amma6 ,let her have bread and milk1 and ,i will pay for it6 ,yospu came a few days ago with a request for a doll4 ,who for8 ,for myself4 ,but are you going to play with it8 ,yospu acknowledged he was1 and he wished it to have genuine hair1 a pink silk frock1 and eyes that would open and shut4 ,we had not anything so elaborate to give him1 and he had to be contented with a black china head and painted eyes2 but he was pleased1 and took it away carefully rolled up in his turban1 which serves conveniently for head-gear1 towel1 scarf1 and duster4 ,when and where he plays with the doll no one knows1 but he assures us he does2 and we have mentally reserved the first pink silk1 with eyes that will open and shut1 that a benevolent public sends to us1 for ,yospu4 4 4 4 ,the words were hardly written when a shadow fell across the paper1 and the unconscious subject of this chapter remarked as ,i looked up3 #a ,corinthians vii4 #ca4 ,do you want anything1 ,yospu8 ,amma6 #a ,corinthians vii4 #ca4 ,well1 ,yospu8 ,as it is written in that chapter1 and that verse3 ',the fashion of this world passeth away4' ,amma1 if within the next two months a visitor comes to ,dohnavur carrying a picture-catching box1 ,i desire that you arrange for the catching of my picture4 ,this1 ,amma1 is my desire4 ,the ,western mind is very dense2 and for a moment ,i could not see the connection between the text and the photograph4 ,yospu is never impatient4 ,he squatted down beside me1 dropped his turban round his neck1 held his left foot with his left hand1 and emphasised his explanation with his right4 ,amma1 the wise know that life is uncertain4 ,i am a frail mortal4 ,you1 who are as mother and as father to this unworthy worm1 would feel an emptiness within you if ,i were to depart4 ,but1 ,yospu1 ,i hope you are not going to depart4 ,this was exactly what ,yospu had anticipated4 ,he smiled1 then he sighed4 ,amma6 did ,i not say it before8 #a ,corinthians vii4 #ca3 ',the fashion of this world passeth away4' ,therefore ,i said1 ,let me have my picture caught1 so that when ,i depart you may hang it on your wall and still remember me4 ,yospu's latest freak has been to take a holiday4 ,my internal arrangements are disturbed2 composure of mind will only be obtained by a month's respite from secularities4 ,yospu had once announced his intention of offering himself to the ,national ,missionary ,society1 and we thought he now referred to becoming an ascetic for a month and wandering round the country1 begging-bowl in hand2 for he solemnly declared as he stroked his bony frame3 ,the ,lord will provide4 ,but his intention was a real holiday4 ,he would go and see the brother who had beaten him1 and forgive him4 ,we suggested the brother might beat him again4 ,he smiled at our want of faith1 and went for his holiday4 ,a month was the time agreed upon1 but within three days he was back4 ,he could not stay away1 he explained1 with a shame-faced air of affection4 ,within me pulled the strings of love2 pulled1 yea1 pulled till ,i returned4 ,faithful1 quaint1 and wholly original ,yospu6 ,he calls himself our servant1 but we think of him as our friend4 ,,chapter ,,xx ,the ,menagerie ,fate which foresaw ,how frivolous a baby man would be-- ,illustration3 ,,two ,,views ,,of ,,life4 ,,the event of the week1 from a ,tamil point of view1 is the midday ,sunday service2 so we take care of the nurseries during that hour1 and send all grown-up life to church4 ,in the ,prmalia nursery the babies range from a few days old to eighteen months1 and sometimes two years4 ,there is a baby for every mood1 as one beloved of the babies says2 and the babies seem to know it4 ,we have a lively time there on ,sundays2 for by noon the morning sleep is over1 and nineteen or twenty babies are waking up one after the other or all together4 ,and most of them want something1 and want it at once4 ,these babies are of various dispositions and colour--nut-brown1 biscuit1 and buff2 and there are two who1 taken together1 suggest chocolate-cream4 ,chocolate is a dear child1 very good-tempered and easy to manage4 ,cream is a scamp4 ,we see in her another ,chellalu1 and watch with mingled feelings her vigorous development4 ,chocolate has another name4 ,it is ,beetle4 ,this does not sound appreciative1 but ,beetle is beloved4 ,the name was discovered by her affectionate ,piria ,sittie1 who came upon her one morning lying on her back in the swinging cot1 kicking her four limbs in the air in the agitated manner of that insect unexpectedly upset4 ,but no beetle ever smiled as ours does4 ,cream1 whose real name is ,nundinie1 oftener called ,dimples1 because she dimples so when she laughs1 is a baby of character4 ,she early discovered her way to the bungalow1 and scorning assistance or superintendence found her way over as soon as she could walk4 ,afternoon tea is never a sombre meal1 for the middle-aged babies attend it in relays of four or five2 and ,dimples and her special chum1 ,lulla1 like to arrive in good time for the full enjoyment of the function4 ,dimples sits down properly in a high chair close beside her ,attai1 who1 according to her view of matters1 was created to help her to sugar4 ,lulla1 so as to be even nearer that exhaustless delight1 insists upon her ,attai's knee2 and tapping her face with her very small fingers1 immediately points to the sugar bowl4 ,these preliminaries over1 ,dimples sets herself to pay for her seat4 ,she smiles upon her ,attai first1 then upon all the company4 ,if the ,iyer is present1 she notices him kindly3 there is nothing in all nature so patronising as a baby4 ,if in the mood1 she will imitate her friends like her predecessor ,scamp ,no4 #a2 or folding her fat arms will regard us all with a quizzical expression more comical than play4 ,her latest invention is drill4 ,she stands straight up in her chair1 and goes through certain actions intended to represent as much as she knows of that interesting exercise4 ,we are kept anxious lest she should overbalance2 but she is a wary babe1 and always suddenly sits down when she gets to the edge of a tumble4 ,sometimes1 however1 when these diversions are in progress1 we have wished that the family could see how very much more entertaining she is in her own nursery4 ,there1 from the beginning of the day till the sad moment when it ends1 she seems to be engaged in entertaining somebody4 ,sometimes it is one of the ,accals1 those good elder sisters to whom the babies owe so much4 ,dimples thinks she looks tired4 ,tired people must be cheered1 so ,dimples devotes herself to her4 ,sometimes it is another baby who is dull4 ,dull babies are anomalies4 ,dimples feels responsible till the dull baby revives4 ,or it is just her own happy little self who is being entertained4 ,if ever a baby enjoyed a game for its own sweet sake1 it is ,dimples4 ,but one thing she does not enjoy1 and that is being put to bed at night4 ,our babies are anointed with oil1 according to the custom of the ,east1 before being put to sleep2 but the moment ,dimples sees the oil-bottle in her nurse's hand1 she knows her fate is sealed and protests with all her might4 ,once she contrived to seize the bottle1 pull out the cork1 and spill the oil before she was discovered4 ,she seemed to argue that as she was invariably oiled before being put to bed1 the best way to avoid ever being put to bed would be to get rid of the oil4 ,another evening she succeeded in diverting her nurse into a long search for the cork1 thereby delaying the fatal last moment2 it was finally found in her mouth4 ,when1 in spite of all efforts to wriggle out of reach1 she is captured1 anointed1 and put in her hammock1 ,dimples knows she must not get out2 but her wails are so lamentable that it is difficult to restrain ourselves from throwing discipline to the winds1 and if by any chance we do1 her smiles are simply ravishing4 ,but we hear about it afterwards4 ,if ,dimples is asleep when we take charge of the nursery1 we find things fairly quiet and almost flat4 ,but she usually wakens early1 and always in a good temper4 ,it is instructive to see the way she scrambles out of her hammock before she is quite awake1 and her sleepy stagger across the room is often interrupted by a tumble4 ,dimples does not mind tumbles4 ,if her curly head has been rather badly knocked1 she looks reproachfully at the floor1 rubs her head1 and gets up again4 ,by the time she reaches us she is wide awake and most engaging4 ,in ,c4 ,f4 ,holder's ,life of ,agassiz we are told that the great scientist could not bear with superficial study3 a man should give his whole life to the object he had undertaken to investigate4 ,he felt that desultory1 isolated1 spasmodic working avails nothing1 but curses with narrowness and mediocrity4 ,this is exactly the view of one of our babies1 already introduced1 the little wise ,lulla1 who always knows her own mind and sticks to her intentions1 unbeguiled by any blandishments4 ,this baby is a tiny thing1 with a round1 small head1 covered with soft1 small curls2 and this head is very full of thoughts4 ,her face1 which she rarely shows to a stranger1 is like a doll in its delicate daintiness2 but the mouth is very resolute1 and the eyes very grave4 ,her hands and feet are sea-shell things of a pretty pinky brown1 and her ways are the ways of a sea-anemone in a pool among the rocks4 ,lulla1 because of her anemone ways1 is sometimes unkindly called ,huffs4 ,she does not understand that there are days when those who love her most have little time to give to her4 ,lulla naturally argues that where there is a will there is a way1 and desultory1 isolated1 spasmodic affection is worth little2 so next time her friend appears1 she explains all this to her by means of a single gesture3 she draws her tentacles in4 ,but it is when ,lulla has undertaken to investigate a tin of sweets that she most suggests ,agassiz4 ,the tin has a lid which fits tightly1 and ,lulla's fingers are very small and not very strong4 ,the tin1 moreover1 is on the window-sill just out of reach1 though she stands on tip-toe and stretches a little eager hand as far as it will go4 ,then it is you see persistence4 ,lulla finds another baby1 leads her to the window and points up to the tin4 ,the other baby tries4 ,they both try together2 if this fails1 ,lulla finds a taller one1 and at last successful1 sits down with the tin held tightly in both hands1 and turns it over and shakes it4 ,this process seems to inspire fresh hope and energy2 for she sets to work round the lid1 which is one of the fitting-in sort1 and carefully presses and pulls4 ,naturally this does nothing1 and she shakes the tin again4 ,the joyful sound of rattling sweets stimulates to fresh attempts upon the lid4 ,she tugs and pulls1 and thumps the refractory thing on the floor4 ,by this time the other babies1 attracted by the hopeful rattle1 have gathered round and are watching operations2 some offer to help1 but all such offers are declined4 ,this oyster is ,lulla's4 ,she has undertaken to force it4 ,agassiz and his fishes are on her side4 ,she will not give it up4 ,but she is not getting on2 and she sits still for a moment1 knitting her brow1 and frowning a little puzzled frown at the refractory tin4 ,suddenly her forehead smooths1 the anxious brown eyes smile1 ,lulla has thought a new good thought4 ,the babies struggle up and offer to help ,lulla up1 but she shakes her head4 ,she seems to feel if she herself unaided1 of her own free will1 hands her problem over to her ,ammal or her ,sittie1 only so she may achieve her purpose without loss of self-respect4 ,lulla's beloved nurse is a motherly woman1 older than most of our workers4 ,her name is ,annamai4 ,when the nurses return from church1 each makes straight for her baby2 and the babies always respond with a cordial and pretty affection4 ,but ,lulla welcoming ,annamai is something more than pretty4 ,the big white-robed figure no sooner appears in the garden than the tiny ,lulla is all a-quiver with excitement4 ,but it is a quiet excitement2 and if you take any notice1 the tentacles suddenly draw in1 and the little face is as wax4 ,if no one seems to notice1 then ,lulla lets herself go4 ,she all but dances in her eagerness1 while ,annamai is slowly sailing up the walk2 and when she reaches the verandah1 ,lulla can wait no longer2 one spring and she is in her arms1 nestling1 cuddling1 burying her curls in her neck2 then looking up confidentially1 little ,lulla begins to talk2 everything we have done and said is being whispered into ,annamai's ear4 ,it does not matter that ,lulla cannot yet speak any language known to men2 she can make ,annamai understand1 and that is all she cares4 ,once we remember watching her1 as she took the remnant of a sweet we had given her1 out of her mouth and poked it into ,annamai's4 ,could love do more8 ,dimples and ,lulla are quite inseparable4 ,lulla is to ,dimples what ,tara is to ,evu4 ,she immensely admires her vigorous little junior1 and tries to copy her whenever possible4 ,one delicious game seems to have been suggested by the arches in the garden4 ,dimples and ,lulla stand on all fours close together4 ,then they lean over till their heads touch the ground1 and look through the arch4 ,if you are on the babies' level 7that is on the floor71 you will enjoy this game4 ,another ,sunday morning entertainment is kissing4 ,dimples advances upon ,lulla4 ,lulla falls upon ,dimples4 ,then ,dimples hugs ,lulla1 nearly chokes her1 almost certainly overturns her4 ,the two roll over and over like kittens4 ,dimples seizes ,lulla by her curls and vehemently kisses face1 neck1 and anything else she can get at2 and then backs off1 propelling herself on two feet and one hand1 in which position she looks like a puppy on three paws4 ,lulla smooths her ruffled curls and person generally1 regards ,dimples with gravity1 and1 if in an affectionate humour herself1 leads the attack upon ,dimples1 and the programme is repeated4 ,but the joy of the hour is to spin in the hammocks4 ,these contrivances being hung from the roof swing freely1 and the special excitement is to hold on with both hands1 and run round so that the hammock twists into a knot and spins when released1 with the baby inside it1 in a giddy waltz till the coil untwists itself4 ,this looks dangerous1 and when the game was first invented we rather demurred4 ,but we are wiser now1 and we let them spin4 ,lulla especially enjoys this madness4 ,it is startling to see the tiny thing whirl like a reckless young teetotum4 ,but if you weakly interfere1 ,lulla thinks you want to learn the art1 and goes at it with even madder zest1 till her very curls are dizzy4 ,dimples and ,lulla in disgrace are a piteous spectacle4 ,dimples opens her mouth till it is almost square1 and the most plaintive wail proceeds from it for about a minute and a half4 ,then she stops1 looks sadly on the world1 surprised and hurt at its unkindness to her1 and then suddenly she discovers something interesting to do2 and hastily rubbing her knuckles into her eyes to clear them as quickly as maybe of tears1 she scrambles on to her feet1 and forgets her injuries4 ,once she had been very naughty1 and had to be smacked4 ,it is never easy to smack ,dimples1 and fortunately she seldom requires it2 but hard things have to be done1 so that morning the fat little hands1 to their surprise1 knew the feel of chastening pats4 ,she daren't laugh1 and she wouldn't cry2 this description1 her ,piria ,sittie's1 is the best ,i can offer of that baby's attitude4 ,the thing could not possibly be a joke1 but if meant otherwise1 it was an indignity far past tears4 ,lulla is quite different4 ,she drops on the floor1 if admonished1 as if her limbs had suddenly become paralysed1 and takes absolutely no notice of the offending disciplinarian4 ,she simply ignores her1 and gazes mutely beyond her4 ,the offence is not one for explanation1 and if invited to repent1 her aloofness of demeanour is perfectly withering4 ,but take her up in your arms1 and she buries her curls in your neck1 and coos her apologies 7or is it forgiveness87 in your ear1 and loves you all the better for the momentary breach4 ,our babies are often parables4 ,lulla stands for the ,single ,eye4 ,how often we have watched her and learned the lesson from her6 ,she sees someone to whom she wants to go at what must seem to her an immense distance4 ,and the distance is filled with obstacles1 some of them quite enormous4 ,but ,lulla never stops to consider possibilities4 ,difficulties are simply things to be climbed over4 ,she looks at the goal and makes straight for it4 ,her only care is to reach it4 ,sometimes at afternoon tea1 when she is sitting on someone's lap1 facing an empty1 uninteresting plate1 she sees another plate three chairs distant1 and upon that plate there is a biscuit or some other sweet attraction4 ,upon such occasions ,lulla all but plunges into space between the chairs1 in her singleness of purpose4 ,having reached the lap nearest that plate1 she turns and smiles at her late entertainer just to make sure she is not offended4 ,but even if she knew she would be1 ,lulla would not hesitate4 ,curly head foremost1 eyes on the goal3 that is ,lulla4 ,we have a custom at ,dohnavur which perplexes the sober-minded4 ,we call most of our possessions by names other than their own4 ,these names are entirely private4 ,we have to keep to this rule of privacy1 otherwise we get shocks4 ,o ,lord1 look upon our beloved ,puppy1 and make her tooth come through2 and bless ,alice 7in ,wonderland71 whose inside has gone wrong1 was the petition offered in all seriousness1 which finally moved us to prudence4 ,we do not feel responsible for these names1 for they come of themselves1 and we see them when they come4 ,that is all we have to do with them4 ,besides the ,beetle and the ,sea-anemone we have a dear ,cockatoo1 who screws her nose and her whole face up into a delightful pucker when she either laughs or cries1 and then suddenly unscrews it in the middle of either emotion and looks entirely demure4 ,this is the little ,vimala1 who1 under ,god1 owes her life to her ,piria ,sittie's splendid nursing4 ,this baby has always got a private little secret of joy hidden away somewhere inside4 ,we surprise her sometimes1 sitting alone on the floor talking to herself about it2 and then she tells us bits of it--as much as she thinks we can understand4 ,but most of it is still hidden away1 her own private little secret4 ,and there is an ,owlet1 a ,coney1 a ,froglet1 and a ,cheshire ,cat1 a ,teddy-bear1 a ,spider1 a ,ratlet1 and a ,rosebud4 ,we are aware that this list is rather mixed2 but to be too critical would end in being nothing1 so we are a ,menagerie4 ,the ,rosebud is like her name1 small and sweet4 ,when she wants to kiss her friends1 which is whenever she sees them1 her mouth is like the pink point of a moss-rose bud just coming through the moss4 ,george ,macdonald1 perfect interpreter of babies1 must have had our ,preethie's double in his mind when he wrote3-- ,whence that three-cornered smile of bliss8 ,three angels gave me at once a kiss4 ,how did you come to us1 you dear8 ,god thought of you1 and so ,i am here4 ,the ,owlet is twin to that quaint little bird1 so its name flew to her and stayed4 ,this babe has round eyes with long curling lashes4 ,when she is good1 these round eyes beam1 and every one forgets that anything so fascinating can ever be other than good4 ,when she is naughty the case is exactly reversed4 ,this baby's proper name is ,lullitha1 which means ,playfulness1 and illustrates a side of her character undiscovered by the visitor who only sees the ,owlet sitting on her perch with serious1 watchful1 unblinking eyes1 regarding the intruder4 ,but most babies are complex characters1 and are not known in an hour4 ,the ,teddy-bear is a fine child with perfect lungs1 a benevolent smile1 and an appetite4 ,her ruling passion at present is devotion to her food4 ,she feels unjustly treated because we do not see our way to feed her lavishly at her own five meal-times and also at the meal-times of all the other babies in the nursery4 ,on ,sunday morning1 when we are in charge1 we hear her views upon this subject expressed in a manner wholly her own4 ,she has just drained her own bottle1 and is indignantly explaining that it is not nearly enough1 when another bottle arrives for another baby1 and this is too much for ,teddy's equanimity4 ,we all know how hard it is to keep up under the shock of adversity4 ,teddy does not attempt to keep up2 she invariably topples over4 ,but the way she does this is instructive4 ,she sits stiff and straight for one brief moment1 her milky mouth wide open1 her hands outstretched in despairing appeal2 then she clasps her head with her hands in a tragic fashion1 absurd in a very fat infant1 sways backwards and forwards two or three times till the desperate rock ends suddenly1 as the poor ,teddy-bear overbalances and bursts with a mighty burst4 ,but the storm is too furious to last1 and she soon subsides with a gusty sob and a short snort4 ,poor little injured ,teddy-bear6 ,if it were not for her splendid health we might believe her oft-repeated tale of private starvation4 ,they only feed me when you are here to see6 ,other times they give me nothing at all6 ,she tells us this frequently in her own particular language1 but the sturdy limbs belie it4 ,this babe in matters of affection and mischief is as strenuous and original as she is about the one supreme affair pertaining to her elastic receptacle--to quote a ,tamil friend's polite reference to the cavity within us--and many more edifying scenes might have been shown from her eventful life4 ,but undoubtedly the predominating note at the present hour is her insatiable hunger1 and when her name is mentioned in the nursery there is a smile and a new tale about her amazing appetite4 ,,chapter ,,xxi ,more ,animals ,illustration3 ,,more ,,animals3 ,,depressed4 ,nurses3 ,karuna to left 7the ,duckling of ,things as ,they ,are72 and ,annamai1 to right1 ,lulla's beloved4 ,,in full contrast to ,teddy-bear is that floppy child1 the ,coney4 ,in ,hart's ,animals of the ,bible1 there is a picture of this baby1 only the fore-paws should be raised in piteous appeal to be taken up4 ,the ,coney is really a pretty child with pathetic eyes and a grateful smile2 but she was long in learning to walk1 and felt aggrieved when we remonstrated4 ,her feet1 she considered1 were created to be ornamental rather than useful1 and no amount of coaxing backed up with massage could persuade her otherwise4 ,so she was left behind in the march2 and when her contemporaries departed for the middle-aged babies' nursery1 she stayed behind with the infants4 ,and the infants had no pity4 ,they regarded her as a sort of hassock1 large and soft and good to jump on4 ,more than once we have come into the nursery and found the big1 meek child of three kneeling resignedly under a window upon which an adventurous eighteen-months wished to climb2 and often we have found her prostrate and patient under the dancing feet of ,dimples4 ,however1 the ,coney can walk now4 ,this triumph was effected with the help of an ,indianised go-cart1 which did what all our persuasions had entirely failed to do4 ,but the process was not pleasant4 ,the poor ,coney would stand mournfully holding the handle of her instrument of torture1 longing with a yearning unspeakable to sit down and give it up for ever4 ,someone would pass1 and hope would rise in her heart4 ,she would be carried now1 carried out of sight of that detested go-cart4 ,but no1 the callous-hearted only urged her to proceed4 ,she would howl then with a howl that told of bitter disappointment4 ,sometimes she would sit down flat and regard the thing with a blighting glance1 the hatred of a gentle nature roused to unwonted vehemence4 ,always her wails accompanied the rumbling of its wheels4 ,the ,conies are but a feeble folk1 yet they make their houses in the rocks4 ,one day in deep depression of spirits the ,coney arrived at the kindergarten4 ,she sat down before the threshold1 which is three inches high1 and climbed carefully over it4 ,she found herself in a new world1 where babies were doing wonderful things and enjoying all they did4 ,the ,coney decided to join a class1 and was offered beads to thread4 ,life with beautiful beads to thread became worth living1 and it may be in the course of time that the tortoise will overtake the hare4 ,in any case we find much cheer in the conclusion of the verse1 for if our ,coney builds in the ,rock her being rather feeble will not matter very much4 ,those who possess that friend of our youth1 ,alice1 as illustrated by ,sir ,john ,tenniel1 may find the photograph twice reproduced of our fat ,cheshire ,cat4 ,this baby is remarkable for two things3 she smiles and she vanishes4 ,the time to see the vanishing conducted with more celerity than ,alice ever saw it1 is when the babies' warning call is sounded across the verandah and a visitor appears in the too near horizon4 ,this baby then vanishes round the nearest corner4 ,there is nothing left of her1 not even a smile4 ,in fact1 the chief contrast between her and the cat among the foliage is that with our ,cat the smile goes first4 ,sunday morning1 to return to the beginning1 is full of possible misadventure4 ,sometimes the babies seem to agree among themselves that it would be well to be good4 ,then their admiring ,sittie and ,ammal have nothing to do but enjoy them4 ,but sometimes it is otherwise4 ,first one baby pulls her sister's hair1 and the other retaliates1 till the two get entangled in each other's curls4 ,piria ,sittie flies to the rescue1 disentangles the combatants and persuades them to make friends4 ,meanwhile three restless spirits in bodies to match have crept out through the open door 7it is too hot if we shut the doors71 and we find them comfortably ensconced in forbidden places4 ,the ,beetle is a quiet child4 ,she retires to a corner and looks devout4 ,presently a sound as of scraping draws our attention to her4 ,beetle6 ,open your mouth6 ,beetle opens her mouth4 ,it is packed with whitewash off the wall4 ,then a scared cry rings through the nursery1 and all the babies1 imagining awful things imminent1 tumble one on top of the other in a wild rush into refuge4 ,it is only a large grasshopper which has startled the ,cheshire ,cat1 whose great eyes are always on the look-out for possible causes of panic4 ,the grasshopper is banished to the garden and the ,cheshire ,cat smiles all over her face4 ,peace restored1 ,dimples and the ,owlet remember a dead lizard they found in a corner of the verandah1 and set off to recover it4 ,these two walk exactly like mechanical toys2 and as they strut along hand in hand1 or one after the other1 they look like something wound up and going1 in a ,christmas shop window4 ,presently they return with the lizard4 ,its tail is loose1 and they sit down to pull it off4 ,this is not a nice game1 and something else is suggested4 ,dimple's mouth grows suddenly square2 she wants that lizard's tail4 ,then a dear little child called ,muff 7because she ought to be called ,huff if the name had not been already appropriated71 who has been solemnly munching a watch1 decides it is time to demand more individual attention4 ,she objects to the presence of another baby on her ,sittie's lap4 ,why should two babies share one lap8 ,the thing is self-evidently wrong4 ,one lap1 one baby1 should be the rule in all properly conducted nurseries4 ,muff broods over this in silence1 then slides off the crowded lap and sits down disconsolate1 alone4 ,tears come1 big sad tears1 as ,muff meditates2 and it takes time to explain matters and comfort1 without giving in to the one-lap-one-baby theory4 ,illustration3 ,,tubbing4 ,we have several helpful babies4 ,dimples has been discovered paying required attentions to things smaller than herself2 and the ,wax ,doll pats the ,rosebud if she thinks it will reassure her1 when 7as rarely happens7 that pet of the family is left stranded on a mat4 ,but ,puck is the most inventive4 ,it was one happy ,sunday morning that we came upon her feeding the ,ratlet on her own account4 ,the ,ratlet was making ungrateful remarks2 and we hurried across to her and saw that ,puck1 under the impression doubtless that any hole would do1 was pouring the milk in a steady stream down the poor infant's nose4 ,puck smiled up peacefully4 ,she was sure we would be pleased with her4 ,but the ,ratlet continued eloquent for very many minutes4 ,sometimes 7but this is an old story now7 our difficulties were increased by the ,spider's habit of whimpering1 which had a depressing effect upon the family4 ,this poor baby was a weak little bag of bones when first she came to us4 ,the bag was made of shrivelled skin of a dusty brown colour4 ,her hair was the colour of her skin1 and hung about her head like tattered shreds of a spider's web4 ,she sat in a bunch and never smiled4 ,something about her suggested a spider4 ,her ,tamil name is ,chrysanthemum1 which by the change of one letter becomes ,spider4 ,so we called her ,spider4 ,at first we were not anxious about her2 for such little children pick up quickly if they are healthy to begin with1 as we believed she was4 ,but she did not respond to the good food and care1 and only grew thinner and more miserable as the weeks passed1 till she looked like the first picture in a series of advertisements of some marvellous patent food1 and we wondered if she would ever grow like the fat and flourishing last baby of the series4 ,for two months this state of things continued2 she grew more wizened every day2 and the uncanny spider-limbs and attitude gave her the