BAPTISM AT CUTTACK.

ON Sunday week, the first Lord's-day in the month of May, we had a very cheering and welcome addition to our number in the baptism of no less than eleven young disciples, and their subsequent reception into the church. Partly, no doubt, owing to the comparatively large number of the candidates, the event had been eagerly anticipated, and excited a more than usual amount of interest in the native Christian community, and hence, when the all-important day arrived, although it had been arranged that the ordinance be administered at the close of the early morning service, little knots of people were passing by on their way to the chapel long before the proper time for going; and just as we were about to leave, Mrs. Buckley also came in from the school, saying that she had been present at a scene the like of which she had never witnessed. In the certainty of its being impossible for them to find accommodation at the chapel, more than two hundred of the lesser girls had been directed to remain at home, and so sore was the disappointment that many of them were weeping bitterly, some were complaining that their clothes had been locked up to prevent their making a clandestine escape, and others were plaintively but eloquently pleading the special qualifications they possessed which should have exempted them from the sweep of the cruel order. Dear girls! we wept a tear of sympathy too; for those who were about to make this solemn and public profession were their sisters and school companions, and in their own wondering way they had been talking for days and weeks of the approaching great event.

When we arrived at the chapel the se vice had already commenced, and every part of the building was full to overflowing. The scene was one to thrill

the heart with devoutest joy and gratitude. Our worthy brother Ghanoo was the preacher; and though bearing evident traces of the sad loss he has recently sustained in the entire destruction of his house by fire, he spoke faithfully and affectionately both to the candidates and the large congregation of people present. At the close of his address brother Miller briefly explained the nature of the ordinance about to be celebrated, defended the manner of its observance, urged its importance on all present, and then prepared to administer it to the candidates. The first of these was a European young lady who has been a very consistent and zealous member of the English congregation for some time, and who, we doubt not, has experienced the blessed transition from death to life, and from the kingdom of darkness to that of God's dear Son. The following nine were from Mrs. Buckley's Girls' Asylum. They all have been for several years in the school. They have also been engaged for some time as monitors over large classes of their less favoured sisters. Some of them have considerable knowledge of the Word of God, and are far enough advanced in other attainments to render them well qualified to fill the positions they occupy. It will be gratifying to all who take an interest in the elevation of Orissa's daughters to learn that previous to their being received into the church, and in addition to the testimony they gave to the committee appointed to see them, each one of these native girls furnished a written account of her experience, and with scarcely an exception the whole of these accounts were not only correct and touching in sentiment, but were beautiful specimens of Oriya penmanship, and thus furnished unintentional and very striking testimony to the value and efficiency of the training their writers have received. Their conversion and union with the church is to

all of us a source of devoutest gratitude to God. The last in the goodly array was a youth from the Boys' Asylum under brother Miller; and we are not without hope that he has ability and the desire to be useful in the work of the church.

A moderate number of the European friends of the mission were present to share in our joy, and very timely and acceptable help was rendered to the candidates by Mrs. Buckley and Mrs. Bond. In the afternoon the whole of the eleven were received into the fellowship of the church by brother Buckley, and we spent together a most solemn and refreshing time in the "communion of saints" and at "the table of the Lord." It was a day which cannot soon be forgotten. T. BAILEY.

THE ORPHANAGES AT PIPLEE.

BY MRS. J. O. GOADBY.

As there seems so little we can really call a school report this year, although all our time and thoughts have been engrossed with the dear children, I have thought some general idea of our work in connection with them might interest you. As we sit quietly conversing now, and looking back at the scenes of the last two years, our hearts are filled with thankfulness for the sustaining strength received, and wonder at the mysterious workings of the great Ruler of all things. Truly His ways are past finding out; and we can only quietly rest in the assurance that "it is the Lord," and trust Him without being afraid.

We were scarcely prepared, on our arrival a year ago, to find how sadly the famine, with all its attendant horrors, still raged here. The harvest on the Ganjam side had been so abundant, sorrow and want seemed almost done away. Here we found from five hundred to one thousand poor creatures fed twice daily close to our own house: and the fields on every side, strewed with the bleaching bones, spoke volumes of unuttered misery in the past; whilst the empty and ruinous houses of the once prosperous and wealthy, told their own sad tale. We many times heard of families shutting themselves up and dying together sooner than seek relief. Others died from exhaustion as they pursued their different avocations. Dead mothers were to be seen sitting by the roadside and in

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the jungles pressing their dead babies to their skeleton bosoms; and men whose lives had passed whilst stooping to pick up the herbs and roots with which they hoped to satisfy their craving appetites. Although government was doing its utmost at this time to stem the heavy tide of misery, the mortality was so awful in some places immense trenches were dug and the dead by hundreds thrown in together. It is with an almost inexpressible feeling of gratitude that we can still look round on our dear native christians and mission friends, and feel how lovingly all have been shadowed beneath His wings until these calamities have been over-past.

