little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow!

Mana did a wonderful work at Itu: she taught the women and girls to read
and sew, held prayers in the chief's yard every night, and preached on
Sunday; and just because she loved Jesus, and tried to be like Ma, she
soon had hundreds falling under the spell of the new way of life. This
humble slave-girl did not fall away like others. She and Esien remained
always true disciples of their Lord.

"If only some one would come and help me at Akpap," Ma prayed, and her
wish was answered, for another brave woman, Miss Wright, one of the
Mission agents in Calabar, offered to go up and stay with her, and after
that everything was easy, for Ma Slessor loved Ma Wright, and Ma Wright
loved Ma Slessor, and both loved the bairns, and the bairns loved both,
so that it was a happy company which lived in this African forest
clearing.

By this time Ma's own special family was complete, and no more members
were added, so we can look in upon them and see who they were and what
they did.

First, of course, came Janie, who was now a big lassie, very kind, and
full of sympathy for everybody. She spoke English fluently, and, like
Ma, was a constant reader of the Bible; few white boys or girls, indeed,
know it so thoroughly as she did. She was Ma's right hand, and could do
almost anything, indoor or outdoor, clean, cook, carry a load, build a
house, or work in the fields. But she liked working outside best, and,
although a twin, had many friends amongst the people.

Mary was another good girl, though not so fond of hard work as Janie.
She waited upon Ma, and did all her little ploys. Alice was a quiet,
solid, plodding little soul, not as bright as Janie or Mary, but
faithful in whatever duty she was given to do, and always willing and
obedient. Annie had no head at all for her lessons, but was very
diligent, and always smiling. Maggie the restless--Ma's name for her was
Flibberty-gibbet--was the one who was fond of the babies, always busying
herself about them, except when she was in the kitchen cooking a tit-bit
for her own little mouth. The baby of the family was Whitie, a twin with
dancing eyes, and giving promise of being clever by and by.

Then there were the two boys, Dan, a lively little fellow, not clever,
but good, who had been brought up by Janie and was a favourite with Ma,
and, as is often the case with a boy amongst a lot of sisters, was a
little spoiled; and toddling Asoqu[:o]