air of not being a human baby at all1 but a terrible little specimen which ought not to be on view but should be hidden safely away in some private medical place--on a shelf in a bottle of spirits of wine4 ,we are asked sometimes if such tiny things can suffer other than physically4 ,we have reason to think they can4 ,as all else failed1 we took a little girl from school for whom the ,spider had an affection1 and let her love her all day long2 and almost at once there was a change in the sad little face of the ,spider4 ,she had been cared for by an old grandfather after her mother's death1 and it seemed as if she had fretted for him and needed someone all to herself to make up for what she was missing4 ,this little girl1 the ,cod-fish by name1 was devoted to the ,spider4 ,she nestled her and played with her--or attempted to1 ,i should say1 for at first the ,spider almost resented any attempts to play4 ,she doesn't know how to smile6 said the ,cod-fish disconsolately after a week's petting and loving had resulted only in fewer whimpers1 but not as yet in smiles4 ,a few days later she came to us1 and announced with much emotion3 ,she has smiled three times6 ,next day the record rose to seven2 after that we left off counting4 ,the ,spider is fat and bonnie now4 ,her skin is a clear and creamy brown1 and her hair has lost its dustiness2 but she still likes to sit crumpled up1 and a small alcove in the kitchen is her favourite haven when tired of the world4 ,seen unexpectedly in there1 bunched in a tight knot1 her dark1 keen little eyes peering out of the light-coloured little face1 she still suggests a spider4 ,but it is a cheerful ,spider1 which makes all the difference4 ,,chapter ,,xxii ,the ,parrot ,house ,illustration3 ,,red ,,lake ,,and ,,hill4 ,as seen 7without the water7 from the ,taraha ,nursery4 ,,the time to see the ,taraha nursery at its best is between late evening and early morning1 and again about noon4 ,it is perfectly peaceful then4 ,thirty mats are spread upon the floor4 ,thirty babies are strewn upon the mats4 ,all the thirty are asleep4 ,a sleeping baby is good4 ,thirty babies all good at once is something we cannot promise at any other hour4 ,shading your lantern1 and walking carefully so as not to tread on more scattered limbs than may be1 you wander round the nursery and meditate upon the beautiful ways of childhood4 ,there is something so touching in sleeping innocence1 and you are touched4 ,here two chubby babies are lying locked in each other's arms4 ,you have to look twice before you see which limbs belong to which4 ,there another is hugging a doll minus its head4 ,next to her a baby sleeps pillowed on another1 and the other does not mind4 ,in the middle of the floor1 far from her mat1 a sturdy three-year-old sprawls content4 ,you pick her up gently and lay her on her mat4 ,with an expression of determined resolution the baby rolls off again2 and if you attempt another remove1 an ominous pucker of the forehead warns you to desist4 ,you wonder if the babies are quite as good as they seem4 ,one of the dear1 fat1 devoted little pair you noticed at first1 stirs1 disentangles herself from her neighbour1 and gives her a slight kick4 ,there is a smothered1 sleepy howl1 and the kick is returned4 ,water6 wails the first fat baby4 ,water6 wails the second4 ,you get water1 give it1 pat both fat babies till they go to sleep1 and then cautiously retire4 ,it would be a pity if all the babies were to waken thirsty and kick each other4 ,at the door you turn and look back4 ,graceful babies1 clumsy babies1 babies who lie extended like young pokers1 babies curled like kittens4 ,all sorts of babies1 good1 bad1 and middling1 but all blessedly asleep4 ,sleep1 baby1 sleep6 ,thy father guards his sheep1 ,thy mother shakes the dreamland-tree ,down fall the little dreams for thee1 ,sleep1 baby1 sleep6 ,sleep1 baby1 sleep6 ,our ,saviour loves ,his sheep4 ,he is the ,lamb of ,god on high1 ,who for our sakes came down to die4 ,sleep1 baby1 sleep6 ,the pretty ,german lullaby rises unbidden1 and is pushed away by the quick1 sad thoughts that will not listen to it4 ,for under all the laughter and nursery frolic and happiness1 we cannot but remember why these little ones are here4 ,round about the compound in a great triangle there are three ,temple towers4 ,they are out of sight though near us1 but we cannot forget they are there4 ,they stand for that which deprives these children of their birthright4 ,oh for the day when those ,temple towers will fall and the reign of righteousness begin6 ,there was a time when it seemed impossible to desire that the fire should be allowed to touch the stately and beautiful things of the world4 ,now there is something that satisfies as nothing else could in the vision of that purifying fire2 and the promise that stands out like a light in the darkness is that which tells that the ,son of ,man shall send forth ,his angels1 and they shall gather out of ,his kingdom1 all things that offend4 ,in the tiny babies' nursery many a crooning ,indian lullaby is sung to the babies in their swinging white cradles2 but in the ,taraha nursery we sing sweet old hymns1 in ,tamil and ,english1 and then all sensible people are supposed to go to sleep4 ,but one evening after the singing1 two little tots settled down for a talk4 ,said one lying comfortably on her back with her two hands clasped behind her head3 ,who takes care of us at night when we all go to sleep8 ,said the other in a mixture of ,tamil and ,english3 ,jesus-tender-,shepherd takes care of us--,jesus-loves-me-this-,i-know4 ,the first baby rolled over upon her small sister with a crow of derision4 ,it is not6 ,it is ,accal6 ,i woke one night and saw her6 ,the other baby insisted she was making a mistake4 ,accal sleeps1 all people sleep2 they lie down like us and go to sleep4 ,only ,jesus stays awake1 and never1 never goes to sleep4 ,never1 never8 questioned the first1 and was quiet for a minute considering the matter2 then with a sceptical little laugh1 ,did you ever wake up and see ,him8 ,if the babies were always in a state of calm repose1 the ,taraha's pet name1 ,parrot-house1 would be inappropriate3 but for nearly ten hours of the day they are awake and talkative4 ,talk1 however1 is a mild word by which to describe their powers of conversation4 ,sometimes we wonder if they never tire of chattering1 and then we remember they have only lately learned to talk4 ,they have not had time to tire4 ,illustration3 ,,children ,,wading ,once we listened1 hoping that the trailing clouds of glory so recently departed had left some trace of illumination in this their first expression in earth's language of their feelings and emotions4 ,but we found them very mundane4 ,most of the conversation concerned their saman1 a comprehensive ,indian word used by people with limited vocabularies to express all manner of things to play with4 ,their saman was various4 ,dolls1 of course1 and the remnants of dolls2 tins and the lids thereof2 bits of everything which could break2 corks1 stones1 seeds1 half cocoa-nut shells2 rags of many ages and colours2 scraped down morsels of brick2 withered flowers and leaves2 sticks of all sorts and sizes2 ,english ,christmas cards1 sometimes with much domestic information on the back2 unauthorised sundries from the kindergarten--delivered up with a smile intended to assure you that they were only being kept for ,sittie2 and pchies4 ,pchies are insects4 ,we have one baby who collects pchies4 ,look6 she said1 one morning before prayers1 ,deah little five pchies6 and she opened her hand and five red and black beetles crawled slowly out1 to the delight of the devout1 who scrambled up from their orderly rows with shrieks of appreciation4 ,but if the babies' conversation was unenlightening1 their chosen avocations are not uninteresting4 ,they are always busy about something1 and1 from their point of view1 something important4 ,there are1 of course1 some among the thirty who are unimaginative and unenterprising4 ,these sit in the sand and play4 ,others have more to do4 ,life to them is full of the unknown4 ,the unknown is full of possibilities4 ,the great thing is to experiment4 ,nothing is too insignificant to explore1 and all five senses are useful to the thoroughly competent baby4 ,they knew1 of course1 all the flowers1 and the discovery of anything fresh was always followed by a scene which suggested a colony of small and active ants hauling some large object to their nest2 for the nearest grown-up person was invariably hailed1 and pulled1 and pushed1 and hurried along till the new flower was reached4 ,then1 if the object was incautious enough to stoop down to examine it1 the ants1 ant-wise1 would envelope it1 climbing1 swarming all over it1 till there was nothing to be seen but ants4 ,illustration3 ,,children ,,wading4 ,they knew the habits of caterpillars1 and especially they had knowledge about the wonderful silver chrysalis which pins itself to the pointed leaves of the oleander4 ,they knew what was packed up inside1 and some with wide-open eyes had watched the miracle slowly evolving as the butterfly unpacked itself1 and sunned its crumpled velvet wings1 till the crumples smoothed1 and the wings dried1 and the butterfly fluttered away4 ,they knew1 too1 the less approachable ways of the wild bees1 and where they hive1 and what happens if they are disturbed2 and they knew the private feelings of calves1 and which likes to be treated as a brother and which resents such liberties4 ,crows they knew intimately1 and squirrels a little2 for infants fallen from their nests have often been taken care of1 much against their foolish wills1 until old enough to look after themselves4 ,their namesakes1 the parrots1 they knew very well2 and the dainty little sunbirds that flash from flower to flower like little living jewels in the sunlight2 and the clever tailor-bird1 which sews its own nest1 knotting its thread like a grown-up human being2 and the wise leaf-insect that can hardly be found till it moves2 and the great1 green1 frisky grasshopper that seems to invite a chase4 ,we found they knew1 alas1 too much about the misuse of everything growing in the field6 ,the tamarind fruit makes condiment1 but eaten raw it gives fever2 and the babies think we are wrong here1 and they are fond of forgetting our rules4 ,many kinds of grasses are very good to eat2 and here again we are mistaken1 for we know not the flavour of grasses4 ,seeds may be useful to plant2 but those who think their use ends there1 are short-sighted and ignorant people4 ,upon these and other matters the babies feel we have much to learn4 ,illustration3 ,,esli ,,and ,,little ,,kohila4 ,taken a year earlier4 ,one weird joy has been theirs1 and they never will forget it4 ,for one whole blissful afternoon they followed the snake-charmer about at a respectful distance2 and they cannot understand why we are not anxious they should dance as he danced1 and pipe as he piped1 round the hopeful holes they discover in the red mud walls4 ,other things they had learned to do1 not wholly innocent4 ,they must have made friends with the masons who built their new nursery1 and persuaded them to do their work in a sympathetic spirit2 for they knew the weak points hidden from our eyes1 and how pleasant it is to scoop mortar out of cracks between the bricks of the floor4 ,they had learned how most of their toys were made1 and how a doll could be most easily dissected1 and the particular taste of its inside4 ,they knew1 too1 the lusciousness of divers sorts of sand--this last1 however1 being a mixture of crime and disease1 and treated as such1 is not a popular sin4 ,finally1 to our lasting disgrace1 they had learned1 after a series of thoughtful experiments1 how best to obey a command and yet elude its intention2 thus on a wet day1 when they were commanded not to go out1 their ,sittie found them lying full length in a long row on the edge of the verandah1 their heads protruding so as to catch the lovely drip from the roof4 ,and all these things they had carefully learned in spite of a certain amount of supervision2 and1 being entirely unsuspicious1 they will take you into their confidence and let you share the forbidden fruit1 if you are so inclined4 ,but1 after all1 perfection of goodness would make us more anxious than even these enormities2 we should fear our babies were growing too good--a fear not pressing at present4 ,the ,parrot-house only overwhelms when the birds begin to sing4 ,then indeed all who can1 flee far away1 for the babies once started are difficult to stop4 ,they are sure you like it as much as they do1 and are anxious to oblige you when you visit their world4 ,so they sing with the greatest earnestness1 and as they invariably hang on to every available part of you1 and punctuate their melodies with kisses and embraces1 escape is not always practicable4 ,the ,taraha nursery was our first substantial building4 ,it is built upon foundations raised well off the ground1 and has a wide verandah4 ,when first it was opened and the children were invited to take possession1 they did so most completely4 ,one quaint little person of barely three1 called ,kohila1 whose small1 repressed face in the photograph gives no hint of character1 used to stalk up and down the verandah with an air of proprietorship which left no doubt in any mind as to her opinion on the subject4 ,another 7sharing the swinging cot with ,kohila in the photo7 sat on the top step and smiled encouragingly to visitors4 ,it was nice to be smiled at1 but there was something very condescending in the smile4 ,another stood guard over the plants1 which grew in pots much bigger than herself all the way down the verandah4 ,if any presumed to touch them1 she would dart out upon them with an indignant chirrup4 ,for days after the great event--the opening of the ,taraha--small parties waited on visitors1 formed in procession before and behind1 and escorted them round1 explaining all mysteries1 and insisting upon due admiration4 ,everything had to be interviewed1 from teaspoons to pots of fern4 ,this concluded1 the guests were politely dismissed1 and departed1 let us hope1 properly penetrated with a sense of the kindness of the babies4 ,there have always been some who object to visitors4 ,one of these showed her objection1 not by crying and running away1 as undignified babies do1 but by sitting exactly where she was when she first caught sight of the intruder1 and staring straight into space with a very stony stare4 ,a sensitive visitor could hardly have had the temerity to pass her1 but normal visitors are not sensitive4 ,sometimes they attempted to make friends4 ,this was too much4 ,one fat arm would be slowly raised till it covered the baby's eyes1 and in this position she would sit like a small petrifaction1 till the horror had withdrawn4 ,illustration3 ,,preetha ,,aware ,,of ,a ,,foe4 ,tara on the left3 the ,coney on the right4 ,this baby1 ,preetha by name1 has in most matters a way of her own4 ,one of her little peculiarities is a strong preference for solo music as compared with concert4 ,she listens attentively to others' performances1 then disappears4 ,if followed1 she will be found alone in a corner1 with her face to the wall and her back to the world2 and if she thinks herself unobserved1 you will be regaled with a solo4 ,this experience is interesting to the musical4 ,it is never twice alike4 ,sometimes it is a succession of sounds1 like a tune that has lost its way2 sometimes1 a recognisable version of the chorus lately learned4 ,at other times she delivers her soul in a series of short groans and grunts1 beating time with her podgy hands4 ,if she perceives through the back of her head that someone is looking or listening1 she stops at once2 and no persuasions can ever produce that special rehearsal again4 ,of late this baby1 being now nearly three1 has awakened to a sense of life's responsibilities1 and she evidently wishes to prepare to meet them suitably4 ,yesterday evening she came to me with an exceedingly serious face1 pointed in the direction of the kindergarten room1 and then tapping herself1 remarked3 ,amma6 ,i kindergarten4 ,no more was said2 but we know we shall soon see her solemnly waddling into the schoolroom1 and we wonder what will happen4 ,will she continue to insist upon a corner to herself8 ,,chapter ,,xxiii ,the ,bear ,garden ,illustration3 ,,jullanie ,,among ,,the ,,grasses4 ,,the fruit of the lotus--a capsule--ripens below the surface of the water4 ,when the seeds are ripe and leave the berry1 a small bubble of air attached to them brings them to the surface1 and the seeds are carried wherever the wind and waves take them until the bubble bursts2 when the seed1 being heavier than water1 sinks to the bottom1 and then begins to grow to form a new plant1 which may be at some distance from the parent one4 ,in this simple way the lotus plant is enabled to spread4 ,so says our botany book2 and the thought of the lotus seed in its little air-boat floating away over the water to be sown1 perhaps1 far from the parent plant1 is full of suggestion1 and leads us straight to the ,bear-garden4 ,a lotus-pool1 a bear-garden--the connection is not obvious4 ,alice in her wanderings never wandered into bewilderment more profound than such a mixture of ideas4 ,but this is the way we get to it3 ,we have called these little children ,lotus-buds--for such they are in their youngness and innocence2 and the underlying thought runs deeper1 as those who have read the first chapter know--but the ,lotus-buds must grow into flowers and must be sown as living seeds1 perhaps far away from the happy place they knew when they were buds4 ,the little air-boat will come for them4 ,the breath of the ,spirit that bloweth where it listeth will carry them where it will1 and we want them to be ready to be sown wherever the pools of the world are barren of lotus flowers4 ,and this brings us straight to the newest of our beginnings in ,dohnavur--the ,kindergarten4 ,an ideal kindergarten is a place where the teachers train the scholars1 and we hope to have that in time2 at present the case is opposite1 and that is why it has its name1 the name that conflicts with the lotus-pool--the ,bear-garden4 ,in this peaceful room ,classes ,b1 ,c1 and ,d have taken their young teachers in hand--,rukma1 ,preena1 and ,sanda4 ,of these ,rukma 7,radiance7 has the clearest ideas about discipline2 ,preena 7the ,elf7 knows best how to coax2 and ,sanda1 excellent ,mouse that she is1 has the gift of patience4 ,these three 7who after all are only school-girls1 continuing their own education with their ,prma ,sittie7 are attempting to instruct the babies on the lines of organised play2 but the babies feel they have much to teach their teachers1 and this is how they do it3-- ,prma ,sittie goes into the room when the kindergarten is in progress1 and from three classes at once babies come springing towards her with squeals of joy1 and they clasp her knees and look up with eyes full of affection and confidence in their welcome4 ,go back to your place6 she says1 and tries to look severe2 with a chuckle the children obey1 and she looks round and takes notes4 ,chellalu is lying full-length on the bench1 with a look of supreme content on her face1 and her two feet against the wall4 ,pyrie has turned her back to the picture that is being shown1 and is tying a handkerchief round her head4 ,ruhinie1 an ,india-rubber-ball sort of baby1 has suddenly bounced up from her seat1 and is starting a chorus1 of which she is fond1 at the top of her not very gentle voice2 and ,komala1 a perfect sprite1 is tickling the child who sits next to her4 ,sittie6 exclaims the distracted teacher1 they won't learn anything6 ,or if she happens to be the ,mouse1 she is calmly engaged with the one good child in her class4 ,the next group is stringing beads on pieces of wire4 ,look1 look6 and an eager babe holds out her wire for admiration1 and probably spills her beads in her effort to secure attention4 ,if she does1 there is a general scramble1 beads rolling loose on the floor being quite irresistible4 ,one wicked baby sits by herself and strings her beads on her curls4 ,a few minutes later it is mat-plaiting2 and the agile little fingers are diligently weaving pieces of blue and yellow material1 bits over from their elder sisters' garments1 beautifully unconscious that they are supposed to be working the colours alternately4 ,sometimes in the gayest way they exclaim3 ,sittie6 ,it's wrong6 it's wrong6 ,occasionally there is a howl from a child who has been pinched by another1 or whose neighbour has helped herself to her beads4 ,sittie crosses the room hurriedly4 ,what's the matter8 ,with tears rolling down her cheeks the victim points to her oppressor4 ,may you do that8 is the invariable ,english question4 ,it is answered by a shake of the head1 the tiniest baby understanding that particular remark4 ,the injured baby smiles4 ,a reproof1 or at worst a pat on the fat arm next to hers1 satisfies her sense of justice1 and she is content4 ,when an ,english lesson begins1 those afflicted with delicate nerves are happier elsewhere4 ,one class has a toy farmyard1 another a set of tea-things1 the third a doll which every member of the class is aching to embrace4 ,the teachers and children alike are inclined to talk with emphasis2 and if you stand between the three classes you hear queer answers to queerer questions1 and wonder if the babies at ,babel were anything like so bewildering4 ,but this vision of the kindergarten is hardly a fortnight old2 for ,classes ,b1 ,c1 and ,d are of recent development1 and are made up of some heedless characters1 as ,chellalu and ,pyrie1 who could not keep up with class ,a1 and a few more young things from the nursery who were wilder than wild rabbits from the wood when we began4 ,also it should be stated that from the babies' point of view white people are only playthings4 ,they were very good before you came6 is the unflattering remark frequently addressed to us2 and as we discreetly retire1 the babies do seem to become suddenly beautifully docile4 ,but even so they might be better1 as an unconscious comedy over-seen this morning proves4 ,i was in the porch outside the door1 when ,rukma1 pointing to a blackboard on which were written sundry words1 told ,chellalu to show her cat1 and ,i looked in interested to know if ,chellalu really knew anything of reading4 ,chellalu brandished the pointer1 then turned to ,rukma with a confidential smile1 ,cat8 ,where is it1 ,accal8 ,is it at the top or at the bottom8 ,rukma1 who has a keen sense of the comic1 seemed to find it difficult to look as she felt she ought4 ,chellalu caught the twinkle in her eye1 and throwing herself heartily into the spirit of the game1 which was evidently intended to be a kindergarten version of ,hunt the ,mouse through the ,wood1 she searched the blackboard for cat4 ,then to ,rukma3 ,accal6 dear ,accal6 ,tell me1 and ,i'll tell you6 ,there is nothing that helps us so much to be good as to be believed in and thought better than we are2 and the converse is true1 so we do not want to be always suspecting ,chellalu of sin2 but this last was entirely too artless1 and this was apparently ,rukma's view1 for she sent ,chellalu back to her seat and called up another baby1 who1 fairly radiating virtue1 immediately found the cat4 ,the next room--which ,class ,a 7the first to be formed7 has to itself--is a haven of peace after the ,bear-garden4 ,it is a pleasant room like the other1 pretty with pictures and with flowers4 ,and the little bright faces make it a happy place1 for this class1 though serious-minded1 is exceedingly cheerful4 ,there is the demure little ,tingalu1 the good child of the kindergarten1 its hope and stay in troublous hours1 and the quaint little trio1 ,jeya1 ,jullanie1 and ,sella--this last is called ,cock-robin by the family1 for she has eyes and manners which remind us of the bird1 and she hardly ever walks1 she hops4 ,mala and ,bala are in the class1 and a lively scamp called ,puvai4 ,the kindergarten is worked in ,english1 helped out with ,tamil when occasion requires4 ,this plan1 adopted for reasons pertaining to the future of the children1 is resulting in something so comical that we shall be sorry when the first six months are over and the babies grow correct4 ,at present they talk with delightful abandon impossible to reproduce1 but very entertaining to those who know both languages4 ,they tack ,tamil terminations to ,english verbs1 and ,english nouns make subjects for ,tamil predicates4 ,they turn their sentences upside down and inside out1 and any way in fact which occurs to them at the moment1 only insisting upon one thing3 you must be made to understand4 ,they apply everything they learn as immediately as possible1 and woe to the unwary flounderer in the realm of natural science who offers an explanation of any phenomena of nature other than that taught in the kindergarten4 ,the learned baby regards you with a tender sort of pity4 ,poor thing1 you are very ignorant2 but you will know better in time--if only you will come to the kindergarten1 the source of the fountain of knowledge4 ,the ease and the quickness with which a new word is appropriated constantly surprises us4 ,as for example3 one morning two babies wandered round the ,prayer-room1 and1 discovering passion-flowers within reach1 eagerly begged for them in ,tamil4 ,one of the two pushed the other aside and wanted all the flowers4 ,greedy6 greedy6 ,i said reprovingly1 in ,english4 ,greedy mine6 was the immediate rejoinder1 and the little hand was held out with more certainty than ever now that the name of the flower was known4 ,greedy my flower6 ,mine6 ,but some of the quaintest experiences are when the eloquent baby1 determined to express herself in ,english1 falls back upon scraps of kindergarten rhyme and delivers it in all seriousness4 ,on the evening before my birthday ,i was banished from my room1 and the children decorated it exactly as they pleased4 ,when ,i returned ,i was implored not to look at anything1 as it was not intended to be seen till next morning4 ,next morning the babies came in procession with their elders1 and while ,i was occupied with them out on the verandah1 ,chellalu and her friend ,naveena1 discovering something unusual in my room1 escaped from the ranks and went off to examine the mystery4 ,i found them a moment later gazing in astonished joy at the glories there revealed4 ,who did it all8 gasped ,chellalu1 whose intention1 let us hope1 was perfectly reverent4 ,god did it all6 ,the one kindergarten class taught entirely in ,tamil is the ,scripture lesson1 illustrated whenever possible by pictures2 and being always taught about sacred things in ,tamil1 the babies have no doubt about the language in use in ,bible days4 ,but sometimes a little mind is puzzled1 as an instructive aside revealed a day or two ago4 ,for their teacher had told them in ,english1 not as a ,scripture lesson1 but just as a story1 about ,peter and ,john and the lame man4 ,the picture was before them1 and they understood and followed keenly2 but one little girl whispered to another1 who happened to be the well-informed ,cock-robin3 ,did ,peter and ,john talk ,english or ,tamil8 ,tamil1 of course6 returned ,cock-robin1 without a moment's hesitation4 ,the ,scripture lessons are usually given by ,arulai1 whose delight is ,bible teaching4 ,so that as much as lieth in you you will apply yourself wholly to this one thing1 and draw all your cares and studies this way1 is a word that always comes to mind when one thinks of ,arulai and her ,bible4 ,she much enjoys taking the babies1 believing that the impressions created upon the mind of a little child are practically indelible4 ,sometimes these impressions are expressed in vigorous fashion4 ,once the subject of the class was the ,good ,samaritan4 ,the babies were greatly exercised over the scandalous behaviour of the priest and the ,levite4 ,punish them6 ,let them have whippings6 they demanded4 ,arulai explained further4 ,but one baby got up from her seat and walked solemnly to the picture4 ,take care what you are doing6 she remarked impressively in ,tamil1 shaking her finger at the two retreating backs4 ,naughty6 naughty6--this was in ,english--take care6 ,one of the favourite pictures shows ,abraham and ,isaac on the way to the mount of sacrifice4 ,this story was told one morning with much reverence and feeling1 and the babies were impressed4 ,there were tears in ,bala's eyes as she gazed at the picture1 but she brushed them away hurriedly and hoped no one had noticed4 ,only ,chellalu appeared perfectly unconcerned4 ,she had business of her own on hand1 and the story1 it seemed1 had not touched her4 ,the babies are searched before they come to school1 and all toys1 bits of string1 old tins1 and sundries are removed from their persons4 ,but there are ways of evading inquisitors4 ,chellalu knows these ways4 ,she now produced a long wisp of red tape from somewhere--she did not tell us where--and proceeded to tie her feet together4 ,this accomplished1 she curled herself up on the bench like a caterpillar on a leaf1 and to all appearances went to sleep4 ,why was she not awakened and compelled to behave properly8 asks the reader1 duly shocked4 ,perhaps because on that rather special morning the teacher preferred her asleep4 ,illustration3 ,,arulai ,,and ,,rukma1 ,,with ,,naveena4 ,the story finished1 the children were questioned1 and they answered with unwonted gravity4 ,what did ,isaac say to his father as they walked alone together8 ,an awed little voice had begun the required answer1 when ,chellalu suddenly uncurled1 sat