an easy solution to the
problem of the importunate widow. This aged lady entered a claim for two
stones occupying nine square feet of waste land, to the sale of which
she declared her consent had never been given. The matter had been
referred to middlemen who decided in our favour; nevertheless, we
learned to dread the daily tap, tap, of her stick, and the shrill squawk
of her strident voice as she came with fresh deeds (some of them dating
back to former dynasties) of which she demanded the examination. She was
generally accompanied by friends, all of whom were prepared to support
her claim.

I have seen her stand by the workmen, and with her nagging tongue drive
them, and the foreman, almost to despair. It was impossible to recognise
her rights even to the extent of feasting her, so we endured until the
walls were built, and then to compensate her for her trouble handed her
the equivalent of 2s., which sum she accepted, but every time we meet
her she reminds us that we are occupying land which belongs to her.

The first autumn frosts saw a large expanse of waste land, which had
formerly lain around our compound, transformed into a neat series of
courtyards, and a spacious church occupied seventy feet of the main
street frontage, providing sitting accommodation for a congregation of
six hundred. In all, we had erected fifty _gien_[8] of room space, in
addition to the church.

Thanks to an unusually profitable rate of silver exchange which held
during these few months, and owing to the faithful oversight and
scrupulous economy of Pastor Wang and his helpers, our L500 proved
sufficient to meet all necessary requirements of Church, School, Bible
School, and Dispensary.

FOOTNOTE:

[8] The space between two beams in a Chinese building.

WOMEN'S BIBLE TRAINING SCHOOL

"Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel."
Motto of the Hwochow Bible School.

"Cornelius halted at a doorway in a long, low
wall--the outer wall of some villa courtyard, it
might be supposed--as if at liberty to enter, and
rest there awhile. He held the door open for his
companion to enter also, if he would, with an
expression, as he lifted the latch, which seemed
to ask Marius, "Would you like to see it?" Was he
willing to look upon that, the seeing of which
might define--yes! define the critical
tur