these children taught to despise Christ. We used to pray about it; and many a time I have said in my heart, “If the Lord will indeed hear my prayer, and break up this school, and give as large a Christian school in Santillipay, then I promise him that I will have no doubt that he hears and answers prayer.”

For two years no answer came. There were some little breaks in the cloud, however: a small girls' school had been established, at our own expense, and was prospering well; our Sabbath-school and other Christian meetings were better attended; we were making friends in the village, and several girls had been induced to go to our Christian boarding-schools; but still the heathen school continued as strong as ever.

At last a change came. It was “not by might, nor by power,” but by the Spirit. The council of the enemy were confounded. Many a time, while we had bought land and built a preaching bungalow and girls' school, they had boasted that not one in Santillipay would become a Christian. But they themselves became their own worst enemies. The teachers quarreled about the pay, and the school was divided into two parts. They went to court; the head teacher perjured himself, and the school was stricken off the Government lists. The old proverb says, “Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad’’; and, like the Israelites of old, we had only to stand still and see the deliverance wrought out for us. What a lesson of trust we learned in the Hearer of prayer, who, in his own time, will send an answer. The Government inspector then said the field was open to us; and you may be sure we were not slow to occupy it.

There were teachers to pay, a new school-bungalow to be built, books, maps, and furniture to be bought. We did not know where the money was coming from; but we could not doubt that God would complete his own work, so we went on. For nine months we have had one hundred and twenty children in our school. They have all been taught regular Bible lessons and Christian songs; and they have been brought to church and Sabbath-school. On any Sabbath morning the sight of all their bright faces, as they learn for the first time of Christ, and sing his praises, would bring happy tears to your eyes.

In another letter Miss Leitch writes of this same village:–

You would have been pleased, I think, if you could have been present at our last Christmas at Santillipay. You remember that was the place where they showed such hostility to Christianity— not only to us when we first came, but to the former missionaries. Their feelings seem to have undergone quite a change.

At our Christmas festival the people turned out en masse. Without a hint from us, and even without our knowledge, they lined the whole of the inside of our Santillipay church-bungalow, which is quite a large one, with red and white cloth, and decorated it with red and white flowers, trimmed the tree, and made an arch to be over where we should sit, decorating this also in the same way. They hired a band of music for the day, and formed a procession to escort us, and carried a canopy trimmed with red and white flowers over our heads. The children strewed flowers before us on the way, sprinkled us and the procession with rosewater, fired guns, and rung bells. Although it was a glad procession, I think it was also a serious one; for was not all this to celebrate the birthday of the Son of God? Was there not in their hearts a dawning feeling of love to him 2 I feel sure there was. When the procession came to a close, the head man of the village, who had led it, knelt down, and with eyes and arms turning toward heaven, said, “Henceforth I shall worship only the Christian's God.” The school exercises of the day were prepared by themselves, and the principal pieces were intended as arguments to prove that Jesus is the Christ, the true Saviour. In one piece a boy opened the New Testament and read a considerable portion of the first chapter of the Sermon on the Mount, in order to show the truth and beauty of Christ's words, while the audience listened with rapt attention.

. . . I wonder if the people in America know what a sad hindrance to our work the drinking-habits of Christian nations are. The fact that drinking is common in Christian countries is well known in all heathen lands; for are not their hands filled with books in which reference is constantly made to the commonness of drunkenness? The Hindus are afraid of English customs, fearing their sons will learn them, and become drunkards. The Hindu religions forbid the use of intoxicating drinks. Mohammedans have told me that if they could have sold liquor they might have been rich men, but their religion forbids it, and they dare not touch it; they dare not touch even an empty bottle. But under English rule, and with English officers in every town of any importance, drinking-habits are fast gaining ground. The young Hindus aspiring to Government offices, seem to think that learning to drink is a necessary part of learning English. They naturally confuse our drinking-customs with Christianity. Is not this “crucifying the Son of God afresh, and putting him to open shame?” When will Christians wake up to see what they are doing? Must I not call out to them, in the name of the millions of heathen, to beware how they dishonor Christ? Was slavery a shame calling for our utmost energy that it should be blotted out, and put far from the face of our fair land 2 And does temperance call for less effort by every man, woman, and child 2

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AUSTRIA.

THE KRABSCHITZ SCHOOL.

We have received from Mrs. A. W. Clark, of Prague, Austria, the following, with regard to the Krabschitz School. Our readers who have been saddened by the news of the death of Pastor Schubert, the efficient head of the school, will be glad to learn that the work still continues under competent assistants, and deserves their continued interest.