up1 and said in clear1 decided ,tamil3 ,he said1 ',father6 do not kill me6' ,yesh6 that was what he said4 ,when first the babies heard about ,heaven1 they all wanted to go at once1 and with difficulty were restrained from praying to be taken there immediately4 ,there was one naughty child who1 when she was given medicine1 invariably announced1 ,i will not stay in this village3 ,i am going to ,heaven6 ,i am going now6 ,but they soon grew wiser4 ,it was our excitable1 merry little ,jullanie who summed up all desires with most simplicity3 ,lord ,jesus1 please take me there or anywhere anytime2 only wherever ,i am1 please stay there too6 ,some of the babies are carnal3 ,when ,i go to that village 7,heaven71 ,i shall go for a ride on the cherubim's wings4 ,i will make them take me to all sorts of places1 just wherever ,i want to go4 ,the latest pronouncement1 however1 was for the moment the most perplexing4 ,come-anda-look-ata-well6 said ,chellalu yesterday evening1 the sentence in a single long word4 ,the well is being dug in the ,menagerie garden and is surrounded by a trellis1 beyond which the babies may not pass1 unless taken by one of ourselves4 ,as we drew near to the well1 ,chellalu pointed to it and said3 ,amma6 ,that is the way to ,heaven6 ,this speech1 which was in ,tamil1 considerably surprised me1 as naturally we think of ,heaven above the bright blue sky4 ,the yawning gulf of the unfinished well suggested something different4 ,but ,chellalu was positive4 ,it is the way to ,heaven4 ,i may not go there1 but you may6 ,yesh6 you may go to ,heaven1 ,amma1 but ,i may not6 ,she had nothing more to say2 and we wondered how she could possibly have arrived at so extraordinary a conclusion1 till we remembered that it had been explained to the babies that any baby falling in would probably be drowned and die1 and so until it was finished and made safe no baby must go near it4 ,chellalu had evidently argued that as to die meant going to ,heaven1 the well must be the way to ,heaven2 and as only grown-up people might go near it1 they1 and they alone apparently1 were allowed to go to ,heaven4 ,these babies are nothing if not practical4 ,arulai had been teaching the story of the ,unmerciful ,servant2 and to bring it down to nursery life1 supposed the case of a baby who snatched at other babies' toys1 and was unfair and selfish4 ,such a baby1 if not reformed1 would grow up and be like the ,unmerciful ,servant4 ,the babies looked upon the back of the offender as shown in the picture4 ,bad man6 ,nasty man6 they said to each other1 pointing to him with aversion4 ,and ,arulai closed the class with a short prayer that none of the babies might ever be like the ,unmerciful ,servant4 ,the prayer over1 the babies rushed to the table where their toys were put during the ,scripture lesson4 ,pyrie got there first1 and1 gathering all she could reach1 she swept them into her lap and was darting off with them1 when a word from ,arulai recalled her4 ,for a moment there was a struggle4 ,then she ran up to ,tingalu1 the child she had chiefly defrauded1 poured all her treasures into her lap1 and then sprang into ,arulai's arms with the eager question3 ,acca6 ,acca6 ,am ,i not a ,merciful ,servant8 ,,chapter ,,xxiv ,the ,accals ,this sacred work demands not lukewarm1 selfish1 slack souls1 but hearts more finely tempered than steel1 wills purer and harder than the diamond4--,p,,re ,,didon4 ,illustration3 ,,ponnamal1 ,,with ,,preetha ,,on ,,her ,,knee1 ,,and ,,tara ,,beside ,,her4 ,,the ,accals1 without whom this work in all its various branches could not be undertaken1 are a band of ,indian sisters 7the word ,accal means older sister7 who live for the service of the children4 ,first among the ,accals is ,ponnamal 7,golden74 ,with the quick affection of the ,east the children find another word for ,gold and call her doubly ,golden ,sister4 ,sometimes we are asked if we ever find an ,indian fellow-worker whom we can thoroughly trust4 ,the ungenerous question would make us as indignant as it would if it were asked about our own relations1 were it not that we know it is asked in ignorance by those who have never had the opportunity of experiencing1 or have missed the happiness of enjoying1 true friendship with the people of this land4 ,those who have known that happiness1 know the limitless loyalty and the tender1 wonderful love that is lavished on the one who feels so unworthy of it all4 ,if there is distance and want of sympathy between those who are called to be workers together with the great ,master1 is not something wrong8 ,simple1 effortless intimacy1 that closeness of touch which is friendship indeed1 is surely possible4 ,but rather we would put it otherwise1 and say that without it service together1 of the only sort we would care to know1 is perfectly impossible4 ,illustration3 ,,sellamuttu ,,and ,,suseela4 ,in our work all along we have had this joy to the full4 ,god in ,his goodness gave us from the first those who responded at once to the confidence we offered them4 ,in ,india the ideal of a consecrated life is a life with no reserves--which seeks for nothing1 understands nothing1 cares for nothing but to be poured forth upon the sacrifice and service4 ,pierce through the various incrustations which have over-laid this pure ideal1 give no heed to the effect of ,western influence and example1 and you come upon this feeling1 however expressed or unexpressed1 at the very back of all--the instinct that recognises and responds to the call to sacrifice1 and does not understand its absence in the lives of those who profess to follow the ,crucified4 ,who1 to whom this ideal is indeed ,the ,gleam1 that draws and ever draws the soul to passionate allegiance1 can fail to find in the ,indian nature at its truest and finest that kinship of spirit which knits hearts together8 ,and it came to pass when he had made an end of speaking1 that the soul of ,jonathan was knit with the soul of ,david1 and ,jonathan loved him as his own soul3 this tells it all4 ,the spring of heart to heart that we call affinity1 the knitting no hand can ever afterward unravel--these experiences have been granted to us all through our work together1 and we thank ,god for it4 ,ponnamal's work lies chiefly among the convert-nurses and the babies4 ,she has charge of the nurseries and of the food arrangements1 so intricate and difficult to the mere lay mind2 she trains her workers to thoroughness and earnestness1 and by force of example seems to create an atmosphere of cheerful unselfishness that is very inspiring4 ,how often we have sent a young convert1 tempted to self-centredness and depression1 to ,ponnamal1 and seen her return to her ordinary work braced and bright and sensible4 ,we are all faulty and weak at times1 and every nursery1 like every life1 has its occasional lapses2 but on the whole it is not too much to say that the nurseries are happy places1 and ,ponnamal's influence goes through them all like a fresh wind4 ,and this in spite of very poor health4 ,for ,ponnamal1 who was the leader of our itinerating band1 broke down hopelessly1 and thought her use in life had passed--till the babies came and brought her back to activity again4 ,and the joy of the ,lord1 we have often proved1 is strength for body as well as soul4 ,sellamuttu1 who comes next to ,ponnamal1 is the ,pearl of previous records1 and she has been a pearl to us through all our years together4 ,she is special ,accal to the household of children above the baby-age--a healthy1 high-spirited crow of most diverse dispositions2 and she is loved by one and all with a love which is tempered with great respect1 for she is all pure justice1 as a little girl remarked feelingly not long ago1 after being rather sharply reproved for exceeding naughtiness3 within my heart wrath burned like a fire2 but my mouth could not open to reply1 for inside me a voice said1 ',it is true1 entirely true2 ,accal is perfectly just4' ,this ,accal1 however1 is most tender in her affections1 and among the babies she has some particular specials4 ,one of these is the solemn-faced morsel of the photograph1 to save whom she travelled1 counting by time1 as far as from ,london to ,moscow and back2 and the baby arrived as happy and well as when the friends at ,moscow sent her off with prayers and blessings and kindness4 ,but the photograph was a shock4 ,aiyo6 she said1 quite upset to see her delight so misrepresented1 that is not ,suseela6 ,there is no smile1 no pleasure in her face6 ,we comforted her by the assurance that any one who understood babies and their ways would consider the camera responsible for the expression4 ,and at least the baby was obedient4 ,had she not told her to make a salaam1 and had not the little hand gone up in serious salute8 ,a perfectly obedient baby is ,sellamuttu's ideal1 and she was satisfied4 ,illustration3 ,,to ,,the ,,right1 ,,suhinie1 ,,and ,,her ,,baby ,,sununda ,both these sisters came to us at some loss to themselves1 for both could have lived at home at ease if they had been so inclined4 ,ponnamal lost all her little fortune by joining us4 ,she could1 perhaps1 have recovered it by going to law1 but she did not feel it right to do so1 and she suffered herself to be defrauded4 ,how could ,i teach others to be unworldly if ,i myself did what to them would appear worldly-minded8 ,that was all she ever said by way of explanation4 ,next to ,ponnamal and ,sellamuttu come the motherly-hearted ,gnanamal and ,annamai4 ,they came to us when we were in circumstances of peculiar difficulty4 ,the work was just beginning1 and we had not enough trustworthy helpers2 so1 wearied with disturbed nights1 we were almost at the end of our strength4 ,send us help6 we prayed1 and went on each trying to do the work of three4 ,it was one hot1 tiring afternoon1 when we longed to forget everything and rest for half an hour1 but could not1 because there was so much to do1 that a bright1 capable face appeared at the door of our room1 and ,annamai1 ,lulla's beloved1 came in and said3 ,god sent me1 and my relative 7naming a mission catechist7 brought me4 ,and so ,i have come6 ,and ,gnanamal--we were in dire straits1 for a dear little babe had suffered at the hands of one who thought first of herself and second of her charge1 and the most careful tending was needed if the baby was to survive--it was then ,gnanamal came and took charge of the delicate child1 and became the comfort and help she has ever continued to be4 ,when there is serious illness1 and night-nursing is required1 ,gnanamal is always ready to volunteer2 though to her1 as to most of us in ,india1 night work is not what the flesh would choose4 ,then in the morning1 when we go to relieve her1 we find her bright as ever1 as if she had slept comfortably all the time4 ,we think this sort of help worth gratitude4 ,the convert-workers1 dear as dear children1 but1 thank ,god1 dependable as comrades1 come next in age to the head ,accals4 ,arulai ,tara 7known to some as ,star7 is what her name suggests1 something steadfast1 something shining1 something burning with a pure devotion which kindles other fires4 ,we cannot imagine our children without their beloved ,arulai4 ,then there is ,sundoshie 7,joy71 to the left next ,suhinie in the photo1 a young wife for whom poison was prepared three times1 and whose escape from death at the hand of husband and mother-in-law was one of those quiet miracles which ,god is ever working in this land of cruelty in dark places4 ,and ,suhinie 7,gladness71 whose story of deliverance has been told before2,e and ,esli1 the gift of a fellow-missionary1 a most faithful girl2 and others younger1 but developing in character and trustworthiness4 ,all these young converts need much care1 but the care of genuine converts is very fruitful work2 and one interesting part of it is the fitting of each to her niche1 or of fitting the niche to her4 ,discernment of spirit is needed for this1 for misfits means waste energy and great discomfort2 and energy is too good a thing to waste1 and comfort too pleasant a thing to spoil4 ,so those who are responsible for this part of the work would be grateful for the remembrance of any who know how much depends upon it4 ,among the recognised fits in our family is the ,accal who loves the unlovable babies4 ,this is ,suhinie4 ,we tried her once with the ,taraha children2 but the terrible activity of these young people was altogether too much for the slowly moving machinery of poor ,suhinie's brain1 and she was perfectly overwhelmed and very miserable4 ,for ,suhinie hates hurry and sudden shocks of any sort1 and the babies of maturer years discovered this immediately2 and ,suhinie1 waddling forlornly after the babies1 looked like a highly respectable duck in charge of a flock of impertinent robins4 ,illustration3 ,,three ,,convert ,,workers4 ,it was quite a misfit1 and ,suhinie's worst came to the top1 and we speedily moved her back again to the ,prmalia nursery4 ,for there you see ,suhinie in her true sphere4 ,give her a poor1 puny babe1 who will never1 if she can help it1 let her ,accal have an undisturbed hour2 give her the most impossible1 most troublesome baby in the nursery1 and then you will see ,suhinie's best4 ,we discovered this when ,ponnamal was in charge of the ,neyoor nursery4 ,ponnamal had one small infant so cross that nobody wanted her4 ,she would cry half the night1 a snarly1 snappy cry1 that would not stop unless she was rocked1 and began again as soon as the rocking was stopped4 ,ponnamal gave her to ,suhinie4 ,night after night till two in the morning she would sing to that fractious child--this was ,ponnamal's story to me when next ,i went to ,neyoor4 ,she never seemed to tire2 hymn after hymn she would sing1 on and on and on4 ,i never saw her impatient with it2 she just loved it from the first4 ,and a curious thing began to happen3 the baby grew like her ,accal4 ,this likeness was not caught in the photograph1 but is nevertheless so observable that visitors have often asked if the little one were her own child4 ,this baby1 ,sununda by name1 is greatly attached to ,suhinie4 ,as she is over two years old now1 she has been promoted to the ,taraha1 and being an extremely wilful little person1 she sometimes gets into trouble4 ,one day ,i was called to remonstrate1 and a little morning glory was required1 and ,i put her in a corner to think about it4 ,another sinner had to be dealt with1 and when ,i returned ,sununda was nowhere to be found4 ,i searched all over the ,taraha and in the garden1 and finally found her in the ,prmalia cuddled close to ,suhinie4 ,she has told me all about it1 said ,suhinie1 who was nursing another edition of difficult infancy2 and she looked down on the curly head with eyes of brooding affection1 like a tender turtle-dove upon her nestling4 ,then the roguish brown eyes smiled up at me with an expression of perfect confidence that ,i would understand and sympathise with the desire to share the troubles of this strange1 sad life with so beloved an ,accal4 ,the question of discipline is sometimes rather difficult with so many dispositions1 each requiring different dealing4 ,we try1 of course1 to fit the penalty to the crime1 so that the child's sense of justice will work on our side2 and in this we always find there is a wonderful unconscious co-operation on the part of the merest baby4 ,but the older children used to be rather a problem4 ,some had come to us after their wills had become developed and their characters partly formed4 ,most of them were with us of their own free will1 and could have walked off any day1 for they knew where they would be welcome4 ,discipline under these circumstances is not entirely easy4 ,but three years ago something of ,revival ,power swept through all our family4 ,it was not the ,great ,revival for which we wait1 but it was something most blessed in effect and abiding in result2 and ever since then the tone has been higher and the life deeper1 so that there is something to which we can appeal confident of a quick response4 ,but children will be scampish2 and once their earnestness of desire to be good was put to unexpected and somewhat drastic proof4 ,at that time the mild ,esli had charge of the sewing-class1 and the class had got into bad ways2 carelessness and chattering prevailed1 so ,esli came in despair to me1 and ,i talked to the erring children4 ,they were sorry1 made no excuses1 and promised to be different in future4 ,i left them repentant and thoroughly ashamed of themselves1 and went to other duties4 ,illustration3 ,,sewing-,,class ,,in ,,the ,,courtyard4 ,shortly afterwards ,arulai found them in a state of great depression4 ,they told her they had promised to be good at the sewing-class1 but were afraid they would forget4 ,arulai's ideas are usually most original1 and she sympathised with the children1 but told them there was no need for them ever to forget4 ,they asked eagerly what could be done to help them to remember4 ,they had prayed1 but even so had doubts4 ,was there anything to be done besides praying8 ,arulai said there was1 and she expounded certain verses from the ,book of ,proverbs4 ,sometimes the best way to make a mark upon the mind is to make a mark upon the body1 she suggested1 and asked the children if they would like this done4 ,the children hesitated4 ,they were aware that ,arulai's marks were likely to be emphatic1 for ,arulai never does things by halves4 ,but their devotion to her and belief in her overcame all fears2 and being genuinely anxious to reform1 they one and all consented4 ,so she sent a small girl off to look for a cane2 and presently one was produced1 thin and nice and suitable1 as ,i was afterwards informed4 ,the younger children were invited to take the cane and look at it1 and consider well how it would feel4 ,this they did obediently1 but still stuck undauntedly to their determination1 in fact1 were keen to go through with it4 ,then ,arulai explained that when the ,king said1 ,chasten thy son while there is hope1 and let not thy soul spare for his crying1 he must have been thinking of a very little boy who had not the sense to know what was good for him4 ,they had sense4 ,the mark on the body would be waste punishment if it were not received willingly and gratefully2 so if any child cried or pulled her hand away1 she would stop4 ,then the children all stood up and held out their hands--what a moment for a photograph6 ,arulai's mark upon the body was a genuine affair1 but the class received it with fortitude and gratitude4 ,when ,i heard this history1 an hour or so after its occurrence1 ,i rather demurred4 ,the children had appeared to be sincerely sorry when ,i spoke to them1 and if so1 why proceed to extremities8 ,but ,arulai answered with wisdom and much assurance3 ,they have been talked to before and have been sorry1 but they forgot and did it again4 ,this time they will not forget4 ,and neither did they4 ,as long as that class continued1 its behaviour was exemplary2 and the mark upon the mind1 to judge by their demeanour1 remained as fresh as it must have been on that memorable day when the mark upon the body effected its creation4 ,the story ought to end here2 but most stories have a sequel1 and this has two4 ,the first occurred a few weeks later4 ,a little girl1 one of the sewing-class1 had slipped into the habit of careless disobedience1 followed too often by sulks4 ,if we happened to come across her just when the thunder-clouds were gathering1 we could usually divert her attention and avert the threatened trouble2 but if we did not happen to meet her just at the right moment1 she would plunge straight into the most outrageous naughtiness with a sort of purposeful directness that was difficult to deal with4 ,knowing the child well1 we often let her choose her own punishments2 and she did this so conscientiously that at last1 as she herself mournfully remarked1 they were all used up1 and there was nothing left but the most ancient--and perhaps in some cases most efficacious1 which1 the circumstances being what they were1 ,i was naturally reluctant to try4 ,but the child1 trained to be perfectly honest with herself1 apparently thought the thing over1 and calmly made up her mind to accept the inevitable2 for when1 anxious she should not misunderstand1 ,i began to explain matters to her1 ,i was met by this somewhat astonishing response3 ,yes1 ,amma1 ,i know4 ,i know you have tried everything else 7she said this almost sympathetically1 as if appreciating my dilemma71 and so you have to do it4 ,i do not like it at all1 but ,arulai ,accal says it is no use unless ,i take it willingly1 so ,amma1 please give me a good caning4 7,the idiom is the same in ,tamil as in ,english1 but there is a stronger word which she now proceeded to use with great deliberation47 ,yes1 ,amma1 a hot caning--with my full mind ,i am willing4 ,and ,i will not cry4 ,or if ,i do cry 7this was added in a serious1 reflecting sort of way71 let not your soul spare for my crying6 ,the second is less abnormal4 ,esli1 whose placid soul had been sadly stirred at the time of the infliction of the mark1 was so impressed by its salutary effect that she conceived a new respect for the methods of ,king ,solomon4 ,the application of morning glory is a privilege reserved1 as a rule1 for ourselves2 but one day1 being doubtless hard pressed1 ,esli produced a stick--a very feeble one--and calling up the leader of all rebels1 addressed herself to her4 ,chellalu1 as might have been expected1 was taken by surprise2 and for one short moment ,esli was permitted to follow the ways of the ,king4 ,but only for a moment3 for1 suddenly apprehending the gravity of the situation1 and realising that such precedent should not pass unchallenged1 ,chellalu1 with a quick wriggle1 stood forth free1 seized the stick with a joyous shout1 snapped it in two1 and flourished round the room3 then stopping before her afflicted ,accal1 she solemnly handed her one of the pieces1 and with a bound and a scamper like a triumphant puppy1 was off to the very end of her world with the other half of that stick4 ,when the ,elf came to us on ,march #f1 #aija1 and we began to know some of the secrets of the ,temple1 we tried to save several little children1 but we failed4 ,the thought of those first children with whom we came into touch1 but for whom all our efforts were unavailing1 is unforgettable4 ,we see them still1 little children--lost4 ,but we partly understand why we had to wait so long2 we had not the workers then to help us to take care of them4 ,we had only some of the older ,accals1 who could not have done it alone4 ,these convert-girls1 who now help us so much1 were in ,hindu homes2 some of them had not even heard of ,christ1 whose love alone makes this work possible4 ,for ,india is not ,england in its view of such work4 ,there is absolutely nothing attractive about it4 ,it is not honourable work1 like preaching and teaching4 ,no money would have drawn these workers to us4 ,work which has no clear ending1 but drifts on into the night if babies are young or troublesome--such work makes demands upon devotion and practical unselfishness which appeal to none but those who are prepared to love with the tireless love of the mother4 ,i do not want people who come to me under certain reservations4 ,in battle you need soldiers who fear nothing4 ,so wrote the heroic ,pre ,didon2 and1 though it may sound presumptuous to do so1 we say the same4 ,we want as comrades those who come to us without reservations4 ,but such workers have to be prepared1 and such preparation takes time4 ,tarry ye the ,lord's leisure1 is a word that unfolds as we go on4 ,yet we find that the work1 though so demanding1 is full of compensations4 ,the convert in her loneliness is welcomed into a family where little children need her and will soon love her dearly4 ,the uncomforted places in her heart become healed1 for the touch of a little child is very healing4 ,if she is willing to forget herself and live for that little child1 something new springs up within her2 she does not understand it1 but those who watch her know that all is well4 ,sometimes long afterwards she reads her own heart's story and opens it to us4 ,i was torn with longing for my home4 ,i dreamed night after night about it1 and ,i used to waken just wild to run back4 ,and yet ,i knew if ,i had1 it would have been destruction to my soul4 ,and then the baby came1 and you put her into my arms1 and she grew into my heart1 and she took away all that feeling1 till ,i forgot ,i ever had it4 ,this was the story of one1 a young wife1 for whom the natural joys of home can never be4 ,but if there is selfishness or slackness or a weak desire to drift along in easiness1 taking all and giving nothing1 things are otherwise4 ,for such the nurseries hold nothing but noise and interruptions4 ,we ask to be spared from such as these4 ,or if they come1 may they be inspired by the constraining love of ,christ and ,the ,glory of the ,usual4 ,,footnote3 ,e ,overweights of ,joy1 ch4 xxiii4 ,suhinie left the nursery for a few hours' rest at noon on ,february #b1 #aiaj4 ,she fell asleep1 to awaken in heaven4 ,,chapter ,,xxv ,the ,little ,accals ,but ,thou didst reckon1 when at first ,thy word our hearts and hands did crave1 ,what it would come to at the worst ,to save4 ,perpetual knockings at ,thy door1 ,tears sullying ,thy transparent rooms4 ,illustration3 ,,three ,,little ,,accals4 ,,these lines come with insistence as ,i look at the little ,accals1 who follow in order after the ,accals1 convert children1 most of them1 now growing up to helpfulness4 ,if part of the story of one such young girl is told1 it may help those to whom such tales are unfamiliar to understand and to care4 ,december #af1 #aijc1 was spent by three of us in a rest-house on the outskirts of a ,hindu town4 ,we were on our way to ,dohnavur from ,madras1 where we had seen ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,walker off for ,england4 ,the two days' journey had left us somewhat weary2 and yet we were strong in hope that day1 for we knew there was special thought for us on board ship and at home1 and something special was being asked as a birthday gift of joy4 ,arulai 7,star7 and ,preena 7the ,elf71 the two who were with me1 were full of expectation4 ,the day had often been marked by that joy of joys1 a lost sheep found2 and as we looked out at the heathen town with its many people so unconscious of our thoughts about them1 we wondered where we should find the one our thoughts had singled from among the crowd1 and we went out to look for her4 ,illustration3 ,,preena ,,and ,,preeya 7,to left and right7 getting ready for a ,coming-,day ,feast4 ,up and down the long white streets we looked for her2 on the little narrow verandahs1 in the courtyards of the houses1 in their dark inner rooms when we were invited within1 out again into the sunshine--but we could not find her4 ,that evening ,i remember1 though we did not say so to each other1 we felt a little disappointed4 ,we had not met one who even remotely cared for the things we had come to bring4 ,no one had responded4 ,there was not1 so far as we knew it1 even a little blade to point to1 much less a sheaf to lay at ,his feet4 ,after nightfall a woman came to see us4 ,but she was a ,christian1 and beyond trying to cheer her to more earnest service among the heathen1 there was nothing to be done for her4 ,she left us1 she told us afterwards1 warmed to hope2 and she talked to a child next morning1 a little relative of her own1 whose heart the ,lord opened4 ,for three months we heard nothing2 then unexpectedly a letter came4 ,the child is much in earnest1 and she has made up her mind to join your ,starry ,cluster 7a name given by the people to our band1 which at that time was itinerating in the district71 so ,i purpose sending her at once4 ,the parents1 for reasons of their own1 agreed to the arrangement1 and the little girl came to ,dohnavur4 ,it was wonderful to watch her learning4 ,she is not intellectually brilliant1 but the soul awakened at once1 and there was that tenderness of response which refreshes the heart of the teacher4 ,she seemed to come straight to our ,lord ,jesus and know ,him as her ,saviour1 child though she was2 and soon the longing to win others possessed her1 and a younger child1 who was her special charge among the nursery children1 was influenced so gently and so willingly1 that we do not know the time when1 led by her little ,accal1 she too came to the ,lover of children4 ,but one day1 suddenly1 trouble came4 ,the parents appeared in the ,dohnavur compound and claimed their daughter2 and we had no legal right to refuse her1 for she was under age4 ,we shall never forget the hour they came4 ,they had haunted the neighbourhood1 as we afterwards heard1 and prowled about outside the compound1 watching for an opportunity to carry the child off without our knowledge4 ,but she was always with the other children1 so that plan failed4 ,when first she heard they had come1 she fled to the bungalow4 ,my parents have come6 ,my father is strong6 ,oh1 hide me6 hide me6 she besought us4 ,i cannot resist him6 ,i cannot6 and she cried and clung to us4 ,but when we went out to meet them1 she was perfectly quiet2 and no one would have known from her manner as she stood before them1 and answered their questions1 without a tremble in her voice1 how frightened she had been before4 ,what is this talk about being a ,christian8 the father demanded stormily4 ,what can an infant know about such matters8 ,are you wiser than your fathers1 that their religion is not good enough for you8 ,and scathing mockery followed1 harder to bear than abuse4 ,come6 ,say salaam to the ,missie ,ammal1 and bring your jewels 7she had taken them off71 and let us go home together4 ,the child stood absolutely still1 looking up with brave eyes2 and to our astonishment said1 as though it were the only thing to be said3 ,but ,i am a ,christian4 ,i cannot go home4 ,we had not thought of her saying this4 ,we had1 indeed1 encouraged her as we had encouraged ourselves1 to rest in our ,god1 who is unto us a ,god of deliverances2 but we had not suggested any line of resistance1 and were not prepared for the calm refusal which so quietly took it for granted that she had no power to refuse4 ,the father was evidently nonplussed4 ,he knew his little daughter1 a timid child1 whose translated name1 ,fawn1 seems to express her exactly1 and he gazed down upon her in silence for one surprised moment1 then burst out in wrath and indignant revilings4 ,snake6 nurtured in the bosom only to turn and sting6 ,vile1 filthy1 disgusting insect1 born to disgrace her caste6 ,and they cursed her as she stood4 ,then their mood changed1 and they tried pleadings1 much more difficult to resist4 ,the father reminded her of his pilgrimage to a famous ,temple at her birth3 ,he had named her before the gods4 ,her mother touched on tenderer memories1 till we could feel the quiver of soul1 and feared for the little ,fawn4 ,then they promised her liberty at home4 ,she should read her ,bible1 pray to the true ,god1 for all gods are one4 ,i saw ,fawn shut her eyes for a moment4 ,what she saw in that moment she told me afterwards3 a fire lighted on the floor1 a ,bible tossed into it1 two schoolboy brothers 7whose leanings towards ,christianity had been discovered7 pushed into an inner room1 the sound of blows and cries4 ,and after that my brothers did not want to be ,christians any more4 ,poor little timid ,fawn6 ,we hardly wonder as we look at her that she shrank and shut her eyes4 ,i have seen a child of twelve held down by a powerful arm and beaten across the bare shoulders with a cocoa-nut shell fastened to the end of a stick2 ,i have seen her wrists twisted almost to dislocation--seen it1 and been unable to help4 ,i think of the child1 now our happy ,gladness1 lover of the unlovable babies2 and ,i for one cannot wonder at the little ,fawn's fear4 ,but aloud she only said3 ,forgive me1 ,i cannot go home4 ,the father grew impatient4 ,get your jewels and let us be gone6 ,fawn ran into the house1 brought her jewels1 and handed them to her father4 ,he counted them over--pretty little chains and bangles1 and then he eyed her curiously4 ,a child to give up her jewels like this--he found it unaccountable4 ,and then he began to argue1 but ,fawn answered him with clearness and simplicity1 and he could not perplex her4 ,she knew ,whom she believed4 ,at last they rose to go1 cursing the day she was born with a curse that sounded horrible4 ,but their younger daughter1 whom they had brought with them1 threw herself upon the ground1 tearing her hair1 beating her breast1 shrieking and rolling and flinging the dust about like a mad thing4 ,i will not go without my sister6 ,i will not go6 ,i will not go6 ,and she clung to ,fawn1 and wept and bewailed till we hardly dared to hope the child would be able to withstand her4 ,for a moment the parents stood and waited4 ,we1 too1 stood in tension of spirit4 ,they have told her to do it1 whispered ,fawn1 and stood firm4 ,then the father stooped1 snatched up the younger child1 and departed1 followed by the mother4 ,all this time two of our number had been waiting upon ,god in a quiet place out of sight4 ,one of the two went after the parents1 hoping for a chance to explain matters to the mother4 ,as she drew near she heard the wife say in an undertone to her husband3 ,leave them for to-day4 ,wait till to-night4 ,you have carried off the younger in your arms against her will4 ,what hinders you doing the same to the elder8 ,and that night we prayed that the ,wall of ,fire might be round us1 and slept in peace4 ,as a dream when one awaketh1 so was the memory of that afternoon when we awoke next morning4 ,and as a dream so the parents passed out of sight1 for they left before the dawn4 ,but weeks afterwards we heard what had happened that night4 ,they had lodged in the ,hindu village outside our gate4 ,there has never been a ,christian there1 and the people have never responded in any way4 ,it is a little shut-in place of darkness on the borders of the light4 ,but when the parents proposed a raid upon the bungalow that night they would not rise to it4 ,no1 we have no feud with the bungalow4 ,we will not do it4 ,the nearest white face was a day's journey distant1 and a woman alone1 white or brown1 does not count for much in ,hindu eyes4 ,but the ,wall of ,fire was around us1 and so we were safe4 ,if the story could stop here1 how easy life would be6 ,one fight1 one fling to the lions1 and then the palm and crown4 ,but it is not so4 ,the perils of reaction are greater for the convert than the first great strain of facing the alternative1 ,diana or ,christ4 ,home-sickness comes1 wave upon wave1 and all but sweeps the soul away2 feelings and longings asleep in the child awake in the girl1 and draw her and woo her1 and blind her too often to all that yielding means4 ,she forgets the under-side of the life she has forsaken2 she remembers only the alluring2 and all that is natural pleads within her1 and will not let her rest4 ,across the will of ,nature leads on the path of ,god1 is sternly true for the convert in a ,hindu or ,moslem land4 ,and so we write this unfinished story in faith that some one reading it will remember the young girl-converts as well as the little children4 ,fawn has been kept steadfast1 but she still needs prayer4 ,these last five years have held anxious hours for those who love her1 and to us1 as to all who have to do with converts4 ,perpetual knockings at ,thy door1 tears sullying ,thy transparent rooms1 are words that go deep and touch the heart of things4 ,,chapter ,,xxvi ,the ,glory of the ,usual ,illustration3 ,,after ,,her ,,bottle4 ,,and all things were done in such excellent methods1 and ,i cannot tell how1 but things in the doing of them seemed to cast a smile--is a beautiful sentence from ,bunyan's ,holy ,war1 which has been with us ever since we began the ,nursery work4 ,lately we found its complement in a modern book of sermons1 ,the ,unlighted ,lustre1 by ,g4 ,h4 ,morrison4 ,no matter how stirring your life be1 it will be a failure if you have never been wakened to the glory of the usual4 ,there is no happiness like the old and common happiness1 sunshine and love and duty and the laughter of children4 4 4 4 ,there are no duties that so enrich as dull duties4 ,the ancient voice and the new voice sing to the same sweet tune2 and we in our little measure are learning to sing it too4 ,as we have said1 ,india is a land where the secular does not appeal4 ,when we were an ,itinerating ,band1 we had many offers from ,christian girls and women to join us1 as many in one month as we now have in five years4 ,sometimes it has seemed to us that we were set to learn and to teach a new and difficult lesson1 the sacredness of the commonplace4 ,day by day we learn to rub out a little more of the clear chalked line that someone has ruled on life's black-board2 the ,secular and the ,spiritual may not be divided now4 ,the enlightening of a dark soul or the lighting of a kitchen fire1 it matters not which it is1 if only we are obedient to the heavenly vision1 and work with a pure intention to the glory of our ,god4 ,illustration3 ,,north ,,lake ,,and ,,hills4 ,the nursery kitchen is a pleasant little place4 ,we hardly ever enter it without remembering and appreciating ,john ,bunyan's pretty thought1 for there things in the doing of them seem to cast a smile4 ,ponnamal1 who1 as we said1 superintends the more delicate food-making work1 has trained two of her helpers to carefulness2 and these two--one a motherly older woman with a most comfortable face1 the other the convert1 ,joy--look up with such a welcome that you feel it good to be there4 ,scrubbing away at endless pots and pans and milk vessels is a younger convent-girl1 who1 when she first came to us1 disapproved of such exertion4 ,she liked to sit on the floor with her ,bible on her lap and a far-away look of content on her face until the dinner-bell rang4 ,now she scrubs with a sense of responsibility4 ,all the younger converts have regular teaching1 for they have much to learn1 and all1 older and younger1 have daily classes and meetings2 above all1 it is planned that each has her quiet time undisturbed4 ,but it is early understood that to be happy each must contribute her share to the happiness of the family2 and one of the first lessons the young convert has to learn is to honour the ,grey ,angel1 ,drudgery1 and not to call her bad names4 ,the kitchen has an outlook dear to the ,tamil heart4 ,a trellis covered with pink antigone surrounds it1 but a window is cut in the trellis so that the kitchen may command the bungalow4 ,while ,i stirred the milk ,i saw everything you did on your verandah1 remarked one of the workers lately1 in tones of appreciation4 ,the opposite outlook is the mountain shown in the photograph2 only instead of water we have the kitchen-garden with its tropical-looking plantains and creeping marrows4 ,and the warm melon lay like a little sun on the tawny sand1 is a line for an ,eastern garden when the great marrows ripen suddenly4 ,the kitchen thus favoured without1 is adorned within1 according to the taste of its owners1 with those very interesting pictures published by the makers of infant foods4 ,how do you choose them8 we asked one day4 ,the truest and the prettiest1 was the satisfactory answer4 ,our ,dohnavur text1 which hangs in every nursery1 looks down upon the workers1 and1 as they put it1 keeps them sweet in heart3 ,love never faileth4 ,when first we began to cultivate babies we were very ignorant1 and we asked advice of all who seemed competent to give it4 ,the advice was most perplexing4 ,each mother was sure the food that had suited her baby was the best of all foods1 and regarded all others as doubtful1 if not bad4 ,one whom we greatly respected told us ,indian babies would be sure to get on anyhow1 as it was their own land4 ,and one seriously suggested rice-water as a suitable nourishment4 ,naturally we began with the time-honoured milk and barley-water1 and some throve upon it4 ,but we found each baby had to be studied separately4 ,there was no universal 7artificial7 food4 ,we could write a tractlet on foods1 and if we did we would call it ,don't1 for the first sentence in it would be1 ,don't change the food if you can help it4 ,this tractlet would certainly close with a word of thanks to those kind people1 the milk-food manufacturers1 who have helped us to build up healthy children2 for feelings of personal gratitude come when help of this kind is given4 ,the nursery kitchen is a room full of reminders of help4 ,i have commanded the ravens1 is a word of strength to us4 ,once we were very low4 ,a little child had died under trying circumstances4 ,one of the milk-sellers1 instead of using the vessel sent him1 poured his milk into an unclean copper vessel1 and it was poisoned4 ,he remembered that it would not be taken unless brought in the proper vessel1 so at the last moment he corrected his mistake1 but the correction was fatal1 for there was no warning4 ,the milk was sterilized as usual and given to the child4 ,she was a healthy baby1 and her nurse remembers how she smiled and welcomed her bottle1 taking it in her little hands in her happy eagerness4 ,a few hours later she was dead4 ,at such times the heart seems foolishly weak1 and things which would not trouble it otherwise have power to make it sore4 ,we were four days' journey from the nursery at the time1 and had the added anxiety about the other babies1 to whom we feared the poisoned milk might have been given1 and we dreaded what the next post might bring4 ,just at that moment it was suggested1 with kindest intentions1 that perhaps we were on the wrong track1 the work seemed so difficult and wasteful4 ,it was mail-day4 ,the mail as usual brought a pile of letters1 and the top envelope contained a bill for foods ordered from ,england some weeks before4 ,it came to more than ,i had expected1 in spite of the kindness of several firms in giving a liberal discount2 and for a moment the rice-water talk 7to give it a name which covers all that type of talk7 came back to me with hurt in it3 ,to what purpose is this waste8 ,but with it came another word3 ,take this child away 7away from the terrible ,temple7 and nurse it for ,me4 ,and with the pile of letters before me1 and the bill for food in my hand1 ,i asked that enough might be found in those letters to pay it4 ,it did not occur to me at the moment that the prayer was rather illogical4 ,i only knew it would be comforting1 and like a little word of peace1 if such an assurance might even then come that we were not off the lines4 ,letter after letter was empty4 ,not empty of kindness1 but quite empty of cheques4 ,the last envelope looked thin and not at all hopeful4 ,cheques are usually inside reliable-looking covers4 ,i opened it4 ,there was nothing but a piece of unknown writing4 ,but the writing was to ask if we happened to have a need which a sum named in the letter would meet4 ,this sum exactly covered the bill for the foods4 ,when the cheque eventually reached me it was for more than the letter had mentioned1 and covered all carriage and duty expenses1 which were unknown to me at the time the first letter came1 and to which of course ,i had not referred in my reply4 ,thus almost visibly and audibly has the ,lord1 from whose hands we received this charge to keep1 confirmed ,his word to us1 strengthening us when we were weak1 and comforting us when we were sad with that innermost sense of ,his tenderness which braces while it soothes4 ,surely we who know ,him thus should love the ,lord because ,he hath heard our voice and our supplication4 ,every advertisement on the walls of the little nursery kitchen is like an illuminated text with a story hidden away in it3-- ,when ,thou dost favour any action1 ,it runs1 it flies2 ,all things concur to give it a perfection4 ,the nursery kitchen1 we were amused to discover1 has a sphere of influence all its own4 ,our discovery was on this wise3-- ,one wet evening we were caught in a downpour as we were crossing from the ,taraha nursery to the bungalow1 and we took shelter in the kindergarten room1 which reverts to the ,lola-and-,leela tribe when the kindergarten babies depart4 ,the tribe do not often possess their ,sittie and their ,ammal both together and all to themselves1 now that the juniors are so numerous1 and they welcomed us with acclamations4 ,finish spreading your mats1 we said to them1 as they seemed inclined to let our advent interrupt the order of the evening2 and we watched them unroll their mats1 which hung round the wall in neat rolls swung by cords from the roof1 and spread them in rows along the wall4 ,beside each mat was what looked like a mummy1 and beside each mummy was a matchbox and a small bundle of rags4 ,presently the mummies were unswathed1 and proved to be dolls in more or less good condition4 ,each was carefully laid upon a morsel of sheet1 and covered with another sheet folded over in the neatest fashion4 ,if we teach them to be particular when they are young1 they will be tidy when they are old1 we were informed4 ,it was pleasant to hear our own remarks so accurately repeated4 ,the matchboxes were next unpacked2 each contained a bit of match1 a small pointed shell1 a pebble 7preferably black71 and a couple of minute cockles4 ,i suppose you don't know what all these are8 said ,lola1 affably4 ,that1 pointing to the match1 is a spoon2 and this1 taking the pointed shell up carefully1 is a bottle4 ,this is the 'rubber1' of course1 and the black pebble was indicated2 and these 7setting the cockle-shells on a piece of white paper on the floor7 are bowls of water1 one for the bottle and the other for the rubber4 ,we suggested one bowl of water would hold both bottle and rubber2 but ,lola's entirely mischievous eyes looked quite shocked and reproving4 ,two bowls are better1 was the serious reply2 it is very important to be clean4 ,what does your child have8 we inquired respectfully4 ,barley-water and milk1 two-and-a-half ounces every two hours--that's five tablespoonfuls1 you know4 ,and ,leela's8 ,oh1 ,leela's child is delicate4 ,she has to have ,benger4 ,two ounces every two hours2 and it has to be a long time digested4 ,do all your children have their food every two hours8 ,lola looked surprised1 and ,leela giggled3 how very ignorant we seemed to be6 ,no1 only the tiny ones2 our babies are very young4 ,after they get older they have more at a time and not so often4 ,that child there1 pointing to another mat1 has ,condensed1 as we haven't enough cow's milk for them all4 ,it suits her very well4 ,she has six ounces at a time2 once before she goes to sleep1 and then none till she wakens in the morning4 ,she's a very healthy child4 ,how do you know the time8 we asked1 prepared for anything now4 ,oh1 we have watches4 ,this is mine1 and a toy from a ,christmas cracker was produced2 ,leela's watch is different 7it was indeed different--a mere figment of the imagination71 but she can look at mine when she wants to4 ,why does your child sleep with ,leela's8 7,all the other infants had separate sleeping arrangements47 ,lola looked shy1 and ,leela looked shyer4 ,these little matters of affection were not intended for public discussion4 ,by this time the rain had cleared1 so we prepared to depart1 and the further entertainments provided for us by the cheerful tribe that evening do not belong to this story4 ,we escaped finally1 damp with much laughter in a humid atmosphere4 ,come every evening6 shouted the tribe1 as at last we disappeared1 and we felt much inclined to accept the invitation4 ,the kitchen is a busy place in the morning1 and again in the evening1 when the fresh milk is carried to it in shining aluminium vessels to be sterilized or otherwise dealt with4 ,but even in the busiest hours there is almost sure to be a baby set in an upturned stool1 in which she sits holding on to the front legs in proud consciousness of being able to sit up4 ,or an older one will be clinging to the garments of the busy workers1 or perched beside them on a stool4 ,once we found ,tara and ,evu seated on the window-sill4 ,ponnamal was making foods at the table under the window1 and the little bare feet were tucked in between bowls and jugs of milk4 ,but1 indeed1 they are quite clean1 explained ,ponnamal1 without waiting for remark from us1 for she knew what we were thinking of her table decorations4 ,we dusted the sand off their little feet before we lifted them up4 ,the babies said nothing1 but looked doubtfully up at us1 as if not very sure of our intentions4 ,but ,ponnamal's eyes were so appealing1 and the little buff things in blue with a trellis of pink flowers for background made such a pretty picture1 that we had not the heart to spoil it4 ,then the little faces smiled gratefully upon us1 and everybody smiled4 ,the kitchen is a happy place of innocent surprises4 ,,chapter ,,xxvii ,the ,secret ,traffic ,sir1 to leave things out of a book because they will not be believed1 is meanness4--,,dr4 ,,johnson4 ,,when first1 upon ,march #g1 #aija1 we heard from the lips of a little child the story of her life in a ,temple house1 we were startled and distressed1 and penetrated with the conviction that such a story ought to be impossible in a land ruled by a ,christian ,power4 ,the subject was new to us2 we knew nothing of the magnitude of what may be called ,the ,secret ,traffic of ,india--a traffic in little children1 mere infants oftentimes1 for wrong purposes2 and we did not appreciate1 as we do now1 the delicacy and difficulty of the position from a ,government point of view1 or the quiet might of the forces upon the other side4 ,and though with added knowledge comes an added sense of responsibility1 and a fear of all careless appeal to those whose burden is already so heavy1 yet with every fresh discovery the conviction deepens that something should be done--and done1 if possible1 soon--to save at least this generation of children1 or some of them1 from destruction4 ,it is useless to move without a body of evidence at your back1 said a friend in the ,civil ,service to us at the close of a long conversation4 ,if you can get the children1 of course they themselves will furnish the best evidence2 but1 anyhow1 collect facts4 ,and this was the beginning of a ,note-book1 into which we entered whatever we could learn about the ,temple children1 and in which we kept letters relating to them4 ,by ,temple children throughout this book we mean children dedicated to gods1 or in danger of being so dedicated4 ,dedication to gods implies a form of marriage which makes ordinary marriage impossible4 ,the child is regarded as belonging to the gods4 ,in ,southern ,india1 where religious feeling runs strong1 and the great ,temples are the centres of ,hindu influence1 this that ,i have called ,the ,traffic is worked upon religious lines2 and so in trying to save the children we have to contend with the perverted religious sense4 ,something of the same kind exists in other parts of ,india1 and the traffic under another name is common in provinces where ,temple service as we have it in the ,south is unknown4 ,again1 in areas where1 owing to the action of the native ,government1 ,temple service1 as such1 is not recognised1 so that children in danger of wrong cannot1 strictly speaking1 be called ,temple children1 there is yet need of legislation which shall touch all houses where little children are being brought up for the same purpose2 so that the subject is immense and involved1 and the thought of it suggests a net thrown over millions of square miles of territory1 so finely woven as to be almost invisible1 but so strong in its mesh that in no place yet has it ever given way4 ,and the net is alive3 it can feel and it can hold4 ,but all through this book we have kept to the ,south--to the area where the evil is distinctly and recognisably religious4 ,others elsewhere have told their own story2 ours1 though in touch with theirs 7in that its whole motive is to save the little children71 is yet different in manner1 in that it is avowedly ,christian4 ,india is a land where generalisations are deceptive4 ,so we have kept to the ,south4 ,we ourselves became only very gradually aware of what was happening about us4 ,as fact after fact came to light1 we were forced to certain conclusions which we could not doubt were correct4 ,but at first we were almost alone in these conclusions1 because it was impossible to take others with us in our tedious underground hunt after facts4 ,so the question was often asked3 ,but do the children really exist8 ,i have said we were almost alone1 not quite4 ,members of the ,indian ,civil ,service1 who are much among the people1 knew something of the custom of child-dedication1 but found themselves unable to touch it4 ,hindu ,reformers1 of course1 knew2 and two or three veteran missionaries had come into contact with it and had grieved over their helplessness to do anything4 ,one of these had written a pamphlet on the subject twenty years before our ,nursery work began4 ,he sent it to me with a sorrowful word written across it1 ,result8 ,nil4 ,but we do not often meet our civilian friends1 for they are busy1 and so are we2 and the few missionaries whose inspiring sympathy helped us through those earlier years were in places far from us1 and so were all the ,reformers4 ,so perhaps it was not wonderful that1 beset by doubting letters from home and a certain amount of not unnatural incredulity in ,india1 we sometimes almost wondered if we ourselves were dreaming4 ,well1 if they do exist1 ,i hope you will be able to find them6--varied by1 ,well1 if you do find them1 they will be a proof of their own existence6--were two of the most encouraging remarks of those early days4 ,from the beginning of this work1 as stated before1 we have tried to collect facts about the traffic and the customs connected with it4 ,notes were kept of conversations with ,hindus and others1 and these notes were compared with what evidence we were able to gather from trustworthy sources4 ,these brief notes of various kinds we offer in their simplicity4 ,we have made no attempt to tabulate or put into shape the information thus acquired1 believing that the notes of conversations taken down at the time1 and the quotations from letters copied as they stand1 will do their work more directly than anything more elaborate would4 ,where there is a difference of detail it is because the customs differ slightly in different places4 ,no names are given1 for obvious reasons2 but the letters were written by men of standing1 living in widely scattered districts in the ,south4 ,the evidence contained in them was carefully sifted1 and in many cases corroborated by personal investigation1 before being considered evidence3 so that we believe these chapters may be accepted as fact4 ,dated quotations from the ,madras ,mail are sufficient to prove that we are not writing ancient history3-- ,january #b1 #aiji4--,the following resolution was put from the chair and carried unanimously3 ',the ,conference 7consisting of ,hindu ,social ,reformers7 cordially supports the movement started to better the condition of unprotected children in general1 and appreciates particularly the agitation started to protect girls and young women from being dedicated to ,temples4' ,may #h1 #aiji4--,once more we have an illustration from ,mysore of the fact that the ,government of a ,native ,state are able to tread boldly on ground which the ,british ,government in ,india are unable to approach4 ,at various times1 in these columns and elsewhere1 has the cry raised against the employment of servants of the gods in ,hindu ,temples been uttered2 but1 as far as the ,government are concerned1 it has fallen1 if not on deaf ears1 on ears stopped to appeals of this kind1 which demand action that can be interpreted as a breach of that religious neutrality which is one of the cardinal principles of ,british rule in ,india4 ,the agitation against it is not the agitation of the ,european whose susceptibility is offended at a state of things that he finds hard to reconcile with the reverence and purity of ,divine worship2 but it is the outcry of the reverent ,hindu against one of the corrupt and degrading practices that1 in the course of centuries1 have crept into his religion4 ,in this particular instance the ,mysore ,government cannot be accused of acting hastily4 ,as long ago as ,february1 #ahib1 they issued a circular order describing the legitimate services to be performed in ,temples by ,temple women4 ,in #ahii1 the ,muzrai ,superintendent1 ,rai ,bahadur ,a4 ,sreenivasa ,charlu1 directed that the ,temple women borne on the ,nanjangud ,temple establishment should not be allowed to perform tafe 7or dancing7 service in the ,temple2 but that the allowances payable to them should be continued for their lifetime1 and that at their death the vacancies should not be filled up4 ,against this order the ,temple women concerned memorialised ,h4,h4 the ,maharajah as long ago as #aije1 and the order disposing of it has only just been issued4 ,in the course of the latter the ,government say3-- ',from the ,shastraic authorities quoted by the two ,agamiks employed in the ,muzrai ,secretariat1 it is observed that the services to be performed by ,temple women form part and parcel of the worship of the god in ,hindu ,temples1 and that singing and dancing in the presence of the deity are also prescribed4 ,it is1 however1 observed that in the case of ,temple women personal purity and rectitude of conduct and a vow of celibacy were considered essential4 ,but the high ideals entertained in ancient days have now degenerated4 4 4 4 ,the ,government now observe that whatever may have been the original object of the institution of ,temple women in ,temples1 the state in which these ,temple servants are now found fully justifies the action taken by them in excluding the ,temple women from every kind of service in sacred institutions like ,temples4 ,further1 the absence of the services of these women in certain important ,temples in the ,state has become established for nearly fifteen years past1 and the public have become accustomed to the idea of doing without such services4' ,the exclusion of ,temple women from ,temple services obtains in ,mysore in the case of a few large ,temples whose ,tasdik ,pattis have been revised4 ,but the time has come1 the ,government think1 for its general application1 and they therefore direct that the policy enunciated in the abstract given above should be extended to all ,muzrai ,temples in the ,state4 ,it is to be hoped that the good example thus set will bear fruit elsewhere1 where the ,temple women evil is more notorious than it was in ,temples of ,mysore4 ,a copy of the ,government document to which this cutting relates lies before me4 ,it is bravely and clearly worded1 and its intention is evident4 ,the high-minded ,hindu--and there are such1 let it not be forgotten--revolts from the degradation and pollution of this travesty of religion1 and will abolish it where he can4 ,but let it be remembered that1 good as this law is1 it does not and it cannot touch the great ,secret ,traffic itself4 ,that will go on behind the law1 and behind the next that is made1 and the next1 unless