Yarns the Missionaries Tell 65

finally reaching, at 8 p.m., the home of a lonely
telegraph linesman where a simple service was held
with the husband, wife and two children as the
congregation.

‘Padre, I just about love you.’’ Keeping in con-

stant touch with the people is an important factor
in the work. One man remarked, “Although we
cannot get to church, it is a great satisfaction to us to
know that you are around.’”’ Another said, “I am
not a religious man and I have never been inside a
church, yet I like your religion.” One big rough-
looking fellow, whose roughness, like sandpaper, is
all on one side, in trying to express his appreciation
of the work, remarked in the presence of his mates,
“Look here, Padre, I want to tell you that I just
about love you.”

In spite of adverse circumstances, regular services
have been conducted at three centres throughout the
winter. At these gatherings Canadians, Europeans,
Orientals and Indians have met together in public
worship.

‘‘The Lonely Fisherman.’’ The saimon trolling
fishermen present a problem in mission work. They
fish on Sunday as well as on the other days of the
week, with the result that one day becomes the same
as another, and soon the Sunday is entirely for-
gotten. The life of these fishermen is hard and un-
enviable. On most of the boats there is only one
man. Each day they set sail long before sunrise,
so that they may reach the fishing grounds at the