er book. Judson had
told him that he was preparing another book, but had not got it ready
yet. "Have you not a little of that book done which you would be
graciously pleased to give me?" the man asked; and Judson, thinking it
better not to let the opportunity pass by, gave him two half sheets
which had been already printed, and which contained the first five
chapters of Matthew.

The man did not come again to them for some time, but they learned that
he was appointed governor of some villages a distance away. The
following January he had to visit Rangoon, and once more called at the
mission-house. Mr. Judson was away just then, having gone for a short
time to India, but Mrs. Judson had a long talk with him, and asked him
if he had yet become a disciple of Jesus. "I have not yet," he replied,
"but I am thinking and reading in order to become one. I cannot yet
destroy my old mind, for if I see a handsome cloth or handkerchief I
still desire them. Tell the great teacher when he returns, that I wish
to see him, though I am not a disciple of Christ." He requested more
books and then left.

Up to this time the rulers had been most friendly, but in 1818 a little
event occurred which indicated to the missionaries what might at any
time happen. The former Viceroy had left, and a new one was appointed in
his stead. It was the time when Mr. Judson was away in India, and one
morning Mr. Hough received a command, written in most threatening
language, ordering him to at once appear at the court-house to give an
account of himself. He went, and was ordered to come next day for
examination, and the officials assured him that, "If he did not tell all
the truth about his situation in the country, they would write it with
his heart's blood."

For two days he was subjected to a severe cross-examination, and the
officials seemed to delight in annoying and threatening him in every
possible way. He could not appeal to the Viceroy, for he was not
sufficiently acquainted with the language; so the native teacher drew up
a petition, and Mrs. Judson herself presented it to the Viceroy. He
received it kindly, and at once gave orders that Mr. Hough was not to be
troubled further. They afterwards found out that the thing had been
arranged by the minor officials, in order to extort money from the
missionaries.

Before Mr. Judson returned a severe epidemic of cholera broke out in
Rangoon, and Mr. Hough was very anxious to take his wife and Mrs. Ju