30 THE UNKNOWN CHRISTIANS. THE UNKNOWN CHRISTIANS. A GREAT Work is going on in British India. Already there are in that land of idols more than a hundred thousand professed Christians, and Missionaries are constantly sending accounts of new converts from among the heathen. he was to receive from them the answer, "We believe in Jesus." "You believe in Jesus!" said the teacher. "When and how have you learned anything about Him?" "Several years ago," said one, a man from our village went to a distant fair, and there received two books, which he brought home and showed to us. We read them; and ever since have resolved to follow the religion of which they told us.” 66 But much good, be sides what we see, is being done in India; and many facts show that the people are beginning to know and think more about the religion of the Bible, and to laugh at the superstitions of their own country. following are some illustrations of this: The A native teacher, in one of his journeys, came to an Indian village. This village stood in the middle of a thick jungle, and no Missionary had ever been there before. On entering the place he naturally looked hither and thither for the idol temple, which is always a conspicuous object in Indian towns and villages, but it was nowhere to be seen. Thinking that the inhabitants might be Mahometans, he tried to find out their mosque; but there was none. At this he was much surprised, and could not make it out. He then went to some of the villagers, and asked them how this was; and you may suppose how amazed and pleased "But where are these books?" asked the teacher, becoming more and more interested. "We think them so valuable," said the native, "that we keep them carefully shut up in a box, and never take them out, except when we meet together to hear them read." "And where is this box ?" "It is kept at the house of the chief man of the village." The teacher asked to be led to the house where these precious treasures were, but he was not able to see them that day, because the person who had charge of them was away from home. A few days afterwards he was more fortunate; but when he saw them his surprise was still more increased. They were two excellent religious tracts, but were ፡፡ WHERE THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY." written in a dialect of the language quite different from that spoken by the villagers. In consequence of this, they could not thoroughly understand the meaning of the books; but in spite of this difficulty, they had been led by reading them to give up the worship of idols and serve the true God. How wonderful is the power of "the truth as it is in Jesus!" Our readers may 31 easily suppose that the religious knowledge of these people was very imperfect, and mixed with much that was false. But they were most thankful to be taught the way of the Lord more perfectly by the native Christian; and they listened eagerly while he pointed out their errors, and instructed them in the true way of salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.-Juv. Miss. Mag. “WHERE THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY.” THE following touching fact was related by the Rev. Hugh Stowell at a Village Missionary Meeting in the North Riding of Yorkshire, illustrating the truth of the adage, "Where there's a will, there's a way." Mr Stowell stated that he would not have mentioned the fact, had the subject of it been still living. It was the case of a poor woman belonging to his own congregation, whose love for the cause of Christ led her to exert every means in her power to promote the great and glorious work of the Church Missionary Society. Her box, well-filled, was constantly presented at each anniversary of the Society. In the course of time, however, it pleased God that her husband (who was a blacksmith) was unable, from severe illness, to follow his employment. This reduced him self and wife to a state of great poverty. After struggling for some time, they were at length compelled to apply for parochial relief. The anniversary again came round, and Mr Stowell made the remark, as he went to the meeting—“We shall not have poor Sarah's Missionary Box this year." Great was his surprise, when, at the close of the meeting, the poor woman presented herself with her well-known box. Mr Stowell scarcely knew what to think of this; feeling it would not be right to permit her to appropriate money given by the parish for such a purpose. His mind was greatly relieved, however, by the woman's request for a few moments' private conversation with him. She then, in simple language, explained the means by which she was able to present her usual offering. Deeply grieved at 32 POETRY-DAILY WORK. the prospect of not being able to do any thing for the cause of her beloved Saviour, after a sleepless night, in which she gave the subject much thought, it occurred to her, that by❘ collecting the potato parings of her neighbours, which were usually thrown away, and boiling them, she might sell them as food for pigs, and thus obtain money to help forward the blessed work. She immediately put her plan into execution. Her | neighbours acceded to her request, and by this means she was able to present her usual offering. This she continued year by year, to the time of her death. After her death her daughter came to Mr Stowell, and begged to be allowed to retain the box as a memorial of her mother, with the promise that she would also strive to follow in her steps. Price 6d. per doz. or 3s. 6d. per 100; 20 copies sent free by post for 10d., paid in advance. Published by GALL & INGLIS, 6 George Street, Edinburgh, HOULSTON & WRIGHT, London. a kind relation at another missionary station, who loved Jesus Christ. But her husband went after her, and tried to persuade her to return home. The good woman told him that she would gladly do so, if he would clothe himself in decent garments, cultivate his ground, and treat her properly. Her kind manner and gentle words touched his heart; and, as he loved his wife, he made up his mind to do what she desired. He therefore returned to his home, and began to work so hard that, in a short time, he had not only ploughed his ground, and planted it with food, but had bought himself suitable clothing. Quite a new man in appearance and manners, he hastened to his wife, to claim from her the fulfilment of her promise. She was struck with the change; and now readily consented to return to her house. From that time, the improved habits of the husband enabled him to provide for himself and for her a comfortable living. The heathen relations of the husband soon saw the difference. First amongst them was his mother. Before the daughter-in-law left her husband, this old woman persecuted her fiercely for her religion. But now she may be seen coming to the house in a very quiet and humble way to ask for food. She, however, is only one of many who observe the difference, and who, instead of laughing at, and opposing the Christian woman, as they did before, now gather round the door of the hut, as at dinner time the smoke is rising from the chimney, and steam from the pot, to beg for some share of those good things which they are too lazy to get for themselves. The Caffres, like most heathen, treat their women very cruelly. Makomo was one of their greatest chiefs, and like other chiefs of that nation, he had many wives. One of these had, as he believed, done wrong. She had a babe, and, as a punishment for her supposed offence, the savage man ordered her to bury the poor infant alive. The wife refused, and said she would rather roam all her life in the wild forest with her child, than commit this dreadful crime. And she was right; but Makomo was mad with rage against her. He went to her armed with spears, and dared the poor helpless woman to disobey his cruel order. To save her own life the wretched mother gave way. She went with two Fingo men, who dug the little grave, in which the innocent babe was buried. This happened on a Saturday night. On the following morning, the missionary, Mr Calderwood, heard |