OUR dear “Mount Holyoke" of Bohemia is already well known to most of the friends of the Woman's Board of Missions. This institution for girls, located at Krabschitz, is this year, as in past years, doing grand work for the Master. There are some sixty pupils, all of them enjoying a thoroughly Christian training; and it is most encouraging to us to whom this work is so dear, to know what a blessed influence many of the girls there educated are now exerting in their own families, or as teachers in various parts of Bohemia and Moravia. Presuming that any facts regarding the institution will not be unwelcome, I take the liberty of forwarding the following free translation of a letter I received a few days ago from one of the former teachers in Krabschitz, now the wife of an evangelist at one of the out-stations: — “It was my privilege to spend many happy years at Krabschitz. There, while ministering to the souls of others, my own was singularly refreshed and helped, so that the impression left on my mind of those by-gone years is a very blessed one — one for which I shall never cease to be grateful. Such work is by no means easy; many tears and prayers are often necessary; but oh, how glorious are the fruits! “Many of the young girls on entering the institution know but little of the Bible; to some it is an entirely unknown book. In the school, however, much time is devoted to reading and studying the Word of God, and many are the blessed results which have arisen from those hours of study and meditation. I think my happiest hours were those spent in prayer with my scholars. I still seem to hear the childlike petitions as they ascended to the throne of grace, so simple, and yet so fervent. Every week we had a regular prayer-meeting together, but I do not believe that a day ever passed without one or other of the dear girls coming to me for counsel, and requesting me to pray with them. In this manner we were drawn very closely to one another. The life in the institution is like that of a large family. The girls love each other like sisters, and their grief is great when the time for their leaving comes.

“We correspond with quite a number of our former pupils, and in this way often receive very encouraging news. The other day I heard from one who tells Ine how she loves to look back on the happy days spent in Krabschitz, where she first learnt to know her Saviour, and how she has succeeded in commencing a little Sunday-school with four small children. Several of our former scholars have organized Sunday-schools in the different villages in which they happen to be, besides frequently being the means of bringing different members of their own family to the Saviour. Such congregations as have been most largely represented in our school are now those where one finds the most of active Christian life. Those of our girls who appear to be more talented are educated as teachers, and obtain situations as such in schools or families. I may here remark that all the teachers employed in the Krabschitz school received most of their education there.”

I am sure that the dear sisters in America who in past years have taken so deep an interest in this institution, and who still aid us in maintaining quite a number of pupils, will be glad of this testimony from one who, until recently, was a successful teacher there. We trust you will ever manifest a prayerful interest in this our “Mount Holyoke,” the only school of its kind for Bohemia and Moravia.

The BRUNN Home.

Mrs. Clark also sends a translation of Mrs. Freytag's report of the “Brunn Home.” She writes:–

To all the dear Christian friends who have already done so much in the past toward supporting the Brünn Home of the American Board, the following report has been specially written, in the hope that, seeing the results, they may feel encouraged to extend their valued assistance to us in the future.

The Brünn Home has been in existence since September, 1879. Most of the girls come to us direct from Krabschitz, where they receive ample instruction in the Word of God. The work thus begun in these young hearts requires to be continued, as there is always a fear of their spiritual welfare suffering from their contact with the world, and we are becoming ever more aware of the necessity of such young girls breathing the atmosphere of a Chris

tian home while finishing their course of studies in this city, where they would otherwise be exposed to so many temptations. Allow me now to give you one or two sketches of a few of the girls who have been inmates of our Home. E. was the first. She studied at the institution of Krabschitz, and then came to Brünn, with the purpose of there completing her studies as teacher. Her expenses were paid partly by Christian societies in Germany, and partly by the Woman's Board. She had a sweet disposition, loved God’s Word, and led a consistent Christian life. She took an active part in the woman's prayer-meetings, and would often beg me to pray with her alone. She graduated in July, 1881, and obtained a situation as teacher in Moravia, where she continued to work with much blessing. She has there organized a Sunday-school, which she directs in spite of the greatest opposition. One of our most promising Sabbath-school scholars while we were in B–, in 1874, came to us in Brünn in 1879, intending to become a kindergartnerin. Living with us she was of course obliged to be present at our morning and evening devo

tions, as well as the services of Sunday. Soon, however, she

became very tired of this, and finally openly rebelled against it. On going to school every morning she always went into her own church, and there persisted in performing her devotions. We remonstrated lovingly with her, talking most faithfully to her, but with no effect. After some time we remarked that she seemed more sober, until at length one day she burst into tears, begging us to forgive her for her wickedness, and lamenting her corrupt nature. We bade her look to Jesus, the sinner’s friend, and prayed with her. From that day a marked change took place. She prayed regularly, loved God's Word, and her walk could truly be said to be that of a child of God. She now felt that she could no longer consistently remain in her own Church, which she immediately left, joining the Free Reformed Church. As this latter is not recognized by the state, it was impossible for her to obtain a certificate as kindergartnerin. She is now teacher in a Jewish family, where she proves herself to be an earnest Christian. I may also add, that she has been the means of converting a godless brother, who is now studying to be an evangelical pastor. R.. a teacher's daughter in Bohemia, was also supported by the Woman's Board. She was a humble Christian, loving God’s Word and prayer. After graduating, in July, 1880, she went to help for a short time as teacher in Krabschitz, and then found a situation as governess in a gentleman's family in Russia.