measures are devised to ensure its being thoroughly enforced4 ,cuttings from newspapers1 quotations1 evidence--it is not interesting reading1 and yet we look to our friends to go through to the end with us4 ,let us pause for a moment here and remember the purpose of it all2 and may the thought of some little1 loved child make an atmosphere for these chapters6 ,,chapter ,,xxviii ,blue ,book ,evidence ,the precipitous sides of difficult questions4--,e4 ,b4 ,b4 ,,our first evidence consists of abridged extracts from the ,census ,report for #aija4 ,after explaining the different names by which ,temple women are known in different parts of the ,madras ,presidency1 the ,report continues3 ,the servants of the gods1 who subsist by dancing and music and the practice of 'the oldest profession in the world1' are partly recruited by admissions and even purchases from other classes4 4 4 4 ,the rise of the ,caste and its euphemistic name seem to date from the ninth and tenth centuries1 during which much activity prevailed in ,south ,india in the matter of building ,temples and elaborating the services held in them4 4 4 4 ,the duties then1 as now1 were to fan the idol with ,tibetan ox-tails1 to carry the sacred light1 and to sing and dance before the god when he is carried in procession4 ,inscriptions show that in ,a4,d4 #ajjd the great ,temple of the ,chola king at ,tanjore had attached to it four hundred women of the ,temple1 who lived in free quarters in the four streets round it1 and were allowed tax-free land out of its endowments4 ,other ,temples had similar arrangements4 4 4 4 ,at the present day they form a regular ,caste1 having its own laws of inheritance1 its own customs and rules of etiquette1 and its own councils to see that all these are followed1 and they hold a position which is perhaps without a parallel in any other country4 4 4 4 ,the daughters of the ,caste who are brought up to follow the ,caste profession are carefully taught dancing and singing1 the art of dressing well1 4 4 4 and their success in keeping up their clientele is largely due to the contrast which they thus present to the ordinary ,hindu housewife1 whose ideas are bounded by the day's dinners and babies4 ,closely allied to this ,caste is that formed by the ,temple musicians1 who with the ,temple woman are now practically the sole repository of ,indian music1 the system of which is probably one of the oldest in the world4 ,in certain districts the ,report states that a custom obtains among certain castes1 under which a family which has no sons must dedicate one of its daughters to ,temple service4 ,the daughter selected is taken to a ,temple and married there to a god1 the marriage symbol being put on her as in a real marriage4 ,henceforth she belongs to the god4 ,writing in #aijd1 a member of the ,indian ,civil ,service says3 ,i heard of a case of dedication 7three girls7 at ,a4 at the beginning of this year1 but ,i could not get any evidence4 ,the cases very rarely indeed come up officially1 as nearly every ,hindu is interested in keeping them dark4 ,we1 too1 have had the same difficulty1 and the evidence we now submit is doubly valuable because of its source4 ,it is very rarely that we have found it possible to get behind the scenes sufficiently to obtain reliable information from those most concerned in this traffic4 ,the head priest of one of our ,temples admitted to a friend who was watching for opportunities to get information for us that the marriage to the god is effected privately by the ,temple priest at the ,temple woman's house1 with the usual marriage-symbol ceremony4 ,to avoid the ,penal ,code 7which forbids the marriage of children to gods7 a nominal bridegroom is sometimes brought for the wedding day to become the nominal husband4 ,this ,caste is recruited by secret adoption4 ,a ,temple woman's son1 now living the ordinary life apart from his clan1 explains the very early marriage thus3 ,if not married1 they will not be considered worthy of honour4 ,before the children reach the age of ten they must be married4 4 4 4 ,they become the property of the ,temple priests and worshippers who go to the ,temple to chant the sacred songs4 ,a ,temple woman herself told a friend of ours3 ,the child is dressed like a bride1 and taken with another girl of the same community1 dressed like a boy in the garb of a bridegroom4 ,they both go to the ,temple and worship the idol4 ,this ceremony is common1 and performed openly in the streets4 ,in a later letter from the same friend further details are given3 ,the child1 who should be about eight or nine years old1 goes as if to worship the idol in the ,temple4 ,there the marriage symbol is hidden in a garland1 and the garland is put over the idol1 after which it is taken to the child's home and put round her neck4 ,after this she is considered married to the god4 ,a young ,temple woman in a town near ,dohnavur told us she had been given to the ,temple when she was five years old4 ,her home was in the north country1 but she did not remember it4 ,she had1 of course1 understood nothing of the meaning of the ceremony of marriage4 ,she only remembered the pretty flowers and general rejoicing and pleasure4 ,afterwards1 when she began to understand1 she was not happy1 but she gradually got accustomed to it4 ,her adopted relations were all the friends she had4 ,she was fond of them and they of her4 ,her husband was one of the ,temple priests4 ,a ,hindu woman known to us left home with her little daughter and wandered about as an ascetic4 ,she went to a famous ,temple1 where it is the custom for such as desire to become ascetics to enter the life by conforming to certain ceremonies ordained by the priests4 ,she shaved her head1 took off her jewels1 wore a ,saivite necklet of berries1 and was known as a devotee4 ,she had little knowledge of the life before she entered it1 and only gradually became aware of the character borne by most of her fellow-devotees4 ,when she knew1 she fled from them and returned to her own village and the secular life1 finding it better than the religious4 ,in telling us about it she said3 ,i expected whiteness1 ,i found blackness4 ,she told us that she constantly came into contact with ,temple women1 none of whom had chosen the life as she and her fellow-ascetics had chosen theirs4 ,always the one who is to dance before the gods is given to the life when she is very young4 ,otherwise she could not be properly trained4 ,many babies are brought by their parents and given to ,temple women for the sake of merit4 ,it is very meritorious to give a child to the gods4 ,often the parents are poor but of good ,caste4 ,always suitable compensation and a 'joy gift' is given by the ,temple women to the parents4 ,it is an understood custom1 and ensures that the child is a gift1 not a loan4 ,the amount depends upon the age and beauty of the child4 ,if the child is old enough to miss her mother1 she is very carefully watched until she has forgotten her4 ,sometimes she is shut up in the back part of the house1 and punished if she runs out into the street4 ,the punishment is severe enough to frighten the child4 ,sometimes it is branding with a hot iron upon a place which does not show1 as under the arm2 sometimes nipping with the nail till the skin breaks2 sometimes a whipping4 ,after the child is reconciled to her new life1 occasionally her people are allowed to come if they wish2 and in special circumstances she pays a visit to her old home4 ,but this is rare4 ,if she has been adopted as an infant1 she knows nothing of her own relations1 but thinks of her adopted mother as her own mother4 ,as soon as she can understand she is taught all evil and trained to think it is good4 ,as to her education1 the movements of the dance are taught very early1 and the flexible little limbs are rendered more flexible by a system of massage4 ,in all ways the natural grace of the child is cultivated and developed1 but always along lines which lead far away from the freedom and innocence of childhood4 ,as it is important she should learn a great deal of poetry1 she is taught to read 7and with this object in view she is sometimes sent to the mission school1 if there is one near her home74 ,the poetry is almost entirely of a debased character2 and so most insidiously1 by story and allusion1 the child's mind is familiarised with sin2 and before she knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good1 the instinct which would have been her guide is tampered with and perverted1 till the poor little mind1 thus bewildered and deceived1 is incapable of choice4 ,,chapter ,,xxix ,very ,common in those ,parts ,the dark enigma of permitted wrong4--,f4 ,r4 ,h4 ,,the mixture of secrecy and openness described by the ,temple woman is confirmed by ,hindus well acquainted with ,temple affairs4 ,all the ,temple women are married to the gods4 ,in former times the marriages were conducted upon a grand scale1 but now they are clandestinely performed in the ,temple1 with the connivance of the priest1 and with freedom to deny it if questioned4 ,some ceremonies are performed in the ,temple1 the rest at home4 ,sometimes the marriage symbol is blessed by the priest1 and taken home to the child to be worn by her4 ,in all these cases the priest himself has to tie it round her neck4 ,the previous arrangements for the marriage are made by the priests with the guardians of the child who is to be initiated into the order of ,temple women4 ,the ceremony of tying on the marriage symbol is never in our district performed in public4 ,none but intimate friends know about it4 ,there is a secret understanding between the priests and the ,temple women concerned4 ,when the time arrives for the marriage symbol to be tied on1 after the usual ceremonies the priest hands over the symbol hidden in a garland of flowers4 ,of course1 there is music on the occasion4 ,when outsiders ask what all the noise is about1 the people who know do not say the real thing4 ,they say it is a birthday or other festival day4 ,the symbol is tied on when the child is between five and eleven1 after which it is considered unholy to perform the marriage ceremony4 ,the symbol is at first hidden from the gaze of the public4 ,later it is shown publicly1 but not while the girl is still young4 ,this tallies exactly with our own experience4 ,more than once an eager child in her simplicity has shown me the marriage symbol1 a small gold ornament tied round her neck1 or hanging on a fine gold chain2 but the ,temple woman in whose charge she was has always reproved her sharply1 and made her cover it up under her other jewels1 or under the folds of her dress4 ,the reason for this secrecy1 which1 however1 is not universal1 is1 as is inferred in the evidence of the head priest1 because it is known to the ,temple authorities that what they are doing is illegal2 though1 as a matter of fact1 as will be seen later1 prosecutions are rare1 and convictions rarer still4 ,the ,caste is recruited1 as the ,blue ,book states1 by admissions and even purchases from other classes4 ,on this point a ,brahman says3 ,when the ,temple woman has no child1 she adopts a girl or girls1 and the children become servants of the gods4 ,sometimes children are found who1 on account of a vow made by their parents1 become devotees of the gods4 ,another ,brahman1 an orthodox ,hindu1 writes3 ,in some districts people vow that they will dedicate one of their children to the ,temple if they are blessed with a family4 ,temple women often adopt orphans1 to whom they bequeath their possessions4 ,in most cases the orphans are bought4 ,the position of the ,temple woman has been a perplexity to many4 ,the ,census ,report touches the question3 ,it is one of the many inconsistencies of the ,hindu religion1 that though their profession is repeatedly vehemently condemned in the ,shastras 7sacred books71 it has always received the countenance of the ,church4 ,their duties are all religious4 ,a well-informed ,hindu correspondent thus enumerates them3 ,first they are to be one of the twenty-one persons who are in charge of the key of the outer door of the ,temple2 second1 to open the outer door daily2 third1 to burn camphor1 and go round the idol when worship is being performed2 fourth1 to honour public meetings with their presence2 fifth1 to mount the car and stand near the god during car-festivals4 ,the orthodox ,hindu quoted before remarks on the high honour1 as the ,temple child is taught to consider it1 the marriage to the god confers upon her4 ,we have purposely confined ourselves almost entirely to official and ,hindu evidence so far1 but cannot forbear to add to this last word the confirmatory experience of our own ,temple children worker3 ,when ,i try to persuade the ,hindus to let us have their little ones instead of giving them to the ,temples they say3 ',but to give them to ,temples is honour and glory and merit to us for ever2 to give them to you is dishonour and shame and demerit4 ,so why should we give them to you8' ,we have said that convictions are rare4 ,this is because of the great difficulty in obtaining such evidence as is required by the law as it stands at present4 ,one case may be quoted as typical4 ,a few years ago1 in one of our country towns1 a father gave his child in marriage to the idol with some pomp1 as the report before us says4 ,he was prosecuted1 but the prosecution failed1 for the priest and the parents united in denying the fact of the marriage2 and the evidence for the defence was so skilfully cooked that it was found impossible to prove an offence against the ,penal ,code4 ,once1 deeply stirred over the case of a little girl of six who was about to be married to a god as her elder sisters had been a few months previously1 we wrote to a magistrate of wide experience and proved sympathy with the work4 ,his letter speaks for itself3-- ,i have been waiting some little time before answering your letter1 because ,i wanted time to think over your problem4 ,as far as ,i can make out1 there is no way in the world of preventing a woman marrying her own daughter to the gods at any age2 but you can prosecute her if she does4 ,if you could get her into prison for marrying the elder girls1 the younger might be safe2 but ,i don't think you can do anything directly for her4 ,she is not being 'unlawfully detained'2 and even if she were1 all you could do would be to get her returned to her parents and guardians1 which would be worse than useless4 ,the question is whether you can hope to get a conviction in the other case4 ,i don't see how you can4 ,you can say in court that you saw the little girls with their marriage symbol on1 and that they said they had been married to the god4 ,the little girls will deny it all1 and say they never set eyes on you before4 ,moreover1 ,i don't think the ordinary ,court would be satisfied without some other evidence of the fact of dedication2 and considering how everyone would work against you1 ,i think you would find it extraordinarily hard4 ,the local police would be worse than useless4 ,to every man his work3 it appears to us that expert knowledge is required1 and ample means and leisure1 if the expenditure involved is to result in anything worth while2 and a careful study of all available information regarding prosecutions1 convictions1 and1 ,i may add1 sentences1 has convinced us1 at least1 of the futility of such attempts from a missionary point of view3 for even if convictions were certain1 as long as the law hands the child back to its guardians after their unfitness to guard it from the worst that can befall it has been proved1 so long do we feel unable to rejoice exceedingly over even the six months' rigorous imprisonment1 which in more than one case has been the legal interpretation of the phrase up to a term of ten years1 which is the penalty attached to this offence in the ,indian ,penal ,code4 ,in this connection it may be well to quote a paragraph from the ,indian ,social ,reformer3-- ,the ,public ,prosecutor at ,madras applied for admission of a revision petition against the order of the ,sessions ,judge1 made in the following circumstances3-- ,one1 ,s41 a priest1 was convicted by the first-class subdivisional magistrate of having performed the ceremony of dedicating a young girl in the ,temple of ,n41 and thereby committing an offence punishable under ,section #cgb of the ,penal ,code4 ,he accordingly sentenced him to six months' rigorous imprisonment4 ,on appeal1 the ,sessions ,judge reduced the sentence to two months1 on the ground that the rite complained against was a very common one in those parts4 ,the ,public ,prosecutor based his petition on the ground that it had been held in a previous case 'that such a dedication was an offence1 and that it was highly desirable that the interests of minors should be properly protected4' ,this protection1 it was submitted1 could only be vouchsafed by making offending people understand that they would render themselves liable to heavy punishment4 ,the present sentence would not have a deterrent effect1 and he accordingly applied for an enhancement of the same4 ,his lordship admitted the petition1 and directed notice to the accused4 ,it is something to know the six months' sentence was confirmed4 ,but is not the fact that a ,sessions ,judge should commute such a sentence1 on the ground that the offence was very common1 enough to suggest a doubt as to the deterrent effect of even this punishment8 ,,note ,during the last few months the ,secretary of ,state for ,india has addressed official inquiries to the ,government of ,india regarding the dedication of children to ,hindu gods1 and the measures necessary for the protection of such children4 ,if the anticipated change in the law is to result in more than a ,bill on paper--a blind1 behind which things will go on as before only more out of sight--it is1 we believe1 needful to ensure3 #ast4 ,protection for all children found to be in moral danger1 whether or not they are or may be dedicated to gods4 #bnd4 ,that1 irrespective of nationality or religion1 whoever has worked for and won the deliverance of the child should be allowed to act as guardian to it4 #crd4 ,that such a ,bill shall be most thoroughly enforced4 ,february1 #aiab4 ,to face p4 #bfh4 ,,chapter ,,xxx ,on the ,side of the ,oppressors there was ,power ,i ,,have been looking over my note-book1 in which there are some hundreds of letters1 clippings from newspapers1 and records of conversations bearing upon the ,temple children4 ,it is difficult to know which to choose to complete the picture already outlined in the preceding chapters4 ,a mere case record would be wearisome2 and indeed the very word case sounds curiously inappropriate when one thinks of the nurseries and their little inhabitants2 or looks up to see mischievous eyes watching a chance to stop the uninteresting writing2 or feels1 suddenly1 soft arms round one's neck1 as a baby1 strayed from her own domain1 climbs unexpectedly up from behind and makes dashes at the typewriter keyboard4 ,such little living interruptions are too frequent to allow of these chapters being anything but human4 ,the newspaper clippings are usually concerned with public movements1 resolutions1 petitions1 and the like4 ,there is one startling little paragraph from a ,london paper1 dated ,july #g1 #aijf2 the ignorance of the subject so flippantly dealt with is its only apology4 ,no one could have written so had he understood4 ,the occasion was the memorial addressed to the ,governor in ,council by workers for the children in the ,bombay ,presidency3-- ,society must be very select in ,poona4 ,there has been a custom there for young ladies to be married to selected gods4 ,you would have thought that to be the bride of a god was a good enough marriage for anyone4 ,but it is not good enough for ,poona4 ,it is time that such writing became impossible for any ,englishman4 ,in ,india the feeling of the best men1 whether ,hindu or ,christian1 is strongly against the dedication of little children to ,temples1 and some of the newspapers of the land speak out and say so in unmistakable language4 ,the ,indian ,times speaks of the little ones being steeped deep from their childhood in all that is most wrong4 ,a ,hindu1 writing in the ,epiphany1 puts the matter clearly when he says3 ,finally1 one can hardly conceive of anything more debasing than to dedicate innocent little girls to gods in the name of religion1 and then leave them with the ,temple priests2 and another writer in the same paper asks a question which those who say that ,hinduism is good enough for ,india might do well to ponder3 ,if this is not a ,hindu practice1 how can it take place in a ,temple and no priest stop it1 though all know8 4 4 4 ,in ,london religion makes wickedness go away2 but in ,bombay religion brings wickedness1 and ,government has to try to make it go away4 ,this immense contrast of fact and of ideal contains our answer to all who would put sin in ,india on a level with sin in ,england4 ,christian writers naturally1 whether in the ,christian ,patriot of the ,south or the ,bombay ,guardian of the ,west1 have no doubt about the existence of the evil or the need for its removal4 ,they1 too1 connect it distinctly with religion1 and recognise its tremendous influence4 ,but we turn from the printed page1 and go straight to the houses where the little children live4 ,the witnesses now are missionaries or trusted ,indian workers4 ,there were thirteen little children in the houses connected with the ,temple last time ,i visited them4 ,i saw the little baby--such a dear1 fat1 laughing little thing4 ,it was impossible to get it1 and ,i see no hope of getting any of the other children4 ,when ,i was visiting in ,s4 a woman came to talk to me with her three little children4 ,two of them were girls1 very pretty1 'fair' little children4 ',what work does your husband do8' ,i asked2 and she answered1 ',i am married to the god4' ,then ,i knew who she was1 and that her children were in danger4 ,i have tried since to get them1 but in vain4 ,everyone says that ,temple women never give up their little girls4 ,these two were dedicated at their birth4 ,this is only one instance4 ,we have many ,temple women reading with us1 and many of the little children attend our schools4 ,there are not scores but hundreds of these children in the villages of this district4 ,here certain families1 living ordinary lives in their own villages1 dedicate one of their children as a matter of course to the gods4 ,they always choose the prettiest4 ,it is a recognised custom1 and no one thinks anything of it4 ,the child so dedicated lives with her parents afterwards as if nothing had happened1 only she may not be married in the real way4 ,she belongs to the god and his priests and worshippers4 ,the house was very orderly and nice4 ,i sat on the verandah and talked to the women1 who were all well educated and so attractive with their pretty dress and jewels4 ,they seemed bright1 but1 of course1 would not show me their real feelings1 and ,i could only hold surface conversation with them4 ,we are often asked if the ,temple houses are inside the walls which surround all the great ,temples in this part of the country4 ,they are usually in the streets outside4 ,most of the ,brahman ,temples are surrounded by a square of streets1 and the houses are in the square or near it4 ,there is nothing to distinguish them from other houses in the street4 ,it is only when you go inside that you feel the difference4 ,an hour on the shady verandah of one of these houses is very revealing4 ,you see the children run up to welcome a tall1 fine-looking man1 who pats their heads in the kindest way1 and as he passes you recognise him4 ,next time you see him in the glory of his office1 you wish you could forget where you saw him last4 ,sometimes we are asked who the children are4 ,how do the ,temple women get them in the first instance8 ,we have already answered this question by quotations from the ,census ,report1 and by statements of ,hindus well acquainted with the subject4 ,it should be added that often the ,temple woman having daughters of her own dedicates them1 and as a rule it is only when she has none that she adopts other little ones4 ,a few extracts from letters and notes from conversations are subjoined1 as they show how the system of adoption works3-- ,we are in trouble over a little girl1 the daughter of wealthy parents1 who have dedicated her to the gods and refuse to change their mind4 ,the child was ill some time ago1 and they vowed then that if she recovered they would dedicate her4 ,the poor woman's husband was very ill1 and the mother vowed her little girl as an offering if he recovered4 ,he did recover1 and so the child has been given4 ,it is the custom of the ,caste to dedicate the eldest girl of a certain chosen family1 and nothing will turn them from it4 ,one child must be given in each generation4 ,she is of good caste1 but very poor4 ,her husband died two months before the baby was born1 and as it was a girl she was much troubled as to its future1 for she knew she would never have enough money to marry it suitably4 ,a ,temple woman heard of the baby1 and at once offered to adopt it4 ,she persuaded the mother by saying3 ',you see1 if it is married to the gods1 it will never be a widow like you4 ,it will always be well cared for and have honour1 and be a sign of good fortune to our people--unlike you6' 7,it is considered a sign of good omen to see a ,temple woman the first thing in the morning2 but the sight of a widow at any time is a thing to be avoided47 ,the poor mother could not resist this1 and she has been persuaded4 ,the mother is a poor1 delicate widow1 with several boys as well as this baby girl4 ,she cannot support them all properly1 and her relatives do not seem inclined to help her4 ,the ,temple women have heard of her1 and they sent a woman to negotiate4 ,the mother knew that we would take the little one rather than that she should be forced to give it up to ,temple women2 but she said when we talked with her3 ',it cannot be wrong to give it to the holy gods6 ,this is our religion2 and it may be wrong to you1 but it is not wrong to us4' ,so she refused to give us the baby1 and seems inclined to go away with it4 ,it is like that constantly4 ,the thing cannot be wrong because it is religious6 ,i heard of two little orphan girls whose guardian1 an uncle1 had married again1 and did not want to have the marriage expenses of his two little nieces to see to4 ,so at the last great festival he brought the children and dedicated them to the ,saivite ,temple1 and the ,temple women heard about it before ,i did1 and at once secured them4 ,i went as soon as ,i could to see if we could not get them1 but she would not listen to us4 ,she said they were her sister's children1 and that she had adopted them out of love for her dead sister4 ,a lawyer was consulted as to this case1 but it was impossible to trace the uncle or to prove that the children were not related to the ,temple woman4 ,above all1 it was impossible to prove that she meant to do anything illegal4 ,so nothing could be done4 ,as a rule the ,temple woman receives little beyond bare sustenance from the ,temple itself4 ,in some ,temples when the little child is formally dedicated1 she 7or her guardian7 receives two pounds1 and her funeral expenses are promised4 ,but though there is little stated remuneration1 the ,temple woman is not poor4 ,poverty may come4 ,if she breaks the law of her caste1 or offends against the etiquette of that caste1 she is immediately excommunicated1 and then she may become very poor4 ,or if she has spent her money freely1 or not invested it wisely1 her old age may be cheerless enough4 ,but we have not found any lack of money among the ,sisterhood4 ,no offer of compensation for all expenses connected with a child has ever drawn them to part with her4 ,they offer large sums for little ones who will be useful to them4 ,we have several times known as much as an offer of one hundred rupees made and accepted in cases where the little child 7in each case a mere infant7 was one of special promise4 ,a letter1 which incidentally mentions the easy circumstances in which many are1 may be of interest3-- ,k4 is a little girl in our mission school4 ,her mother is a favourite ,temple woman high up in the profession4 ,she dances while the other women sing1 and sometimes she gets as much as three or four hundred rupees for her dancing4 ,she is well educated1 can recite the ',ramayana' 7,indian epic71 and knows a little ,english4 ,she spends some time in her own house1 but is often away visiting other ,temples4 ,just now she is away1 and little ,k4 is with her4 4 4 4 ,humanly speaking1 she will never let her go4 ,the education of the mission school is appreciated because it makes the bright little child still brighter2 and we1 who know the home life of these children1 are glad when they are given one brief opportunity to learn what may help them in the difficult days to come4 ,we have known of some little ones who1 influenced by outside teaching1 tried to escape the life they began to feel was wrong1 but in each case they were overborne1 for on the side of the oppressors there was power4 ,i was in a ,temple house lately1 and noticed the doors--the massive iron-bossed doors are a feature of all well-built ,hindu houses of the ,south4 ,how could a little child shut up in such a room1 with its door shut1 if need be1 to the outside inquisitive world--how could she resist the strength that would force the garland round her neck8 ,she might tear it off if she dared1 but the little golden symbol had been hidden under the flowers1 