y is to its parents. The Burmans
regarded him as quite a curiosity, for he was the only purely white
infant in the place. The baby would lie quietly for hours on a mat in
the study, while his parents were poring over their books, and when work
was done they would throw the palm leaves on one side, take up the boy,
and carry him in state around the house and garden. His presence seemed
to light up the home with a new and sacred joy; but he was not to be
there long. When he had completely twined himself around his parents'
hearts he was taken away, for after a few days' illness he died when
only eight months old.

This sore affliction was the means of drawing out much sympathy from
many of the natives. The chief wife of the Viceroy had been greatly
attracted by the little lad when he was alive, and on hearing of his
death she paid a visit of condolence to his parents, accompanied by her
official attendants, numbering some two hundred people. "Why did you not
send me word, that I might come to the funeral?" she asked, smiting her
breast and showing every sign of sorrow. The heart-broken mother replied
that her grief was so great that she did not think of it, and the Burman
lady then did her best to comfort her, and strove with warm, womanly
sympathy to make her forget her loss.

CHAPTER V.

SOWING TIME.

For three years Mr. and Mrs. Judson devoted themselves solely to the
study of Burman, and did not even attempt any directly evangelistic
work, beyond the opportunity afforded by casual conversation with a few
individuals. They well knew that any impatient attempts to push forward
the work would probably result in closing the country against
Christianity for many years to come.

It was not without heavy hearts that they saw the years passing away and
nothing apparently being done. They had half expected, before leaving
America, that it would require little more than a plain proclamation of
the Gospel to win converts; but a short experience of the reality of
missionary life showed them that the work was not so easy as had been
imagined. The people were careless and indifferent, and no permanent
impressions seemed to be produced upon their minds. They would listen
politely while the missionaries pleaded with them for Christ, and then
would lightly dismiss the matter with the remark that all religions
were good.

One reason why preaching had not been attempted was because Mr. and Mrs.
Judson felt it would be well