ould sing together before the long
parting. We knelt down, and she prayed--the last mother's prayer I was
to hear before starting for China. Then notice was given that we must
separate, and we had to say good-bye, never expecting to meet on earth
again.

For my sake she restrained her feelings as much as possible. We parted;
and she went on shore, giving me her blessing; I stood alone on deck,
and she followed the ship as we moved towards the dock gates. As we
passed through the gates, and the separation really commenced, I shall
never forget the cry of anguish wrung from that mother's heart. It went
through me like a knife. I never knew so fully, until then, what GOD
_so_ loved the world meant. And I am quite sure that my precious mother
learned more of the love of GOD to the perishing in that hour than in
all her life before.

Oh, how it must grieve the heart of GOD when He sees His children
indifferent to the needs of that wide world for which His beloved, His
only begotten SON died!

Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear;
Forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;
So shall the KING desire thy beauty:
For He is thy LORD; and worship thou Him.

Praise GOD, the number is increasing who are finding out the exceeding
joys, the wondrous revelations of His mercies, vouchsafed to those who
follow Him, and emptying themselves, leave all in obedience to His great
commission.

It was on 19th September 1853 that the _Dumfries_ sailed for China; and
not until 1st March, in the spring of the following year, did I arrive
in Shanghai.

Our voyage had a rough beginning, but many had promised to remember us
in constant prayer. No small comfort was this; for we had scarcely left
the Mersey when a violent equinoctial gale caught us, and for twelve
days we were beating backwards and forwards in the Irish Channel, unable
to get out to sea. The gale steadily increased, and after almost a week
we lay to for a time; but drifting on a lee coast, we were compelled
again to make sail, and endeavoured to beat on to windward. The utmost
efforts of the captain and crew, however, were unavailing; and Sunday
night, 25th September, found us drifting into Carnarvon Bay, each tack
becoming shorter, until at last we were within a stone's-throw of the
rocks. About this time, as the ship, which had refused to stay, was put
round in the other direction, the Christian captain sai