been using temporarily. By removing all
the paper partitions the lower part of the house had been thrown into
one large room. Circling the crowd of waiting people seated on the floor
a row of cots held the sick and afflicted, worsted by sin and disease.

Before them stood Jane, who, in the custom of the country, bade them
welcome. A small sea of faces was lifted to her. Such faces!--none
beautiful; all stamped with crime; some scarcely human, only physical
apparitions of debased Nature.

With shifting glances they listened to an official who made Jane an
offer from the city to contribute to the support of the hospital, the
pledge of two doctors to give their services so many hours a week, a
contribution of milk from a rich merchant, and an offer from a friendly
barber to give so many free shaves. Their eyes widened with wonder and
suspicion. What could people mean by giving things and taking away the
excitement of stealing them?

But when the man spoke of how the officials had watched Jane and her
work, at first with skeptical unbelief because they thought she would
not endure a month, now with warmest sympathy because she had succeeded
in keeping the Quarters freer of crime and disease than ever before,
they forgot their fear and voiced their approval in much hand-clapping,
and wise shaking of heads. They called for Miss Gray.

Jane arose and very shyly thanked the city's representative. Then as
gently and as simply as if talking to wayward children, she spoke to the
men and women before her, who bent forward with respectful attention
while the sick ones fastened their weary eyes upon her.

"My people, the building of this little hospital means not only the
healing of your bodies, but also the way to cleansing your souls. Dear
friends, let me say in this world there is nothing worth while but your
souls. Make them clean and white. Sell them for the highest price. What
do I mean by that? I mean that if it is for the sake of your souls, it
is nothing to go hungry, cold and in rags. What matters the outside so
long as you make your hearts sweet and shiny and true? All of you before
me have gone astray. So many of you have wandered like lost children
from the homeward path, and darkness came and you could not find the way
back. Each of you was once a happy little child, with some place to call
home and some one there to care when you were lost. I do not know why
the darkness overtook you, but I know it did, and to-day,