bless you, my sons, and sending you much
love,

'I am your affectionate Father,
'JAMES GILMOUR.'

'Ta Cheng Tz[)u]: Sept. 3, 1887.

'My dear Sons,--I am well, and thankful for it. The three
Christians here come daily to evening worship. There are here
others who want to be Christians, but who have not courage enough.
One man's wife won't let him be a Christian; she says she will kill
herself if he does. Another man is in the same case. He is a
Chinaman, his wife is a Mongol. Still another man has a Mongol
wife, and she kept him back. The other day he came and confessed
Christianity. His wife does not consent, only says: "We'll see."
Another man's father hinders his son from Christianity. The lad is
a very nice lad.

'Yesterday was the day when people make offerings of food and
fruit at the graves. One of the Christians was sent to do so. He
brought the melon here, and we ate half of it with him.

'Still another man is forbidden by his father to be a Christian.
That is, in all, five men are Christians at heart, and read our
books and are learning Christianity, but do not confess Christ in
this one place. Do you know what Jesus says about such people
(Matt. x. 32-39)? Jesus says that, if they obey others rather than
Him, they are not worthy to be His disciples. I am praying for all
these people. I ask you, too, to pray for these and all like them,
that they may be able to confess Christ. It is difficult for men in
China to be Christians. How different with you! We all want you to
be Christians. Your father and friends all help you to be
Christians, and if you are not Christians we are all distressed.

'Boys, do be true to Jesus. In your words and deeds honour Him.
Make _His_ heart glad. Jesus wants your love. He loves you and died
for you. You cannot but love Him if you think how He loves you.
Good-bye. Meantime I am just going to breakfast, and then for a day
on the street, trying to tell the people about Jesus. God bless
you, my dear lads!

'It is now afternoon. I write a few lines. A lad in a shop here has
a tame dove. He has painted it all over different colours. It looks
absurd. I don't like to see it sitting about the shop.