Sunday-school lesson, explaining it to
them and teaching them the Golden Text, and their mother is obliged to
hear, whether she wants to or not."

"That's just the way Mrs. Thurston says it is in those zenanas," said
Marty. "Many of the women at first don't care to listen to good reading
and teaching, and want to talk about all sorts of other things, so the
missionaries have to work it in the best way they can, and after a
while the women get interested and want to hear. It seems as if they
couldn't get enough Bible-reading and talk. Maybe that'll be the way
with Mrs. Torrence."

"We will hope so," replied Cousin Alice.

CHAPTER XXI.

ROSA STEVENSON'S SISTER.

As Christmas drew near Marty found herself very busy, for besides some
little presents she was making for her "own folks," she and her mother
set to work to mend some of her old toys, to dress some new cheap dolls,
and to make a few picture-books of bright pretty cards pasted on silesia
and yellow muslin, for the little Torrences and other poor children they
knew of.

Edith, also, was engaged in the same way, and the little girls often
worked together.

Though they had received some money on their birthdays, they concluded
to wait until Christmas to give Jennie her Bible, as everybody appeared
to think it would be a very suitable Christmas gift for her. They got
Mrs. Ashford to go with them to buy it, and with her aid succeeded in
getting a very nice one, good size, clear print, and pretty cover, for
the money they had set aside for the purpose.

Their mothers gave them permission to run down the afternoon before
Christmas to carry the Bible to Jennie, as there would not possibly be
time to go Christmas day when there was so much going on. They were to
call and ask Cousin Alice to go with them; but when they stopped at her
house they found she had already gone over to Landis Court, but had left
word for them if they came to follow her.

When they arrived at Mrs. Scott's room they found Miss Alice very busy
indeed, hanging up some wreaths of green and otherwise decorating the
room. She was hurrying to get it all in order before Mrs. Scott returned
from her work, as it was to be a surprise to her. Jennie, sitting in the
rocking-chair with the doll in her arms, was watching the operation with
the greatest interest, every now and then exclaiming, "Oh, that's
splendid! What'll mother say to that!"

When Marty and Edith appeared something else seem