oom and "little iron tailor,"[11] hear the
musical box, and be allowed to inspect the enormous saucepan in which
the school food is made, ending up with a visit to the rooms where the
women read the Bible.

Before, however, these favours can be granted, as she well knows, the
party must be prepared to give its attention to the one topic upon which
the missionaries never fail to speak. This proves to be more interesting
than they had anticipated, for one wall of our guest-room is decorated
with pictures which illustrate interesting stories, the application of
which throws light upon that problem which confronts every human heart:
"How can the burden of sin be removed?"

The time passes quickly and most of the wonders have been seen, when a
piercing yell from the young Goat indicates that the limit of his
patience has been reached. The orders of this small autocrat allow of no
question, and further intercourse is impossible, for his shrieks will
not cease until his wishes have been complied with. The whole party
rises, and we follow them, urging them to "walk slowly" and to come
again on Sunday. "We will come, we will come," several answer, but
others are deep in a discussion as to what provision is possible for our
old age, seeing that we have neither husband nor son.

As they disappear through, the street door, they meet a fresh group
entering who are in turn received by the Bible-women. Thus, from day to
day, the Word is preached and cast as bread upon the waters. Sometimes
a woman will return in a few days to hear more, and sometimes, years
later, in a remote mountain hamlet a woman will greet us with a smile,
surprised that we do not remember her visit to our house, when, as she
reminds us, we told her about Jesus, the Son of God.

* * * * *

With those women who come as patients to the dispensary, we enter upon a
more intimate relationship. The payment of their fee entitles them to
three visits, of which they take full advantage and often come under our
care for a much longer course of treatment.

They are an interesting crowd with their varied complaints. A child
whose arm has been badly scalded months before, and who has received no
treatment during that period but an application of rat oil and charred
matting, is in a revolting condition, a pitiful sight indeed. A young
woman who has lost her eyesight attributes her affliction to a fit of
violent temper, when for a whole day s