and the priest had blessed it2 the deed was done--she was married to the god4 ,and only those who have seen the effect of a few weeks of such a life upon a child1 who has struggled in vain against it1 can understand how cowed she may become1 how completely every particle of courage and independence of spirit may be caused to disappear2 and how what we had known as a bright1 sparkling child1 full of the fearless1 confiding ways of a child1 may become distrustful and constrained1 quite incapable of taking a stand on her own account1 or of responding to any effort we might be able to make from outside4 ,it is as if the child's spirit were broken1 and those who know what she has gone through cannot wonder if it is4 ,and then comes something we dread more3 the life begins to attract4 ,the sense of revolt passes as the will weakens2 the persistent1 steady pressure tells4 ,and when we see her next1 perhaps only three months later1 the child has passed the boundary1 and belongs to us no more4 ,,chapter ,,xxxi ,and there was ,none to ,save ,thou canst conceive our highest and our lowest ,pulses of nobleness and aches of shame4 ,,frederic ,w4 ,h4 ,,myers4 ,,in speaking of these matters ,i have tried to keep far from that which is only sentiment1 and have resolutely banished all imagination4 ,i would that the writing could be as cold in tone as the criticism of those who consider everything other than polished ice almost amusing--to judge by the way they handle it1 dismissing it with an airy grace and a hurting adjective4 ,would they be quite so cool1 we wonder1 if the little wronged girl were their own8 ,but we do not write for such as these4 ,the thought of the cold eyes would freeze the thoughts before they formed4 ,we write for the earnest-hearted1 who are not ashamed to confess they care4 ,and yet we write with reserve even though we write for them1 because nothing else is possible4 ,and this crushing back of the full tide makes its fulness almost oppressive4 ,it is as though a flame leaped from the page and scorched the brain that searched for words quite commonplace and quiet4 ,the finished product of the ,temple system of education is something so distorted that it cannot be described4 ,but it should never be forgotten that the thing from which we recoil did not choose to be fashioned so4 ,it was as wax--a little1 tender1 innocent child--in the hands of a wicked power when the fashioning process began4 ,let us deal gently with those who least deserve our blame1 and reserve our condemnation for those responsible for the creation of the ,temple woman4 ,is it fair that a helpless child1 who has never once been given the choice of any other life1 should be held responsible afterwards for living the life to which alone she has been trained8 ,is it fair to call her by a name which belongs by right to one who is different1 in that her life is self-chosen8 ,no word can cut too keenly at the root of this iniquity2 but let us deal gently with the mishandled flower4 ,let hard words be restrained where the woman is concerned4 ,let it be remembered she is not responsible for being what she is4 ,in a ,canadian book of songs there is a powerful little poem about an artist who painted one who was beautiful but not good4 ,he hid all trace of what was2 he painted a babe at her breast4 ,i painted her as she might have been ,if the ,worst had been the ,best4 ,and a connoisseur came and looked at the picture4 ,to him it spoke of holiest things2 he thought it a ,madonna3-- ,so ,i painted a halo round her hair1 ,and ,i sold her and took my fee2 ,and she hangs in the church of ,st4 ,hilaire1 ,where you and all may see4 ,sometimes as we have looked at the face of one whose training was not complete we have seen as the artist saw3 we have seen her as she might have been if the worst had been the best4 ,there was no halo round her hair1 only its travesty--something that told of crowned and glorified sin2 and yet we could catch more than a glimpse of the perfect might have been4 ,so we say1 let blame fall lightly on the one who least deserves it4 ,perhaps if our ears were not so full of the sounds of the world1 we should hear a tenderer judgment pronounced than man's is likely to be3 ,unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing4 4 4 4 ,for there was none to save her4 ,our work at ,dohnavur is entirely among the little children who are innocent of wrong4 ,we rarely touch these lives which have been stained and spoiled2 but we could not forbear to write a word of clear explanation about them1 lest any should mistake the matter and confuse things that differ4 99 99 99 99 99 ,we leave the subject with relief4 ,few who have followed us so far know how much it has cost to lead the way into these polluted places4 ,not that we would make much of any personal cost2 but that we would have it known that nothing save a pressure which could not be resisted could force us to touch pitch4 ,and yet why should we shrink from it when the purpose which compels is the saving of the children8 ,brave words written by a brave woman come and help us to do it3-- ,this ,i say emphatically1 that the evil which we have grappled with to save one of our own dear ones does not sully4 ,it is the evil that we read about in novels and newspapers for our own amusement2 it is the evil we weakly give way to in our lives2 above all1 it is the destroying evil that we have refused so much as to know about in our absorbing care for our own alabaster skin2 it is that evil which defiles a woman4 ,but the evil that we have grappled with in a life and death struggle to save a soul for whom ,christ died does not sully2 it clothes from head to foot with the white robe1 it crowns with the golden crown4 99 99 99 99 99 ,there remains only one thing more to show4 ,it was evening in an ,indian town at a time of festival4 ,the great pillared courts of the ,temple were filled with worshippers and pilgrims from all over the ,tamil country and from as far north as ,benares4 ,men who eagerly grasped at anything printed in ,sanscrit and knew nothing of our vernacular were scattered in little groups among the crowd1 and we had freedom to go to them and give them what we could1 and talk to the many others who would listen4 ,outside the moonlight was shining on the dark pile of the ,temple tower1 and upon the palms planted along the wall1 which rises in its solid strength #cj feet high and encloses the whole ,temple precincts4 ,there were very few people out in the moonlight4 ,it was too quiet there for them1 too pure in its silvery whiteness4 ,inside the hall1 with its great-doored rooms and recesses1 there were earth-lights in abundance1 flaring torches1 smoking lamps and lanterns4 ,and there was noise--the noise of words and of wailing ,indian music4 ,for up near the closed doors which open on the shrine within which the idol sat surrounded by a thousand lights1 there was a band of musicians playing upon stringed instruments2 sometimes they broke out excitedly and banged their drums and made their conch-shells blare4 ,suddenly there was a tumultuous rush of every produceable sound2 tom-tom1 conch-shell1 cymbal1 flute1 stringed instruments and bells burst into chorus together4 ,the idol was going to be carried out from his innermost shrine behind the lights2 and as the great doors moved slowly1 the excitement became intense1 the thrill of it quivered through all the hall and sent a tremor through the crowd out to the street4 ,but we passed out and away1 and turned into a quiet courtyard known to us and talked to the women there4 ,there were three1 one the grandmother of the house1 one her daughter1 and another a friend4 ,the grandmother and her daughter were ,temple women1 the eldest grandchild had been dedicated only a few months before4 ,there were three more children1 one ,mungie1 a lovable child of six1 one a pretty three-year-old with a mop of beautiful curls1 the youngest a baby just then asleep in its hammock2 a little foot dangled out of the hammock1 which was hung from a rafter in the verandah roof4 ,we had come to talk to the grandmother and mother about the dear little six-year-old child1 and hoped to find their heart4 ,but we seemed to talk to stone1 hard as the stone of the ,temple tower that rose above the roofs1 black against the purity of the moonlit sky4 ,it was a bitter half-hour4 ,some hours are like stabs to remember1 or like the pitiless pressing down of an iron on living flesh4 ,at last we could bear it no longer1 and rose to go4 ,as we left we heard the grandmother turn to her daughter's friend and say3 ,though she heap gold on the floor as high as ,mungie's neck1 ,i would never let her go to those degraded ,christians6 ,once again it was festival in the white light of the full moon1 and once again we went to the same old ,hindu town2 for moonlight nights are times of opportunity1 and the cool of evening brings strength for more than can be attempted in the heat of the day4 ,and this time an adopted mother spoke words that ate like acid into steel as we listened4 ,her adopted child is a slip of a girl1 slim and light1 with the ways of a shy thing of the woods4 ,she made me think of a harebell growing all by itself in a rocky place1 with stubbly grass about and a wide sky overhead4 ,she was small and very sweet1 and she slid on to my knee and whispered her lessons in my ear in the softest of little voices4 ,she had gone to school for nearly a year1 and liked to tell me all she knew4 ,do you go to school now8 ,i asked her4 ,she hung her head and did not answer4 ,don't you go8 ,i repeated4 ,she just breathed ,no1 and the little head dropped lower4 ,why not8 ,i whispered as softly4 ,the child hesitated4 ,some dim apprehension that the reason would not seem good to me troubled her1 perhaps1 for she would not answer4 ,tell the ,ammal1 silly child6 said her foster-mother1 who was standing near4 ,tell her you are learning to dance and sing and get ready for the gods6 ,i am learning to dance and sing and get ready for the gods1 repeated the child obediently1 lifting large1 clear eyes to my face for a moment as if to read what was written there4 ,a group of men stood near us4 ,i turned to them4 ,is it right to give this little child to a life like that8 ,i asked them then4 ,they smiled a tolerant1 kindly smile4 ,certainly no one would call it right1 but it is our custom1 and they passed on4 ,there was no sense of the pity of it3-- ,poor little life that toddles half an hour1 ,crowned with a flower or two1 and then an end6 ,we had come to the town an hour or two earlier1 and had seen1 walking through the throng round the ,temple1 two bright young girls in white4 ,no girls of their age1 except ,temple girls1 would have been out at that hour of the evening1 and we followed them home4 ,they stopped when they reached the house where little ,mungie lived1 and then1 turning1 saw us and salaamed4 ,one of the two was ,mungie's elder sister4 ,little ,mungie ran out to meet her sister1 and1 seeing us1 eagerly asked for a book4 ,so we stood in the open moonlight1 and the little one tried to spell out the words of a text to show us she had not forgotten all she had learned1 even though she1 too1 had been taken from school1 and had to learn pages of poetry and the ,temple dances and songs4 ,the girls were jewelled and crowned with flowers1 and they looked like flowers themselves2 flowers in moonlight have a mystery about them not perceived in common day1 but the mystery here was something wholly sorrowful4 ,everything about the children--they were hardly more than children--showed care and refinement of taste4 ,there was no violent clash of colour2 the only vivid colour note was the rich red of a silk underskirt that showed where the clinging folds of the white gold-embroidered sari were draped a little at the side4 ,the effect was very dainty1 and the girls' manners were modest and gentle4 ,no one who did not know what the pretty dress meant that night would have dreamed it was but the mesh of a net made of white and gold4 ,but with all their pleasant manners it was evident the two girls looked upon us with a distinct aloofness4 ,they glanced at us much as a brilliant bird of the air might be supposed to regard poultry1 fowls of the cooped-up yard4 ,then they melted into the shadow of an archway behind the moonlit space1 and we went on to another street and came upon little ,sellamal1 the harebell child2 and1 sitting down on the verandah which opens off the street1 we heard her lessons as we have told1 and got into conversation with her adopted mother4 ,we found her interested in listening to what we had to say about dedicating children to the service of the gods4 ,she was extremely intelligent1 and spoke ,tamil such as one reads in books set for examination4 ,it was easy to talk with her1 for she saw the point of everything at once1 and did not need to have truth broken up small and crumbled down and illustrated in half a dozen different ways before it could be understood4 ,but the half-amused smile on the clever face told us how she regarded all we were saying4 ,what was life and death earnestness to us was a game of words to her2 a play the more to be enjoyed because1 drawn by the sight of two ,missie ,ammals sitting together on the verandah1 quite a little crowd had gathered1 and were listening appreciatively4 ,that is your way of looking at it2 now listen to my way4 ,each land in all the world has its own customs and religion4 ,each has that which is best for it4 ,change1 and you invite confusion and much unpleasantness4 ,also by changing you express your ignorance and pride4 ,why should the child presume to greater wisdom than its father8 ,and now listen to me6 ,i will show you the matter from our side6 7,yes1 venerable mother1 continue6 interposed the crowd encouragingly47 ,you seem to feel it a sad thing that little ,sellamal should be trained as we are training her4 ,you seem to feel it wrong1 and almost1 perhaps1 disgrace4 ,but if you could see my eldest daughter the centre of a thousand ,brahmans and high-caste ,hindus6 ,if you could see every eye in that ring fixed upon her1 upon her alone6 ,if you could see the absorption--hardly do they dare to breathe lest they should miss a point of her beauty6 ,ah1 you would know1 could you see it all1 upon whose side the glory lies and upon whose the shame6 ,compare that moment of exaltation with the grovelling life of your ,christians6 ,low-minded1 flesh-devouring1 ,christians1 discerning not the difference between clean and unclean6 ,bah6 ,and you would have my little ,sellamal leave all this for that6 ,but afterwards8 ,what comes afterwards8 ,what know ,i8 ,what care ,i8 ,that is a matter for the gods4 ,the child ,sellamal listened to this1 glancing from face to face with wistful1 wondering eyes2 and as ,i looked down upon her she looked up at me1 and ,i looked deep into those eyes--such innocent eyes4 ,then something seemed to move the child1 and she held up her face for a kiss4 ,this is only one ,temple town4 ,there are many such in the ,south4 ,these things are not easy to look at for long4 ,we turn away with burning eyes1 and only for the children's sake could we ever look again4 ,for their sake look again4 ,it was early evening in a home of rest on the hills4 ,a medical missionary1 a woman of wide experience1 was talking to a younger woman about the ,temple children4 ,she had lived for some time1 unknowingly1 next door to a ,temple house in an ,indian city4 ,night after night she said she was wakened by the cries of children--frightened cries1 indignant cries1 sometimes sharp cries as of pain4 ,she inquired in the morning1 but was always told the children had been punished for some naughtiness4 ,they were only being beaten4 ,she was not satisfied1 and tried to find out more through the police4 ,but she feared the police were bribed to tell nothing1 for she found out nothing through them4 ,later1 by means of her medical work1 she came full upon the truth4 4 4 4 ,why leave spaces with dotted lines8 ,why not write the whole fact8 wrote one who did not know what she asked4 ,once more we repeat it1 to write the whole fact is impossible4 ,it is true this is not universal2 in our part of the country it is not general1 for the ,temple child is considered of too much value to be lightly injured4 ,but it is true beyond a doubt that inhumanity which may not be described is possible at any time in any ,temple house4 ,out in the garden little groups of missionaries walked together and talked4 ,from a room near came the sound of a hymn4 ,it was peaceful and beautiful everywhere1 and the gold of sunset filled the air1 and made the garden a glory land of radiant wonderful colour4 ,but for one woman at least the world turned black4 ,only the thought of the children nerved her to go on4 ,,chapter ,,xxxii ,the ,power behind the ,work ,to ,him difficulties are as nothing1 and improbabilities of less than no account4--,story of the ,china ,inland ,mission4 ,,the ,power behind the work is the interposition of ,god in answer to prayer4 ,recently--so recently that it would be unwise to go into detail--we were in trouble about a little girl of ten or eleven1 who1 though not a ,temple child1 was exposed to imminent danger1 and sorely needed deliverance4 ,i happened to be alone at ,dohnavur at the time1 and did not know what to answer to the child's urgent message3 ,if ,i can escape to you 7this meant if she braved capture and its consequences1 and fled across the fields alone at night71 can you protect me from my people8 ,to say ,yes might have had fatal results4 ,to say ,no seemed too impossible4 ,the circumstances were such that great care was needed to avoid being entangled in legal complications2 and as the ,collector 7,chief ,magistrate7 for our part of the district happened just then to be in our neighbourhood1 ,i wrote asking for an appointment4 ,early next morning we met by the roadside4 ,i had been up most of the night1 and was tired and anxious2 and ,i shall never forget the comfort that came through the quiet sympathy with which one who was quite a stranger to us all listened to the story1 not as if it were a mere missionary trifle1 but something worthy his attention4 ,but nothing could be done4 ,it was not a case where we had any ground for appeal to the law2 and any attempt upon our part to help the child could only have resulted in more trouble afterwards1 for we should certainly have had to give her up if she came to us4 ,as the inevitableness of this conclusion became more and more evident to me1 it seemed as if a great strong wall were rising foot by foot between me and that little girl--a wall like the walls that enclose the ,temples here1 very high1 very massive4 ,but even ,temple walls have doors1 and ,i could not see any door in this wall4 ,nothing could bring that child to us but a ,power enthroned above the wall1 which could stoop and lift her over it4 ,i do not remember what led to the question about what we expected would happen2 but ,i remember that with that wall full in view ,i could only answer1 ,the interposition of ,god4 ,nothing else1 nothing less1 could do anything for that child4 ,her case was complicated1 if ,i may express it so1 by the fact that though she knew very little--she had only had a few weeks' teaching and could not read--she had believed all we told her most simply and literally1 and witnessed to her own people1 whose reply to her had been3 ,you will see who is stronger1 your ,god or ours6 ,do you think your ,lord ,jesus can deliver you from our hand1 or prevent us from doing as we choose with you8 ,we shall see6 ,and the case of an older girl who had been1 as those who knew her best believed1 drugged and then bent to her people's will1 was quoted3 ,did your ,lord ,jesus deliver her8 ,where is she to-day8 ,and you think ,he will deliver you6 ,but ,he will not let you hurt me1 the child had answered fearlessly1 though her strength was weakened even then by thirty hours without food2 and1 remembering one of the ,bible stories she had heard during those weeks1 she added1 ,i am ,daniel1 and you are the lions--and she told them how the angel was sent to shut the lions' mouths4 ,but she knew so little after all1 and the bravest can be overborne1 and she was only a little girl2 so our hearts ached for her as we sent her the message3 ,you must not try to come to us4 ,we cannot protect you4 ,but ,jesus is with you4 ,he will not fail you4 ,he says1 ',fear thou not1 for ,i am with thee4' ,that night they shut her up with a demon-possessed woman1 that the terror of it might shake her faith in ,christ4 ,next day they hinted that worse would happen soon4 ,our fear was lest her faith should fail before deliverance came4 ,three and a half months of such tension as we have rarely known passed over us4 ,often during that time1 when one thing after another happened contrariwise1 as it appeared1 and each event as it occurred seemed to add another foot to the wall that still grew higher1 help to faith came to us through unexpected sources like voices blown on the winds4 ,once it was something ,lieut4 ,shackleton is reported to have said to ,reuter's correspondent concerning his expedition to the ,south ,pole3 ,over and over again there were times when no mortal leadership could have availed us4 ,it was during those times that we learned that some ,power beyond our own guided our footsteps4 ,and the illustrations which followed of ,divine interposition were such that one at least who read1 took courage2 for the ,god of the great ,ice-fields is the ,god of the ,tropics4 ,once it was a passage opened by chance in a friend's book--,pastor ,agnorum4 ,the subject of the paragraph is the schoolboy's attitude towards games3 ,glimpses of his mind are sometimes given us1 as on that day at ,risingham when you refused to play in your boys' house-match1 unless the other house excluded from their team a half-back who was under attainder through a recent row4 ,they declined1 and you stood out of it4 ,the hush in the field when your orphaned team1 in defiance of the odds1 scored and again scored6 ,their supporters1 in chaste awe at the marvel1 could hardly shout3 it was more like a sob3 a judgment had so manifestly defended the right4 ,the cricket professional1 a man naturally devout1 looked at me with eyes that confessed an interposition1 and all came away quiet as a crowd from a cemetery4 ,it was not a game of football we had looked at1 it was a ,mystery ,play3 we had been edified1 and we hid it in our hearts4 ,and once1 on the darkest day of all1 it was the brave old family motto1 on a letter which came by post3 ,dieu dfend le droit4 ,it was something to be reminded that1 in spite of appearances to the contrary1 the kingdom is the ,lord's1 and ,he is ,governor among the people4 ,eyes that confessed an interposition4 ,the phrase was illuminated for us when ,god in very truth interposed in such fashion that every one saw it was ,his ,hand1 for no other hand could have done it4 ,then we1 too1 looked at each other with eyes that confessed an interposition4 ,we had seen that which we should never forget2 and until the time comes when it may be more fully told to the glory of our ,god1 we have hid it in our hearts4 ,the reason we have outlined the story is to lead to a word we want to write very earnestly2 it is this3 ,friends who care for the children1 and believe this work on their behalf is something ,god intends should be done1 pray as if on that alone hung the issue of the day4 ,more than we know depends upon our holding on in prayer4 ,all through those months there was prayer for that child in ,india and in ,england4 ,the matter was so urgent that we made it widely known1 and some at least of those who heard gave themselves up to prayer2 not to the mere easy prayer which costs little and does less1 but to that waiting upon ,god which does not rest till it knows it has obtained access1 knows that it has the petition that it desires of ,him4 ,this sort of prayer costs4 ,but to us down in the thick of the battle1 it was strength to think of that prayer4 ,we were very weary with hope deferred2 for it was as if all the human hope in us were torn out of us1 and tossed and buffeted every way till there was nothing left of it but an aching place where it had been4 ,god works by means1 as we all admit2 and so every fresh development in a ,court case in which the child was involved1 every turn of affairs1 where her relatives were concerned 7and these turns were frequent71 every little movement which seemed to promise something1 was eagerly watched in the expectation that in it lay the interposition for which we waited4 ,but it seemed as if our hopes were raised only to be dashed lower than ever1 till we were cast upon the bare word of our ,god4 ,it was given to us then as perhaps never before to penetrate to the innermost spring of consolation contained in those very old words3 ,i should utterly have fainted1 but that ,i believe verily to see the goodness of the ,lord in the land of the living4 ,oh1 tarry thou the ,lord's leisure3 be strong1 and ,he shall comfort thine heart2 and put thou thy trust in the ,lord4 ,this ,divine ,interposition has been very inspiring4 ,we feel afresh the force of the question3 ,is anything too hard for the ,lord8 ,and we ask those whose hearts are with us to pray for more such manifestations of the ,power that has not passed with the ages4 ,lord1 teach us to pray6 ,for it has never been with us1 ,come1 see1 and conquer1 as if victory were an easy thing and a common4 ,we have known what it is to toil for the salvation of some little life1 and we have known the bitterness of defeat4 ,we have had to stand on the shore of a dark and boundless sea1 and watch that little white life swept off as by a great black wave4 ,we have watched it drift further and further out on those desolate waters1 till suddenly something from underneath caught it and sucked it down4 ,and our very soul has gone out in the cry1 ,would ,god ,i had died for thee6 and we too have gone to the chamber over the gate where we could be alone with our grief and our ,god--,o little child1 loved and lost1 would ,god ,i had died for thee6 ,should we forget these things8 ,should we bury them away lest they hurt some sensitive soul8 ,rather1 could we forget them if we would1 and dare we hide away the knowledge lest somewhere someone should be hurt8 ,for it is not as if that black wave's work were a thing of the past3 it has gone on for centuries unchecked3 it is going on to-day4 ,several months have passed since the chapters which precede this were written4 ,we are now1 with some of our converts who needed rest and change1 in a place under the mountains a day's journey from ,dohnavur4 ,it is one of the holy places of the ,south2 for the northern tributary of the chief river of this district falls over the cliffs at this point in a double leap of one hundred and eighty feet1 and the waters are so disposed over a great rounded shoulder of rock that many people can bathe below in a long single file4 ,to this fall thousands of pilgrims come from all parts of ,india1 believing that such bathing is meritorious and cleanses away all sin4 ,and as they are far from their own homes1 and in measure out on holiday1 we find them more than usually accessible and friendly4 ,this morning ,i was on my way home after talk with the women1 and was turning for a moment to look back upon the beautiful sorrowful scene--the flashing waterfall1 the passing crowd of pilgrims1 the radiance of sunshine on water1 wood1 and rock1 when a ,brahman1 fresh from bathing1 followed my look1 and glancing at the ,new ,testament and bag of ,gospels in my hand1 smiled indulgently and asked if we seriously thought these books and their teaching would ever materially influence ,india4 ,look at that crowd1 and he pointed to the people1 his own caste people chiefly4 ,have we been influenced8 ,then he told me the story of the ,falls1 how ages ago a god1 pitying the sins and the sufferings of the people1 bathed on the ledge where the waters leap1 and thereafter those waters were efficacious to the cleansing of sin from the one who believingly bathes4 ,to the one who believes not1 nothing happens beyond the cleansing of his body and its invigoration4 ,even to you1 he added1 in his friendliness1 virtue of a sort is allowed2 for do you not experience a certain exhilaration and a buoyancy of spirit and a pleasure beyond anything obtainable elsewhere which is perfectly true8 ,this is due to the benevolence of our god1 whose merits extend even to you4 ,he was an educated man2 he had studied in a mission school1 and afterwards in a ,government college4 ,he had read ,english books1 and parts of our ,bible were familiar to him4 ,he assured me he found no more difficulty in accepting this legend than we did in accepting the story of our ,saviour's incarnation4 ,and then1 standing in the ,temple porch with its carved stone pillars1 almost within touch of the great door that opens behind into the shrine1 he led the way into the ,higher ,hinduism--that mysterious land which lies all around us in ,india1 but is so seldom shown to us4 ,and ,i listened till in turn he was persuaded to listen1 and we read together from the ,gospel which transcends in its simplicity the profoundest reach of ,hindu thought3 ,in the beginning was the ,word1 and the ,word was with ,god1 and the ,word was ,god4 ,we did not pause till we came to the end of the paragraph4 ,i could see how it appealed1 for deep calleth unto deep2 but he rose again up and up1 and that unknown part of one's being which is more akin to the ,east than to the ,west1 followed him and understood--when