WHAT HINDU WOMEN THINK. A little incident occurred in school one day, which will show the curious and low idea, the Hindus have of sin, and of God's holiness. The school is in a bazar, a public place, and consequently has many visitors. One woman, who sells parched rice and pulse, often comes in, and listens with evident zest to the girls reciting. One day they were repeating the second commandment, and as I was asking some questions to see whether they understood it, she interrupted with, "Yes it is right to worship idols- to bow down to them, and serve them, etc." Then she suddenly asked, "Mem Sahib, why don't you wear some ornaments?" Oh," I said, "that is a matter of taste with us; we do not think it is essential as you do." "But," she said, "you ought, at least, for your salvation, to wear a gold necklace, or one bracelet, for God will ask you after death how you dressed in this life, and what ornaments you wore."

Before I could answer, one of the teachers, not herself a Christian, who had been quietly listening until now, interrupted with, "Oh, no, he will not ask that; he will ask how we acted in this life, and if we kept his commandments."-Ex.

A JAPANESE MOTHER. — Across the bay from Yeddo resides an aged widow of high rank, whose sympathies during the war of 1868, were on the losing side. Three hundred soldiers of the defeated army found shelter in her ample establishment.

For this alleged treason, the victorious forces dragged forth her eldest son from her home, and prepared to execute him in front of her dwelling. The mother, with the fortitude of a Roman matron, or of a Christian heroine, threw herself before the commander, entreating him to accept the sacrifice of her life in place of her son's.

Deeply moved by such a proposal the victorious officer pardoned the son for the mother's sake, and set him at liberty; yet, some months after, while Mr. Thompson was on a visit to this family, this noble mother was sent out of the room by the ingrate whose life she had saved, from the idea that it was disrespectful to his guest, and in every way out of place to allow his mother's presence to mar the courtesies of the occasion. For a country containing such women, and yet holding them in such dishonor, what ought be done?-English Leaflet.

IN a part of India called the Shudder, there exists a singular superstition. If two sisters, married or unmarried, are separated from each other for twelve years they must never meet again, no matter how long they may live. The reason given for this custom is like this: One of their saints had two daughters, who, through their marriage, were separated for twelve years; and

after this long time they happened to meet, and a few days afterwards their father died, so now it is believed that some member of the family is sure to die if sisters are allowed to come together in this way. A case is mentioned where two sisters who had been separated the fatal twelve years, happened to be living near together, but they never speak to each other. If one visits the other's house for any reason, the other either leaves the house, or shuts herself in her room until the sister has left. So absurd are heathen superstitions.

Do you remember what I wrote you last year about my sewingwoman, Chemna-the story of her life and leading? (See LIFE AND LIGHT for March, 1885.)

Just before I left for America, she came to help me for a few days. Her husband, finding she was earning something, came to her repeatedly for money. She gave, and gave, till finally she dare not give another cash, for she had food and clothing to buy for herself and children.

The husband was so very angry he said that she must leave. They had no home. (She had been working in Peking all winter,

and he had been at a temple).

What should she do? Should she go out on the street and walk up and down with him? Would not the angry man beat her, and perhaps kill her? We were powerless to aid her, for no one can stand between a wife and husband in China. She, a woman, had no power of redress. According to every law of the land, she must submit.

We prayed, and she prayed, while her husband stood outside the gate, reviling both her and us. Finally, she decided to secretly steal away, and go into the country five or six miles, on her little bound feet, to her Father's home. "Perhaps he will curse me," she said, "for bringing him trouble." Just before she left, with the tears rolling down her cheeks, and trembling in every limb, she went with me to pray, to commit herself to God, as she started out. There we kneeled together, she and I, on the cold brick floor of that Chinese room, and prayed. We were helpless, but God was all-powerful. Would he not “make the wrath of man to praise him, and the remainder of wrath would he not restrain?”

