ition of the
mission decrease by its prospects becoming more promising, her health
would improve.

We did all we could to lessen her cares by assisting her in her
household duties. Maud and I learned to cook, and we also cleaned and
swept out the house and kept it in order, with the help of a native
girl, who, though not very expert, was willing to learn and to follow
the example we set her.

We were anxiously expecting the return of Lisele, and Maud and I paid
frequent visits to Abela, to inquire whether she had received any
message from her niece. She shook her head sorrowfully, saying she was
afraid that Masaugu was too much wedded to his heathen practices to be
induced to abandon them by any arguments Lisele could use, and that he
was far more likely to prevent her from returning. This made us very
sad, for we had had hopes that Lisele had really become a Christian, and
would remain faithful to the truth.

Abela guessed by our looks what was passing in our minds, and she added,
"though the chief's heart is very hard, I have been praying that it may
be changed, and I know that with Jehovah nothing is impossible."

While we were still seated in the hut, a native arrived whom we knew,
from his scanty dress and his wild savage look, to be still a heathen.
He brought a message to Abela from her niece, saying that she hoped
shortly to return to the settlement, as her father had consented to pay
the English missionary a visit.

"I shall rejoice to see her again," said Abela to the native. "And has
she spoken to you, my friend, of the true religion?"

"Yes, she has told me that we cannot see the great Jehovah who made the
world and all things in it, but that He sees us and knows everything we
think of, say, and do; and that He hates all sin, but that He loves the
sinner, and wishes all human beings to come and live with Him for ever
and ever in the beautiful place He has prepared for them," was the
prompt and unexpected answer.

"But has she told you that you are a sinner, and that your sins must be
wiped away before you are fit to go to that pure and beautiful heaven
she spoke of? Has she told you how you can become fit for heaven, and
has she pointed out to you the only way you can go there?" asked Abela.

"Yes, she told me that many things I thought right are very wrong in the
sight of Jehovah, and that I cannot undo what I have once done, and that
the only way by which those things can be blotted out, is b