the door behind us creaked1 and a sudden blast of turbulent music sprang out upon us1 deafening us for a moment1 and he said1 ,it is the morning worship4 ,the priests and the ,servants of the gods are worshipping within4 ,it was like a fall from far-away heights to the very floor of things4 ,then he told me how in the town three miles distant1 the ,benares of the ,south1 the service of the gods was conducted with more elaborate ceremonial4 ,i could arrange for you to see it if you wished4 ,i explained why ,i could not wish to see it1 and asked him about the ,servants of the gods1 and about the little children4 ,certainly there are little children4 ,the ,servants of the gods adopt them to continue the succession4 ,how else could it be continued8 ,,chapter ,,xxxiii ,if this were ,all ,,an hour earlier three of us had stood together by the pool at the foot of the ,falls1 and watched the people bathe4 ,at the edge of the rock an old grandmother had dealt valiantly with an indignant baby of two1 whom1 despite its struggles1 she bathed after prolonged preparation of divers anointings1 by holding it grimly1 kicking and slippery though it was1 under what must have seemed to it a terrible hurrying horror4 ,when at last that baby emerged1 it was too crushed in spirit to cry4 ,beyond this little domestic scene was a group of half-reluctant women1 longing and yet fearing to venture under the plunging waters2 and beyond them again were the bathers1 crowding but never jostling each other1 on the narrow ledge upon and over which the ,falls descend4 ,some were standing upright1 with bowed heads1 under the strong chastisement of the nearer heavier fall2 some bent under it1 as if overwhelmed with the thundering thud of its waters4 ,some were further on1 where the white furies lash like living whips1 and scourge and sting and scurry2 and there the pilgrims were hardly visible1 for the waters swept over them like a veil1 and they looked in their weirdness and muteness like martyr ghosts4 ,further still some were carefully climbing the steps cut into the cliff1 or standing as high as they could go upon an unguarded projection of rock1 with eyes shut and folded hands1 entirely oblivious apparently to the fact that showers of spray enveloped them1 and the deep pool lay below4 ,i had never seen anything quite like this3 it was such a strange commingling of the beautiful and sorrowful4 ,the women--fair-skinned ,brahman women they chanced to be--were in their usual graceful raiment of silk or cotton1 all shades of soft reds1 crimson1 purple1 blue1 lightened with yellow and orange1 which in the water looked like dull fire4 ,their golden and silver jewels gleamed in the sunlight1 and their long black hair hung round faces like the faces one sees in pictures4 ,the men wore their ordinary white1 and the ascetics the salmon-tinted saffron of their profession4 ,then1 as if to add an ethereal touch to it all1 a rainbow spanned the ,falls at that moment1 and we saw the pilgrims through it or arched by it as they stood1 some at either end of the bow where the colours painted the rock and the spray1 and some in the space between4 ,the sun struck the forest hanging on the steeps above1 and it became a vivid thing in quick delight of greenness4 ,it was something which1 once seen1 could hardly be forgotten4 ,the triumphant stream of white set deep in the heart of a great horseshoe of rock and woods2 the delicate1 exquisite pleasure of colour2 and the people in their un-self-consciousness1 bathing and worshipping just as they wished1 with for background rock and spray1 and for a halo rainbow4 ,to one who looked with sympathy the picture was a parable4 ,you could not but see visions3 you could not but dream dreams4 ,then from the quiet heights crept a colony of monkeys1 their chatter drowned in the roar of the ,falls4 ,on they came1 wise and quaint1 like the half-heard whispers of old-time jokes4 ,and they bathed in the mimic pools above1 as it seemed in imitation of the pilgrims1 holding comical little heads under the light trickles4 ,and below the scene changed as a company of widows came and entered the ,falls4 ,they were all ,brahmans and all old1 and they shivered in their poor scanty garments of coarse white4 ,most of them were frail with long fasting and penance1 and they prayed as they stood in the water or crouched under its weight4 ,such a one had sat on the stone under the special fall which1 as the friend who had taken me observed with more forcefulness than sentiment1 comes down like a sack of potatoes4 ,i had tried to stand it for a minute1 but it pelted and pounded me so that less than a minute was enough1 and ,i moved to make room for a ,brahman widow who was bathing with me4 ,and then she sat down on the stone1 and the waters beat very heavily on the old grey head2 but she sat on in her patience1 her hands covering her face1 and she prayed without one moment's intermission4 ,how little she knew of the other prayer that rose beside hers through the rushing water--it was the first time ,i at least had ever prayed in a waterfall--,oh1 send forth ,thy light and ,thy truth2 let them lead her6 ,she struggled up at last and caught my hand2 then1 steadying herself with an effort1 she felt for the iron rod that protects the ledge1 and blinded by the driving spray and benumbed by the beat of the water1 she stumbled slowly out4 ,but the wistful face had a look of content upon it1 and her only concern was to finish the ceremonial out in the sunshine--she had brought her little offerings of a few flowers with her--and so1 much as ,i longed to follow her and tell her of the cleansing of which this was only a type1 it could not have been then4 ,oh1 the rest it is at such a time to remember that the ,lord is good to all1 and ,his tender mercies are over all ,his works4 ,below the pool1 in the broad bed of the stream and on its banks1 all was animation and happy simple life4 ,here the women were drying their garments1 without taking them off1 in a clever fashion of their own4 ,there some were washing them in the stream4 ,children played about as they willed4 ,but in and among the throng1 anywhere1 everywhere1 we saw worshippers1 standing or sitting facing the east1 alone or in company1 chanting names for the deity1 or adoring and meditating in silence4 ,doubtless some were formal enough1 but some were certainly sincere2 and we felt if this were all there is to know in ,hinduism1 the time must soon come when a people so prepared would recognise in the ,saviour and ,lover of their souls1 ,him for whom they had been seeking so long1 if haply they might feel after ,him and find ,him4 ,but this is not all there is to know4 ,back out of sight behind the simple joyousness of life1 to which the wholesome waters and the sparkling air and the beauty everywhere so graciously ministered1 behind that wonderful wealth of thought as revealed in the ,higher ,hinduism which is born surely of nothing less than a longing after ,god--behind all this what do we find8 ,glory of mountain and waterfall1 charm and delight of rainbow in spray2 but what lies behind the coloured veil8 ,what symbols are carved into the cliff8 ,whose name and power do they represent8 ,this book touches one of the hidden things2 would that we could forget it6 ,sometimes1 through these days as we sat on the rocks by the waterside1 in the unobtrusive fashion of the ,indian religious teacher1 who makes no noise but waits for those who care to come1 we have almost forgotten in the happiness of human touch with the people1 the lovable women and children more especially1 that anything dark and wicked and sad lay so very near4 ,and then1 suddenly as we have told1 we have been reminded of it4 ,we may not forgot it if we would4 ,it is true that the thing we mean is disowned by the spiritual few1 but to the multitude it is part of their religion4 ,of course1 ,temple women must adopt young children2 and they must be carefully trained1 or they will not be meet for the service of the gods4 ,so said the ,brahman who only a moment before had led me into the mystic land1 deep within which he loves to dwell3 what does the training mean8 ,a fortnight ago the friend to whom the child is dear took me to see the little girl described in a letter from an ,indian sister as a little dove in a cage4 ,i did not find that she minded her cage4 ,the bars have been gilded1 the golden glitter has dazzled the child4 ,she thinks her cage a pretty place1 and she does not beat against its bars as she did in the earlier days of her captivity4 ,as we talked with her we understood the change4 ,when first she was taken from school the woman to whose training her mother has committed her gave her polluting poetry to read and learn1 and she shrank from it1 and would slip her ,bible over the open page and read it instead4 ,but gradually the poetry seemed less impossible2 the atmosphere in which those vile stories grew and flourished was all about her2 as she breathed it day by day she became accustomed to it2 the sense of being stifled passed4 ,the process of mental acclimatisation is not yet completed1 the lovely little face is still pure and strangely innocent in its expression2 but there is a change1 and it breaks the heart of the friend who loves her to see it4 ,i must learn my poetry4 ,they will be angry if ,i do not learn it4 ,what can ,i do8 ,and again1 ,oh1 the stories do not mean anything1 said with a downward glance1 as if the child-conscience still protested4 ,but this was a fortnight ago4 ,it is worse with that little girl to-day2 there is less inward revolt2 and to-morrow how will it be with her8 ,,chapter ,,xxxiv ,to ,continue the ,succession ,,for to-morrow holds no hope for these children so far as our power to save them to-day is concerned4 ,it will be remembered that we felt we could do more for them by working quietly on our own lines than by appealing to the law2 but lately1 fearing lest we were possibly doing the law an injustice by taking it for granted that it was powerless to help us1 we carefully gathered all the evidence we could about three typical children3 one a child in moral danger1 though not in actual ,temple danger2 another the adopted child of a ,temple woman2 the third a ,temple woman's own child3 and we submitted this evidence to a keen ,indian ,christian barrister1 and asked for his advice4 ,l41 the first child he deals with1 the little dove in the cage1 is in charge of a woman of bad character1 by the consent and arrangement of her mother4 ,the mother speaks ,english as well as an ,englishwoman1 and her eldest son is studying for his degree in a ,government college4 ,although ,temple service is not intended1 the proposed life is such that a similar course of training as that to which the ,temple child is subjected1 is now being carried on4 ,this is the barrister's reply to my letter3-- ,i have carefully perused the statements of the probable witnesses4 ,l4's mother is not a ,temple woman1 and the foster-mother also is not a ,temple woman4 ,the law of adoption relating to ,temple women does not apply to them4 ,the foster-mother1 therefore1 can have no legal claim to the child4 ,but the mother has absolute control over the bringing-up of the child1 and it would not be possible in the present state of the law to do anything for the child now4 ,s4 ,this is the little one who whispered her texts to me in the moonlight1 and whose foster-mother told her to tell me she was being trained for the ,service of the gods4 ,she is evidently destined to be a ,temple woman4 ,the first question for consideration is how the old woman is related to her4 ,if she is the adopted mother1 or if she could successfully plead adoption of the child1 the ,civil ,courts will be powerless to help4 ,if we can get some reliable evidence that the child has not been adopted 7this is impossible7 we may be able to induce the ,british ,courts to interfere on her behalf and say she shall not be devoted to ,temple service until she attains her majority2 but it would not be possible to induce the ,courts to hand the child over to the ,mission4 ,k41 the little girl whose own mother is a ,temple woman4 ,she has been taught dancing1 which to our mind was conclusive proof of her mother's intentions4 ,to make sure we asked the question1 to which the following is the reply3 ,no children of good ,hindu parents are taught dancing4 ,even the lowest caste woman thinks it beneath her dignity to dance1 excepting professional devil-dancers1 who are generally old women1 mostly widows1 of an hysterical temperament4 ,when young children of women of doubtful character are taught dancing1 it means they are going to be married to the idol4 ,when children of ,temple women are taught dancing the presumption is all the greater4 ,but the difficulty in the case of ,k4 is to get one who has higher claims to guardianship than the mother4 ,in the case of a ,temple woman's child there is no one4 ,it is this which makes it impossible for the well-wishers of the children to interfere4 4 4 4 ,the law punishes only the offence committed and not the intent to commit1 or even the preparation1 unless it amounts to an attempt under the ,penal ,code4 99 99 99 99 99 ,bluebeards are not an institution in ,england2 but if they were1 and if one of the order were known to possess a cupboardful of pendent heads1 would ,englishmen sit quiet while he whetted his butcher's knife quite calmly on his doorstep8 ,would they say as he sat there in untroubled assurance of safety1 feeling the edge of the blade with his thumb1 and muttering almost audibly the name of his intended victim1 ,we have no right to interfere1 he is only sharpening his knife2 an intent to commit1 or even the preparation for crime1 is not punishable by law1 unless it amounts to an attempt1 and he has not 'attempted' yet4 ,surely1 if such intent were not punishable it very soon would be4 ,it would be found possible--who can doubt it8--to frame a new law1 or amend the old one1 so as to deal with ,bluebeards4 ,and a ,committee of ,vigilance would be appointed to ensure its effectual working4 ,of course1 the simile is absurdly inadequate1 and breaks down at several important points1 and the circumstances are vastly more difficult in ,india than they ever could be in ,england1 just because ,india is ,india2 but will it not at least be admitted that the law meant in kindness to the innocent is fatal to our purpose8--which is to save the children while they are still innocent4 99 99 99 99 99 ,we do not want to ask for anything unreasonable1 but it seems to us that the law concerning adoption requires revision4 ,in ,mayne's ,hindu ,law and ,usage it is stated that among ,temple women it is customary in ,madras and ,pondicherry and in ,western ,india to adopt girls to follow their adopted mother's profession3 and the girls so adopted succeed to their property2 no particular ceremonies are necessary1 recognition alone being sufficient4 ,in ,calcutta and ,bombay such adoptions have been held illegal1 but in the ,madras ,presidency they are held to be legal4 ,in a case where the validity of such adoption was questioned1 the ,madras ,high ,court affirmed it1 and it has now1 by a series of decisions1 adopted the rule 4 4 4 which limits the illegality of adoption to cases where they involve the commission of an offence under the ,criminal ,code4 ,this1 as we have said1 makes it entirely impossible to save the child through the law before her training is complete2 and after it is complete it is too late to save her4 ,train a child from infancy to look upon a certain line of life as the one and only line for her1 make the prospect attractive1 and surround her with every possible unholy influence2 in short1 bend the twig and keep it bent for the greater part of sixteen years1 or even only six--is there much room for doubt as to how it will grow8 ,an heir to the property may be required2 but with the facts of life before us1 can we be content to allow the adoption of a child by a ,temple woman to be so legalised that even if it can be proved to a moral certainty that her intention is to continue the succession1 nothing can be done8 ,then as to the guardianship3 again we do not want to ask too much1 but surely if it can be shown that no one else has moved to save the child 7which argues that no one else has cared much about her salvation7 we should not be disqualified for guardianship on the sole ground that we are not related8 ,in such a case the relatives are the last people with whom she would be safe4 ,an order may go forth from that nebulous and distant ,impersonality1 the ,british ,government1 to the effect that a certain child is not to be dedicated to gods during her minority4 ,but far away in their villages the people smile at a simplicity which can imagine that commands can eventually affect purposes4 ,they may delay the fulfilment of such purpose2 but ,india can afford to wait4 ,we would have the law so amended1 that whoever has been in earnest enough about the matter to try to save the child from destruction1 should be given the right to protect her1 if in spite of the odds against him he has honestly fought through a case and won4 ,is it not a sad thing1 writes the ,indian barrister--we quote his words because they seem to us worthy of notice at home--that a ,christian ,government is unable to legislate to save the children of ,temple women8 ,i am sorry my opinion has made you sad4 ,giving my opinion as a lawyer1 ,i could not take an optimistic view of the matter4 ,the law as it stands at present is against reform in matters of this kind4 ,even should a good judge take a strong view of the matter1 the ,high ,court will stick to the very letter of the law4 ,so that1 as things are1 it comes to this3 ,we must stand aside and watch the cup of poison being prepared--so openly prepared that everyone knows for which child it is being mixed4 ,we must stand and wait and do nothing4 ,we must see the little girl led up to the cup and persuaded to taste it4 ,we must watch her gradually growing to like it1 for it is flavoured and sweet4 ,we must not beckon to her before she has drunk of it and say1 ,come to us and we will tell you what is in that cup1 and keep you safely from those who would make you drink it2 for any attempt to induce the child to come to you1 or any assistance given to help her to escape to you1 would render you liable to prosecution for kidnapping--a criminal offence under the ,penal ,code4 ,any one of us would gladly go to prison if it would save the child2 but the trouble is1 it would not3 for the law could only return her to her lawful guardians from whose hold we unlawfully detached her4 ,we1 not they1 would be in the wrong2 they did nothing unlawful in only preparing the cup4 ,does someone say that we put the case unfairly--that the law does not forbid us to warn the child1 it only forbids us to snatch her away when the cup is merely being offered her8 ,but remember1 in our part of ,india at least1 these cups are not given in public4 ,the preparation is public enough1 the bare tasting is public too2 but the cup in its fulness is given in private1 and once given1 the poison works with stealthy but startling rapidity4 ,warn the child before she has drunk of it1 and she does not understand you4 ,warn her after she has drunk1 and the poison holds her from heeding4 ,besides1 to be very practical1 what is the use of warning if we may only warn8 ,suppose our one isolated word weighs with the child against the word of mother or adopted mother1 and all who stand for home to her2 suppose she says 7she would very rarely have the courage for any such proposal1 but suppose she does say it73 ,may ,i come to you8 and will you show me the way1 for it is such a long way and ,i do not know how to find it8 ,i should be so frightened1 alone in the night 7the only time escape would be possible71 for ,i know they would run after me1 and they can run faster than ,i6 ,what may we say to her8 ,what may ,i say to the ,harebell supposing she asks me this question8 ,she is only six1 and there are six long miles over broken country between her home and ours4 ,we could not find it ourselves in the dark4 ,but supposing she dared it all1 and an angel were sent to guide her1 have we any right to protect her8 ,none whatever4 ,if there are parents1 or a parent1 they or she have the right of parentage2 if an adopted mother1 the right of adoption4,f ,we know that the law is framed to protect the good1 and the rights of parentage cannot be too carefully guarded2 but to one who has not a legal mind1 but only sees a little girl in danger of her life1 and has to stand with hands tied by a law intended to deal with totally different matters1 it seems strange that things should be so4 ,this is not the moment 7if ever there is such a moment7 to choose1 for deliberate lawlessness2 but there are times when the temptation is strong to break the law in the hope that1 once broken1 it may be amended4 ,only those who have had to go through it know what it is to stand and see that cup of poison being prepared for an unsuspicious child4 ,the last sentence in the barrister's letter begins with ,i despair4 ,the sentence is too pungent in its outspoken candour to copy into a book which may come back to ,india3 ,i despair3 then unto ,thee we turn1 ,o ,lord our ,god2 for now1 ,lord1 what is our hope8 truly our hope is even in ,thee3 oh1 help us against the enemy2 for vain is the help of man4 ,hath ,god forgotten to be gracious8 ,will the ,lord absent ,himself for ever8 ,o ,god1 wherefore art ,thou absent from us for so long8 ,look upon the ,covenant1 for all the earth is full of darkness and cruel habitations4 ,surely ,thou hast seen it1 for ,thou beholdest ungodliness and wrong4 ,the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire4 ,he sitteth in the lurking-places of the villages3 in the secret places doth he murder the innocent4 ,he saith in his heart1 ,god hath forgotten3 ,he hideth ,his face2 ,he will never see it4 ,arise1 ,o ,lord ,god1 lift up ,thine hand6 ,up1 ,lord1 disappoint him1 and cast him down2 deliver the children6 ,show ,thy marvellous lovingkindness1 ,thou that art the ,saviour of them which put their trust in ,thee1 from such as resist ,thy right hand4 ,thy voice is mighty in operation3 the voice of the ,lord is a glorious voice4 ,we wait for ,thy lovingkindness1 ,o ,god3 be merciful unto the children3 ,o ,god1 be merciful unto the children1 for our soul trusteth in ,thee1 and we call unto the ,most ,high ,god1 even unto the ,god that shall perform the cause which we have in hand4 ,for ,thou hast looked down from ,thy sanctuary2 out of heaven did the ,lord behold the earth1 that ,he might hear the mournings of such as are in captivity1 and deliver the children appointed to death4 ,arise1 ,o ,god1 maintain ,thine own cause6 ,our hope is in ,thee1 ,who helpeth them to right that suffer wrong4 ,the ,lord looseth the prisoners4 ,god is unto us a ,god of deliverances4 ,power belongeth unto ,thee4 ,our soul hangeth upon ,thee3 ,thou shalt show us wonderful things in ,thy righteousness1 ,o ,god of our salvation1 ,thou that art the hope of all the ends of the earth4 ,and all men that see it shall say1 ,this hath ,god done2 for they shall perceive that it is ,his work4 ,he shall deliver the children's souls from falsehood and wrong2 for ,god is our ,king of old2 the help that is done upon earth ,he doeth it ,himself4 ,sure ,i am1 the ,lord will avenge the poor1 and maintain the cause of the helpless4 ,why art thou so heavy1 ,o my soul1 and why art thou disquieted within me8 ,oh1 put thy trust in ,god2 for ,i will yet praise ,him which is the help of my countenance and my ,god6 ,are there any prayers like the old psalms in their intense sincerity8 ,in the times when our heart is wounded within us we turn to these ancient human cries1 and we find what we want in them4 ,let us pray for the children of this generation being trained now to continue the succession1 whom nothing less than a ,divine interposition can save4 ,the hunters on these mountains dig pits to ensnare the poor wild beasts1 and they cover them warily with leaves and grass3 this sentence about the succession is just such a pit1 with words for leaves and grass4 ,let us pray for miracles to happen where individual children are concerned1 that the little feet in their ignorance may be hindered from running across those pits1 for the fall is into miry clay1 and the sides of the pit are slippery and very steep4 ,more and more as we go on1 and learn our utter inability to move a single pebble by ourselves1 and the mighty power of ,god to upturn mountains with a touch1 we realise how infinitely important it is to know how to pray4 ,there is the restful prayer of committal to which the immediate answer is peace4 ,we could not live without this sort of prayer2 we should be crushed and overborne1 and give up broken-hearted if it were not for that peace4 ,but the ,apostle speaks of another prayer that is wrestle1 conflict1 agony4 ,and if these little children are to be delivered and protected after their deliverance1 and trained that if the ,lord tarry and life's fierce battle has to be fought--and for them it may be very fierce--all that will be attempted against them shall fall harmless at their feet like arrows turned to feather-down2 then some of us must be strong to meet the powers that will combat every inch of the field with us1 and some of us must learn deeper things than we know yet about the solemn secret of prevailing prayer4 ,,footnote3 ,f ,to-day 7,february #af1 #aiab7 as ,i go through proofs of the second edition1 ,i hear by post of a young girl in a distant city who lately escaped to a missionary1 and asked for what he could not give her--protection4 ,she had to return to her own home4 ,in her despair1 she drowned herself4 ,,chapter ,,xxxv ,what if she misses her ,chance8 ,who would be planted chooseth not the soil ,or here or there1 4 4 4 ,lord even so ,i ask one prayer1 ,the which if it be granted ,it skills not where ,thou plantest me1 only ,i would be planted4 ,t4 ,e4 ,,brown4 ,,two pictures of two evenings rise as ,i write4 ,one is of an ,english fireside in a country house4 ,the lamps have been lighted1 and the curtains drawn4 ,the air is full of the undefined scent of chrysanthemums1 and the stronger sweetness of hyacinths comes from a stand in the window4 ,curled up in a roomy arm-chair by the fire sits a girl with a kitten asleep on her lap4 ,she is reading a missionary book4 ,the other this3 a white carved cupola in the centre of a piece of water enclosed by white walls4 ,people are sitting on the walls and pressing close about them in their thousands4 ,a gorgeous barge is floating slowly round the shrine4 ,there is very little moon1 but the whole place is alight2 sometimes the water is ablaze with ruby and amber2 this fades1 and a weird blue-green shimmers across the barge1 and electric lamps at the corners of the square lend brilliancy to the scene4 ,the barge is covered with crimson trappings1 and hundreds of wreaths of white oleander hang curtain-wise round what is within--the god and goddess decked with jewels and smothered in flowers4 ,round and round the barge is poled1 and in the coloured light all that is gaudy and tawdry is toned1 and becomes only oriental and impressive2 and the white shrine in the centre reflected in the calm coloured water appears in its alternating dimness1 and shining more like a fairy creation than common handiwork4 ,we who were at the festival1 three of us laden with packets of marked ,gospels1 met sometimes as we wandered about unobserved1 losing ourselves in the crowd1 that we might the more quietly continue that for which we were there2 and in one such chance meeting we spoke of the ,english girl by the fireside1 and longed to show her what we saw2 and to show it with such earnestness that she would be drawn to inquire where her ,master had most need of her4 ,but no earnestness of writing can do much after all4 ,it is true the eye affects the heart1 and we would show what we have seen in the hope that even the second-hand sight might do something2 but words are clumsy1 and cannot discover to another that poignant thing the eye has power to transmit to the heart4 ,and it is well that it is so1 for something stronger and more consuming than human emotion can ever be must operate upon the heart if the life is to be moved to purpose4 ,a moving story is worth little if it only moves the feelings4 ,how far out of its selfish track does it move the life into ways of sacrifice8 ,that is the question that matters4 ,what if it cost8 ,did not ,calvary cost8 ,away with the cold1 calculating love that talks to itself about cost6 ,god give us a pure passion of love that knows nothing of hesitation and grudging1 and measuring1 nothing of compromise6 ,what if it seem impossible to face all that surrender may mean8 ,is there not provision for the impossible8 ,in the ,old ,testament we find that in almost every case of people being clothed with the ,spirit it was for things which were impossible to them4 ,to be filled with the ,spirit means readiness for ,him to take us out of our present sphere and put us anywhere away from our own choice into ,his choice for us4 ,these words hold a message alike for us as we meet and pass in that ,indian crowd1 and for the girl by the fireside at home who wants to know her ,lord's will that she may do it1 and whose heart's prayer is3 ,may ,thy grace1 ,o ,lord1 make that possible to me which is impossible by nature4 ,let us have done with limitations1 let us be simply sincere4 ,how ashamed we shall be by and by of our insincerities3-- ,thy