The

We had not been here many days before cart load after cart load of wretched, diseased, covered with vermin, emaciated children, were sent in from the different relief centres of the district. It was a sight enough to melt the most unimpressible heart. Numbers covered with sores, and suffering from every variety of loathsome disease, and the stench from their poor bodies was often such that it was almost impossible to go near them without feeling quite sick. A good bath, heads shaved, or hair cut close, often so completely metamorphosed the poor little creatures they could scarcely be recognised as the same children. Those in whom active disease had been developed were at once separated from the others, and received the special attention their cases required. For a time, in great numbers of cases, our care and efforts seemed richly rewarded. look of suffering passed from their faces, their limbs became plump and round, and we greatly rejoiced to think how groundless our fears had been on their account. But alas! our rejoicing was only for a little time. Diseases, which we fondly hoped had been eradicated, again burst forth, and they seemed to sink all the more rapidly for the little resistance their systems had made. Very often children who had been turned out of doors by their parents and friends because they were dying, and others who felt their strength sinking beyond the power of seeking for their daily food, wandered here, and entreated to be taken in. We could not, and would not, close our hearts against them, though we saw at a glance their days were numbered, and our labours, whilst they were spared, would be greatly increased. We did our utmost to restore all to health, or

smooth their passage to the grave, by surrounding them with comforts, and tending them with love and care but few had known in their own homes in happier times. The mortality, however, in spite of all our efforts, was terrible for some time, and the anxiety and duties on their account seemed a burden almost too heavy to be borne.

For months we scarcely talked or dreamed of any thing else, and the least appearance of indisposition caused our hearts to sink within us. Often before the usual morning greeting, the question was asked of the earliest riser, "What is the report of the night?" Sometimes a child who had seemed in tolerable health when it lay down to rest had passed away in its sleep; others had been taken ill; whilst some nights one, two, or three of those suffering from incurable diseases had passed "the bourne from which no traveller returns." The wild natures of some of the children, their intolerably filthy habits, and the difficulty of getting them into anything like order, called forth many a sigh for patience; but every thing else seemed of slight account if only their lives might be spared to us. Our hearts could only find utterance for their grief in an agonized prayer that the hand of death might be stayed from amongst them. Though happily vacant now, and given up to cheerier purposes, we cannot stand a few minutes in any of the rooms set apart at different times for our sick, but memory conjures up scores of suffering little figures, and their voices seem to fill the room, asking for such things as their fancy dictated at the time; and our steps seem arrested by the plaintive request of some dear child who felt its life slowly ebbing away, that we would come and sit a little beside it. The years of the great majority were so tender, we know that "of such is the kingdom of heaven," and love to think of them now as forming part of the white-robed throng. Some of the elder girls died expressing the belief that their sins were forgiven, and that they were going to be with Jesus. Generally they appeared to suffer but little nature gradually sinking; but with others even to behold them was terrible, and though months have passed since their release, the thought of them even now makes the blood run cold. Diseases never read or conceived of attacked some of them, and the case of several little children may be found described in

Acts xii. 23. For them our one prayer was, that the Good Shepherd would speedily take them to Himself. One dear girl who died of gangrene in the face lived until nearly the whole of her face, except one eye, had been eaten away by the terrible disease. As well as she could with her imperfect utterance she many times said she was trusting to Jesus; and her last words, though imperfectly understood, were a prayer. Immediately afterwards she ceased to breathe, and we fondly believe that, absent from the body, she was 66 present with the Lord." We were often much touched to witness the feeling of perfect rest which seemed to come over so many of the dear children on their first arrival. No more weary wandering, no more pinching hunger, nor nakedness-but rest and home. They would lie down, and except to eat, no persuasion would induce them to rise. Generally diseases which their wandering, anxious life had kept in abeyance, now showed themselves, and they speedily succumbed; whilst those in whom this resting feeling was only exhaustion, after some weeks of quiet, gradually recovered their strength and active habits. One thing must ever continue to be a source of wonder to us -the entire indifference shown to death. We have never heard an expression of fear, nor a wish to recover; whilst in a number of cases they have determined to die. When the treatment pursued has to all human appearance subdued the disease, and health and strength has seemed returning, they have succeeded in getting a native plant which has the most deleterious effects, and deliberately eaten it. The consequences have always been fatal. These are by far the most distressing and disheartening cases to attend to, it being utterly impossible to rouse them to a consciousness of their wrong doing to either God or man.

It has been a year full of painful experiences of human nature. Mothers forsaking and selling their infants. Parents turning dying children out of doors. Others forsaking them on the highways, and children their parents. Some of our most interesting little ones are those who have thus been forsaken. Little skeleton things of two or three years, whom we scarcely hoped would live many hours, are now bright, plump, merry little romps, that are a pleasure to look at.

