Java, went to that country,
and resided in the city of Ningpo. Of the girls who had become
Christians while under her care, two were much persecuted by their
parents. They were whipped and beaten, with the hope that they would
again return to their idols; but all the efforts which were made to
induce them to forsake the Saviour were in vain. They declared that they
would sooner die than forsake him. When their parents saw that stripes
and blows were of no avail, they determined to marry them to men who
were much devoted to their idols. This stratagem, they thought, might
succeed in destroying all their interest in their new religion. Here,
however, they were again foiled. The girls became alarmed, and fled from
their parents. An English gentleman, but who was not a professor of
religion, felt deeply interested for them, and assisted them to get on
board a ship going to Batavia. Here they were pursued but escaped from
the pursuers by going on board of a ship which sailed for Singapore.
From Singapore they sailed for China, where they were permitted to join
the old friend who had been the means of their conversion. This lady
collected a school at Ningpo of more than thirty girls. Thus you see how
much good female missionaries have done by going to heathen lands. And
are none of you willing to follow their example? Are none of you willing
to say, Here am I, Lord, send me?

CHAPTER XXIII.

SUCCESS OF THE GOSPEL IN INDIA AND CEYLON.

My dear Children--I have told you that India is a very dark land, but
there are a few bright spots in it. Through the blessing of God upon the
prayers of his people in Christian lands, and upon the prayers and
labors of his missionary servants, many of the heathen of India and
Ceylon have forsaken their idols, and are now enlisted under the banner
of Jehovah Jesus. In the Travancore and Tinnivelly districts to say
nothing of the success of the Gospel in other places, thousands and tens
of thousands of the people have embraced Christianity. In hundreds of
villages where but a few years ago the name of Jesus had never been
heard, it is now known and adored.

You have often heard of Ceylon. If you will look at the map of
Hindostan, you will find it close to that country. Here Christianity has
begun to prevail. This island is two hundred miles long, and in some
places quite wide. A large part of it is covered with what is called
jungle. Jungle and wilderness mean the same thing. In this