pray for me, that I may have the presence and grace of God, and that I may at last gain a home in Heaven."

Several others spoke, and gave experiences similar to the above.

At half-past ten the sermon was preached by the Rev. Young J. Allen-text, John xxi: 15-17. It was an earnest discourse, delivered to a crowded house, and was heard with interest. At the close of the sermon, Mr. Lambuth called Dsau Tse Yeh, Dzung Yoong Chung, Yung King San, and See Tse Kia, forward to the altar, and presented them to be ordained deacons in the Church of God. In the afternoon the first two named were also ordained elders. This new and solemn service produced a profound impression on the native Church. I never witnessed a more solemn awe upon an assembly.

I have great hope of these men. The first-named, Dsau, accompanied Mr. Lambuth to America in 1862, and was in the family of Dr. Kelley for several years. To Mrs. Kelley, the mother of the Doctor, he says he owes his salvation, under God. He was baptized by our ascended Bishop Andrew. About 1870, he returned to China, and soon entered upon the great work of his life. He is now thirty-one years old, in good health, and, so far as we can judge, promises to be a very useful man.

Dzung Yoong Chung was baptized by Mr. Lambuth in 1870, and was employed for about a year as sexton and colporteur at Naziang, after which, as our Mission was straitened for means, he was lent to the Presbyterians for several years. With them he did good service, and so soon as we were in circum

stances to employ him he came back to us an intelligent Christian and well-trained preacher, but with a shattered voice, and I fear, an impaired constitution. His sermon on Christmas-day was spoken of by those who understood it as one of great merit. His wife is in charge of a school, and is intelligent, active, and full of zeal-a most useful little woman.

Yung King San is forty-three years old, was baptized by Mr. Lambuth in 1857, and has been preaching about five years. He is by trade a carpenter. His education is limited, but since his conversion he has been a diligent student of the word of God. He is a man of profound experience and of most stable and blameless life, and his preaching is very acceptable. The missionaries trust him implicitly.

See Tse Kia was trained in the Presbyterian school at Hang Chow, where he was converted and baptized. He comes to us highly recommended for depth and stability of character, and though he is not specially brilliant, yet he has the good sense and piety to make him a very valuable man. His name, which we write See in English, is really pronounced without any vowel sound. Write Szzz-s and three z's-and then exercise your powers of articulation upon it.

At six o'clock on Sunday night, I preached to the foreign congregation at the Union Church, and had the largest congregation I have met in Shanghai. At eight o'clock we were in the chapel again and heard Dsau. The congregation was large, and more than usually attentive.

Thus closed one of the richest Sundays I have ever enjoyed, The Mission premises had the aspect

of a hallowed place, under the rich glow of the Sunday sunlight. But, alas! no sooner did I pass out of the gate and cross the "tsun-ka-mook-ja," on my way to the Union Church, than I found myself in the midst of the crowd and rush of business and pleasure, and the Sunday was chopped off at a stroke. What an oasis in a Sabbathless desert in this little enclosure which contains the Mission buildings!

Christmas-day-Monday-dawned bright upon us, and the services connected with the occasion were closed by a sermon from Dzung. The text was in the Prophecy of Micah. The sermon, I am told, gave a very intelligent account of the prophetic office, a rapid and accurate survey of the history of Micah, some remarkably succinct and correct geographical descriptions, and then enlarged upon the coming and work of Christ. There was a quiet fervor that fixed the attention of all who understood the language, and even on us who occupied the seat of the unlearned, there was the sense of a gracious presence-the overshadowing of the Spirit of God.

CHAPTER X.

BY CANAL TO SOOCHOW AND HANG CHOW.

UST BEFORE nightfall, December 26, we went on board of our fleet of canal boats, for a trip to Soochow, the place where Mr. Parker is stationed, intending also to visit our principal out-stations on the way. The fleet consisted of three boats, one of which is the property of our Mission, one the private property of Mr. Lambuth, and the third lent us for the occasion by the Rev. Mr. Fitch, of the Presbyterian Mission at Soochow. These boats are all constructed upon the same general model, but with many differences of detail. I will describe the one which belongs to the Mission, and that will give an idea of them all. The boat is about thirty feet in length, and nine feet wide, including the poles that lie along on the outside of the upper part of the hull, making a sort of rim. On this boat a cabin is constructed, which is eighteen feet long, and seven feet wide at the widest part. There is a partition in the middle, dividing the cabin into two rooms of nine feet in length, the ceiling being six feet high. In each of these rooms there is a platform on one side for a bed, to accommodate one person. In one of them there is also a cot, placed for this voyage, to accommodate an extra passenger, thus furnishing sleeping accommodations for three. In one corner

there is a diminutive stove, with two lids on the top, like a cooking-stove, so that it serves very well for cooking a simple meal. The other two boats have real cooking-stoves. These boats are propelled by the scull, or by towing, alternating from one to the other. When the wind is favorable they hoist a sail, and then, with sail and scull, they go bravely, especially if the tide is favorable; for the tide extends inland some twenty-five miles from Shanghai, and in the smaller canals boats the size of ours can move only when the tide is in.

Our company consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Lambuth, and their son Willie, Mr. Allen and his son Edgar, Mr. Parker, Mr. Hendrix, and myself and Mr. Dsau. Parker, Hendrix, and myself, were on the Mission boat. We have no cooking done for ourselves. There is a place aft, where our coolies sleep, and have a Chinese cooking-furnace for their own provisions—a very simple affair.

About 7 o'clock we were called on board of Mr. Lambuth's boat for supper, and there, behold a table all set out with elegant dishes, produced from the snuggest of little cupbords, and as the meal proceeded a little pantry-door opens, and behold the cream, and milk, and sugar, and things!-a succession of surprises for raw Americans like H. and myself. There we were, seated in small compass to be sure; but there were five of us at the table, amply provided, and then a little on one side were Willie and Dsau. The cosy and comfortable meal ended, the Bible was produced, and a song-book for each. How we enjoyed the worship of God together in these new circumstances!