ore which his son by
rigid economy was amassing for the benefit of his children. Scotch
thrift was well exemplified in them both. But in the course of 1887
James Gilmour became troubled about this accumulation of even that small
sum which he could call his own. In his lonely introspective Mongolian
life the possession of money came to wear in his view the aspect of
distrusting God. At this juncture the London Missionary Society was in a
somewhat serious state as regards funds. A special appeal had been sent
out indicating that if additional funds were not forthcoming, some
fields of work might have to be given up. James Gilmour's response was
an order to pay over anonymously the sum of 100_l._ to the general funds
of the Society, and 50_l._ to that set apart for widows and orphans.

'March 16, 1887.

'My dear Father,--Some explanation is due to you of the order to
pay the London Missionary Society 100_l._ of my money as a
contribution to their funds.

'The money that I have in the bank is the result of long and, much
of it, of self-denying savings on my part and the part of my late
wife--more on hers than mine, perhaps. When she died, and I was
going off to this remote and isolated field, it was a comfort to me
to think that in the event of my death there was a little sum laid
past which would help my sons to get an education. I have added to
that sum all I could from my house-furniture sale, &c., and it has
reached a good figure--the exact sum I cannot yet tell--I have not
yet had your account for 1886.

'Some time ago God seemed to say, "_Entrust that money to My
keeping!_" and, as days went on, the command seemed to get more
loud and be ever present, so much so that finally I could not read
my Bible for it or pray. I had no resource left but to obey; I did
not like to give it up; but finally it has appeared to me that God
is only keeping the funds for the lads and that He will arrange for
them to have them all right when they are needed. How He can do
this I need not ask. He may, for instance, keep me alive for the
sake of the lads. In one sense it seems an unwise thing not to be
laying up something for the children's education; but that is only
one side of it. God seems to ask me to trust Him with my children,
and I trust Him with them. The