they
were talking about me. One said, "He speaks pure Shanghai dialect," and
from their own speech I knew them to be Shanghai people. Raising myself,
I saw that they were on a large hong-boat on the other side of the
canal, and after a few words they sent their small boat to fetch me, and
I went on board the junk. They were very kind, and gave me some tea; and
when I was refreshed and able to partake of it, some food also. I then
took my shoes and stockings off to ease my feet, and the boatman kindly
provided me with hot water to bathe them. When they heard my story, and
saw the blisters on my feet, they evidently pitied me, and hailed every
boat that passed to see if it was going my way. Not finding one, by and
by, after a few hours' sleep, I went ashore with the captain, intending
to preach in the temple of Kwan-ti.

Before leaving the junk I told the captain and those on board that I was
now unable to help myself; that I had not strength to walk to Kia-hing
Fu, and having been disappointed in getting a passage to-day, I should
no longer have sufficient means to take me there by letter-boat, which
was an expensive mode of travelling; that I knew not how the GOD whom I
served would help me, but that I had no doubt He would do so; and that
my business now was to serve Him where I was. I also told them that the
help which I knew would come ought to be an evidence to them of the
truth of the religion which I and the other missionaries at Shanghai
preached.

On our way to the town, while engaged in conversation with the captain,
we saw a letter-boat coming up. The captain drew my attention to it; but
I reminded him that I had no longer the means of paying my passage by
it. He hailed it, nevertheless, and found that it was going to a place
about nine English miles from Shanghai, whence one of the boatmen would
carry the mails overland to the city. He then said, "This gentleman is a
foreigner from Shanghai, who has been robbed, and has no longer the
means of returning. If you will take him with you as far as you go, and
then engage a sedan chair to carry him the rest of the way, he will pay
you in Shanghai. You see my boat is lying aground yonder for want of
water, and cannot get away. Now, I will stand surety; and if this
gentleman does not pay when you get to Shanghai, I will do so on your
return." This unsolicited kindness on the part of a Chinaman, a perfect
stranger, will appear the more remarkable to any one acquaint