. They talk and chatter all day long with hardly
any cessation.

"My mornings are busily employed in giving directions to the servants,
providing food for the family, etc. At ten my teacher comes, when, were
you present, you might see me in an inner room at one side of my study
table, and my teacher the other, reading Burman, writing, talking, etc.
I have many more interruptions than Mr. Judson, as I have the entire
management of the family. This I took on myself for the sake of Mr.
Judson's attending more closely to the study of the language; yet I have
found, by a year's experience, that it is the most direct way I could
have taken to acquire the language, as I am frequently obliged to speak
Burman all day. I can talk and understand others better than Mr. Judson,
though he knows more about the nature and construction of the language."

It was impossible to do any direct evangelistic work until the language
had been more fully mastered, and Mrs. Judson was continually spurred on
in her studies by the desire to speak to the natives about the Lord
Jesus Christ. "O Thou Light of the world," she prayed, as she realised
more fully the ignorance of the people, "dissipate the thick darkness
which covers Burmah, and let Thy light arise and shine!"

CHAPTER IV.

A HEAVY AFFLICTION.

[Illustration: Ann Hasseltine Judson]

When Mrs. Judson had been in Rangoon six months she was taken somewhat
seriously ill, and it was deemed advisable that she should go to Madras,
both for the sea voyage and in order to obtain skilled Medical advice,
which could not be had in Rangoon. She met with nothing but kindness all
the way. The Viceroy granted her special permission to take a native
woman as her attendant, a thing which was deemed a very great favour
indeed, as no native woman was usually allowed to leave the country. The
captain of the vessel in which she sailed refused to accept any money
for the passage; and when she sent the physician who attended to her
seventy rupees in payment for his advice, he returned them with an
expression of pleasure in having been of any service to her. She went
back to Rangoon renewed in health, and a few months later she became the
mother of a little boy.

For a short time the baby was the treasure of the mission-house. In
their loneliness and separation from all friends, the hearts of the
father and mother went out to their little one, and he became even more
to them than an only child usuall