Since the decision to receive back into

caste all who were excluded by eating in relief centres, we have had a number of children claimed. Some have steadily refused to go, although every inducement was held out to them by their friends. Others have gone away in tears, for some time halting between two opinions, until the persuasions of relatives prevailed. Others have been allured away, or decamped. Amongst the latter were several girls, of whom we hoped better things-girls who had had months of loving care and nursing, and when health and strength returned, decamped, carrying off all the clothes they could lay hands on. As several of those who returned to their friends had learned to read and write a little, and could sing and repeat several hymns, we pray and believe that in their case the good seed may yet spring up, and bear fruit a hundred fold; while those who dishonourably left cannot forget what they have seen and heard; it must remain in their hearts, and contrast with the evils around them, and, like bread cast upon the waters, may yet be seen after many days.

Compared with the past, there are but very few cases of serious illness. Several are suffering from consumption and other incurable diseases, and we have a number of very delicate ones, but the future looks very cheering and hopeful. Many have learned to read, write, and work. Sixty of the girls have also learned to spin and prepare the thread for the boys to weave, whilst the little girls prepare the cotton for the elder ones to spin. A good number of others are engaged as monitors, and are responsible for the clothes and general conduct of their classes. Others aid in nursing the sick; and as far as possible all are kept busily employed. The boys are of course engaged in their different avocations; even the very little boys can pick the stones from the garden if they can do nothing more. All attend school, and if the nature of any of their duties is such as to interfere with this, they work three days or a week, and then to school for the same time; but the greater number work morning and evening, and attend school during the day. The last few remarks apply solely to the boys, as, except the sick and those whose turn it is to cook for the rest, the girls all regularly attend school. One girl has been honourably married, and several others are looking forwards to following her

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example very shortly. We are, however, very anxious to make it a rule that no girl be married or be considered qualified for marriage until she can read, write, and keep her own little accounts. As it is contrary to heathen customs to teach girls to read, and opposed to the caste of many, it is very gratifying when they seem determined to overcome every obstacle. At first the elder girls showed some reluctance, but now without exception all seem anxious to be taught, and are doing their utmost to conquer all difficulties.

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One remarkable and, we think, encouraging fact may be mentioned before concluding. Of all the children who are or have been under our charge, we have never once seen the slightest observance of any heathen custom, or heard any respectful allusion to their gods. We were greatly amused two evenings since on walking towards the large school garden. Twenty or thirty boys were laughing and all talking together at the new gardener. On inquiring what all the noise was about, they said, The gardener has just planted the first trees and performed some heathen observance, and says these trees are now Juggernath's. We have been telling him, had he planted them in the name of the living God, instead of a block of wood or stone, a blessing would surely have followed; and that he had no business to do any thing heathenish here, for we are the Lord's children." The tears started so that I could scarcely speak to them then. I said, "I hope you are and will be the Lord's children, my dear boys; and whilst you are at work you must show how they ought to act." When they work-they do work-and when they play, they do so with all their might. Each boy took up his basket at once, and rushed off to a dry tank, about two hundred yards distant, from whence they were carrying earth for their new garden. I could mention a number of more interesting little things in connection with them, but time and space forbid. I prefer managing boys to girls, and think them more tractable and docile. It may be because I have so many of my own! Boys and girls together, including the few christian children, we have now in the asylums about 377; and a bright, happy, loveable lot of children they are, varying in age from two to fifteen years. Many have acquired a considerable amount of religious knowledge, and a

number of our elder famine girls meet every evening with one or other of their christian monitors to read and pray. Oh, that the result may be their sound conversion to God! Whilst the responsibility of having the temporal and spiritual charge of so many young im mortals committed to us is one that oft depresses with its weight, and causes us to exclaim, "Who is sufficient for these things?" it is also a charge that greatly delights our hearts, and causes us to thank God that He has given us so much work to do for Him. Many heartily appreciate the care and love bestowed on them; and the ready answering smile and kindling eye of faces once almost repulsive, is in itself a reward for all the labour bestowed; and for our crown of rejoicing we look to that day when He shall number His jewels, and when our hearts' desires and prayers shall be answered, and we, with many of our loved charge, shall cast our crowns at Jesus' feet. May faith, and hope, and patience, and heavenly strength, and perseverance be given, to do with all our might the work given us to do!

In addition to the famine orphans supported by Government, we have received a number of others since all relief opera

tions closed. These are as much orphans as any of the others, but, instead of being sent by relief officers, have been picked up mostly by friends, and brought here, or have come themselves and entreated to be taken. For these dear children we are very desirous of securing patrons to adopt them. With one exception they are all girls-twenty-five in number, varying from three to fifteen years of age. Some of them are very good looking, and all of them tractable, affectionate, nice girls. We are most anxious for them not to be a burden to the Society, and are doing our best to get help. Still we dare not do other than receive these homeless, friendless ones. There is scarcely one who does not appear to have been in comfortable circumstances till the long scarcity carried off every friend. These children were sent in only two nights since by a police officer in the district. We could not refuse them, although to support what we have presses very heavily. I shall thankfully give any information if you should know any one who would like to adopt one or more, and fully believe friends and funds will be forthcoming from one quarter or other.