eave me to fast alone. So we set to
work and carefully searched the cupboards; and though there was nothing
to eat, we found a small packet of cocoa, which, with a little hot
water, somewhat revived us. After this we again cried to the LORD in our
trouble, and the LORD heard and saved us out of all our distresses. For
while we were still upon our knees a letter arrived from England
containing a remittance.

This timely supply not only met the immediate and urgent need of the
day; for in the assured confidence that GOD, whose we were and whom we
served, would not put to shame those whose whole and only trust was in
Himself. My marriage had been previously arranged to take place just
fourteen days after this date. And this expectation was not
disappointed; for "the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed,
but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant
of My peace be removed." And although during subsequent years our faith
was often exercised, and sometimes severely, He ever proved faithful to
His promise, and never suffered us to lack any good thing.

Never, perhaps, was there a union that more fully realised the blessed
truth, "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour
of the LORD." My dear wife was not only a precious gift to me; GOD
blessed her to many others during the twelve eventful years through
which she was spared to those that loved her and to China.

Hers had been a life connection with missionary work in that great
empire; for her father, the loved and devoted Samuel Dyer, was amongst
the very earliest representatives of the London Mission in the East. He
reached the Straits as early as 1827, and for sixteen years laboured
assiduously amongst the Chinese in Penang and Singapore, completing at
the same time a valuable fount of Chinese metallic type, the first of
the kind that had then been attempted. Dying in 1843, it was never Mr.
Dyers privilege to realise his hopes of ultimately being able to settle
on Chinese soil; but his children lived to see the country opened to the
Gospel, and to take their share in the great work that had been so dear
to his heart. At the time of her marriage, my dear wife had been already
living for several years in Ningpo with her friend, Miss Aldersey, in
whose varied missionary operations she was well qualified to render
valuable assistance.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XVII

GOD A REFUGE FOR US

A SOMEWHAT differ