Was not this poor woman his child? Was she not bought with precious blood, and would he not care for her? Yes, we both knew he would. The answer came to me while on our knees, and I am sure it did to her, for she prayed so trustfully, and the sobs grew less frequent; and do you know she prayed more for me than, for herself! She prayed that God would care for me on the great waters, and journey with me across the broad lands; that he would

watch over me while at home, and bring me back to them all very

soon.

We rose, bade each other good-bye, and parted-she to go out on the streets, but no fear was on her face now. "God will care for me," said she; and God has taken care of her.

I started in a few days for America, but word has come that our prayers are answered; that her husband has suddenly quieted down, and has since shown no disposition to molest his wife, and that Sunday she comes to church, and seems more than usually thankful and happy.

MRS. S. B. GOODRICH.

Young People's Department.

A JAPANESE SUMMER RETREAT.

BY MRS. JOHN GULICK.

We make the following extract from a letter written by Mrs. Gulick while on Mount Haiei, last summer:HIS mountain is about seven miles from Kioto, to which place we go by rail. Taking the train that leaves Osaka about seven in the morning, we reach Kioto about half past eight; then taking jinrikisha we reach the village at the foot of the mountain in a little more than two hours. Those who are able, walk the rest of the way, and the others ride in kagos, arriving at the encampment in an hour or two, according to speed.

If you have never tried camping out you do not know the miseries of the first few days. I can only describe it as a heap of bedding, eatables, books, boxes, clothing, dirt, children, ants, insects of all sorts, and a group of persons trying to be goodnatured, and make the best of things, cheering each other by saying, "How nice it will be when we get settled!" We did get settled after some days, and we like it very much.

We have a beautiful view; we can see a good portion of Kioto and the intervening valleys, with the low hills and villages and the higher mountains beyond. We face the setting sun, and we often get a fine blending of earth and sky scenery. We have some rainy days, of course, but we sometimes think they are as beautiful as the sunny ones. There are sixty-three of us, counting the babies. Of course such a community, living so closely together

for two months, must have some sort of an organization; so we have a chairman, a water-works committee, and a committee for making roads. The roads are simply paths leading from one part of the encampment to the other; and the water-works are a system of bamboo pipes, conducting the water from a spring a little above us to all parts of the encampment. We have three tents on a long, narrow floor, and find them very comfortable; a chapel tent furnishes accommodations for all our meetings, religous and social. Our Sundays here are more like Sunday than anything I have seen since I came to Japan, they are so quiet.

This is a sacred mountain. It is said that in former times there were three thousand temples here, and I suppose that all these level spots which we now occupy, were the sites of temples or shrines. They seem to be artificial terraces, and were evidently chosen with reference to giving the idols and their devotees fine views of the surrounding country. As they are on the steep side of the mountain, no tent pitched on one of them obstructs the view of the others, and the tents are not far apart. There are beautiful, wild, shaded walks all about, and everywhere are old ruined temples, some of them tumbling, and some of them tumbled down. There are also some in quite good repair. Some have roofs all covered over with sheets of copper. From ancient times until three hundred years ago there was a tribe of priests inhabiting the mountain, and then these temples were well kept, and the priests lived well on the offerings of a multitude of worshipers. But these priests were a turbulent set, and were always concocting schemes against the government. They were supposed to be celibates, but they had become so corrupt that it is said there were a thousand women living in the mountain. About three hundred years ago, the Shogan made this an excuse for cleaning out the priestly tribe. He sent an army up here, and they burned temples, and killed the women, and many of the priests. After that, till fifteen years ago, no woman was allowed on the mountain.

In our daily walks we come upon the ruined temples and shrines and houses, at every turn. The once well-kept grounds are over-grown with grass, weeds, and bushes, reaching nearly to the eaves. Those that are still kept in repair are not visited much except on festival days, when multitudes of pilgrims come to worship and leave their offerings. They are all very quiet and lonely. The most interesting one that I have visited is called Benton, because it is dedicated to a god of that name; Benton is the snake god. At the temple many of the offerings are pictures roughly painted on wood, in which the snake is the prominent