Visetation Work. 107

“While this colloquy was going on there came in one of
our lady workers for consultation, and before concluding the
doctor came on business. He departed as an Indian entered
to explain that he gave his wife a black eye in play by
accident. She agreed, and I found it was true. Only once,
and then in the delirium of fever, have I known an Indian
strike a woman, and then, though blameless, his fellows
degraded him from his chief-constableship.

“A widow has just one word to say. ‘ Chief, Thunder
wants to marry me. What do you think?’ ‘Well,’ said
I, ‘do you love him?’ ‘I hardly know.’ ‘Does he love
you?’ ‘I hardly know.’ ‘Then don’t.’ ‘Chief, I won't.’

“When I resolved to write to you, the two main ideas
were to exhibit the spiritual energy of our new converts and
also the spiritual activity of our younger Indians of the
second generation, baptized in infancy and trained as
Christians. The latter we have no right to expect to be
more zealous than the corresponding class at home. But
we shall see.

“As I write I am constantly interrupted by Indians.
Since I wrote the last paragraph an Indian entered. Ex-
communicate for a long time, she is now penitent. I could
read her deepest thoughts almost at a glance. She
poured out her soul in burning words. ‘TI last night knelt
before God confessing my sin after five months’ misery in
the dust. God knows all, and you know part of my shame.’
‘Yes,’ said I, ‘do not tell me more. I know enough. I
know also the cleansing power of Jesus’ blood on all sin.’
She began again by saying that the whole day would be too
short to tell of all her sin. There she broke down. I said
the comfortable words in the Communion Service, and by
God’s own Word ministered absolution to this broken heart.
Recovering her composure she said, ‘There are crumbs for
dogs;-one has dropped from your lips, and I find it sweet
to my heart—swect, sweet.’ She quite broke down again,
but found relief in tears. I knelt beside her and prayed,
then rose, took her hand, and said softly, ‘The Lord hath