vows are on me1 oh to serve ,thee truly1 ,pants1 pants my soul to perfectly obey6 ,burn1 burn1 ,o ,fire1 ,o ,wind1 now winnow throughly6 ,constrain1 inspire to follow all the way6 ,oh that in me ,thou1 my ,lord1 may see ,of the travail of ,thy soul1 ,and be satisfied4 ,we had only a few hours to spend in the town of the ,floating ,festival2 and being anxious to discover how things were among the ,temple community1 ,i spent the first hour in their quarter1 a block of substantial buildings each in its own compound1 near the ,temple4 ,i saw the house from which two of our dearest children came1 delivered by a miracle2 it looked like a fortress with its wall all round1 and upstairs balcony barred by a trellis4 ,the street door was locked as the women were at the ,festival4 ,in another of less dignified appearance ,i saw a pretty woman of about twenty1 dressed in pale blue and gold1 evidently just ready to go out4 ,one of those abandoned beings whose function it is to secure little children to continue the succession was in the house1 and so nothing could be attempted but the most casual conversation4 ,all the other houses in the block were locked as the women were out2 but ,i saw a new house outside1 built in best ,indian style1 and finely finished4 ,it had been built for1 and given as a free gift1 to a noted ,temple woman4 ,these houses would open1 in the missionary sense of the word1 but not in an afternoon4 ,it would take time and careful endeavour to win an entrance4 ,such a worker would need to be one whom no disappointment could discourage1 a woman to whom the word had been spoken1 ,go1 love1 4 4 4 according to the love of the ,lord4 ,when will such a worker come8 ,as ,i left the ,temple quarter1 ,i met my two companions who had been at work elsewhere1 and we walked together to the place of festival4 ,tripping gaily along in front was a little maid with flowers in her hair4 ,it was easy to know who she was1 there was something in the very step that marked the light-footed ,temple child4 ,poor little all-unconscious illustration of ,india's need of ,god6 ,later on we saw the same illustration again1 lighted up like a great transparency1 the focus for a thousand eyes4 ,for on the das of the barge1 in the place of honour nearest the idols1 stood three women and a child4 ,the women were swathed in fold upon fold of rich violet silk1 sprinkled all over with tinsel and gold2 they were crowned with white flowers1 wreathed round a golden ornament like a full moon set in their dark hair2 and the effect of the whole1 seen in the luminous flush of colour thrown upon them from the shore1 was as if the night sky sparkling with stars had come down and robed them where they stood4 ,then when it paled1 and sheet-lightning played1 as it seemed1 across water and barge and shrine1 the effect was wholly mysterious4 ,the three swaying forms--for they swayed keeping time to the music that never ceased--resembled one's idea of goddesses rather than familiar womenkind4 ,to the ,indian mind it was beautiful1 bewilderingly beautiful2 and the simple country-folk around drew deep breaths of admiration as they passed4 ,the little girl looked more human4 ,she too was in violet silk and spangles and gold1 and her little head was wreathed with flowers4 ,it may have been her first ,floating ,festival1 for she gazed about her with eyes full of guileless wonder1 and the woman beside whom she stood laid a light1 protecting hand upon her shoulder4 ,that little child6 ,how the sight of her held us in pity as the barge sailed slowly round4 ,she was so near to us at times that we could almost have touched her when the barge came near the wall2 and yet she was utterly remote1 miles of space might have lain between2 it was as if we and she belonged to different planets4 ,and yet our little ones who might have been as she1 were so close--we could almost feel their loving little arms round our necks at that moment--this child1 how far away she was6 ,had one of us set foot on the place where she stood1 the friendly thousands about us would have changed in a second into indignant furies1 and so long as the memory of such impiety remained no white face would have been welcome at the ,floating ,festival4 ,we stood by the wall awhile and watched2 the sorrow of it all sank into us4 ,there in the holiest place of all1 according to their thinking1 close to the emblems of deity1 they had set this grievous perversion of the holy and the pure4 ,right on the topmost pinnacle of everything known as religious there they had enthroned it1 and robed it in starlight and crowned it as queens are crowned4 ,oh1 worship the ,lord in the beauty of holiness6 ,one thing have ,i desired of the ,lord 4 4 4 to behold the fair beauty of the ,lord--such words open chasms of contrast4 ,god pity them2 like those of old1 they know not what they do4 ,we came away1 our books all sold and our strength of voice spent out1 for everywhere people had listened2 and as we came home1 strong thanksgiving filled our hearts1 thanks and praise unspeakable for the little lives safe in our nursery1 for the two especially who but for ,god's interposition might have been on that barge--and oh1 from the ground of our heart we were grateful that ,he had not let us miss ,his will concerning these little children4 ,we thought of those special two with their dear little innocent ways4 ,we could not think of them on the barge4 ,we could not bear to think of it--again and again we thanked ,god1 with humble adoring thanksgiving1 that ,he kept us from missing our chance4 ,but the mere thinking of that intolerable thought brought us back upon another thought4 ,what of that girl by the fireside8 ,what if she misses her chance8 ,we know1 for letters confess it1 that many a life has missed its chance4 ,what of the woman1 strong and keen1 with pent-up energies waiting for she knows not what8 ,what of the girl by the fireside crushing down the sense of an ,under-call that will not let her rest8 ,the work to which that ,call would lead her will not be anything great3 it will only mean little humble everyday doings wherever she is sent4 ,but if the ,call is a true ,call from heaven1 it will change to a song as she obeys2 and through all the afterward of life1 through all the loneliness that may come1 through all the disillusions when her dreams of fair romance which no day brings slip away from her--and the usual and commonplace are all about her--then and for ever that song of the ,lord will sing itself through the quiet places of her soul1 and she will be sure--with the sureness that is just pure peace--that she is where her ,master meant her to be4 ,not that we would write as if obedience must always mean service in the foreign field4 ,we know it is not so3 we know it may be quite the opposite2 but shall we not be forgiven if we sometimes wonder how it is that with so much earnest ,church life at home1 with so many evangelistic campaigns1 and conventions1 there is so poor an output so far as these lands abroad are concerned8 ,can it be that so many are meant to stay at home8 ,we would never urge any individual friend to come1 far less would we plead for numbers1 however great the need2 we would only say this3 ,will the girl by the fireside1 if such a one reads this book1 lay the book aside1 and spend an hour alone with her ,lord8 ,will she1 if she is in doubt about ,his will1 wait upon ,him to show it to her8 ,will she ask ,him to fit her to obey8 ,and this ,i wish to do1 this ,i desire2 whatsoever is wanting in me1 do ,thou1 ,i beseech ,thee1 vouchsafe to supply4 ,forgive if we seem to intrude upon holy ground1 but sometimes we see in imagination some great gathering of ,god's people1 and we hear them singing hymns2 and sometimes the beautiful words change into others not beautiful1 but only insistent3-- ,the ,lord our ,god arouse us6 ,we are sleeping1 ,dreaming we wake1 while through the heavy night ,hardly perceived1 the foe moves on unchallenged1 ,glad of the dream that doth delay the fight4 ,o ,christ our ,captain1 lead us out to battle6 ,shame on the sloth of soldiers of the light6 99 99 99 99 99 ,good ,shepherd1 ,jesus1 pitiful and tender1 ,to whom the least of straying lambs is known1 ,grant us ,thy love that wearieth not1 nor faileth2 ,grant us to seek ,thy wayward sheep that roam ,far on the fell1 until we find and fold them ,safe in the love of ,thee1 their own true home4 ,,chapter ,,xxxvi ,thy ,sweet ,original ,joy ,beacons of hope1 ye appear6 ,languor is not in your heart1 ,weakness is not in your word1 ,weariness not on your brow4 ,,within the last few months a friend1 a lover of books1 sent me ,the ,trial and ,death of ,socrates1 translated into ,english by ,f4 ,j4 ,church4 ,opening it for the first time1 ,i came upon this passage3-- ,socrates3 ,does a man who is in training1 and who is in earnest about it1 attend to the praise and blame of all men1 or of the one man who is doctor or trainer8 ,crito3 ,he attends only to the opinion of the one man4 ,socrates3 ,then he ought to fear the blame and welcome the praise of the one man1 not the many8 ,crito3 ,clearly4 ,and ,socrates sums the argument thus3 ,to be brief2 is it not the same in everything8 ,surely the wise man spoke the truth3 it is the same in everything4 ,the one thing that matters is the opinion of the ,one4 ,if ,he is satisfied1 all is well4 ,if ,he is dissatisfied1 the commendation of the many is as froth4 ,blessed are the single-hearted1 for they shall have much peace4 ,but ,nature is full of pictures of bright companionship in service2 the very stars shine in constellations4 ,this book of the skies has been opening up to us of late4 ,who1 to whom the experience is new1 will forget the first evenings spent with even a small telescope1 but powerful enough to distinguish double stars and unveil nebul8 ,you look and see a single point of light1 and you look again and twin suns float like globes of fire on a midnight sea2 and sometimes one flashes golden yellow and the other blue1 each the complement of the other1 like two perfectly responsive friends4 ,you look and see a little lonely cloud1 a breath of transparent mist2 you look and see spaces sprinkled with diamond dust1 or something even more awesome1 reaches of radiance that seem to lie on the borderland of ,eternity4 ,and the shining glory lingers and lights up the common day1 for the story of the sky is the story of life4 ,far was the ,call1 and farther as ,i followed ,grew there a silence round my ,lord and me-- is for ever the inner story1 as for ever the stars must move alone1 however close they are set in constellations or strewn in clusters2 but in another sense is it not true that there is the joy of companionship and the pure inspiration of comradeship8 ,god fits twin souls together like twin suns2 and sometimes1 with delicate thought for even the sensitive pleasure of colour1 it is as if ,he arranged them so that the gold and the blue coalesce4 ,and we think of the places which were once blank1 mere misty nothings to us4 ,they sparkle now with friends4 ,some of them are familiar friends known through the wear and tear of life2 some we shall never see till we meet above the stars4 ,and there the nebula speaks its word of mystery beyond mystery1 but all illuminated by the light from the other side4 ,in the work of which these chapters have told there has been the wonderful comfort of sympathy and help from fellow-missionaries of our own and sister missions2 and1 as all who have read1 understand1 nothing could have been done without the loyal co-operation of our ,indian fellow-workers whose tenderness and patience can never be described4 ,we think of the friends in the mission houses along the route of our long journeyings2 we remember how no hour was too inconvenient to receive us and our tired baby travellers2 we think of those who in weariness and painfulness have sought for the little children2 and we think of those who have made the work possible by being ,god's good ,ravens to us4 ,we think of them all1 and we wish their names could be written on the cover of this book instead of the name least worthy to be there4 ,and now latest and nearest comfort and blessing1 there are the two new ,sitties1 whose first day with us made them one of us4 ,what shall ,i render unto the ,lord for all ,his benefits towards me8 ,the future is full of problems4 ,even now in these ,nursery days questions are asked that are more easily asked than answered4 ,we should be afraid if we looked too far ahead1 so we do not look4 ,we spend our strength on the day's work1 the nearest next thing to our hands4 ,but we would be blind and heedless if we made no provision for the future4 ,we want to gather and lay up in store against that difficult time 7should it ever come7 a band of friends for the children1 who will stand by them in prayer4 ,there has been another compelling influence4 ,we recognise something in the ,temple-children question which touches a wider issue than the personal or missionary4 ,those who have read ,queen ,victoria's ,letters must have become conscious of a certain enlargement4 ,questions become great or dwindle into nothingness according as they affect the honour and the good of the ,empire4 ,we find ourselves instinctively thinking ,imperially1 regarding things from the ,throne side--from above instead of from below4 ,we fear exaggerated language4 ,we would not exaggerate the importance of these little children or their cause4 ,we have said that we realise1 as we did not when first this work began1 how very delicate and difficult a matter it would be for ,government to take any really effective action1 and less than effective action is useless4 ,we recognise the value of our pledge of neutrality in religious matters1 and we know what might happen if ,government moved in a line which to ,india might appear to be contrary to the spirit of that pledge4 ,it would be far better if ,india herself led the way and declared1 as ,england declared when she passed the ,industrial ,schools ,amendment ,act of #ahhj1 that she will not have her little children demoralised in either ,temple houses recognised as such1 or in any similar houses1 such as those which abound in areas where the ,temple child nominally is non-existent4 ,but must we wait till ,india leads the way8 ,scattered all over the land there are men who are against this iniquity1 and would surely be in favour of such legislation as would make for its destruction4 ,but few would assert that the people as a whole are even nearly ready4 ,a great wave of the ,power of ,god1 a great national turning towards ,him1 would1 we know1 sweep the iniquity out of the land as the waters of the ,alpheus swept the stable-valley clean1 in the old classic story4 ,oh for such a sudden flow of the ,river of ,god1 which is full of water6 ,but must we wait until it comes8 ,did we wait until ,india herself asked for the abolition of suttee8 ,surely what is needed is such legislation as has been found necessary at home1 which empowers the magistrate to remove a child from a dangerous house1 and deprives parents of all parental rights who are found responsible for its being forced into wrong4 ,surely such action would be ,imperially right2 and can a thing right in itself and carried out with a wise earnestness1 ever eventually do harm8 ,must it not do good in the end1 however agitating the immediate result may appear8 ,surely the one calm answer1 ,it is ,right1 will eventually silence all protest and still all turbulence6 ,such a law1 it is well to understand at the outset1 will always be infinitely more difficult to enforce in ,india than in ,england1 because of the immensely greater difficulty here in getting true evidence2 and because--unless that ,river of ,god flow through the land--there will be for many a year the force of public opinion as a whole against us1 or if not actively against1 then inert and valueless4 ,caste feeling will come in and shield and circumvent and get behind the law4 ,the ,indian sensitiveness concerning ,custom will be all awake and tingling with a hidden but intense vitality2 and this1 which is inevitable because natural1 will have to be taken into account in every attempt made to enforce the law4 ,the whole situation bristles with difficulties2 but are difficulties an argument for doing nothing8 ,whoever buys hires or otherwise obtains possession of1 whoever sells lets to hire or otherwise disposes of any minor under sixteen with the intent that such minor shall be employed or used for 4 4 4 any unlawful purpose or knowing it likely that such minor will be employed or used for any such purpose shall be liable to imprisonment up to a term of ten years and is also liable to a fine4 ,but where it appeared that certain minor girls were being taught singing and dancing and were being made to accompany their grandmother and ,temple woman to the ,temple with a view to qualify them as ,temple women1 it was held that this did not amount to a disposal of the minors within the meaning of the section4 ,ought this interpretation of the ,indian ,penal ,code to be possible8 ,the proof the law requires at present1 proof of the sale of the child or its definite dedication to the idol1 is rarely obtainable4 ,the fact that it is being taught singing and dancing 7although it is well known1 as the barrister's letter proves1 that among orthodox ,hindus such arts are never taught to little children except when the intention is bad7 is not considered sufficient evidence upon which to base a conviction4 ,to us it seems that the presence of the child in such a house1 or in any house of known bad character1 is sufficient proof that it is in danger of the worst wrong that can be inflicted upon a defenceless child--the demoralisation of its soul1 the spoiling of its whole future life1 before it has ever had a chance to know and choose the good4 ,illustration3 ,from the ,rock1 ,dohnavur4 ,and so we write it finally as our solemn conviction that there is need for a law like our own ,english law1 and we add--and those who know ,india know how true this sentence is--such legislation1 however carefully framed1 will be a delusion1 a blind1 a dead letter1 unless men of no ordinary insight and courage and character are appointed to see that it is carried out4 ,god grant that these chapters1 written in weakness1 may yet do something towards moving the ,church to such prayer that the answer will be1 as once before1 that an angel will be sent to open the doors of the prison-house6 ,the frontispiece shows the rock to which we go sometimes when we feel the need of a climb and a blow4 ,it is associated in our minds with a story3--,between the passages by which ,jonathan sought to go over unto the ,philistines' garrison there was a sharp rock on the one side and a sharp rock on the other side4 4 4 4 ,and ,jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour3 ',come and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised3 it may be that the ,lord will work for us3 for there is no restraint to the ,lord to save by many or by few4' ,and his armour-bearer said unto him3 ',do all that is in thine heart3 turn thee1 behold ,i am with thee according to thy heart4' ,we have a rock to climb1 and there is nothing the least romantic about it4 ,we shall have to climb it upon our hands and upon our feet4 ,it is all grim earnest4 ,we make our way wrapped in glamour to the ,supreme ,good1 the summit1 writes ,guido ,rey1 the mountaineer1 in the joy of his heart4 ,but later it is3 ,one precipice fell away at my feet1 and another rose above me4 4 4 4 ,it was no place for singing4 ,friends1 we shall come to such places on the ,matterhorn of life4 ,as we follow the ,gleam wherever it leads1 may we count upon the upholding of those for whom we have written--the lovers of little children8 ,and now1 in conclusion1 all ,i would say has already been so perfectly said1 that ,i cannot do better than copy from the writings of two who fought a good fight and have been crowned--,miss ,ellice ,hopkins1 brave1 sensitive1 soldier-soul on the hardest of life's battlefields2 and ,george ,herbert1 courtier1 poet1 and saint4 ,often in that nameless discouragement1 wrote ,miss ,hopkins1 as she lay slowly dying1 before unfinished tasks1 unfulfilled aims and broken efforts1 ,i have thought of how the creative ,word has fashioned the opal1 made it of the same stuff as desert sands1 mere silica--not a crystallised stone like the diamond1 but rather a stone with a broken heart1 traversed by hundreds of small fissures which let in the air1 the breath1 as the ,spirit is called in the ,greek of our ,testament2 and through those two transparent mediums of such different density it is enabled to refract the light1 and reflect every lovely hue of heaven1 while at its heart burns a mysterious spot of fire4 ,when we feel1 therefore1 as ,i have often done1 nothing but cracks and desert dust1 we can say3 ,so ,god maketh ,his precious opal6 ,we would never willingly disguise one fraction of the truth in our desire to win sympathy and true co-operation4 ,there will be hours of nameless discouragement for all who climb the rock4 ,for some there will be the broken heart4 ,and yet there is a joy that is worth it all a thousand times--well worth it all4 ,who that has known it will doubt it8 ,this reach of water recalls it4 ,the palms1 as we look at them1 seem to lift their heads in solemn consciousness of it4 ,for the water-side--where we stand with those for whom we have travailed in soul1 when for the first time they publicly confess their faith in ,christ--is a sacred place to us4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,place ,,of ,,baptism4 ,has our story wandered sometimes into sorrowful ways8 ,to be true it has to be sorrowful sometimes4 ,we look back to the day of its beginning1 the day that our first little ,temple child came and opened a new door to us4 ,since that time many a bitter storm ,my soul hath felt1 e'en able to destroy1 ,had the malicious and ill-meaning harm ,his swing and sway2 ,but still ,thy sweet original joy ,sprung from ,thine eye did work within my soul1 ,and surging griefs when they grew bold control1 ,and got the day4 ,it is true4 ,many a bitter storm has come2 there have been the shock and the darkness of new knowledge of evil1 and grief beside which all other pain pales1 the grief of helplessness in the face of unspeakable wrong4 ,but still1 above and within1 and around1 like an atmosphere1 like a fountain1 there has been something bright1 even that sweet original joy which nothing can darken or quench4 ,if ,thy first glance so powerful be ,a mirth but opened and sealed up again1 ,what wonders shall we feel when we shall see ,thy full-orbed love6 ,when ,thou shalt look us out of pain1 ,and one aspect of ,thine spend in delight1 ,more than a thousand worlds' disburse in light ,in heaven above6 ,and not alone1 oh1 not alone1 shall we see ,him as ,he is6 ,there will be the little children too4 ,those who care to know how the ,temple ,children's work began will find the story in ,,things ,,as ,,they ,,are4 ,preface by ,eugene ,stock2 #cbj pp4 and ,thirty-two ,illustrations from ,photographs taken specially for this work4 ,cloth1 #bs4 #f;d4 net 7post free #bs4 #aj;d47 ,also1 ,,overweights ,,of ,,joy4 ,preface by ,rev4 ,t4 ,walker1 ,c4,m4,s4 ,with ,thirty-four ,illustrations chiefly from ,photographs taken specially for this work4 ,cloth1 #bs4 #f;d4 net 7post free #bs4 #aj;d471 ,morgan ,scott ,ld41 #ab1 ,paternoster ,buildings1 ,london4 ,,only ,a ,,limited ,,number ,,of ,,copies ,,remain ,,of ,,the ,,original ,,edition ,,of ,,lotus ,,buds ,,containing ,,fifty ,,photogravure ,,illustrations4 99 99 99 99 99 ,cloth ,boards1 #ads4 #f;d4 net 7post free1 #aes474 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,most ,,striking ,,missionary ,,book ,,ever ,,published4 ,her ,majesty ,queen ,alexandra graciously accepted a copy4 ,the feature of the book is fifty photogravure illustrations from photographs specially taken of the children4 ,many of these--indeed1 all of them--are very charming4 ,some of them are mere babies1 others of larger growth1 but in each case the photographer has succeeded in presenting pictures which will elicit high admiration4 ,the laughing faces1 curly hair1 and fine physical development of the little ,indians1 make photographs exceedingly attractive4 ,indeed1 we have never seen a more 'taking' series of children of the ,orient4 4 4 4 ,the book will interest not only supporters of missions but all lovers of children4--,the ,westminster ,gazette4 ,the photogravure illustrations--fifty in number--are perfect as works of art4 ,some are pictures of scenery2 most are characteristic representations of the children4 ,all are full-page4--,british ,weekly4 4 4 4 the beautiful little faces depicted in the photogravures which adorn the volume4 ,there are fifty of these photogravures in the book1 the major portion being of children1 and we regard it as extremely improbable that more splendid pictures are to be found in any other work4--,baby4 ,the most wonderful photographs4--,contemporary ,review4 ,we have seldom seen more attractive illustrations than those of the ,indian children which are here reproduced4--,east and ,west4 ,they are the finest photographs of children we have ever seen1 and beautifully produced4--,the ,record4 ,we must1 in conclusion1 compliment all concerned in the manner in which this appeal for the children has been issued--the author1 the artist1 and the publishers 7,messrs4 ,morgan ,scott ,ld471 having combined to produce in ',lotus ,buds' a fine piece of work4--,the ,publishers' ,circular4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,morgan ,,scott ,,ld41 #ab1 ,paternoster ,buildings1 ,london1 ,e4,c4 ,,also ,,by ,,amy ,,wilson-,,carmichael 99 99 99 99 99 ,,things ,,as ,,they ,,are3 ,,mission ,,work ,,in ,,southern ,,india ,with ,preface by ,,eugene ,,stock4 #cbj pages1 and ,thirty-two beautiful ,illustrations from ,photographs taken specially for this work4 ,ninth ,edition4 ,paper1 #as4 #f;d4 net 7post free1 #as4 #i;d472 ,cloth ,boards1 #bs4 #f;d4 net 7post free1 #bs4 #aj;d474 ,,dr4 ,a4 ,,rudisill1 ,m4,e4 ,press1 ,madras3--,in ',things as ,they ,are' are pictured by pen and camera some things as they are4 ,it is all the more needful now when so many are deceived1 and are being deceived1 as to the true nature of idolatry1 that people at home who give and pray should be told plainly that what ,paul wrote about idolaters in ,rome and ,corinth is still true of idolaters in ,india4 ,the account of native life1 of the customs of the people1 of the few pleasures they enjoy1 and the many sorrows that oppress them1 is as accurate as it is lucid and entertaining4 ,it will be well to give this book studious attention2 it is so completely sincere and so free from prejudice2 and there are many excellent illustrations after photographs4--,literary ,world4 ,,overweights ,,of ,,joy3 ,,mission ,,work ,,in ,,southern ,,india ,preface by ,rev4 ,t4 ,,walker1 ,c4,m4,s4 #cbj pages1 and ,thirty-four beautiful ,illustrations from ,photographs taken specially for this work4 ,paper #as4 #f;d4 net 7post free1 #as4 #i;d4742 ,cloth ,boards1 #bs4 #f;d4 net 7post free1 #bs4 #aj;d474 7,companion ,volume to ,things as ,they ,are47 ,there is a life and enthusiasm and devotion1 combined with literary ability and winsomeness of style1 which make the book very captivating1 as well as very touching4 ,it is quite wonderfully illustrated with sunsets on the ,ghauts and all kinds of wonders1 and withal it is a song of spiritual triumph from a soul that feels intensely the cost of the ,cross4 ,a book1 indeed1 for every ,christian home4--,the ,churchman4 ,one of the most striking and inspiring missionary books of recent years4--,the ,christian ,world4 ,,the ,,beginning ,,of ,a ,,story ,being the story of the beginning of the work among ,temple children1 related for the friends of the ,temple children4 ,bound in ,art ,covers1 tied with silk cord4 ,artistic design embossed in gold1 #f;d4 net 7post free1 #h;d474 ,this little book tells a touching story4 ,it is hoped that many who are interested in the work on behalf of ,indian children exposed to terrible peril will circulate this booklet to further a cause which has aroused widespread and prayerful interest4--,irish ,baptist ,magazine4 ,this is a delightful booklet in its attractive blue and gold covers1 and with the picture of the smiling ,indian maiden looking out upon us4--,bible ,standard4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,morgan ,,scott ,,ld41 #ab1 ,paternoster ,buildings1 ,london1 ,e4,c4 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's note3 ,obvious punctuation errors were corrected4 ,the original contained each chapter number and title on a page preceding the actual start of the chapter4 ,these repeated ,chapter ,titles were removed to avoid redundancy4 ,varied hyphenation1 such as armchair and arm-chair1 was retained4 ,the ,bear ,garden is not hyphenated when used in titles but is hyphenated within the text4 ,page #h1 puchies changed to pchies 7kill the poor pchies7 ,page #h1 puchie changed to pchie 7each detested pchie7 ,page #bb1 subjeect changed to subject 7is the subject of7 ,page #ajb1 ,premalia changed to ,prmalia 7scene to the ,prmalia7 ,page #bcg1 form changed to from 7from ,bunyan's7 ,page #bcg1 ,c4 ,h4 changed to ,g4 ,h4 7by ,g4 ,h4 ,morrison7 ,page #bch1 suprintends changed to superintends 7superintends the more7 ,page #bef1 opportunties changed to opportunities 7watching for opportunities7 ,page #bef1 aviod changed to avoid 7,to avoid the ,penal7 ,page #bih1 own their changed to their own 7from their own homes7