instruction I feel confident they will receive, I indulge strong hopes they will become ornaments and a rich blessing to society. Do all you can to effect this. They need encouragement and directions which you may afford perhaps better than any other person.

"My dear L. strive to be a comfort to your parents. Exquisitely tender are the emotions I experience in thinking of my dear parents, walking the declivity of life, their family dispersed, and two of them probably to see them no more. I rejoice that they have so many sources of consolation, I hope they do feel the peace which passeth all understanding in committing themselves and all that is dear to them into the hands of a faithful, covenant-keeping God. You think I am requiring much of you, but I must again request you to be a daughter to my parents, and a sister to my sisters, for my sake. I know the request will not be grievous to you, and to them I think it will be gratifying. I cannot tell you how much I long to hear from them.

"That you may be blessed as an instrument of much good, enjoy much of divine consolation, be comforted under every sorrow with the comfort the Holy Spirit gives, find support under every trial, at length walk through death's gloomy vale fearing no evil,

and reach the heavenly Canaan to dwell forever with saints and angels in the blissful presence of Jesus, is the sincere desire of your affectionate

MYRA W. ALllen."

"My dear L.-I have now had a little experience of the missionary life, and you may wish to know how it at present appears to me. I view it as no less in importance or responsibility, than before I left America. Comparatively, indeed, I have as yet little knowledge of it, but am persuaded, that any one who is not prepared to meet trials and discouragements with undeviating perseverance is not qualified for a missionary. A mere flash of ardor in the cause is not enough: a firm unwavering consistency, an unquenchable love of souls and desire for the glory of God, are indispensable in a good missionary. The human mind is so constituted, that from constantly viewing an object, it becomes familiar and requires some strong principle to render it specially interesting. We here see around us objects to excite our compassion and move our sympathy. After being surrounded with them. for a long time, the natural effect is to become cold and unaffected with the view. In these circumstances, the superior nature of genuine faith, or true religion discovers

itself. She is ever ready to seek the lost and perishing, and gladly would she lead them to the fountain of life. If they reject her kind offices, still she pities, and wishes to do them good. The heart may be ready to faint, but from God she may renew her strength as often and as plentifully as she wishes. She may meet with reproaches and opposition where she desired only to do good; but she must bear it meekly, in the exercise of that wisdom which cometh from above.

"I hope you and my dear christian sisters in W. do not forget me in your supplications at the throne of grace. Though less than the least of saints, and utterly unworthy, yet I am called to fill an important station. Oh, that I may not misuse the talents committed to my trust. But grace alone can fit and enable me to fulfil my various duties.

"I hope, my dear L., you are advancing in every christian grace. How are all my friends? Give them my kind and affectionate regards. We expect to meet no more on earth-O may all our course here be fitting us for the enjoyments of heaven. I trust we shall recognize each other, if ever we arrive there, and join forever the song of redeeming love."

"Bombay, 1829.

* * * * “Our hands are full of employment, our cares are many and various. We know very little of that quiet and leisure with which, at home, I used to sit down and hold intercourse with society. One duty rapidly succeeds another, and when we meet among ourselves, our schools or some public affair claims attention. Sometimes our hearts are saddened, sometimes cheered. You can form but a faint idea of a heathen country. Very little can you realize of the selfishness and duplicity of the native character, of the wretched, ignorant, deluded creatures of whom you have frequently read. They are practised in almost every kind of iniquity. People are frequently robbed by some of them, and we, I suppose, are exposed with others. Our situation however is rather favorable, as we are near the jail which is strongly guarded by a watch, day and night. The prince of darkness holds his sway, and the people choose to enslave themselves to him. Perhaps nowhere is his power more uncontrolled, than where he entrenches himself in the superstitious rites of a false religion. The people start at the thought of any one changing his religion,are ready to concede, that ours is good for us; but theirs they consider as important for

them. They suppose their Shaster was as truly given for their rule of conduct, as the Bible for ours. They seem to have no desire to gain any proselytes, and never make any attempts for this purpose.

"A great moral renovation must take place here, before Jesus will have this people for an inheritance. But though dense the shade and dim the light, the dawn is appearing. Rays begin to beam from the sacred page, and while they are bursting forth in splendor in various places, they also glance on this benighted region. O Sun of Righteousness arise, and with thy cheering beams disperse all this thick gloom, that Satan may no more lead this nation away deluded to their eternal ruin. Yours sincerely,

66

M. W. A." Bombay, 1830.

"My dear L.-If I possessed a sufficient skill in the art in which you have been engaged, I would now give you a view of the landscape with which we are surrounded. Amidst the inconveniences of our present situation, it affords a fine prospect of almost the whole isle of Bombay, several other islands, and four or five sea views. moon now shines brightly, the sky is clear and adorned with its starry gems, the white walls of several fine country seats gleam in

The