The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1924, Page 45

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

45

come regularly and are the following: The last day
of school when promotions are made; Christmas,
when some of them receive presents from far-off
America; and the missionary’s birthday. No notice
is taken of the girls’ birthdays, for at least ninety-
nine out of every hundred birth-dates are forgotten
here. But the missionary is serenaded in the morn-
ing of his natal day with original songs; all the
flowers, both wild and cultivated, that can be found,
are strung in garlands and hung on him or her.
A half-holiday is usually declared, and a picnic is
the order of the day. Jumbo was in Sironcha on
my last birthday and was engaged for the celebra-
tion, so among many other novel experiences of the
day was an elephant ride!

“Like most children, Christmas is to them the
great day. But I do not think that they lose sight
of the true meaning of Christmas as much here in
India as they do in America! But they can
scarcely wait till Christmas arrives. Why? ‘Has
my mother in America sent me a present?’ is the
first question heard from all quarters on Christmas
morning. Oh, the joy if she has! You who have
sent a gift to your child, though it may have cost
only five cents, cannot realize what this gift means
to a poor Hindu girl! Where patrons fail to send
a gift, we try to give some little thing to the child
thus forgotten, but it doesn’t bring the exquisite
joy that a present from America does.

“Some have asked how best to send a parcel.
We find that if parcels are wrapped in cheap, strong
cloth and the cloth is sewed on, they arrive in good
condition. Simply to tie the wrapper on is very
unsafe, since the parcel is then usually opened and
a part of the contents extracted. specially if it
is soap, it is sure to be taken, for, oh, how every
Tndian loves soap! And my girls are no exception
to the rule. A cake of toilet soap makes a very
acceptable present for them. ‘The parcel should be
sent by parcel post not later than the latter part
of October, if possible.

“The influence of the gift may go far beyond
the child who receives it. May I illustrate? Last
year little five-year-old Phebe — whose life has been
so full of sadness with but few glimpses of joy —
received a talking doll. The word ‘mama’ means
in our Teluga language ‘my mother.’ Her joy in
receiving this doll was exceeded only in sharing it
with others. Not only did old and young alike
share it in our compound, but also whoever came,
be he Christian, Mohammedan, or Hindu, and
regardless of whether he came to bring milk, sell

things of Christ and His kingdom.

vegetables, or to be treated at the dispensary. The
astonishment was so great over this doll that the
news of the gift spread until hundreds came from
various villages to see and hear this wonder. This
gave us an opportunity to tell of the more wonderful
One of the
Bible women, whose district is particularly difficult,
said, ‘If you could give me one of these dolls,
I should be able to enter every home in my village
with the Gospel-message.’ ”

This general letter was accompanied by a short
letter about one of the girls supported by the
writer’s old friend. This letter read thus and was
written in longhand by the principal of a school
where she had done supply work: —

“Asnath! Yes, it has well paid to spend money
on her, for she is a faithful follower of the lowly
Christ. She was my ‘right hand man,’ and when
I sent her away to school again this year, I hardly
knew how to get along without her.

“She completes her Normal training this year
and will be back to teach here next year. We shall
certainly appreciate her help. :

“T wish I had a ‘snap’ of her to send you. She
is queenly looking and a perfect lady.

“May our heavenly Father reward you for all
you have done and are doing in India to establish

His kingdom here. “Sincerely, «gp, F i

The writer could have much to say in connec-
tion with these two letters, for his heart is full, but
it is probably best to give them to the reader with-
out further comment. Only this: How blessed it
is to give! BF. J. L.

A Chinese Letter of Appreciation.

One of our American church-members donated
a splendid set of communion ware to the Chinese
Christians in Shihnan, Hupeh. The donor wishes
to remain unknown. Although the recipients of
the gift do not know who the donor is, the kind act
of the American fellow-Christian does not therefore
remain unappreciated.

The following is a translation of the letter
written to express the thanks of the members of
the mission in Shihnan : —

“Respectfully informing you (Dear Sir/Madam) :

“On the 28th of last month we received the
four gold-plated silver sacramental vessels; namely,
a wine flagon, a goblet, a plate, and a baptismal
bowl, which you [your Honor] sent [presented