nie
would have been buried in the grave had not Ma taken her. Six other boys
and girls with sad stories also lived in the Mission House, so that Ma
often felt she was like the old woman who lived in a shoe, and who had
so many children she didn't know what to do.

It was not easy for her to keep in stock the food and medicine and
clothes that were needed for the family, and sometimes she would run out
of things. Once, when she was short of tins of milk, she strapped a baby
on her back and tramped down the forest trail to Creek Town, got what
she wanted, and patiently tramped back again.

Another time she was watching some women who were imprisoned within a
stockade and were going to be killed, and as she could not leave the
place Janie handed her cups of tea through the fence. Suddenly a tornado
came on and flooded the Mission House and soaked all the clothes. Ma
herself was wet to the skin. To add to her trouble Janie came and said,
"Ma, we have no milk, and the baby is crying for some."

"Well, Janie, I'll just have to trot to Creek Town for it. I'll get
some dry clothes too. Put the baby in a basket."

Slipping out in the darkness, and taking a woman to help to carry the
baby, she set forth. They lost their way in the rain, and wandered
hither and thither, and only reached the town at the dawning of the day.
Ma roused one of the ladies of the Mission, obtained the milk and a
change of clothes, and lay down for a little sleep. Hearing that she had
come, King Eyo got his canoe ready, and sent her back by the river. Her
absence from the stockade had not been noticed, and she was able later
to settle the trouble without bloodshed.

There were plenty of merry days in the home-life of Ekenge. Wherever
girls are gathered together there is sure to be fun and laughter, and Ma
had always the heart and will of a girl for jokes and mischief. She
could not take her bairns into lighted streets or gay shops, or to
places of amusement, for there was none of these things in the bush, but
sometimes she gave them a holiday, and a special tea, and gifts.
Perhaps, however, the most delightful treat they had was when a box
arrived from across the sea.

All over Scotland loving hearts were thinking of Ma, and loving hands
were working for her; and clothing, books, pictures, and knick-knacks
were being collected and packed in boxes and sent out addressed to her
in Okoyong. The Sunday School children also had their thoughts on the
Mis